Syllabus
Master of Science in Education
EDU 715: Organizational Theory & Strategic Planning – Summer B 2022
Credits - 3
Description
This course will include: an overview of organizational theories and systems; the inclusion of organizational theory in the educational change process; the functions, objectives, development, and assessment of strategic plans; and the relationship between strategic planning and budget development.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
- Students will develop an understanding and appreciation of the systems approach as applied to human and organizational behavior including educational organizations; PSEL 2, 7, 9
- Students will explore and expand on the systems thinking and visioning processes; PSEL 2, 6, 7, 9
- Students will deepen their understanding of the connections between organizations and their challenges as well as review their own educational setting; PSEL 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Students will deepen understanding of the Senge principles about organizations; PSEL 6, 7, 9. 10
- Students will use skills to analyze and improve school structures that will result in a forum of an effective system; PSEL 9, 10
- Students will begin the design of an effective strategic plan based on schools issues; PSEL 9, 10
- Students will apply Senge’s theory to a practical situation; PSEL 10
- Students will reflect on their work and share what they have learned about strategic planning and other elements of the course; PSEL 9, 10
Assignments
Discussion Forums
Post a response to a question or problem presented in the weekly whole class or small group threaded discussion forum. This initial post must be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday. The initial post must include at least one in-text citation and reference in APA format. Replies must be submitted by the end of the day on Sundays of each week.
Strategic Plan with Issues Analysis
Too often people tend to describe the symptoms of a problem rather than the problem itself. For Part I of the Strategic Plan, students will identify a problem that is real to their classrooms, schools and/or districts. Students will present evidence (data) of the existence of the problem, and will analyze the problem using at least three of the five disciplines presented in the class text.
SWOT Analysis
SWOT is an acronym that stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A SWOT analysis is an organized list of an organization’s greatest strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T). Doing a SWOT analysis can enable an organization to develop effective strategies to resolve problems and, at the same time, recognize the strengths inherent to the organization as well. For this assignment, students will complete a SWOT analysis related to the problem identified in their Strategic Plan with Issues Analysis assignment.
SMART Goals
SMART, most commonly defined as Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound, is an acronym that defines criteria for goal-setting. It is a useful tool that individuals or organizations can use to create realistic and achievable goals. Using the SMART criteria, students will develop three goals in order to address the problem that they identified in their Strategic Plan.
Estimated Cost Worksheet
For this assignment, students will create an “Estimated Cost Worksheet” that addresses each of their stated SMART goals and the anticipated initiatives that support each goal. The items, resources, and expenditures needed for each initiative will be listed and an estimated cost for each will be included on the worksheet.
Strategic Plan
This final assignment is a compilation of the work completed in Weeks 3, 6 and 7, resulting in a comprehensive “Strategic Plan.” Students will include their Issues Analysis, SWOT analysis, SMART goals and their Estimated Cost Worksheet.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignments | 100 Total Points |
|---|---|
| 8 Discussions | 22 points |
| Strategic Plan with Issues Analysis | 24 points |
| SWOT Analysis | 15 points |
| SMART Goals and Cost Worksheet | 24 points |
| Strategic Plan | 15 points |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course Weeks
Week 1: Apr 27 – May 1
Week 2: May 2 – May 8
Week 3: May 9 – May 15
Week 4: May 16 – May 22
Week 5: May 23 – May 29
Week 6: May 30 – Jun 5
Week 7: Jun 6 – Jun 12
Week 8: Jun 13 – Jun 19
This is only a tentative schedule and is meant to give you a bird’s eye view. The activities and assignments may change at the discretion of the instructor.
| Week | Topic | Activities & Assignments | Dates |
|
1 |
What Is a Learning Organization? | Learning materials; Discussion post |
Due: 11:59 PM ET on Sunday |
|
2 |
Systems Thinking for a Better World | Learning materials; Small Group Discussion posts |
Due: 11:59 PM ET on Sunday *Note: Initial discussion responses should be posted weekly by WEDNESDAY night unless otherwise specified |
|
3 |
Leading Learning Organizations | Learning materials; Small Group Discussion posts; Strategic Plan with Issues Analysis |
Due: 11:59 PM ET on Sunday |
|
4 |
Creating a Shared Vision | Learning materials; Discussion posts |
Due: 11:59 PM ET on Sunday |
|
5 |
Personal Mastery and Team Learning | Learning materials; Small Group Discussion posts |
Due: 11:59 PM ET on Sunday |
|
6 |
Designing an Effective Strategic Plan | Learning materials; SWOT Analysis; Discussion posts | Due: 11:59 PM ET on Sunday |
|
7 |
Developing SMART Goals | Learning materials; Discussion posts; SMART Goals and Estimated Cost Worksheet |
Due: 11:59 PM ET on Sunday |
|
8 |
The Strategic Plan | Learning materials; Discussion post; Strategic Plan |
Submit your Strategic Plan by 11:59 PM ET on Friday Complete all Discussion work by 11:59 PM ET on Friday |
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
UNE Libraries:
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- Education Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/education/
- Library Tutorial: Find an article
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
UNE Student Academic Success Center
The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
- ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Policies
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the Turnitin Student quick start guide.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Evaluation Policy
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Attendance Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.