EDC&I 505 Seminar in C&I Autumn, 2011 MEd Orientation

EDC&I 505 Seminar in C&IAutumn, 2011MEd Orientation Steve Kerr Mondays, 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

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 StudyForm • 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 GoPostfor additional comments, questions • Thanks!

EDC&I 505 Seminar in C&I Autumn, 2011 MEd Orientation