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CA 798 (2 CREDITS)
LEADERSHIP REFLECTION
Link to frequently
asked questions:
Can I switch from the
thesis or project to the reflection capstone?
What if the
reflection option wasn't available when I started the program years
ago?
How do I enroll
in the reflection course?
What is needed in
the reflection?
How do I write the
reflections?
How do I prepare and
submit the contents of the reflection file?
When are
assignments due?
What is the course
schedule?
What if I am
doing the reflections before taking comps?
What kind of grade
can I expect?
What are the
program goals? Go to
http://www.park.edu/grad/masters-cl-goals.aspx
Can I see an
example of a student reflection? Go to
http://ourwayit.com/Reflection/ExampleReflection.doc
DEADLINE!
The Graduate School
requires that you pass your Reflection at least 4 weeks prior to
graduation! Therefore, the Reflection is due week 4.
This course is pass or fail.
When you pass (80% level), then I will notify Graduate School and
Registrar that you have passed your capstone so you can graduate.
By about April
15 or Nov. 15--if you have not received
a copy of your advisor's notification
or email about notification
to the Registrar and Graduate School saying that you passed the
capstone requirement (Reflection), contact me immediately!
You may need to revise your Reflection
for your grade in the course.
CA 798 COURSE DESCRIPTION Prerequisite: Completed at least 24 hours in
the MACL program.
CA798
Leadership Reflections: Capstone course for students not developing
a thesis or project. Students electing this option will choose an
additional class from the electives. This paper is graded on a
pass/fail basis and does not require an oral defense. (From catalog
2012-2013)
Here are the program goals you will write about:
http://www.park.edu/grad/masters-cl-goals.aspx
ENROLLMENT
You cannot enroll yourself because you
need an advisor who agrees to work with you on this capstone.
With that faculty member's approval, the Graduate School staff can
sign you up to register for courses: Kathryn DeFever,
kathryn.defever@park.edu
or at 816-559-5629.
Remember, because this course is only 2 credit hours, you also need
to enroll in one additional traditional course (an elective) so you
have a total of 36 hours.
ADVISOR
Each
faculty member may have different expectations for the Reflection
capstone. When you select my section of the course (Joan
Aitken's), then I will be your advisor for the final stages of the
program. Sometimes my students do a mini project for the Reflection,
but usually they write an essay related to each goal and provide
documentation showing that they met all the goals.
If you are within 6 months of
graduation, make sure you have applied to
graduate
https://www.park.edu/registrar/gradapp/
Your
application must be complete
and you cannot be on
provisional status. The Graduate
School or Registrar will
evaluate your application and
notify you if there's a problem. This responsibility
is yours.
http://ourwayit.com/DoIt/ You need to
apply for graduation by April 1
for summer and fall and
by
November 1 for spring. If
you missed the deadline, just file as soon as
possible. This process
will ensure that they check your
courses and have passed all
requirements. If you are planning
on walking at the Graduation
Ceremony (held in May and December),
you will also need to
order your cap and gown by
contacting the bookstore at
816-584-6747 or at
bookstore@park.edu. Upon
request, the bookstore will ship
your cap & gown to you for a fee.
STICK
WITH IT
If you start the thesis or project and receive
credit, you canNOT switch to the reflection unless your original
advisor agrees to the change.
In other words, once you take an hour
or more in CA 700 Project or CA 797 Thesis, you make a commitment to
completing that project or thesis. If you decide that you want
to switch, talk to your advisor to see what you can work out.
The reflection does NOT count as an
elective course.
For the reflection capstone, you take an
additional 3-hour elective course, then the 2-3 hour reflection
course to replace the project or thesis option. All students
in the Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership program need a TOTAL OF 36 hours.
CHANGING
CATALOG
If the CA 798 option was not
available when you began this program, you need to
request from the program director and graduate school
that you switch to the current catalog requirements.
This means you will also need the 1 credit hour CA 500
course. You can request
the
form Kathryn DeFever,
kathryn.defever@park.edu or at 816-559-5629.
Then complete the form and email it to Dr. Noe, the
program director.
HOW TO
SUBMIT YOUR
REFLECTIONS
Put your name in the file name and on the title page. Remember
to use titles, and
label everything. Add "Reflection" and the date in the file name.
The program goals are here:
http://www.park.edu/grad/masters-cl-goals.aspx
You do not need to rewrite your documents, but if there are APA
errors, correct them so your submission looks professional and
correct.
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Use formal
academic writing style with precise language.
Use your American Psychological
Association (APA) publication manual
to make sure the formatting and writing style is
correct in the same way that is expected of the thesis and project.
Here is my link about
APA,
which may be helpful.
Below is a
checklist for effective, formal academic writing style.
In addition to your APA manual, you will find the Strunk
and White Elements of Style book is an excellent
source, which is available free online:
http://www.bartleby.com/141/
Use an APA
style title page. Center this information on the
title page.
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Leadership Reflections
A Capstone Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Degree of
Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership
by
Your Name
Park University
Date
Number the pages in the upper right corner and use a running head with your name on
each page.
Provide a table of contents with page numbers for each goal so the
reader can find things.
Files for the graduate reflection are typically 150-300 pages long,
so use a table of contents. The table of contents should look
something like this.
Reflections Table of Contents
Goal
1...........................................................................................1
Goal 1 Original
Essay....................................................................2
Goal 1 Comprehensive Exam
Answer............................................7
Goal 1 Document Title (use
a
paper from a course or work context, which shows mastery of this goal) ....................................................................................10
Goal 1 Document Title (use another paper from a course or work,
which shows mastery of this goal)
.....................................................................................................35
Goal
2...........................................................................................40
Goal 2 Original
Essay....................................................................41
Goal 2 Comprehensive Exam
Answer............................................45
Goal 2 Document Title (paper from a course
or work context
showing mastery of this goal)
............................................................................................50
Goal 2 Document (another paper from a course showing mastery of this
goal or a document from work showing mastery of this goal)
.....................................................................................................61
So, here is what you
want to put in the reflection file.
State the goal/question at the beginning of each reflection/answer,
with the actual documents after your essay. For
reflections, list the goal at the top of each relevant document.
Each goal has these parts
a. Write out the
goal
http://www.park.edu/grad/masters-cl-goals.aspx
b. Write your reflection essay showing how you are applying what you
learned.
c. Reference list, if you have one (not required).
d. Attach documentation of the comprehensive exam answer you
submitted to the department. This answer must be completely
different from your reflection essay.
e. Attach documentation, which is a paper from a course that shows
you met this goal.
f. Attach documentation, which is a paper from another course or
evidence from your employment.
Provide documentation after the essay for each goal. Rewrite each
goal, followed by your reflection, followed by your labeled actual
documentation, then rewrite the next goal, then your reflection, and
so on. Put everything in one electronic file.
This means you will resubmit the same material plus additional
material each week.
If you haven't
already done so, complete your comprehensive exams by week 3 of the
term when you enroll in the reflection course.
For your reflections and documentation, every citation MUST be
referenced in the reference list and every reference MUST be
cited in APA style in the body. If your reflections or
documentation have errors, you need to correct them now!
Comprehensive exams can be added only as
documentation for your reflection essays. They cannot be used in the
text of the reflection itself.
WHAT IS
NEEDED IN
"REFLECTION?"
Reflections
The only
difference between a standard essay and a reflection is that you
need to synthesize and evaluate your own experience within the
context discussed in the essay. Here are the program goals you
will write about:
http://www.park.edu/grad/masters-cl-goals.aspx
Reflectivity is the idea that to learn, an individual must consider
his or her beliefs and forms of knowledge before putting new
knowledge into practice (Dewey, 1933). In this assignment, you will
reflect on previous knowledge and new learning as a way of applying
knowledge in communication or leadership practices. Consider
this metaphor by Schon (1987):
"There is a high, hard ground overlooking a swamp. On the high
ground, manageable problems lend themselves to solution through the
application of research-based theory and technique. In the swampy
lowland, messy confusing problems defy technical solutions. The
irony of this situation is that the problems of the high ground tend
to be relatively unimportant to individuals or society at large,
however great their technical interest may be, while in the swamp
lie the problems of greatest human concern" (p. 3).
Photo from Microsoft Clipart
References
Dewey, J. (1933) How we think. Boston: D. C. Heath.
Schon, D, (1987).
Educating the reflective practitioner: Toward a new design for
teaching and learning in the professions. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.
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PROFESSOR'S EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
I believe in mastery learning to
achieve competence in the course content. Competence includes
a demonstration of exemplary communication and leadership.
CORE LEARNING
OUTCOMES
As a result of taking this
course the student should be able to
1.
Compare personal strengths and needs to the Kouzes and Posner model
of exemplary leadership.
2. Apply new learning and perspectives to
the problem-solving process.
3. Evaluate research-based information and
theories as a way of becoming an exemplary leader.
4.
Explain communication styles and
values of different cultures and how these factors influence
communication and leadership in a global environment.
5.
Synthesize
program learning by combining theoretical knowledge and practical
skills to develop effective strategies for resolving organizational
issues and improving decision-making in that context.
6.
Synthesize beliefs
and forms of knowledge as a way of putting new knowledge into
practice.
7.
Describe your framework for
ethical communication and leadership conduct in contemporary
organizations, which may operate in a global context.
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Schedule
Enroll in Course Fall 1 or Spring 1
or Summer |
Enroll in Course Fall 2 or Spring 2 |
Assignments Submit a
single file in the course Dropbox. |
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By 11:59
PM Sunday of Week 3 |
By 11:59 PM Sunday of Week 1
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1. If you
haven't already done so, apply for
graduation
https://www.park.edu/registrar/gradapp/
2. In
eCompanion dropbox, submit your
electronic file containing your
essays and supporting documents for goals 1, 2, 3.
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Week 5
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Week 2
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1. In dropbox, in a single
file, add your essays and supporting
documents
for goals 4 and 5.
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Week 7 |
Week 3
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1. If you haven't already done
so, take your comprehensive exams.
2.
In dropbox, in a single file, add
your essays and supporting documents
for
goal 6 and 7.
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Week 4
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1. Add your
comprehensive exam answers to your
Reflection, make revisions, and
submit final version of your
reflections and documentation in the
dropbox, in a single file.
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Week 5
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1. Notify Dr.
Noe and Graduate School that you
passed the Reflection capstone.
2.
Double check graduation clearance.
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Week 6
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1. Revise & resubmit
your Reflection, if needed.
2. Concentrate
on finishing all your other course
work.
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By week
4 of next term. |
Week 7
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1. Check with
Graduate School and make sure an approval email goes to
the Registrar so you are clear for
graduation.
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Two
months later |
Week 8
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Graduation
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HOW DO I WRITE EACH ESSAY?
After you enroll in
the course, we will begin by discussing ideas in the eCompanion Discussion
Board. Save what you write in the Discussion Board to include
in your essays.
In your essays, synthesize and evaluate your reflection on your learning in the
Communication and Leadership Master of Arts program. You may focus
on exploration of a particular or few topic(s) of interest. Other
elements may include the following:
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Use that reflection to figure out how you will apply
your learning in the future.
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Provide specific examples from your experience.
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Evaluate your personal strengths and needs and
communication strategies you use to continue your
personal communication and leadership improvement.
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Analyze how the program has influenced your ethical,
professional, problem-solving, and decision-making
behaviors.
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Reflect on how will you
use what you learned in the program to improve your
communication and leadership.
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Discuss how you
have improved your communication skills, and what
you still need to learn.
HOW DO I SUBMIT THE REFLECTION?
If you are graduating this term, you need to submit the Reflection week 4 in the eCompanion or eCollege
dropbox of your enrolled course. I don't accept assignments by
email. Students sometimes need to revise the reflection.
After the revision is complete--or your original reflection is
accepted by your profession--you may want to upload to the Park portfolio
so you'll have it. Help is on the lower left of of the Portfolio screen.
EXAMPLE CORE ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
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Competency
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Exceeds Expectation
(2)
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Meets Expectation
(1)
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Does Not Meet Expectations
(0)
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Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation
Learning Objectives # 5
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Synthesizes research-based
principles and theories learned in
four courses and evaluates them to
their pragmatic use in the student's
experience.
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Synthesizes principles learned in
two to three courses and evaluates
them to their pragmatic use in the
student's experience.
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Synthesizes principles learned in
fewer than two courses and evaluates
them to their pragmatic use in the
student's experience.
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Application
Learning Objective #1, 2, 3, 6
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Provides four examples of how the
student will apply program learning
to problem-solving in the future.
Evaluates strengths and needs
against five areas of the exemplary
leadership model.
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Provides two or three examples of
how the student will apply program
learning to problem-solving in the
future.
Evaluates strengths and needs
against three or four areas of the
exemplary leadership model.
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Provides fewer than two examples of
how the student will apply program
learning to problem-solving in the
future.
Evaluates strengths and needs
against less than three areas of the
exemplary leadership model.
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Whole Artifact
Learning Objective #6, 7
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Effective writing makes it easy for
the reader to understand the
student's
ethical, professional, and
research-based strategies.
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Minor errors seldom interfere with
the overall professionalism and
communication of the reflection.
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Lack of effective writing or APA
style interferes with focus on the
content of the reflection.
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