INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

OFFICE HOURS  - online or in the MSU Tutoring/Study Room

COURSE STRUCTURE

This course is a hybrid of face-to-face and online learning. The lecture material for this course will be conducted entirely online, while the laboratory will be conducted on the Midwestern State University campus each Monday evening from 5:00 - 6:50 PM for the duration of the semester.  Attendance in laboratory is required and lab assignments cannot be made up, therefore please make sure your schedule is clear each week during the entire scheduled lab time.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Ed. Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

See the tentative course schedule uploaded into Canvas.

GRADING CRITERIA

GRADING SCALE: 89.5 – 100% = A, 79.5 - 89% = B, 69.5 - 79% = C, 59.5 – 69% = D, Below 59.5% = F

COURSE COMMUNICATION: Announcements will be posted in Canvas on a regular basis. They will appear on your dashboard when you log in and/or will be sent to you directly through your preferred method of notification from Canvas. I recommend setting up push notifications through the Canvas app to alert you to announcements, deadlines, etc. You should be in the habit of checking Canvas on a regular basis to keep up with course requirements.

QUESTIONS: It is normal to have questions about things that relate to the course, such as clarification about assignments, course materials, or assessments. Please post these in the QUESTION FORUM which you can access by clicking the DISCUSSIONS button in the course navigation links. This is an open forum, and you are encouraged to give answers and help each other. I will monitor all discussion postings and step in to clarify as needed. If you have a question that you prefer to discuss with me privately, please email, Canvas message, or discuss with me during office hours.

NETIQUETTE: When posting on discussion boards as well as sending private messages, it is important to understand how to interact with fellow classmates or instructors online. You should plan to read about the rules of netiquette as a requirement for this course at  http://www.gadsdenstate.edu/elearning/netiquette This will be an assigned reading during the first unit of this course and assignments will follow to test your understanding.

PARTICIPATION:  Students are expected to participate by engaging in discussions, completing unit assignments, attending labs, asking questions, and commenting (respectfully) on subject matter. The required textbook is a valuable resource of information and students will be expected to keep up with its reading.  Grades will be taken in the form of quizzes, exams, discussion participation, other unit assignments and homework assignments.  Students are expected to participate in all lab exercises and attend all field trips. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.

Missed assignments cannot be made up and late work will not be accepted under any circumstances unless documentation has been provided for an approved college sponsored activity. Make-up exams will not be offered for any reason except for approved college sponsored activities.

 Students will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

If you do not complete the course Introduction Activity by the end of the first week after class begins, you will be dropped from the class for non-attendance.

Last day to Withdraw for the Fall 2018 semester with a “W” is Thursday, November 8^th

For other important dates visit: https://www.nctc.edu/_documents/academics/academic-calendar.pdf

If a student cannot complete all the requirements of this course due to illness or some unavoidable conflict, they must request in writing a grade of “I” (incomplete) in order to be allowed to finish the requirements at a later date. When the instructor receives the request, he/she must reply in writing to the request, explaining why the grade of “I” will or will not be assigned.

DISABILITY SERVICES - THE OFFICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (OSD): provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).  

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-3300.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 111 in Gainesville. For more information, visit the NCTC Office for Students with Disabilities: https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.html

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)        

          Communication

          Mathematics               

X          Life and Physical Science

          Language, Philosophy & Culture

          Creative Arts

          American History

          Government/Political Science

          Social and Behavioral Sciences

          Component Area Option

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES

X          Critical Thinking

X          Communication

X          Empirical and Quantitative

X          Teamwork

X          Personal Responsibility

X          Social Responsibility