Course Information

Course Description:

This course involves the study of modifying student behavior using techniques of applied behavior analysis in a variety of educational settings. Through individual readings, interaction with classmates, and group and individual projects, students will increase awareness for options for modifying behavior with a focus on behavioristic interventions.

Course Objectives:

The student will be able to:

1. Define the legal and ethical parameters of behavior modification programs with children and youth.

2. Identify appropriate operational definitions for behavioral deficits and behavioral excesses.

3. Design and implement valid data collection techniques for analyzing/modifying problem behaviors.

4. Identify environmental factors that support problem behaviors or inhibit development of positive behaviors.

5. Identify research-based strategies for increasing and decreasing behaviors.

6. Design and implement behavioral intervention plans based on functional behavioral assessments.

7. Design and implement plans for generalization and self-management of behaviors.

8. Design behavioral intervention plans that involve other professionals and parents in the behavior change process.

Prerequisites and Corequisites:

None.

Course Topics:

1. Theoretical models for interpreting and modifying behavior.

2. Applied behavior analysis and assumptions about human behavior.

3. Legal and ethical issues in behavior modification.

4. Identifying appropriate behavioral objectives.

5. Methods of collecting and summarizing data.

6. Conducting functional behavioral assessments.

7. Methods for increasing behaviors.

8. Methods for decreasing behaviors.

9. Generalizing behavior change.

10. Self-management of behavior.

Specific Course Requirements:

The student must have a basic knowledge of computers, the Internet, e-mail, word processing software for submitting written assignments to the instructor, and spreadsheet software for data analysis and presentation.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course:
http://rodp.bkstr.com/

Supplementary Materials:

None

Hardware Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. There are no additional specific hardware requirements for this course.

Software Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific software requirements for this course include: Real Player or other media player, Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office.

Instructor Information

Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

Assessment and Grading

Testing Procedures:

Students will be required to respond to essay questions each week covering their understanding of readings/assignments for the week. These questions may be answered at any point during the week, but must be completed and submitted prior to the posting of the next week's questions. Since the course is application based, no additional exams requiring proctoring will be given.

Grading Procedure:

In addition to the weekly essay questions, students will have step-wise assignments requiring them to demonstrate proficiency at using the steps in the behavior change process. These assignments will build on each other throughout the semester and result in a complete initial behavior management program for one individual. Additionally, students will be required to participate in weekly discussion question postings. Grading will be based on the number and depth of responses to the instructor and to classmates according to guidelines (rubric) published upon enrollment in the class. Essay questions, weekly assignments, and discussion postings will receive equal weighting in grading with each activity worth a maximum of 10 points. The behavior management project will be submitted at the end of the term and will be worth a maximum of 100 points. Chat sessions will not be part of the grading process.

Grading Scale:

Grading: Essay questions: 25 %; Projects 25 %; Discussion Participation 25 %; Weekly Assignments: 25 %

90-100---A
80-90-----B
70-79-----C

Below 70-----F

 

Assignments and Participation

Assignments and Projects:

1. There will be weekly reading assignments from the text, professional Web sites, and articles. Essay questions completed each week will be drawn from the readings for that week. These assignments parallel the sequence of "Topics Covered" listed above.

2. Weekly assignments: All assignments are due no later than midnight Sunday.

3. Students must complete a 30 hour practicum working with students with disabilities.

Week

Weekly Assignments

1

Chapter 1 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Individual home page; Discussion question 1

2

Chapter 2 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Identify a target behavior for one individual and write a behavioral objective (with operational definition of the behavior) for that person. Discussion question 2.

3

Chapter 3 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Provide a written defense of the selection of target behavior based on ethical guidelines delineated in readings for the week; Discussion question 3.

4

Chapter 4 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Written plan for data collection for selected target behavior; Discussion question 4.

5

Chapter 5 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Graphical summary of data collected; Discussion question 5.

6

Chapter 6 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Functional assessment of target behavior selected. Discussion question 6.

7

Chapter 7 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Initial draft of behavior management plan for the target behavior selected ; Discussion question 7.

8

Chapter 8 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Final draft of behavior management plan for the target behavior selected, Discussion question 8.

9

Chapter 9 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay questions(s); Written description of baseline data collected; Discussion question 9.

10

Chapter 10 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Week 1 progress report on behavior management project; Discussion question 10.

11

Chapter 11 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Week 2 progress report on behavior management project; Discussion question 11.

12

Chapter 12 in text, plus supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Week 3 progress report on behavior management project; Discussion question 12 .

13

Supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Week 4 progress report on behavior management project; Discussion question 13.

14

Supplementary readings as needed; Essay question(s); Submit completed behavior management project; Discussion question 14.

Class Participation:

Students must actively participate in all discussions posted each week and are expected to respond to classmates' responses as well as the initial stimulus question posted by the instructor. Students are expected to check the bulletin board for announcements, changes in schedule, etc. Weekly interaction with the instructor is expected through e-mail and discussions. Since the nature of the class precludes the type of verbal exchange offered in traditional classes, the student is responsible for notifying the instructor of any assistance needed with the course material/assignments. The chat room sessions are for clarification of material and to ask the instructor questions. As such, these sessions are not required elements of the course.

Punctuality:

The sequential nature of assignments in the course mandates that students complete all assignments in the week assigned. Failure to do so will result in a loss of points for the assignments missed. Late assignments will not be graded or receive credit toward the final grade. It is important for students to be aware of all deadlines as posted. Work, travel, or computer failure are not acceptable excuses for failure to submit work in a timely fashion.

Course Ground Rules

Familiarity with WebCt, email, and Microsoft Office software prior to the beginning of the course is essential

All assignments must be completed on time to receive credit toward the final grade.

Ongoing, weekly contact with the instructor is essential.

All assignments are to be completed in a professional manner. This includes attention to accuracy in spelling and grammar, and with proper credit given to sources students use to complete assignments.

All instructor/student and student/student contact will be conducted in a civil, professional manner. Please remember the misunderstandings that can occur in the absence of nonverbal cues we use to interpret messages. Disparaging comments will not be tolerated and will adversely affect the student's final grade.

Contact the instructor as soon as possible when problems related to the course material/assignments arise. Technical difficulties should be reported immediately to the Eduprise Help Desk or to the Help Desk of the college offering the course.

Each student is expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional or school procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an F or a zero for the exercise or examination, or to assign an F in the course.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

Always include a subject line.

Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.

Use standard fonts.

Do not send large attachments without permission.

Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.

Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussion Groups:

Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.

Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.

Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.

Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.

Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.

Be positive and constructive in group discussions.

Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Chat:

Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.

Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.

Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.

Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.

Be constructive in your comments and suggestion

Web Resources:

Columbia Guide to Online Style by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor

Citation Styles Online http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite6.html

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses.

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of the change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to the AskRODP website at: http://help.rodp.org