EDC&I 505 Seminar in C&IAutumn, 2011

MEd Orientation

Steve KerrMondays, 4:30-6:50

(Oct. 3/Nov. 7/Dec. 5 only)

What Will We Do Here?

• Give you general information about CoE and UW expectations and policies

• Help you understand how to work most usefully with your adviser

• Work on a program of study that supports your goals and meets graduation requirements

• Explore possibilities for final project/thesis (or exam) options

Some General Points

• Try to think of all your work in the program as being connected – make everything count

• Pay attention to rules and regulations as you move along – don’t assume that you can wait and make things come out right later on!

• But also: Follow your interests!• This is graduate school – you’re expected to

take initiative and check on rules and requirements yourself!

The Experimental Approach

• Treat your program as a series of “experiments” – “Did I like that course, that topic, that prof?” “Do I want to learn more about that issue?” “Should I do my final project/thesis on this topic?”

• If you liked it, do more; if you didn’t, don’t! (But also listen to your adviser’s suggestions!)

General Expectations

• Learn the UW Library system• Find out what the major professional journals are in your field,

and read them regularly• Consider joining a professional association for people in your

field • Consider attending (and presenting at) one of their meetings

(regional or national)• Learn about computing facilities and services

– CoE Technology Support, Catalyst Web Tools, the Center for Social Science Computing and Research (CSSCR), etc.

• Assemble a portfolio of your work (this helps with a job search after you’re done!)

C&I, CoE and UW Policies

• Read about the relevant program requirements on CoE and UW Grad School web sites (see list on class site)

• Pay most attention to Grad School policies on things like:

• credits in graded courses (18)• credits in 500-level courses (18)• GPA (courses under 2.7 don’t count; 3.0 overall to

graduate)• These are monitored by computer

Think of Requirements Like This

UW/Grad School(few, but really important)

College of Ed(define overall shape of programs)

EDC&I(details of your program)

I Don’t Think I should Have to…

• See a requirement or policy you don’t think applies (or should apply) to you? Some are easier to change than others:– C&I Policies: Your adviser can approve change– CoE policies: Typically your adviser plus Area Chair,

sometimes Assistant Dean (Marty Howell), can approve change

– Grad School policies: Very difficult to change, but you can appeal for a waiver or exemption – check with OSS

– In any of these cases, it’s a good idea to document the change with a memo for your file

Working with Your Adviser

• Collaborative relationship, with respect from both sides for each other’s time, efforts

• Advisers have different styles:– Some = very specific, very particular about what to

take, how to work; others more relaxed– Some = very knowledgeable about specific rules

and requirements, others not (always check with 206 staff)

When You Meet with Your Adviser…

• Schedule the meeting well in advance– a week or so; don’t assume your adviser can meet

you “this afternoon” or “tomorrow”• When you make an appointment, keep it– If you can’t, let your adviser know asap

• Don’t assume your adviser has unlimited time– For the meeting (assume 20-30 minutes)

What if…

• You can’t reach your adviser?– Send email, leave a phone message, leave a note

in their box, paste a note to their door– Show up during office hours– Could be out of town, at a conference, working in

the field on a research project, etc.– If repeatedly unable to reach, check with Kent

Jewell in 115 Miller

How to Best Use Your Time with Your Adviser

• Go in to a meeting with a specific agenda:– And stick to it!– What questions do you need to have answered?– Where does your adviser need to help you?– When you come out of the meeting, what is your next step?

• Example of a good question:– “Should I take Course A or Course B next quarter?”

• Example of a not so good question:– “What courses should I take next quarter?”

• If asking your adviser to read a draft, allow plenty of time

Ways Your Adviser Can Help You

• Work with you to define – Program of study and final project/thesis

• Connect you to other people, programs at UW• Connect you to sites outside UW• Be a reference – For your job application – After you finish – If you decide to transfer into a UW PhD/EdD program

(adviser’s recommendation = critical)• Help you with (some) problems– With other instructors, UW, Grad School, etc.

Adviser or 206 Miller Staff?

• Adviser: – academic questions– overall program– specific courses– Post-UW career, job

possibilities, etc.

• 206: – Requirements– Grad School liaison– Preparing for graduation– Forms and documents– Going on leave/getting

reinstated– Some financial aid and

residency issues (but these are really at UW level)

And Remember…

• You can change your adviser– Nothing bad or shameful about this; it happens• (But: Don’t do this lightly or often)

– You do NOT need your old adviser’s permission to change!

– BUT you should make sure you have a new adviser before you tell your old adviser!

– Area Chair or Marty Howell can help with this sort of transition, but it’s your job to identify a new adviser and get their agreement to work with you

Program of Study

• Work it out with your adviser!• Look over potential courses (

UW Course Descriptions), actual scheduled course listings (UW Time Schedule) (Winter 2012 will be available soon!)

• CoE will have a new online course schedule available this Autumn – will let you see all courses scheduled for 2011-12 (and eventually for 2012-13)

• Past years’ offerings may give a clue to future offerings (see Time Schedule Archive)

Think About…

• How many credits do I need in which categories? (Grad School requirements, etc.)

• Am I taking courses that are interesting to me?• Am I collecting courses that connect in useful

and productive professional ways for me, my career?

• Do these courses lead to, contribute to a final project /thesis?

Consider Doing…

• Some Independent Study• An Internship or Field Work (if appropriate)• Some work outside the College of Ed• Some work in a field in education you’re

interested in (but unfamiliar with)

Unusual Possibilities

• Course in the catalog but not scheduled to be offered soon?– You can sign up (with a suitable instructor’s

permission) to take the course “Out of Quarter”– Like an Independent Study; course title appears on

your transcript• New job, family emergency, financial woes?– You can apply to go “On Leave” for a quarter (or

more)

For Next Time (Nov. 7)

• Develop a Draft Course of Study Form• Include brief (2 pp maximum) comments on how the

courses– (a) address your own interests– (b) meet the requirements– (c) lead towards a project/thesis

• Submit via CollectIt (Drop Box) on class site• Discuss in Class on Nov. 7• (After Class on Nov. 7) Meet with your advisor and discuss• Revise and submit before Dec. 5

Questions?

• See you on Nov. 7• Use the Catalyst GoPost for additional

comments, questions• Thanks!