EnEd 5560 – Current Research & Issues (3 cr)
Spring 2016
Instructor:
Dr. Ken Gilbertson
123 SpHC
726-6258
kgilbert@d.umn.edu
www.d.umn.edu/~kgilbert
Office Hours:
By appointment (sign up on the schedule posted on my office door)
Course Syllabus
Course Description
This course is intended to strengthen your working knowledge of the research literature
and related issues pertaining to Outdoor Education (Environmental Education and
Adventure Education) plus Science Education as it pertains to Environmental
Education. Outcomes of this course will be an increased knowledge of the salient
research in teaching people about, through, and for the outdoors using science
education and outdoor education. We will focus on research design and methods (not
analysis).
The Outdoor Education component will focus on research design and methods. This
aspect will mostly cover studies that a historical and/or landmark. The Science
Education portion of the course will cover current science education literature and will
focus predominantly on the current state of research in our field. The course will
culminate with a discussion on the future needs of our field (science educ.;
environmental educ.; adventure educ.; interpretation; outdoor educ.; experiential educ.)
From this knowledge, you will be expected to be able to demonstrate your learning by
applying the course information to a problem that is of particular interest to you. Finally,
you will learn what aspects of the literature contributes to the profession. This will result
in a discussion on specific issues concerning outdoor education.
Outcomes of this Course:
From this course, you will be able to:
A. Demonstrate how to find and access research literature.
B. Evaluate a variety of research works with respect to quality and contribution.
C. Critique research designs used in at least four different research problems.
D. Develop at least one research design using a selected problem.
E. Discuss current issues and their effects on outdoor education.
F. Identify and describe at least four salient studies in science education and outdoor
education.
Course Requirements:
1) Complete reading assignments
2) Take part in class discussions
3) Two assignments will be made. They are:
a. Select two research articles and critique the article based upon its research methods,
conclusion, and significance.
b. Give a 10 minute presentation on your thesis topic. Discuss the strengths of your
primary sources based upon their methodology and analysis. This will be followed by an
explanation of the design of your thesis topic.
Grading
Assignment
Points
2 Critiques of
50 ea. = 100
articles
Participation:
50
Synopsis Paper: 50
200
Grade Scale
90%
80%
70%
A
B
C
Text Materials:
Readings: Readings are provided through this web site. You will also asked to obtain
readings from the readings list as a means to learn how to find articles.
Campbell, D. & Stanley, J. (1963). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for
research. Houghton Mifflin.
I want you to be familiar with the research designs in this small booklet. I have a copy
placed in the CEED office.)
(Note: There are other social science research methods texts available from authors
such as Creswell (Research Design) or Babbie (The Practice of Social Research). These will
also serve as reference texts).
Course Content:
1) Introduction
A. Importance of the relationship between research and practice.
2) Research Methods
a. Research Designs
b. Primary methods used in O.E. & Science Education
c. How to critique a research article
d. The design of appropriate research methods.
3) Research in Environmental Education
4) Research in Science Education pertinent to Environmental Education/Environmental
Literacy.
5) Research in Adventure Education
6) Issues in Outdoor Education
Schedule (Tentative):
Week
3
Date
Jan. 25
4
Feb. 1
5
8
6
15
7
22
8
29
9
10
March 7
14
21
11
28
12
April 4
13
14
11
18
15
16
25
May 2
Topic
Introduction;
Expectations;
Research Literature
Discuss article
search;
Intro to Zotero;
Designs: Preexperimental; quasiexperimental;
experimental;
Survey; Evaluation
Review of Designs;
Adventure
Education Literature
Adventure
Education
Environmental
Education
Environmental
Education
Completion of Adv &
Env Education
Science Education
related to Env Ed.
Science Ed
Your current
research topics
Professional Issues
Finals Week
Assignment
Find 4 assigned articles
Read Research Designs in Campbell &
Stanley (Read pages 5-6; 8; 40; & 56)
Refer to Unit #2 on the course website:
1. "Research in outdoor education..." Ewert
(1987). Bradford Papers.
2. "What is the question?" Leek & Peng
(2015). www.sciencemag.org
3. "Validity of psychological assessment"
Messick (1995). American Psychologist
50(9),741-749
Class discussion on Unit #2
Assigned current article on
Outdoor/Adventure Educ.
Discuss critiqued articles
Refer to Unit #3 on the course website
Class discussion on Unit #3
Assigned current article on
Outdoor/Adventure Educ.
Spring Break
Article Critique/Presentation
Class Discussion on current research
Refer to Unit #4 on the course website
Class discussion on Unit #4
Assigned current article on
Outdoor/Adventure Educ.
Class Discussion on current research
Assigned articles pertinent to your line of
study
Class discussion on your article
Class discussion on your article