Please indicate a training topic or two that interests you (scan syllabus for ideas). Consider how the topic relates to your proposed training observation. Next, identify 5 academic references that you intend to read/use as you research the training topic for your paper. Please choose references that ARE NOT ALREADY listed in the syllabus. Draft an APA 7-formatted reference page with the 5 references in *.doc(x) format (including title page)
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IN ORGANIZATIONS
Spring 2021
Prerequisites: none.
Required textbook: None. Primary source articles and chapters will be made available THROUGH LSU LIBRARIES.
Description of Course Content: The goal for this course is to increase your effectiveness in dealing with multiple aspects of organizational training and development – in analyzing needs for training, awareness of training theories, frameworks for developing and evaluating training effectiveness, and understanding the psychological and contextual factors that influence training practices.
The course readings are aimed at expanding awareness and knowledge of multiple issues associated with organizational training and development. There will be analysis of organizational cases and class activities to emphasize and apply theoretical knowledge. Students should come away from the course with greater knowledge and confidence in the subject area.
Student Learning Outcomes. Successful completion of this course will result in the ability to…
1. Understand and explain basic concepts, theories, and issues related to organizational training and development;
2. Apply scientific knowledge about issues and debates presented in the academic literature; and
3. Analyze academic writing and deliver peer feedback in a timely, sensitive, and effectual manner.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS: To be able to participate fully in assignments and exams, you must:
Participation 10%
Reviewer Critiques 20%
Final Exam 30%
Final Term Paper 40%
A+ = 100 – 97, A=96-93, A- =92-90
B+ = 89 – 87, B=86-83, B- =82-80
C+ = 79 – 77, C=76-73, C- =72-70
D+ = 69 – 67, D=66-63, D- =62-60
F+ = 59 – 57, F=56-53, F- < 52
All calculations will be carried out to two decimal places; there will be no rounding of final grades.
Participation.
There are several activities throughout the semester. They will be graded according to rubrics that explained with each assignment. Collectively, these activities are worth 10% of your grade. Your participation in these activities is critical not only for your personal learning, but also for the learning of your classmates. Much of the value of the class comes from prepared, thoughtful, and informed dialog between you and your classmates. You will be evaluated on the timeliness, completion, and quality of your assignments and contributions. Quality comments include adding new insights to the readings, offering a unique and relevant perspective on the issues, contributing to moving the discussion and analysis forward, extending rather than repeating others’ comments, and demonstrating reflective thinking.
Assignments will be announced on Monday of each week. You will have until the end of the week (Sunday at midnight, i.e., 11:59 PM) to submit your work. These assignments will draw on the required reading, materials, and case studies posted in each week’s Moodle section. Please review these materials to be able to complete the assignments to the best of your ability. If you know in advance you will be late for an activity, you are still responsible for contributing to forum discussions in advance of class (or after if necessary). This will be a way for you to earn partial participation credit for the assignment.
Reviewer Critiques.
The peer-review process is an essential element of the academic scientific process. Not only can access to feedback improve your own capacity to learn, critically analyzing and articulating feedback to others help you to hone your own research and writing skill. Throughout the semester you will be assigned two peer-review assignments. Your abilities to accurately and sensitively evaluate your peer’s work will constitute 20% of your overall course grade. You will be provided an evaluation form to assist you in the analytic critique of your fellow students’ writing assignments, as well as a rubric that will be used to evaluate the quality of your critique. You will be evaluated on your ability to issue timely, sensitive, and effectual written comments. Reviewer assignments will be announced on Monday mornings; critiques will be due Sunday at midnight.
Final Exam.
One structured online exam valued at 30% of your grade will be administered on Moodle. The exam will be comprised of multiple choice, true/false, and short-statement items that will assess your ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate applications of key concepts and theories in organizational change management. The exam will cover material presented in the assigned readings and discussed in weekly activities. (See next sections for more detail about missing the exam.)
Term Paper.
The Term Paper is the major deliverable for this course. It will be developed in a cumulative fashion with each week’s homework assignment helping to advance thought and written skill in the completion of the term paper. Do the weekly assignments and you’ll have a complete final paper by the end of the term. Drafts will be submitted periodically to allow for opportunities to acquire feedback about the paper. The final term paper will be submitted Sunday (11:59p.m.) April 26th and is worth 40% of your grade. A grading rubric will be made available at the time the paper assignment is announced.
The paper should follow this outline:
Identify an organizational training context you wish to observe and critique. Over the course of the semester, conduct two observations of training being administered. These events will serve as your primary data collection method, but you should also include information gathered from the organization’s website, interviews conducted while onsite, and/or other “benchmarking” resources (e.g., government agency, professional association) that may help you to better understand the training history, demands, and norms for the selected job or function.
Refer to existing course material and related academic literature to make use of disciplinary terminology, principles, and related theories. Be sure to cite and provide references for: (a) the empirical support you use to back your assertions, and (b) the conceptual and operational definitions you use when evaluating the training program.
The Draft Paper should clearly identify the training context and job title/function being trained. It should provide enough description so that the reader can understand who, what, how, and why training occurs based on your observation and investigation. It should also provide a theoretical basis for interpreting the training (i.e., choose a theory or two to explain what you’ve observed). Citations and references should be included in the draft, which will likely be about 4-6 double-spaced pages in APA format. The grading rubric is described below.
The Final Term Paper will incorporate your synthesis across two training observations, and will include a comprehensive assessment of the organization’s approach to Training Needs Analysis, and your training critique using the ADDIE Model as an analytical guideline. You should conclude with recommendations to the organization for how to improve its training program. The final written product will be approximately 12-15 pages in APA format
TIPS:
ASSIGNMENT RULES: (More information about these facets can be found in the COURSE OVERIVEW on Moodle)
· Your computer and connection MUST be reliable.
· Assignments and graded materials will be available for submission during announced windows of time. Your work must be submitted during those time frames.
· Once you begin a test, you will be given a certain amount of time to finish it before it “closes” for you. During the times that the test is “open” you WILL be able to revised answers.
i. Immediate deduction of 15 points (out of 100) upon missing the deadline
ii. A total of 25 points (out of 100) will be deducted for papers submitted within 24 hours of the deadline.
iii. A total of 35 points (out of 100) will be deducted for papers submitted within 48 hours of the deadline.
iv. Late papers will not be allowed after 48 hours. Failure to submit papers within 48 hours will result in 0% for the graded assignment