Writing/Revising the Course Outline: Something for Everyone

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Writing/Revising the Course Outline Something
for Everyone

• Curriculum Institute 2003
• Yula Flournoy, Mt. San Jacinto College
• Theresa Frongia, Santa Rosa Junior College
• Academic Senate Curriculum Committee 2002-2003
• Kate Clark Glenn Y. Yoshida Yula Flournoy
  Virginia McKee-Leone Rita Ramirez Dean-Land
  Michelle Pilati Barbara Hollowell Rita Dean
  Land Dan Crump

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Introduction

• Writing and revising course outlines that will
  work for you, your students, your college, and
  the world.
• Or
• Whats the big deal, anyway?

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All quotes are from Components of a Model
Course Outline of Record November, 1995and
will appear in orange

• Available on the Academic Senate Website at
• http//www.academicsenate.cc.ca.us/Publications/Pa
  pers/Model_outline.htm

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What is a course outline?

• This is a contractual agreement between the
  instructor, the institution and the student.
• It is a matter of public record.
• All instructors should have a copy of the course
  outlines for the courses they teach.
• The outlines also are used by many people outside
  of the institution.
• The syllabus is for personality, the course
  outline is for real.

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Components of a Course Outline

• The Basics title, number, amount of units
• Catalog Description Need/Justification
  Prerequisite(s), Corequisites, Advisory Short
  Description for the class schedule
• Learning Objectives
• Course Content
• Textbooks
• Methods of Instruction
• Methods of Evaluation
• Examples of Assignments

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The Basics

• Title
• Number
• Amount of units

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 The Basics
title, number, amount of units

• Course Title Managerial Accounting-Principles of
  Accounting II   
• Course Number ACCT 125
• Total Semester Units 3.0
• Total units lecture 3.0
• Total units lab 0.0
• Total semester hours (range) 48-54

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The Set Up

• Catalog Description
• Identify target audience. (Revised 08/13/04 ams)
• State overview of the course. (Revised 08/13/04
  ams)
• Need/Justification
• State fulfillment of degree, certificate,
  transfer or other need.
• Distinguish purpose as related to similar
  courses.
• Clearly state goals to allow evaluation of
  objectives.
• Prerequisite(s), Corequisites, Advisory
• Short Description for the class schedule

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 The Set Up

• Catalog Description (75 words or less)
• This elective course, intended for students with
  basic electronic spreadsheet skills, is an
  introduction to the structure of managerial
  accounting. Topics covered include cost
  analysis, cost behavior, budgeting, overhead,
  international accounting, cash flow analysis,
  differential analysis, and the use of electronic
  spreadsheets and other computer tools in solving
  accounting problems.
• Need/Justification (brief summary of the need
  for the course as it relates to the mission of
  the college)
• Accounting is often referred to as the language
  of business. This course is needed to help
  prepare our students for further studies in
  accounting and/or a career in business.

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 The Set Up
continues

• Prerequisite(s), Corerequisites, Advisory (list
  course(s) and competencies needed upon entering
  or in tandem with course to be taken)
• Information in this section will only be entered
  into database only upon the board approval of the
  prerequisite/corequisite/advisory
• Prerequisite ACCT 124 - Financial
  Accounting-Principles of Accounting I
• Advisory CAPP 122A - Using Microsoft Excel
  2000-Level 1
• Short Description for the class schedule (25
  words) (Revised 08/13/04 ams)
•  An introduction to the use of accounting data in
  making operating, investing, and financing
  decisions for a service, merchandising, or
  manufacturing business.

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Learning Objectives

• State in measurable terms what students will be
  able to do "upon completion of the course the
  student should be able to...."
• Be concise but complete ten is too many one is
  not enough.
• Use verbs showing analysis rather than
  "understand," "identify" or "describe" say
  "explain" or "compare and contrast."
• Adequately cover theory, principles, and
  concepts. Use skills and applications to
  reinforce and develop concepts. Don't add
  concepts to supplement skills.
• Be broad and introductory in scope, not too
  advanced, narrow, or specific.

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  Sample outline of Accounting 125 Learning
Objectives

• A. Apply major accounting concepts and principles
  within the corporate managerial structure.
• B. Assemble and process managerial accounting
  data into information that is useful in making
  internal business decisions.
• C. Narrow the scope of available managerial
  accounting data to that which is relevant to a
  particular internal business decision.
• D. Compile and evaluate common managerial
  accounting reports used in service,
  merchandising, and manufacturing businesses.
• E. Solve common managerial accounting problems
  with the use of electronic spreadsheet software
  such as Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3.

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Course Content

• Compile a complete list of all topics taught in
  the course.
• Arrange the list by topic with sub-headings half
  a page is not enough.

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 Course Content

• A. The statement of cash flows
• B. Cash flow analysis
• C. Cost concepts and terminology
• D. Job order costing
• E. Process costing
• F. Cost behavior
• G. Cost-volume-profit analysis
• H. Production budgeting
• I. Cash budgeting
• J. Standard costing
• K. Overhead cost management

• L. Activity-based costing
• M.Performance evaluation for decentralized
  operations
• N. Differential analysis
• O. Capital investment analysis
• P. Discounted cash flow analysis

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Textbook(s)

• The text needs to be at the same level as the
  course.
• Include text (with date of publication and ISBN)
  (Revised 08/13/04 ams) and other instructional
  material.

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 Textbook(s)

• Required Warren/Reeve/Fess (Author)
• Financial and Managerial Accounting (Title)
• Southwestern (Publisher) 7th or most current
  (Edition and Year) 1990 (ISBN) 0324188013
  (Revised 08/13/04 ams)
• Supplemental (Author) (Title) (Publisher)
  (Edition and Year)
• Other Reference Materials/Supplies
•   WebTutor Advantage for Blackboard
• 3 ½ in floppy diskettes or other removable
  magnetic or optical storage
• Four-function calculator (financial calculator
  recommended)

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Methods of Instruction

• Use methods appropriate to the objectives. If an
  objective is self-criticism of original work,
  lecture as a method is not enough.
• Types or examples of methods of instruction as
  well as assignments and how they are evaluated
  see below are required. If all instructors
  agree, the course outline may show just one
  teaching pattern. However, instructors have the
  academic freedom to choose how they will achieve
  course objectives. If other methods are used,
  options should be described fully. Detail may be
  reduced by attaching syllabi with enough
  information to evaluate instructional
  methodology.

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 Methods of
Instruction

• Methods of instruction may include, but are not
  limited to the following
• Lecture and evaluation of accounting concepts and
  principles within the corporate managerial
  structure.
• Individual and group assembly and processing of
  managerial accounting data into information that
  is useful and relevant in making internal
  business decisions.
• Individual and group compilation and evaluation
  of common managerial accounting reports using the
  whiteboard, overhead projector, or instructional
  computer.
• Reinforcement of managerial accounting concepts
  and terminology using Blackboard 5 or similar
  Internet courseware.

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Methods of Evaluation

• This section should be substantively related to
  the stated objectives of the course.
• The evaluation must clearly show that critical
  thinking skills are required.
• Types or examples should be extensive enough to
  show that all course objectives are evaluated.
• Statements in this section should clearly show
  the basis for grading. For example, "term paper
  shows topic coverage, basis of comparison, and
  critical analysis."

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 Methods of
Evaluation

• A student's grade shall be determined by the
  instructor using multiple measures of performance
  related to the course objectives. Methods of
  evaluation may include but are not limited to the
  following
• Completion of assignments that demonstrate
  mastery of major accounting concepts and
  principles within the corporate managerial
  structure.
• Participation in class and group discussions to
  determine whether the student has mastered the
  major managerial accounting concepts.
• Performance on quizzes and chapter examinations
  to determine whether the student has mastered the
  major managerial accounting concepts.

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Examples of Assignments

• Assignments should be directly related to the
  objectives of the course.
• They should be specific enough to provide real
  guidance to faculty and clear expectations for
  students.
• A description of the type or examples of
  assignments are required. For example, rather
  than "term paper" state "term paper comparing and
  contrasting the social aspects of the hunting
  tactics of two mammal species."

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Examples of Assignments, cont.

• This section must establish that the work is
  demanding enough in rigor and independence to
  fulfill the credit level specified. The nature of
  the assignments must clearly demand critical
  thinking.
• Assignments should be adequate to assure that
  students who successfully complete them can meet
  the objectives of the course. Appropriate
  out-of-class work is required for credit courses.

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Sample outline of Accounting 125 Examples of
Assignments

• Analyze marginal revenues and costs and prepare a
  differential analysis report to help management
  decide whether to sell rough-cut lumber as is, or
  process it further. Based on your analysis,
  provide your recommendation to management in a
  separate paragraph. 
• Using variable cost analysis, determine whether
  to keep or drop a product line that shows a net
  loss on an absorption-cost income statement.
  Based on your analysis, provide your
  recommendation to management in a separate
  paragraph. 
• Using discounted cash flow analysis and the
  present value tables in the appendix to the text,
  determine whether a company should invest in a
  particular asset given expected future cash flows
  and a predetermined minimum rate of return. In a
  separate paragraph, explain
• your assumptions about future rates of return
• any qualitative factors that should be
  considered in making a final decision.

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What is an integrated course outline?

• Learning Objectives
• Course Content
• Methods of Instruction
• Methods of Evaluation
• Examples of Assignments
• These must all interrelate.

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Integrating Methods of Evaluation with Course
Content and Learning Objectives

• Method of Evaluation
• Performance on quizzes and chapter examinations
  to determine whether the student has mastered the
  major managerial accounting concepts.
• Course Content
• Cost concepts and terminology
• Learning Objective
• Apply major accounting concepts and principles
  within the corporate managerial structure.

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Integrating Assignment with Learning Objective

• Assignment
• Analyze marginal revenues and costs and prepare a
  differential analysis report to help management
  decide whether to sell rough-cut lumber as is, or
  process it further. Based on your analysis,
  provide your recommendation to management in a
  separate paragraph.
• Learning Objective
• B. Assemble and process managerial accounting
  data into information that is useful in making
  internal business decisions.
•  

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Final Note

• There will be additional models of course
  outlines on the Academic Website soon.

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Helpful Websites

• The second edition of the Program and Course
  Approval Handbook
• http//www.cccco.edu/divisions/esed/aa_ir/aa_ir.ht
  m
• Academic Senate Curriculum Website
• http//www.curriculum.cc.ca.us/Curriculum/DevelopC
  urOutline/ModelOultine.htm
• For stylistic considerations http//www.curriculu
  m.cc.ca.us/Curriculum/DevelopCurOutline/Stylistic_
  considerations.htm
• Elements of a model outline. http//www.curriculu
  m.cc.ca.us/Curriculum/DevelopCurOutline/ModelOulti
  ne.htm
• Blooms Taxonomy
• www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/bloom.html
  

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More Helpful Websites

• Course Outlines available on-line
• www.msjc.edu/currcomm/
• www.foothill.fhda.edu/staff/century/
• www.miramarcollege.net/projects/league
• www.palomar.edu/alp
• www.pasadena.edu
• www.lbcc.edu
• webcms.sierracollege.edu
• www.santarosa.edu/curriculum