Transcript THE MSA CAPSTONE Everything You Wanted to Know- But Were Afraid to Ask.

THE MSA CAPSTONE
Everything You Wanted to Know- But Were
Afraid to Ask
MSA 699 REMOVAL OF INCOMPLETE FORM
• Be sure to complete the “Statement of Requirements for
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Removal of MSA 699 Incomplete” form for every student
receiving an “I” grade.
The form reinforces the need for an approved proposal,
research approval, and the 6 month deadline.
E-mail the form to [email protected] and a copy to the
student.
The form is posted in the student’s file which allows staff
members to answer student questions and reinforce the
project deadline.
The form is available online at
http://global.cmich.edu/faculty/procedures-forms/ .
MSA 699 INCOMPLETE POLICY
• MSA 699 students are expected to complete the capstone project
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within the semester course dates.
An incomplete may be available if the student has an approved
research proposal and RRA approval.
An extension of two months or 6 months from the start of the
course may be given to eligible students.
Monitors have discretion in assigning the “I” if circumstances
warrant.
Students who are not eligible for the “I” receive a failing grade.
“I” grades which are permanent at the 6 month mark may be
converted to “E” grades if this is articulated in the syllabus.
THE FINAL MSA 699 GRADE
• Usually, the grade assigned by the monitor is the student’s final
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grade unless there is a conflict with the reviewer’s grade.
A grade discrepancy is defined as either a two grade difference (an
“A” and a “C”) or where one of the evaluators assigns a grade of
“E”.
Projects with a grade discrepancy are sent to main campus for a
review and the final grade is assigned by the main campus
reviewer.
The student will be able to see the rubrics in Bb and be sent the
third reviewer’s rubric and a copy of the reviewed project.
If both the monitor and reviewer assign failing grades, no
additional review will be undertaken.
WHAT I DO THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS….
WELCOME TO MSA699
TECHNICAL SUPPORT:
For more information, go to the tutorial at
http://www.cmich.edu/academics/off_campus_online/Bb_CMU/Student_Tutorials/Pages/defaul
t.aspx
Problems with Collaborate set up or your technology?
Call the CMU IT Help Desk 1-800-950-1144 extension 3662 or 989-774-3662.
By Bob Weltzer, PhD
INTRODUCTION - OVERVIEW
• Capstone brings together all course learnings.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and application.
• Complete primary analysis of primary and/or
secondary data
• Descriptive or inferential statistics
• Can be financial analysis.
INTRODUCTION cont’d
• KISS method [e.g., focused data collection, not multiple
venues unless absolutely necessary].
• Formulate in Ch1 specific, testable research questions [not
objectives] and then answer them in Ch4 from the data.
• This is the first of two ALL-students chats for this course.
Both will be archived.
• A separate one-on-one chat session will be scheduled.
INTRODUCTION cont’d
• RRA process provides institutional approval. Must include
RRA form. When not using publicly available secondary
data, will include organizational permission letter, data
collection form [e.g., survey, with separate CMU consent
letter]. See Part 2 of Student Guide. ALL must do.
• You must receive approval email message from Main
Campus before collecting primary data.
https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/cgs/GSMasterofScienceinA
dministration/GSTheDepartment/Pages/Research_Review.
aspx
INTRODUCTION cont’d
• Pay attention to course schedule to assure timely
grading for final grade submission. Target 14
days before course ends.
• Needs to be related to your area of concentration.
• Note that there are 2 Parts to this course. In Part
1 we work together to reach agreement on what
you are doing. In Part 2, you implement the
agreement and finalize your research effort.
• Incomplete grade is possible for an extension until
60 days from start of course if 50% of course
requirements are met. No extension beyond that.
WRITING CONSIDERATIONS
• Write at the graduate level
• Follow Student Guide for the MSA699 Capstone
Project for content, format, etc. This is a nobrainer!!!!
• Strive for APA compliance, especially in-text
reference citing. Use reference citing software in
Word.
• Support ALL factual statements in ALL chapters
with an in-text APA compliant reference.
WRITING CONSIDERATIONS cont’d
• Report title MUST identify one of seven research
typologies from Student Guide. E.G., “A Program
Evaluation of….”. This communicates your direction to
yourself and your first and second readers, establishes an
expectation for content, and increases likelihood of
success [a.k.a., higher grade].
• Chapters’ content MUST consolidate sections from
chosen typology and 5 standard academic chapters. See
the matrix and typology outlines in course materials.
CHAPTER INSIGHTS
Discussion of ….
HICCUPS
• Inability to get written organizational permission to access
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data/resources.
Failure to follow specifications of Student Guide, including
identifying one of 7 research typologies in report title and
follow the associated research typology.
Lack of advanced detailed planning for completing
primary analysis of primary or secondary data.
Failure to link research to area of concentration.
Failure to recognize that student is ultimately responsible
for meeting the course requirements and completion in a
timely manner.
Student Progress and Incompletes
MSA 699 INCOMPLETE POLICY
• Be sure the student understands the
following:
• An incomplete may be available if the student has an
approved research proposal and RRA approval.
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Monitors have discretion in assigning the “I” if
circumstances warrant.
• Students who are not eligible for the “I” receive a failing
grade.
• “I” grades which are permanent at the 6 month mark may be
converted to “E” grades if this is articulated in the syllabus.
Work in Progress Steps
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Treat student progress as you would a
vacation trip.
---Follow the roadmap: e.g. watch the mile-markers.
---Week 1: ABC should be completed
---Week 2: DEF should be completed
---Week 3: GHI should be completed
• Require feedback from students on a weekly
basis.
• Put the requirement directly into the syllabus
Student Progress, concluded
• Inability to get written organizational permission to access
data/resources.
---Do you have a back-up plan in case permission is denied?
---Do you have a roadmap to get you from the beginning to the
end of the 699 project?
---Lack of advanced detailed planning for completing primary
analysis of primary or secondary data.
• Remember for everyone: Student is ultimately responsible for
meeting the course requirements and completion in a timely
manner.
Incompletes
• Incompletes are not automatic
---Too many students think from the start they will shoot for an
incomplete, and then get the rest of the project done 60 to
180 days later.
---Such thinking can have disastrous results.
• Incompletes are at the discretion of the instructor
---What should you do if student has given you nothing for the
entire semester?
---Consider a grade of E. Getting the entire project done in 60
days or 180 days will be very difficult
Incompletes and grade submission
• Final grade submission
---Allow yourself enough time to grade the final project.
---If Registrar’s Office says need grade by the 15th of the
month, tell students you need the final submission by
the 1st of the month.
---If not students look at the 15th of the month deadline
and think they are safe, giving you the project at
midnight on the 14th.
Electronic Submissions
• It’s easier than you think!
• Create assignments/assessments (free read,
RRA approval, final project) in the Blackboard
shell.
• Students submit each draft through the
appropriate link.
• You can be notified when the assignment has
been submitted.
• Make comments/grade each assignment. Attach
grading rubric to the assignment.
FINAL PROJECT (Assignment)
• Two (identical) MSA 699 rubrics attached to the
BB shell that allow for “blind reviews” by the
second reader/reviewer. Students will upload two
copies of the final project (one for each reviewer).
The Second Reader (Reviewer)
• Notify second reader (reviewer) when student has
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completed the final submission of the Capstone (will be
visible in Grading Center, but good communication is key)
The second reviewer completes his/her rubric.
Admin staff will check at the end of the semester and
notify Financial Services for reviewer payment).
Grades submitted at appropriate time- by Monitor.
Notify Colleen Zeh when “I” grades are removed for all
sections (zeh1cm).
Rubrics handled totally within Bb.
Nothing is e-mailed or printed.
E-Submission Pros
• No hard copies to worry about!
• Shows exactly when student submitted the assignment-
and when your comments were made.
• Tracks the work submitted by each student.
• You can always refer to the any assignment in question.
Conclusion
• Questions??
• Good Luck with your MSA 699 course