PRST 5400/6400/7400 Syllabus
Course Syllabus
PRST 5400/6400/7400 - Instructional Design for Training and Development
3 Credit Hours
Course Information
This course will provide a broad introduction to training and development as a field of study and practice. It is designed for training and development specialists as well as organizational leaders who are focused on continually improving human and organizational performance.
At the conclusion of the course, the students will be able to:
1. Identify important constructs, theories and practices in training and development.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with training and development’s role in achieving key organizational strategic objectives (within the context of continuous change).
3. Develop training and development policies and articulate management and/or administrative perspectives in relation to individual and organizational performance enhancement objectives.
4. Cite benchmarking and world-class training and development organizations and the practices they use.
5. Demonstrate familiarity with training and development program/interventions, including the following elements:
a. Understanding needs analysis (gathering and analyzing data);
b. Identifying where performance deficiencies exist;
c. Developing a set of program goals, and specifying and justifying an intervention;
d. Specifying methods of delivery and implementation;
e. Measuring return on investment (ROI) to assess the performance effectiveness.
Admission to the Master of Professional Studies degree program or departmental approval.
The course is divided into 5 learning modules:
1. Introduction to the training and development function – Historical context of training, contemporary theory and modern practices, including the learning organization.
2. Training program design, development and delivery – Adult learning, needs assessment organizational consulting), instructional systems design, delivery methods, measurement, evaluation and ROI from training and development.
3. Management of training and development – Budgeting and performance management concepts as applied to individual career and professional development objectives as well as whole organizational systems.
4. Contemporary training topics, applications and issues – Identifying systemic issues (e.g., literacy) and common problems among organizations as well as responses in the form of various interventions; benchmarking and other practices.
5. Resources – Books, journals, associations, conferences and workshops, video, courseware, software and additional resources for managing the training and development function.
Desire2Learn is the official course management system (CMS). Students should be experienced in using an online learning environment (Blackboard, etc.) so they are able to take full advantage of all tools available to them through Desire2Learn and/or their home institution.
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."
Students will be encouraged to attend (and/or join) organizational meetings, such as ASTD to engage in professional networking and learning activities
Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.
Minimum software requirements can be found here.
Common applications you might need:
- To read a PDF file download the latest version of Adobe Reader here
- Don't have Microsoft Word? Explore an alternative OpenOffice here
- Accessing a PowerPoint file? Download the PowerPoint Viewer here
Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)
The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook
- Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
- Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
- Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.
Instructor Information
Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.
Participation, Assessments, & Grading
None
The overall purpose of this course is to give students the knowledge, skills, and abilities with which to manage the training and development function within an organization, consult as an external service provider, or otherwise interface effectively with those who perform in either of the aforementioned roles for purposes of increasing individual and organizational performance effectiveness. As such, the grading in this course will focus on assignments/projects that are designed to assess students’ mastery of the material covered.
Assignment/Project | Description | Points |
Completion of quizzes over course reading material. | Students will complete periodic quizzes over the reading material by clicking the Assessment tab in the course management site. There will be 13 quizzes scheduled throughout the term, and each will be worth a maximum of 10 points. | 130 |
Threaded Group Discussion | Students must participate in the discussion of posted training and development topics through the course discussion board. Each week students must respond to the topic and at least one student with thoughtful responses at least two days per week. Worth 10 points per week. | 130 |
Interview | Interview a training and development professional and write a minimum five page, double-spaced report addressing key insights obtained from a practitioner’s perspective. | 100 |
Training Materials Review and Analysis | Review and analyze “off-the-shelf” training and development materials designed to address training and development needs that may be typical within an organization or industry; identify their uses and probable efficacy (or the lack thereof). | 50 |
Three Article Critiques | Students will select three articles from training and development professional journals that related to course topics and read, summarize, and critique the material. Students will complete a two-page report of each critique following the format shown in Content on the course site. Each critique is worth a maximum of 50 points each. | 150 |
Training and Development Program | Students will develop a two-day training event and prepare materials to be used to arrange and evaluate the training event. Students will develop one lesson plan for the event with full instructional materials. Review specific project guidelines on the Content tab of the course site | 400 |
Resource Identification Activity | Students will identify and catalog a list of no less than 50 training and development resources useful for professional practice, independent of those resources given in the assigned text that is used in the course. | 50 |
Final Exam | Students will complete a comprehensive final exam at the end of the term. | 200 |
TOTAL POINTS | 1,210 |
Specifications for Writing Assignments:
Writing assignments must be submitted as MS Word documents – other word processing files including MS Works, Notepad, WordPad, Word Perfect, etc., may not be used.
1. All papers and citations should be formatted in APA style using 12-point type and Times New Roman or Arial font.
2. Proofread each assignment/project carefully for misspelled words, typos, misused words, and correct grammar.
Specifications for All Assignments/Projects/Submissions:
It is expected that all student work submitted for this course is the student’s own work. Appropriate citations (when applicable) must be included in all work for this course.
All materials developed in response to assignments/projects in this training and development course must be free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. In addition, students must exercise judgment in using materials obtained from the Internet. Where appropriate, all copyrighted and trademarked material must be indicated as such. Plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of academic misconduct are sufficient grounds for assignment of a grade of “F” for the course. In addition, any guidelines in place at the student’s home institution will also be followed in reporting the act of academic dishonesty to appropriate personnel.
Academic misconduct can encompass plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, or facilitating any such act. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Plagiarism. The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one’s own without proper acknowledgment.
(2) Cheating. Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.
(3) Fabrication. Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
(4) Facilitation. Helping or attempting to help another to violate a provision of the institutional code of academic misconduct.
LETTER GRADE | PERCENT | TOTAL POINTS |
A | 90-100 | 1,083-1,210 |
B | 80-89 | 962-1,082 |
C | 70-79 | 841-961 |
D | 60-69 | 720-840 |
F | <60 | <719 |
Assignment/Project | Assignment/Project | Delivery Method |
Completion of periodic quizzes over course reading material. | Students will complete periodic quizzes over the reading material by clicking the Assessment tab in the course management site. There will be 13 quizzes scheduled throughout the term. | Quizzes will be available throughout the term. |
Threaded Group Discussion | Students must participate in the discussion of posted training and development topics through the course discussion board throughout the week (two days minimum). | Discussion topics posted throughout the term. |
Interview | Interview a training and development professional and write a minimum five page, double-spaced report addressing key insights obtained from a practitioner’s perspective. | Report to be uploaded to the appropriate dropbox. |
Training Materials Review and Analysis | Review and analyze “off-the-shelf” training and development materials designed to address training and development needs that may be typical within an organization or industry; identify their uses and probable efficacy (or the lack thereof). | Identify a company and analyze one item from its existing training materials. |
Three Article Critiques | Students will select three articles from training and development professional journals that related to course topics and read, summarize, and critique the material. Students will complete a two-page report of each critique following the format shown in Content on the course site. Each critique is worth a maximum of 50 points each. | Reports must follow the journal critique guidelines provided in the Content section of the course and be uploaded to the appropriate course dropbox. |
Training and Development Program | Students will develop a two-day training event and prepare materials to be used to arrange and evaluate the training event. Students will develop one lesson plan for the event with full instructional materials. Review specific project guidelines on the Content tab of the course site | Minimum of two days or 16 contact hours. Materials must be professional in nature, abide by honoring all copyright, and be proprietary (or sellable) in nature and quality. |
Resource Identification Activity | Students will identify and catalog a list of no less than 50 training and development resources useful for professional practice, independent of those resources given in the assigned text that is used in the course. | Written assignment – compilation of student notes and observations. Should be presented in a document format and uploaded to the appropriate course dropbox. |
Students are expected to participate in all interactive aspects of this course. Students must communicate with other students in the discussion boards. Students are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource and to use the Course Help Desk via the CMS discussion board as a means of participating in the course Learning Community. Students must check the course News page frequently for announcements, and students must actively participate in threaded discussion events throughout the week. Points are earned for threaded discussions. Students are also encouraged to post anonymous tips to the Survey link on the opening page of the course to assist the instructor in determining the flow of the course and whether any mid-course changes might be necessary. The following table is an example of a grading rubric to be used in threaded online discussions.
Excellent (10 points) | Acceptable (7 points) | Unacceptable (5 to 0 points) |
An excellent online discussant ∙
(1) posts at least one thoughtful response per discussion with appropriate time lapse between postings with a minimum of two sentences (2) responds to classmates’ ideas and postings in a constructive manner in a minimum of two (2) sentences (3) participates on at least two days or more each week. | An acceptable online discussant ∙
| An unacceptable online discussant ∙
|
Course Ground Rules
The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:
RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS
Read the document in its entirety here.
1. Standards of Conduct:
- Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.
2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:
- In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.
Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
- to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
- or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.
Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution. Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.
In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.
Other Course Rules:
Students are expected to:
- Participate in all aspects of the course
- Communicate with other students
- Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
- Keep abreast of course announcements
- Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
- Address technical problems immediately:
- Observe course netiquette at all times.
Guidelines for Communications
Email:
- Always include a subject line.
- Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
- Use standard fonts.
- Do not send large attachments without permission.
- Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
- Respect the privacy of other class members
Discussions:
- Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
- Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
- Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
- Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
- Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
- Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
- Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Library
The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.
Students with Disabilities
Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.
Syllabus Changes
The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.