From a Ryan Brady Photo

Northland College

Department of Outdoor Education

         OED 480 Seminar in Adventure Education

Syllabus

Course Links:
Grading Rubric for Senior Capstone Projects
Community Member Grading Rubric for Senior Capstone Projects
OED 480 Senior Seminar Vision Exercise 

I. Course Information 

Course: OED 480 Seminar in Adventure Education

Semester: Fall 2005

Class Hours:  Arranged

Credits: 1-4 credits

Fee: $5.00

Texts:  None Required

Deadlines

Last day to add courses with faculty approval.............................................September 16

Last day to drop courses without record .....................................................September 16

Last day to withdraw from full-term courses...............................................  November 4

Instructor: Paul Van Horn

Office: Wheeler Hall 313

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 10:30-1:30; Thursdays, 11:30-2:30

Phone: 682-1324

E-mail: pvanhorn@northland.edu 

II. Course Description:

This course is the capstone course for the Outdoor Education-Adventure Education major.  Students work with local organizations to design, plan, deliver, and evaluate an outdoor adventure project or experience.  Students prepare an exhaustive project plan and submit it to a committee for evaluation before completing the project.  Finally, students give a public presentation to summarize and highlight the successes of the project. 

III. The Capstone Project:

This project represents the culmination of your AE education here at Northland.  It should

III. Intended Learning Outcomes:

·        Successfully incorporate personal vision and goals into the capstone project

·        Develop, with the aid of the course instructor, a grading rubric for evaluation of the capstone project.

·        Accurately assess population needs and incorporate them into final program design

·        Complete all necessary components of a quality program including needs assessment, goals, objectives, risk management plan,

        personal management strategies, evaluation tools, and other items necessary to the individual project.

·        Conduct all aspects of the program with the highest levels of professional conduct and ethics.

·        Prepare and deliver an informative, critical, and professional post-experience presentation to a peer and faculty audience at

       Northland College.

IV.  Schedule:  Each student’s schedule of deadlines must be developed independently.  Students will work with the course instructor to develop productive deadlines for each phase of the project.

V.  Evaluation:

Grading will be based upon the planning, delivery, and presentation of the capstone project.  Students will work with the instructor to develop an acceptable set of specific evaluation tools for their project.  Elements of the project that will be evaluated include:

            Project Plan:                                                                                                         30%

            Project Implementation                                                                                        30%     

            Project Presentation:                                                                                            20%

            Project Reflection Paper:                                                                                     10%

            Community Member Evaluation:                                                                          10%

                                                                                                                        Total:       100%

            Note:

Project Plan: The project plan will be presented at least two weeks before the delivery of the adventure program.  The written project plan will include: 1) Project Title; 2) Project Rationale and Basis  3) Program Goals; 4) Program Objectives; 5) Clientèle Description; 6) Safety Management Plan; 7) Liability Plan; 8) Logistics Plan; 9) Environmental Plan; 10) Assessment Plan; 11) Budget Plan. Plus an appendix section that includes all pertinent documents and forms used to plan and deliver the adventure program.

The project plan will be presented to a review committee composed of 3 members: Paul Van Horn - Adventure Education capstone supervisor, another faculty in the outdoor education program and one leader of the community group involved with the project. The student will be responsible for selecting the additional faculty as well as the community group leader. The review committee will assess the project plan based on 1) quality of presentation, 2) organization, 3) thoroughness.

Grading Scale:

A 100% - 95%  A- 94% - 90% B+ 89% - 87% B 86% - 84% B- 83% - 80% C+ 79% - 77% C 76% - 74% C- 73% - 70%  D+ 69% - 65%  D 64% - 60%  F 59% - less

VI.  Attendance: 

Scheduled classes and separate meeting times are critical to your success.  Please be punctual and prepared for each class or meeting.

VII.  Professional Recommendation:

If you would like to receive a letter of recommendation for employment or graduate work based on your participation in this class you should consider the following: Be punctual and prepare for class by doing all your required readings. Actively participate in class discussions and exercises. Take initiative, do extra readings to explore your interest in group process, and help teach others by holding study sessions. Be a critical thinker; ask questions, challenge assumptions. Turn in your assignments on time. Be polite, professional and courteous.

VIII.  Academic Assistance:

Students in need of academic or medical accommodation should contact Judi Holevatz, R.N., Disabilities Coordinator, @ ext. 1340, Rm. 206 of the Ponzio Center.