Seminar for MS/TSM Students
Assignments

All assignments must be handed in on BlackBoard. See the specific assignment for details. See the course schedule for due dates. Presentations MUST be made on the scheduled date to receive credit.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

You will be asked to participate in three (3) online discussions. You are expected to do some background research, and cite your sources. You must cite at least one source that no one else has cited yet to receive an A. Respond to each of the following topics.

1. How can one measure the benefits/impact of an educational policy such as NCLB? Based on that measure, how successful is NCLB?
2. Every policy has its costs. Financial costs are just one type; there may also be costs to institutions, social groups, or individuals. Explore one of these types of costs of NCLB. Are the benefits obtained worth the costs?
3. With NCLB up for renewal, there is heated discussion on how it might be improved. Propose (or present) one of these ideas, and explain how you expect this to impact the cost/benefit ratio?

Topic Presentation

Select an important technology-society problem that is of interest to you. You will be required to do your own research on this topic, and then lead an in-class discussion. As you research this topic, be sure you can answer the following:

• What historical events or situation led to the implementation of this technology?
• What are the goals?
• How is this technology implemented?
• How can its success be measured? Is the technology successful based on those measures?
• What are some of the costs (financial and social) of this technology? Are they worth the benefit?
• How might the goals be better reached?

Masters Project Proposal

Half of the work in doing a master's project is coming up with a good idea, and developing a plan for how to implement it. You will develop your proposal in the following stages.

1. Write a proposal outline.
• Identify a Request For Proposals (RFP) that relates to your area of interest. Go through the RFP and highlight phrases that indicate what the funding agency is looking for.
• Write a Project Summary. This must be no more than 1 page in length. It should summarize what you are proposing to do, and why.
• Create a proposal outline for the project description with the following sections:
  • Introduction
  • Rationale and Significance
  • Plan of Work
  • Management Plan (deliverables and a timetable for producing them)
  • References
• Copy relevant words/phrases/sentences from the RFP into your outline. This will remind you of what needs to go in the various sections. (Hint: I generally italicize these copied phrases so that I remember to replace them with my own information.)
• Email the summary, the outline, and a link (or copy) of the RFP to Lori.Scarlatos@stonybrook.edu.
2. Write a first draft of your proposal, by filling in your outline. This should be complete, and ready for a first review.
3. Read your fellow students' proposals (you will be assigned 2-3 to read), and fill out the review sheets.
4. Revise your proposal based on the reviews and faculty comments that you receive.
5. Present your proposed topic to the class on the last day.