INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

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

COURSE STRUCTURE

This course is a blending of face-to-face and online learning. The lecture and laboratory will meet on the Midwestern State University campus. Refer to your class schedule for meeting times and room numbers. Attendance in lecture and laboratory is required and assignments cannot be made up, therefore please make sure your schedule is clear each week during the entire scheduled meeting times.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education 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       

EXAMS: There will be 4 regular exams and 1 comprehensive final offered during the course of the semester. Students are expected to take exams on the date given.  As noted previously, the lowest exam grade will be dropped and for this reason, make-up exams will not be offered for any reason except for approved college sponsored activities. Exams will be multiple choice, completion, and short answer/essay. Students will not be allowed to leave class during exams for any reason and all electronic devices must be completely out of sight and turned off. Any student caught cheating during an exam will be given a zero for that assignment. Any unauthorized use of electronic devices during exams will be considered cheating. Please take care of restroom needs PRIOR to the start of any exam; you will not be allowed to leave the room during the exam for any reason unless it has been completed and turned in. Students arriving late on exam day will not be allowed to take the exam if another student has already turned theirs in and left the room.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: You must have access to the Canvas network and or Canvas app. Assigned readings, individual assignments and course materials will be distributed through Canvas. Go to the North Central Texas College website (www.nctc.edu) to activate your Canvas account at the start of this course. You will have an assignment to submit within the first week of class. I will go over how to use the Canvas network in class, but if you have any questions about this system please ask before it is too late. You should be in the habit of checking Canvas on a regular basis to keep up with announcements and course requirements. I recommend setting up push notifications through the Canvas app to alert you to announcements, deadlines, etc.

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.

NETIQUETTE: When posting on discussion boards as well as sending private messages, it is important to understand how to interact with classmates/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.

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.

LEARNING TEAMS: You will be assigned to a learning team the first week of class, which you will work with for the duration of the semester in lecture and lab. In-class team work will take place during the first 15-30 minutes of class, so for that reason please plan on arriving on time to each class and sit with your team members. Many of your assignments and quizzes will be completed as team assignments. You are expected to come to class prepared to work with your team and actively participate. Be sure to exchange contact information with your team members within the first week. Your team members will evaluate your participation efforts in the middle and end of the course.

PARTICIPATION:  Students are expected to participate by attending lectures and labs, asking questions, commenting (respectfully) on subject matter, engaging in the discussions and taking appropriate notes.  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 pop quizzes, discussion participation, group work, and homework assignments.  Lecture quizzes are un-announced and will be given to ensure that the textbook is being read and these cannot be made up.   Students are expected to participate in all lab exercises and attend all field trips unless arrangements are made with the instructor beforehand. Students must 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)

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.

Since the goal of this course is to engage students in active discussions utilizing critical thinking skills, there will not be adequate class time to cover all the course material in lecture format.  Note however, that approximately 60 -80% of the tested material will come from the brief verbal lectures, class discussions/assignments, and PowerPoint lectures.  The remaining material will come from the required textbook readings and completion of textbook outlines and Canvas material. 

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