Syllabus

Schedule

Remember, this course schedule runs on the odd-numbered weeks. Each week starts on Wednesday at 12:00 am Eastern Time (ET) and closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET. All assignments must be submitted by 11:59 pm on the due date. A combined (16 week) course schedule-at-a-glance is linked in Blackboard.

Course Schedule-at-a-Glance

Learning Modules	Topics	Assignments Due
Week 1 1/8 – 1/15	Introduction to Literature Reviews	Research Question, Preliminary Search Terms, and Returned Citation Count due Wednesday
Week 3 1/22 – 1/29	Navigating the Research Paper	No assignment submissions
Week 5 2/5 – 2/12	Refining the Literature Search	Refined Search Terms due Wednesday Literature Review Matrix due Wednesday Annotated Bibliography due Wednesday
Week 7 2/19 – 2/26	Background, Significance, Methods, and Results	Submit one of these section drafts: Introduction, Background & Significance Section Draft or Methods Section Draft  or Results Section Draft due Wednesday
Week 9 3/4 – 3/11	Background, Significance, Methods, and Results	Submit one of these section drafts: Introduction, Background & Significance Section Draft or Methods Section Draft  or Results Section Draft due Wednesday
Week 11 3/18 – 3/25	Background, Significance, Methods, and Results	Submit one of these section drafts: Introduction, Background & Significance Section Draft or Methods Section Draft  or Results Section Draft  due Wednesday
Week 13 4/1 – 4/8	Writing the Discussion and Conclusion	Discussion and Conclusion Sections Draft due Wednesday
Week 15 4/15 – 4/22	Putting it all Together	Final Research Paper due Wednesday

Weekly Course Schedule

Week 1 — Introduction to Literature Reviews

Learning Outcomes:

• Construct a research question specific to a problem related to your practicum experience.
• Define search terms and select databases.
• Conduct a preliminary literature search to support your research question.

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignment:

Research Question, Preliminary Search Terms, and Returned Citations Count: In this assignment, construct your research question related to your practicum experience, select bibliographic database search terms, and conduct a preliminary search for peer-reviewed literature. Submit your assignment as one Word document. Your submission should include:

1) Research Question: Develop a research question that is related to what you are doing in your practicum experience. For example, if you are analyzing medication error data as part of your practicum experience, then your research question should address something about medication errors. Use the resources in this module as a guide. Your research question should clearly explain the problem of interest including population affected (if applicable), and environment (primary care, acute care, etc.).

2) Preliminary Search Terms and Results: Once you have constructed your research question, the next step is defining your search terms and selecting databases for conducting your preliminary search for peer-reviewed journal articles. Create a table to document the following information: list of search terms including combinations of terms, date ranges used, bibliographic databases used, and count or number of returned citations per search term and database used.

Refer to the Research Question, Preliminary Search Terms, and Returned Citation Count Rubric for submission guidelines.

Week 3 — Navigating the Research Paper

Learning Outcomes:

• Navigate research paper content
• Practice how to read and evaluate a journal article

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignment: 

There are no assignments to submit this week. Use this time to work on refining your search terms, gathering peer-reviewed literature, and applying how to evaluate a research paper for your annotated bibliography due in week 5. Creating a spreadsheet or matrix to track your research articles and notes is highly recommended.

Week 5 — Refining the Literature Search

Learning Outcomes:

• Refine literature search terms
• Create an annotated bibliography

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignments:

Refined Search Terms: In this assignment, use the feedback you received on your research question and preliminary search terms assignment in week 1. In your submission:

• Revise your research question based on instructor feedback, if needed, or resubmit original question at the top of the page.
• Update your search terms table. Strikeout old entries (do not delete) and add new entries using a different color text.
• Write a paragraph stating what you changed (research question, search terms, databases) and why you made the changes.
• Submit a Word document using APA Style formatting. Refer to the Refined Search Terms Rubric for submission guidelines.

Literature Review Matrix: Download the Synthesis Matrix Spreadsheet. As you read and evaluate studies/articles from your library searches, you will document each one you plan to review as part of your paper on the spreadsheet. Follow the directions included on the spreadsheet and complete each column. Be sure to include an APA formatted citation for each study/article. Submit your completed matrix. Refer to the Synthesis Matrix rubric in My Grades for submission guidelines.

Annotated Bibliography: This assignment has two parts. Part one of the assignment is to provide an APA formatted list of citations of the studies/articles you plan to review as part of your paper. Part two of the assignment is to write an analytical Annotated Bibliography for five of those articles. Your submission should include the list of all the studies/articles you plan to review as part of your paper formatted according to APA Style for references. An analytical Annotated Bibliography for five of those articles (peer-reviewed and published within the last 10 years) with citations in APA Style. See Blackboard for the full assignment instructions and refer to the Annotated Bibliography Rubric for submission guidelines.

Weeks 7, 9, 11 — Introduction, Background and Significance; Methods; and Results

Introduction, Background and Significance

Learning Outcomes:

• Establish the context for the research question
• Develop an Introduction, Background and Significance sections of a research paper

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignment:

Introduction, Background and Significance Section Draft: In this assignment, draft the first two sections of your paper, introduction, and background and significance. Your submission should include:

• Introduction: This is a preview of your paper. For now, introduce your topic and research question. You’ll have more to add to this part once you’ve written the rest of the sections.
• Background and Significance: Here you will explain the context of the problem described in your research question and why it is important to study and end this section by stating your research question.
• Submit a Word document using APA Style formatting and citations. Refer to the Introduction, Background and Significance Section Draft Rubric for submission guidelines.

Methods

Learning Outcomes:

• Analyze results of peer-reviewed literature search
• Explain search strategy, rationale, and high level differences among selected articles

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignment: 

Methods Section Draft: Describe your search strategy (databases, search terms, publication dates), inclusion and exclusion criteria for acceptance of the journal articles selected for inclusion in the literature review. The meta-analysis is a broad overview of the selected articles. The Kay (2015) video begins with a good example. Also look at the Methods section through the Results section 3.1 of the Ohashi (2014) article. Your submission should include:

1)Description of search strategy including at least:

• Bibliographic databases
• Years searched
• Search terms used (individually and compound)

2)Inclusion and exclusion criteria

3)A meta-analysis of the selected articles. The meta-analysis provides greater detail about the selected articles overall.

You may also include a graphic or table for instructor feedback. A graphic like Figure 1 in the Ohashi (2014) article will be required in your final paper submission. Submit only your Methods Section Draft as a Word document with a cover page and reference page using APA Style formatting and citations. Refer to the Methods Section Draft Rubric for submission guidelines.

Results

Learning Outcomes:

• Synthesize findings across articles used to address the research question
• Develop the results section of a literature review

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignment:

Results Section Draft: Summarize and synthesize the study outcomes. Use overarching themes to organize your content; subheadings within the text help to orient the reader. Do not include your opinion or experience. Submit only your Results Section Draft as a Word document with a cover page and reference page using APA Style formatting and citations. See Blackboard for resources and an example to assist with completing this assignment. Refer to the Results Section Draft Rubric for submission guidelines.

Week 13 — Writing the Discussion and Conclusion

Learning Outcomes:

• Synthesize research and experience
• Develop conclusions from a literature review for a research question

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignment:

Discussion and Conclusion Section Draft: Draft the Discussion and Conclusion sections of your paper.

• The discussion section is an opportunity to describe your practicum experience within the context of your literature findings and research question. Was your experience the same as reported in the literature? Why or why not?
• In the conclusion section, you will summarize the main points from the literature review and how well your practicum aligned with the literature. What conclusions can be drawn to answer your research question and what gaps remain?
• Submit only the discussion and conclusion sections of your draft as a Word document with a cover page and using APA Style formatting and citations. Refer to the Discussion and Conclusion Section Draft Rubric for submission guidelines.

Week 15 — Putting it all Together

Learning Outcomes:

• Appraise the gap between research and practice
• Revise separate draft paper sections into a whole, polished finished product

Course Materials: 

See Blackboard for assigned online course resources.

Assignment:

Final Research Paper: The final project for this course is a research paper addressing a specific problem related to your practicum experience. Revise your paper based on the feedback received on prior submissions and assemble the sections into a complete, polished final version. You will submit the 10-15 page paper as a Word document using APA Style formatting and citations. Refer to the Final Research Paper Rubric for submission guidelines.

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

• https://www.apastyle.org

UNE Libraries:

• Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
• MSIN Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/health-informatics/
• 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:

• UNE Student Academic Success Center

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.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

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

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

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 guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

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.

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.

Attendance Policy

8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of 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.