ONLINE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT: AN INTODUCTORY COURSE IN ...

ONLINE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT: AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

A Project presented to the Faculty of the Communication Department at Southern Utah University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree Master of Arts in Professional Communication

by Adam R. Bair Dr. Arthur T. Challis, Project Supervisor August 2008

APPROVAL PAGE

The undersigned, appointed by the dean of Humanities and Social Science, have examined the project entitled

ONLINE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT: AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

presented by Adam R. Bair,

a candidate for the degree of Master of Art in Professional Communication,

and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance.

___________________________________ Professor Arthur Challis

___________________________________ Professor Lionel Grady

___________________________________ Professor Patricia Paystrup

___________________________________ Professor Suzanne Larson Graduate Director

ONLINE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT: AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION Adam R. Bair Dr. Arthur T. Challis, Project Supervisor ABSTRACT

This project develops an online course in organizational communication. The project includes a summary of key points in academic literature about online instruction, the best practices used by learners and facilitators in an online environment and examines theoretical approaches to teaching an organizational communication course, including a bracketing of what concepts and theoretical approaches have influenced and formed the researcher`s personal online teaching philosophy.

Also included in the appendixes of this paper are the guiding principles used in the creation of the online environment, course, assignments, and lists of readings as well as documentation of the organization of an online environment course.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS So many people have helped, directed, or provided insight in the process of researching and developing this online class that I wish to acknowledge. Dr. Arthur Challis, my committee chair, guided me from the process of selecting my committee to the theoretical underpinnings that would be critical to include in this project. I also acknowledge my committee members Dr. Lionel Grady, Dr. Suzanne Larson, and Dr. Patricia Paystrup, whose expertise and knowledge were invaluable in completing drafts, selecting course material, and strengthening my overall project. I appreciate the College of Business and Communication at BYU-Idaho who allowed me time to write, research, and complete this project in a quiet office. The Dean of the College of Business and Communication, Dr. Robyn Bergstrom, was always a phone call or email away and provided an excellent sounding board and critical ear, access to resources, and guidance during curriculum design, and most importantly an understanding and empathizing heart. Special thanks go to Kadie Andreasen who has read countless drafts, provided corrections, and a critical eye for my writing during this whole process. Ryan Hales, Andrea Lund, Sage Platt, Katie Sparhawk, and The Alliance have all been so helpful in keeping me sane while completing this project. I acknowledge my professors and teachers at BYU-Idaho who prepared me so well for graduate studies in communication and the faculty of the Communication Department at Southern Utah University who honed and improved my ability to research, write, and prepared me so well for the next step in my education.

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DEDICATION This project is dedicated to the memory of Russell W. Pincock and Eldred E. Bair, my grandfathers who both passed away while I was completing my Masters Degree. All who knew them will remember their legacy of hard work, sacrifice, and love.

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