COURSE OUTLINE

I.       EDLD 5311 - Fundamentals of Administration
 

This is the initial course in administration theory and practice and it is required of all students enrolled in the Educational Administration and Supervision Programs. The competencies expected of students completing this course are:

(1)       To understand the relationship between a person's behaviors and a) his/her own
            nature and b) his/her beliefs, about the nature of man in general.
(2)        To understand the relationship between and among: a person's nature, his/her
            beliefs about the nature of man, and his/her leadership style.
(3)        To utilize group process as a problem solving device.
(4)        To be able to identify leadership styles of others.
(5)        To be able to analyze ones own leadership style.
(6)        To demonstrate a commitment to ones continued professional growth.

II.        Conditions for Completing Modules: All work handed in must be typewritten. Each module submitted must be read, critiqued in writing, and signed by all members of the student's group prior to being handed in. Each module must be submitted by all group members at the same time. Note: Always retain copies of what you turn in. Do not give the professor your only copy.

Modules will be read and commented on by the professor and returned to the student to be kept till the end of the semester. When modules are returned to the group, the modules must be circulated so that every member of the group can read the comments the professor made on the papers of other group members. At the end of the semester all modules will be returned to the professor for retention by the department. Students who wish to have copy of their work should make a duplicate before handing in the original.

III.       General Assessment Criteria for all Modules: The criteria for acceptable level of mastery will include:

a.         the student has written precisely to the criteria listed in the specific behaviors;
b.         the student has organized and clearly communicated his/her readings in
            documenting his/her positions;
c.         the student has skillfully applied his/her readings in documenting his/her positions;
d.         the student has skillfully applied knowledge from other experiences in documenting
            his/her positions;
e.         the paper shows internal consistency.

IV.       Attendance: All students are expected to be on time and in attendance at all classes. (This policy is consistent with the expectations of a school district i.e., that administrators attend all meetings they have obligated themselves to attend.)

V.        Grading Policy: See Appendix "A".

VI.       Meetings: During each class period there will be a meeting of the entire class (large group) as well as small group meetings. All meetings will be in the Education building. No meetings can be held at another location without specific permission of the instructor.

VII.      Definitions:

For the purposes of this course, the following definitions will be used.

Behavior: An act that is observed in someone else (e.g. Joe said "..., Mary was early for every class meeting", "Bill wore a blue tie", etc.)

Competency: The generic skills the student will master as a result of successful completion of the objectives of a module.

Consequence: The result or effect of a previous action or event. Every action or event precipitates both positive and negative consequences to someone.

Criterion: A standard, rule, or test that can be used to make a judgment (i.e. choose from a set of two or more options/alternatives).

A criterion has two components (otherwise it is not a criterion):
a.              what is to be measured and,
b.              a minimum or maximum level that you will accept.

"Gas mileage", for example, is not a complete criterion for selecting which car to purchase (i.e. it doesn't tell what amount you will accept). "At least 25 miles per gallon" is a complete criterion. It tells what is being measured (gas mileage), and what is the minimum acceptable level (25 mpg).

Other examples of a complete criterion:
a.              Must be at least three feet (minimum level of acceptance) long (what
                 is to be measured i.e. length).

b.              Must not weigh (what is being measured) more than 3000 pounds
                 (maximum level of acceptance).

c.              Must score at least 1100 (minimum level of acceptance) on the Scholastic
                  Aptitude Test (aptitude measurement) to be admitted.

d.              At least two (minimum level of acceptance) parents (parental representation)
                 from each elementary building must be appointed to the committee.

Function:    The various categories of activities performed by an administrator or
                  manager (e.g. purchasing, staffing, supervision, marketing, quality control,
                  maintenance, accounting, planning, etc.).
 

Issue:         A question, dispute, or problem on which the principal must make a decision. Note: if the decision is mandated by law or policy, then it is not an issue in which a decision is required of the principal. It is simply a directive that must be enforced. For the purposes of this course, an issue

a) must have opposing sides in which the principal must be the arbitrator (i.e. is caught in the middle);

b) must not be a matter of law, and

c) is of significant importance (i.e. is a big problem).
 

Modules:    The major units or topics of the course. All of the modules taken together constitute a course.
 

Nature:      A person's character, disposition or temperament. (See Appendix B).
 

Objective:   The specific measurable accomplishment of the student as the result of the student having successfully completed all of the related tasks.
 

Paradigm:   A model or representation to show the pattern or structure of something. In this course the "something" is an idea or concept.
 

Power:       An ability to get someone to do what you wish them to do.
 

Pressure:    An act by a person or group to influence a decision or outcome.
 

Task:          A group of activities that, when completed, result in the achievement of an individual objective.
 

Strategy:     A plan, method, or series of maneuvers for obtaining a specific goal or result.