Session 2 | 1:10PM | Room 2

Presenter: Melissa Shyan-Norwalt, Assistant Professor
Co-Presenter: Matia Solomon, Associate Professor

Title:  Senior Capstones--Big Projects:  Student Engagement and Online Courses

Description: Senior capstone courses are often the single biggest course students tackle in their college careers. Capstones require that students show a senior-level mastery of the contents/application in their major. Different professors handle this differently. Some require research projects, some journals or creative projects. As we, rather suddenly, move/moved to teaching online, there are new challenges.  How do we continue to engage students and mentor them in their projects, and achieve the same high-quality final projects, maintain safety, and ensure ethical treatment of interviewees, participants, and students?  This presentation will be valuable not only for those teaching capstones, but for any who use student projects. We will present considerations and solutions, with examples two capstone courses (PSYC5061 Research Methods: Human/Animal Cognition (taught online since 2016), and PSYC 5052 - Research Capstone: Stress and Health (transitioning to online in Spring, 2021). During our 15-minutes open time, we will encourage discussion of attendees’ course needs.

Abstract: Senior capstone courses are often the single biggest courses students will tackle in their college career. Capstones differ from department to department. Yet all require that students show a senior-level mastery of the contents/application in their major.  In the Psychology Department, for example, senior capstone students are expected to do a final project that demonstrates their understanding and application of theory, of research methods, and their ability to think independently and conduct scholarly work.  Different professors handle this differently. Some of us require research projects, some require journals or creative projects. As we, rather suddenly, move/moved to teaching these online, there are new challenges that occur, ranging from access to technology and methods, to ethics and safety. How do we tackle these—what are our options.  How do we continue to engage students while online, and mentor them in their senior capstone projects, achieving the same high-level quality of final projects, maintaining safety, and ensuring ethical treatment of interviewees, participants, and students?  We will present considerations and solutions, and provide examples of one online senior capstone course in Psychology (PSYC5061 Research Methods: Human/Animal Cognition), which has been taught online since 2016, and an in-person senior capstone course in Psychology (PSYC 5052 - Research Capstone: Stress and Health) which is transitioning to online in Spring, 2021. We will discuss ways to engage students in the creative process, while online. We will discuss ways to ensure safety and high-quality projects. During the 15 minutes question/answer section, we will encourage discussion of participants own course needs. This presentation will be valuable not only for those teaching capstones, but for any course where student projects are used.