SWRK 2110-W1 Orientation and Student Expectations

Ken Murray, (credentials upon request) Adjunct Instructor, Department of Social Work Austin Peay State University

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

Welcome
Welcome to the online Introduction to Social Work class. I look forward to challenging your opinions, improving your academic abilities, and fostering an environment for critical thinking.

At the end of the semester, I expect students to not simply know the role of social workers as professionals, but to also understand the way we think and the ethical principles that guide practice. The course will be a whole lot of work, and I will challenge each student to learn and grow, hopefully pushing your academic horizons further than they have been previously.
This is the entry point on a journey to a profession. Critical thinking and evidenced based reasoning starts in this course.

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

Disclaimer
If someone advised you that this is an easy course, or something other than a rigorous, challenging academic pursuit, you may be in the wrong place. Seriously. Wrong place. For real.

If you have difficulty writing at the collegiate level, are unfamiliar with APA 6th edition, or have never used the librarys academic reference databases, you may need some assistance. Perhaps an online venue isnt appropriate for all people.
Social work is a profession that I take very seriously, and this is a gatekeeper course- not a fluffy Easy-A elective. Check your motivation.

Plan to dedicate several hours a few times a week to this course, at a minimum, including some scheduled online group activities

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

Ways to Contact Me
Via email. I prefer murrayk@apsu.edu. It comes straight to my phone, and I can respond to your questions quickly. Via in course email. I only check that when I log into D2L. Via Blackboard Instant Messenger. Install it. Do it now. If my little avatar light is green, I am fair game. Via cell phone. 931-980-. I have a toddler at home, so use discretion when dialing the numbers. If you get voicemail, leave a detailed message including your first and last name, and I will return the call as soon as I am able. In person, if you see me on campus or somewhere else (like getting my oil changed) please come say hi. Please call me Ken in both spoken and written communication between us. Ive worn a lot of titles, but prefer my name.
Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

Got Issues?
This is adult learning. Each student is responsible for their own actions, as I am for mine. If something forseeable will prevent you from completing assignments (childbirth, loved one returning from combat zone, etc), I am far more understanding on the front side than on the back end of a missed assignment. If something completely random happens (D2L crashes, your house burned down)- I will certainly work with anyone affected as far as the course goes. Two consecutive missed assignments is dropped from the rolls, in accordance with university policy. Two consecutive substandard assignment responses may result in activation of the Academic Alert system for the struggling student.

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

Guiding Documents
Syllabus
It is my contract with you. Read it. Reference it. Understand it. Its in the course content section.

Assignment guidelines
For everything I grade, my expectations and helpful tips are written in documents obviously titled in the course content section

Grading rubrics
Nothing up my sleeve. I have shared the way that I grade assignments in the course content section.

Discussion Boards
I share a great deal of guidance in my responses to students within the discussion board area. Dont miss reading it.

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

My Course Philosophy
Academic research and the presentation of that research fosters understanding and learning. The discussion boards are the main focus of this course, and likely unlike other courses students have taken. Each post and response is expected to be scholarly in nature and supported by three elements:
Course texts or assigned reading At least one article each student looks up from a peer-reviewed journal Some acknowledgement of posts already made by peers to substantiate that you are reading them

Exams questions will focus on core principles, not random minutiae like dates or some long-dead persons favorite color. Written assignments need to demonstrate proper grammar, adherence to APA style and show critical thought. Courtesy to each other is required. Ideas may be attacked, but not individuals.
Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

What the heck is critical thinking?

critical thinking noun: disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence: The questions are intended to develop your critical thinking. (Random House, 2011).

Very simply, I am less interested in what you believe (that would be ideology) and far more interested in what you have discovered through your studies. Evidence is the works you choose to cite. There is a hierarchy when it comes to credible sources. Roughly from top to bottom:
Peer-reviewed journals Trade journals Government websites Credible news sources Popular magazines The internet in general
Use these

Not these

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

Peer Reviewed Journals

Peer Review is a process that journals use to ensure the articles they publish represent the best scholarship currently available. When an article is submitted to a peer reviewed journal, the editors send it out to other scholars in the same field (the author's peers) to get their opinion on the quality of the scholarship, its relevance to the field, its appropriateness for the journal, etc. Publications that don't use peer review (Time, Cosmo, Salon) just rely on the judgment of the editors whether an article is up to snuff or not. That's why you can't count on them for solid, scientific scholarship. Peer reviewed articles undergo more review by experts than any other source of information. Here is the bottom line: The internet is filled with loads of information that is bogus, biased, generalized or slanderous. For academic writing and opinions to matter, the EVIDENCE to support them must come from credible sources. The most credible are peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496

Okay- I get it. How do I get them?

Use this link for SOCIndex, a commonly used database in human services. Check the box limiting your search to peer reviewed articles only. Then get after it!
http://library.apsu.edu/inform/EBSCO/21SocIndex.htm

There are others you are welcome to use. I have found that I prefer to use SOCIndex, EBSCO, PSYCHInfo, and Proquest. A complete list is here:
http://library.apsu.edu/inform/2_0.htm

You are able to copy the APA citation for your reference page directly from the source and paste it into your document.

Ken Murray, Department of Social Work, murrayk@apsu.edu, 931-980-9496