Syllabus

Master of Science in Health Informatics

HIN 600: Orientation for Health Informatics

Credits - 0

Description

This self-paced orientation is designed to prepare you for success in the Graduate Programs in Health Informatics (HIN) at UNE. This orientation provides an introduction and overview to the University of New England and HIN. Activities in the orientation prepare you to navigate the online learning environment, locate and access program resources, and learn about the tools and strategies that ensure a meaningful and collaborative learning experience throughout the program. Successful completion of the orientation is a prerequisite for the HIN foundation courses.

Format

This orientation is delivered completely online in Blackboard, UNE’s learning management system. Course participation is asynchronous. The content is presented using the standard format for HIN courses. Students will work through seven learning modules consisting of videos, readings, discussions, assignments, and quizzes. An instructor from the health informatics program will facilitate this course.

Materials

Required

UNE College of Graduate and Professional Studies Handbook

Fandl, K. & Smith, J. (2013). Success as an online student: Strategies for effective learning . New York, NY: Routledge. (This is an e­book available to read online for all UNE students. To access this resource, you will need to login to the UNE library with your UNE username and password.)

Recommended

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (This is a required textbook for HIN 601.)

Beins, B.C. (2012). APA style simplified: Writing in psychology, education, nursing, and sociology (1st ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. (This is an e­book available to read online for all UNE students. To access this resource, you will need to login to the UNE library with your UNE username and password.)

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this orientation, students will be able to:

  • Explain the role that the program’s mission, values, and objectives play in the development of health informatics practitioners. 
  • Analyze scholarly, personal, and technological preparedness for success in graduate education.
  • Identify success strategies for graduate­ level coursework.
  • Use tools and resources in the learning management system.
  • Explain the purpose, policies, and support provided by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Assignments

The quizzes in this course are for reinforcing the key takeaways from the content in selected learning modules. Some of the assignments are designed for practice with completing assignments in Blackboard similar to ones you will do throughout the HIN program. Other assignments are designed to help you prepare for being an online student. When you are finished with all the assignments in the modules, you will earn an Orientation Completion badge signaling that you are ready to begin your coursework.

Quizzes: These quizzes will provide you with an opportunity to reinforce and test yourself on the important takeaways from these modules. You are allowed multiple attempts to get 100%.

  • Module 1: Who’s Who in the Graduate Programs in Health Informatics Quiz (1 Matching question)
  • Module 3: Student Handbook Top Ten Quiz (10 multiple choice questions)
  • Module 3: Financial Aid Top 5 Quiz (5 True or False questions)
  • Module 6: Etiquette Quiz (1 multiple choice)

Discussion Board: This assignment in Module 2 will give you practice in creating discussion posts and in responding to your classmates’ posts — a learning activity used frequently in Health Informatics courses.

Getting Started Checklist: This brief assignment is a self-check to confirm you have reviewed all the materials and performed all the related activities in Module 2.

Time Management Plan: This is an ungraded assignment in Module 4 to help you prepare for your experience in graduate school.  You will be creating a time management plan to use while taking courses.  It is important to note that online classes take a considerable amount of time.  Planning now for how you will manage your time is important for succeeding as an online learner.

Technology Backup Plan: This ungraded assignment in Module 4 has two purposes.  First, it will give you practice in uploading assignments to Blackboard for grading.  Second, it will get you thinking about what to do when an unexpected event prevents you from accessing your virtual classroom.

APA Format Paper: This graded assignment in Module 5 will give you valuable practice using APA style formatting. You will create a short document following the APA Style guide for writing a paper including cover page, running head, abstract, citing references and creating a reference page.  APA Style formatting is used in the peer-reviewed journal articles you will be researching and using throughout your graduate studies. APA formatting is the expectation for writing assignments you will submit throughout this program. Becoming proficient with APA style will help you find and use information in journal articles and write clearly. The APA Format Paper will be scored using a rubric with a 20 point scale.

Orientation Survey: In Module 7, your final assignment will be completing a 6 question survey providing feedback to help us make improvements to this Orientation course.  Survey completion is an ungraded, required assignment.

Schedule

Course Schedule at a Glance

Module Topic Activities and Assignments
1 Welcome and Orientation Overview

Readings & videos as assigned

Who’s Who in the Graduate Programs in Health Informatics Quiz

2 Getting Started with Blackboard

Readings & videos as assigned

Discussion Board Posting

Getting Started Checklist

3 Student Resources and Financial Aid

Readings and videos as assigned

Student Handbook Top 10 Quiz

Financial Aid Top 5 Quiz

4 Succeeding as an Online Learner

Readings as assigned

Recorded Webinar

Time Management Plan

Technology Backup Plan

5 APA Style and Graduate Level Writing

Readings as assigned

Recorded Webinar

APA Format Paper

6  Professional Communication

Readings as assigned

Tutorials

Etiquette Quiz

7  Wrap up

Orientation Survey

 

Detailed Course Schedule

Module 1: Welcome and Orientation Overview

In this module, you will be introduced to the UNE community and the Graduate Programs in Health Informatics (HIN).

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Describe characteristics of UNE, the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and the Graduate Programs in Health Informatics (HIN)
  • Identify key contacts in the HIN program
  • Locate and review the HIN program mission statement

Module 1 Course Materials:

  • Readings and videos

Quiz: Who’s Who in the Graduate Programs in Health Informatics

Module 2: Getting Started with Blackboard

In this module you will learn how to get started in your online courses and practice navigating through Blackboard, UNE’s learning management system. You will also review the technical requirements for online students, and learn how to access technical support for the program.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Navigate through a course in Blackboard
  • Locate and view Blackboard tutorials
  • Ensure your computer is ready for online coursework
  • Identify methods of accessing support for technical issues related to the online learning environment

Module 2 Course Materials:

  • Readings and tutorials

Discussion Board Prompt: Please take a moment to introduce yourself. Where are you from? What are some of your hobbies or interests? What has drawn you to the Health Informatics program? Feel free to post a photo of yourself or of something important to you so we can get to know you a little better

Getting Started Checklist

Module 3: Student Resources and Financial Aid

This module provides you with access to important resources that will support you throughout your graduate studies. It also provides important information about funding your education, accessing financial aid resources, and adhering to financial responsibilities related to your program of study.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Identify and access support resources
  • Locate important policies in the student handbook
  • List funding and financial aid responsibilitiesAccess financial aid resources
  • Access financial aid resources

Module 3 Course Materials:

  • Readings and videos

Quizzes:

  • Student Handbook Top 10
  • Financial Aid Top 5

Module 4: Succeeding as an Online Learner

This module provides you with access to important resources that will support you throughout your graduate studies.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Define factors that contribute to success in graduate school
  • Create a time management plan
  • Develop a plan for consistent access to your online learning environment
  • Perform a system check and configure your computer to run Blackboard Collaborate
  • Submit an assignment in Blackboard

Module 4 Course Materials:

  • Readings and recorded webinar

Time Management Plan Prompt: Managing your time effectively and efficiently is important for all graduate students, and is absolutely crucial for online graduate students. To help you prepare for your experience in graduate school, create a time management plan using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, your own calendar, or daily planner, to prepare a schedule. The level of detail you provide should be based on your own experience of what works best for you. Your plan should include regular intervals of study, work, family, and personal time. Then, try to follow your plan over the next several days. As you do, make note of areas you found it difficult to stick to your plan or areas where you may have over or under projected time needed.

You will not be submitting your time management plan in this orientation. Instead, save the plan and use it in your courses. If you find it difficult to stick to your plan, identify the trouble areas, modify the plan, and see if that will help you manage your time. A few modifications as you move forward are perfectly fine. After all, no one can be expected to get it perfectly right the first time! However, if you regularly modify your plan, that might be a warning sign of a larger problem.

If you find that your time management plan isn’t working for you, feel free to contact your Student Support Specialist to discuss ways to effectively modify the plan. Your Student Support Specialist is here to help you succeed in your online program, and has tips and strategies that can help you get back in control of your time.

Technology Back Up Plan Prompt: You will download the Technology Backup Plan file and complete the sections. You will upload the Word document into Blackboard for Grading following the instructions in Module 4 on how to submit an assignment.

Module 5: APA Style and Graduate Level Writing

One of the more challenging aspects of the Health Informatics graduate program is often graduate level writing and understanding APA formatting and citations. This module will introduce you to graduate level writing and provide an opportunity for you to create a short document using APA formatting and receive instructor feedback.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Format a document according to APA guidelines
  • Locate resources for APA formatting and citations

Module 5 Course Materials:

  • Readings, recorded webinar, and RefWorks tutorials

APA Format Paper Prompt: The purpose of this assignment is to check your understanding of APA formatting. APA Style formatting is used in the peer-reviewed journal articles you will be researching and using throughout your graduate studies. APA formatting is the expectation for writing assignments you will submit throughout this program. Becoming proficient with APA style will help you find and use information in journal articles and write clearly.

You will submit a one-two paragraph paper about any topic you wish. Your paper must include:

  • Two references where at least one reference is a book or journal article
  • Use correct APA citation format/style choices (6th edition)
  • Include Cover Page with Running head, Abstract, and Reference page

Your APA assignment will be scored using a rubric. Please refer to the APA Format Paper Rubric for guidance on submission standards. Remember that you can use RefWorks to format your in-text citations and reference page.

Module 6: Professional Communication

This module introduces you to the expectations of professional communication in your graduate program and provides resources related to netiquette and social media.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Review behaviors that demonstrate professional communication, etiquette and graduate level professionalism
  • List expectations for sending and responding to email
  • Forward emails from multiple personal accounts to your main email account
  • Add a custom signature to your outgoing email
  • Identify the behaviors listed in UNE’s Code of Professional Conduct

Module 6 Course Materials:

  • Online readings and tutorials

Quiz: Etiquette

Module 7: Wrap Up

In this module you will complete a brief survey about the Orientation. After you complete the survey, you will earn an Orientation Completion Badge and be able to begin your first course in online Graduate Programs in Health Informatics!

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 Health Informatics page

APA Style Guide

UNE Libraries:

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:

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

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

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.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that 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.

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 Online Student 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:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. 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.