PSYC1300 Syllabus (Course Contract)

Please be sure to scroll down through page to read all sections of the syllabus. One of your first week assignments will be submitting a short quiz based on syllabus content.

Course Description & Instructor Information

Welcome

I am delighted you have chosen to enroll in Learning Frameworks. I commend you for placing such importance on doing well in college and developing skills that will not only potentially help you improve your grades and standing in college, but ensure you become a lifelong learner.

By enrolling in this course you are showing that you take your college experience seriously and intend to become a learner who takes responsibility for his/her academic success.

I hope you will not only learn a lot in this course but you will find it fun and engaging. Each lesson is made up of a series of different activities so you won’t be expected to listen to me lecture the whole time! In fact, I hope we will co-create the experience by fully participating in the discussions, being an active member of the various peer-group activities, and communicating to me your thoughts and suggestions about the material I am about to share with you.

This course will only be challenging for anyone who refuses to bring 100% commitment to each lesson. That’s not you…so let us look forward to your earning an A!

Course Description

This course has been designed to expose students to a very different experience to what they may have had in other courses – in terms of:

• A welcoming environment • Strong community-building component – including establishing trust with the instructor

and clarifying course expectations in a fun, inclusive way • Stimulating motivation for attendance and participation • Connecting the purpose of this course (both for math success and overall success in

college) with the student’s personal interests and future direction.

The various topics being covered include: goal-setting, effective time management, note-taking strategies, how to undo “bad” academic habits, test-taking strategies, and much, much more.

Meet the Instructor

Contact Contact Info • Instructor: Dr. Barry Foster • Email: barry.foster@brazosport.edu • Office: 979-230-3419 • Zoom Office Hours – times will be posted in the New Item area • Cell/Text: 509-979-3827(Emergencies only please) • Additional contact: 979-230-3527 (Division Secretary) • Meet the Instructor I have been teaching at BC since 2009. I teach learning frameworks and sometimes Developmental Psychology. I am originally from Louisiana, but moved to Texas when I was 10.

Texas is my chosen home. As an adult I lived back in Louisiana, in Washington State, and Texas. I enjoy hunting, fishing, shooting, participating in the theater, reading, playing guitar, weight lifting, and working around the house. I am a member of the Sons of Texas Motorcycle Club (MC) where I serve as a state officer.

• Instructor: Barry Foster. Ed.D. • Email: barry.foster@brazosport.edu • Office: 979-230-3419 – leave a message if I do not answer • Zoom Office Hours – times will be posted in the New Item area • Cell/Text: 509-979-3827 (Emergencies only please) • Additional contact: 979-230-3527 (Division Secretary)

Course Materials, Tools & Skills

Required course materials are available at the Brazosport College bookstore, on campus or online at http://brazosport.edu/bookstore/home.html. A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college bookstore. The same textbook is/may also be available from in independent retailer, including an online retailer.

The instructor will occasionally assign reading assignments. Students are required to read all assigned material. The reading load is not designed to be heavy. As with any lecture or discussion material, any reading material is fair game for exams, quizzes, or discussions.

Required materials:

o Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell o ISBN # 97800-316-01793-0

• Tools & Skills o Internet browser setting and configuration (Check your Browser) o E-mail and file attachments o Uploading and downloading files o Using a word processing program such as Microsoft Office o 24-hour access to a computer with internet is recommended but not required o An active and current email address – D2L or BC only o General knowledge in using D2L course tools such as email, discussions,

dropbox, and quizzes (view Distance Learning website for manuals and tutorials).

CHROMEBOOK USERS and MAC USERS: I only accept word document files for assignment submissions.

• Chrome book users - to save your Google Doc to an acceptable format make sure you are connected to the Internet then go to File and select Download as and choose Microsoft Word (.docx).

• MAC users – to convert Pages to Microsoft Word - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202227

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

By the end of this semester, through online class lectures, videos, discussions, activities, and a variety of written and other assignments, you will increase your written and oral communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and toolbox of study strategies.

A student’s enrollment in this class acknowledges he/she intends to learn course material AND integrate and apply the learning skills discuss in this class across their own academic programs in order to become effective and efficient learners. Even if you are in an online class session, it is important that you close all other browsers, turn off all other technology, and remove all other distractions during class.

As a college student, you are expected to conduct yourself as a responsible adult. This includes, but is not limited to, attending class (see attendance policy), seeking academic help, and addressing any problems you may have directly with your instructors. Rights and responsibilities of BC students are outlined in the BC Student Handbook and Calendar.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course you will:

• determine their mindset about learning and how the awareness of such can maintain your motivation (drive).

• explore alternative skills that will allow you to change your negative self-defeating and ineffective counter-productive habits.

• be made aware of the opportunities to interact with your classmates, instructor, and other college personnel (example via Scavenger Hunt, Library Instruction & Academic Support Services).

• develop and pursue useful goals. • demonstrate organization of time and study materials. • describe how to store and retrieve information from their memory. • demonstrate effective reading and note-taking strategies that enhance retention and

comprehension. • distinguish effective test-taking strategies to be used before, during, and after taking a

test. • demonstrate critical thinking skills when approaching decisions and tasks. • demonstrate written and oral communication that is appropriate to content and that

effectively conveys meaning and logic. • will gather research, analyze data, and apply knowledge to future college and career

pathways.

• use technology throughout the course

Course Overview & Structure

This is a web-based course delivered through the Virtual Campus portal at Brazosport College. This class runs on a 24/7 weekly schedule. This means that within any given week you are free to choose your own times to learn and participate. Discussions and submission of assignments are open each weekend, and conclude on the following Sunday. Because you are not on a fixed schedule it is up to you to develop the discipline and schedule the time to be an active learner in this environment.

ALL materials (course and reference), communication and testing tools will be available online. Reference manuals can be found on the Home page of D2L under the name of the course – Manuals and Support Info.

There are 15 weeks in the semester, 14 of them are broken into various modules. Most modules contains a presentation, videos, readings, and activities. Some will contain quizzes.

Earning Awards

As specific "benchmarks" are reached and required course activities are completed awards are earned. Benchmark based awards are extra tasks which are not part of the required course activities. These tasks will be labeled as a "Benchmark Opportunity". You do not have to participate in earning "benchmark" awards, grades will not be affected by not participating, but I do hope you will join in since earning awards can be fun and educational. Collecting awards will go toward extra credit.

What types of Awards are available throughout the semester and how to earn them is further described in the course, under Content, Start Here, and Earning Awards.

Course Materials

Course materials (syllabus, required readings, lectures and resources) will be available in the Content area.

Communication

Communication will take place using various interactive tools (Discussions, Email, Dropbox) and may include both real and virtual time (Web Rooms are real time, and may be used for online Office Hours and lectures). Please use your college email account (either Outlook/BC or D2L) when communicating with me – this is college policy. BC requires that you use you college email account when communicating with instructors.

Instructor Response Times

I will respond to critical questions within 24 hours. I will be responding to regular discussion posts and email messages Monday through Thursday by 3 pm and possibly other times.

Emails sent after Fridays at 12 pm will be replied to on the following Monday. Plan accordingly.

Note: Most quizzes are auto graded upon submission and assignments using Dropbox or Discussions will be graded approximately 2 days after due date. The exceptions to this are: Personal Goals and Goals and Motivation Quiz.

• All testing, including mid-term and final, will take place in your online course. • The midterm and final must be proctored via webcam • You are allowed to use notes while testing.

Activity submissions

Submit Activities via the Dropbox. NOTE – assignments placed in the incorrect Dropbox will be not grades and no credit will be awarded. In some cases Discussions and Quizzes will be used. Some of the modules may be closed at the beginning of the semester but will open as the semester progresses.

Course Schedule

The schedule is tentative and might change during the semester according to how the course evolves. The content is subject to change as well, depending on students' interests and progress.

Suggestion – write due dates in/on a calendar or planner. Lack of knowledge of due dates is not a valid excuse for incomplete work.

Activities are due at the end of the week on Sunday at 11:30 pm, except when otherwise noted in the Activity Due Dates column.

3 BIG PROJECTS (Outliers Project, Library Research Assignment and the Career Project) are due during this semester. An introduction for each is listed in the schedule, make sure to mark when parts of each project activity is due.

The schedule is tentative and might change during the semester according to how the course evolves. The content is subject to change as well, depending on students' interests and progress.

Activities are due at the end of the week on Sunday at 11:30 pm, except when otherwise noted in the Activity Due Dates column.

3 projects are due during the course in additional to weekly course activities.

• Library Research Assignment (NOTE – there are 5 parts to this assignments) – Articles A and B ), Day 1 Activity, Day 2 Activity, Draft , Final Copy

• Outliers – (NOTE – there are 4 quizzes and a Presentation) Quizzes, Presentation

• Careers (2 parts are due)

20% Attendance & Participation (15%)/Quizzes (5%)

15% Midterm Exam 15% Final Exam 15% Library Activity 10% Outliers Reflection Papers

Semester grades will be earned as follows:

90% and above A 80 % - 89% B 70 % - 79% C 60% - 69 % D 59.9% and below F

Five and Apply papers and Assignments (25% of semester grade):

The biggest single percentage of points for this course comes from completing Five and Apply papers. These are designed to help you reflect on the course material, your experiences outside of class and college, and stimulate new insights on becoming a more successful learner overall. The highest points will be received by students who demonstrate thought in writing their papers, write at least 400 words (maximum 500 words) on the assigned topic, and take care in communicating their thoughts through use of proper spelling, grammar, and complete sentences. You will use the Dropbox to submit your assignments. The grading rubric for Five and Apply papers is listed below.

Online Five and Apply

Requirements Possible Points MLA formatting/spelling, grammar, and punctuation

15

Word Count (400-500 words) 10 Word count at end of paper 5 Content of paper – specific examples 20 “I learned…” (5 pts each) 25 “I will apply…” (5 pts. Each) 25

More tips on writing successful Five and Apply writing assignments:

• Use MLA formatting • Do not use contractions • Proofread your paper • Read feedback given on graded assignments; feedback is often time sensitive so check

for feedback often. • Read directions carefully (directions are found in each Five and Apply assignment) • Use the format described in each Five and Apply assignment- a very specific

example has been posted in Module 2. Failure to follow these instructions will result in points deducted.

Assignments

In addition to Five and Apply, there are several activities (Career Project and Email activity) throughout the course which fall under this category as well. The grading rubric for the Career Project is below.

Career Project

Requirements Possible Points

All slides included: see example – do not use my slides for your final copy

70

spelling, grammar, and punctuation

10

* Clip art relevant to topic

10

Slide lay out –easy to read, neatly done

10

*Clip art selected should be relevant and enhance the subject discussed in your presentation. Should be no less, but no more than, 1 clip art image per slide. Images added must copyright free, so use the clip art provided in your writing software program, such as Microsoft Office.

Quizzes (5% of semester grade)

Students may have a brief quiz over the material from presentations or reading assignments. The quizzes are taken on line and have a due date. Quizzes not taken by the due date will receive a zero for that quiz grade. NOTE – I need to “hand” score the Goals and Motivation Quiz and the Personal Goals “Quiz.” Therefore, you will receive a “0” on these two quizzes until I “grade” those two quizzes.

Note: Most quizzes are auto graded upon submission and assignments using Dropbox or Discussions will be graded approximately 2 days after due date. The exceptions to this are: Personal Goals and Goals and Motivation Quiz.

• All testing, including mid-term and final, will take place in your online course. • The midterm and final must be proctored via webcam • You are allowed to use notes while testing.

Projects (25% of semester grade)

You will complete two projects this semester: Library Activities (15%) and the Outliers project (10 %). These are listed on the course calendar and more details for each are provided in the course. The grading rubrics for both assignments are in the modules for these projects.

Exams/Quizzes (30%)

Students will complete two major exams (midterm and final) and various module quizzes this semester. More details are provided within the online course, including how to prepare to “ace” these exams. You are allowed to use your notes during both the midterm and final. EXAMS MAY NOT BE TAKEN OR SUBMITTED LATE.

IF THE LATE SUBMISSION HAS BEEN REQUESTED AND APPROVED IN ADVANCE OF THE DUE DATE, THERE WILL BE NO DEDUCTION OF POINTS FROM THE GRADE. AN EMAIL TO THE INSTRUCTOR REQUESTING AN EXTENSION OF THE DUE DATE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT. ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED TO PASS THE COURSE.

• All testing, including mid-term and final, will take place in your online course. • The midterm and final must be proctored via webcam • You are allowed to use notes while testing.

PROCTORING MIDTERM & FINAL

The Midterm and Final must be proctored using Respondus Lockdown Browser. Respondus LockDown Browser blocks applications from being open on your computer as you take the exams and Respondus monitor requires the use of a webcam for recording.

So you are properly prepared for taking the Midterm and Final, you MUST practice using the LockDown Browser by taking a “Practice” quiz which is always open for you to take within the online course. I will not take excuses based on technical issues with using this setup IF you have not practiced.

The practice quiz contains a simple true/false question, so take advantage of this opportunity for practicing with this set up. I will not take an excuse of not knowing how to take the exams due to NOT practicing first. I will know who has practiced prior to taking the exam and who has not.

Chrome book users - pop-ups MUST be enabled in Chrome otherwise you may get stuck on the "Start Quiz" page (how to enable pop-ups in Chrome

Late work policy

Since a core focus of this course is to prepare you for experiences in higher education and/or your future in the workplace, completing work on time is considered highly desirable and an important asset to develop. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Assignments submitted LATE will NOT be graded and WILL BE given a ZERO. This policy is subject to change only with EXTREME extenuating circumstances.

Most assignments are due on a Sunday night. Please keep track of assignment due dates by referring OFTEN to the course calendar. If you do not receive a grade on an assignment, please contact the instructor ASAP. Keep track of your assignments by using the GRADES area in the course.

Computer problems and technical difficulties are not acceptable reason for late work. D2L is shut down at times during the semester for updating – be sure to be aware of these dates. Use good time management skills and start your work early.

Work turned in by the time listed on the course calendar and on the due date listed will be considered on time. Work that has not been submitted by the listed time and on the due date listed, will receive a zero.

Active participation/class engagement (10% of semester grade):

Active Participation/Class Engagement is required and students are expected to LOGIN WEEKLY. Likewise, you will frequently be expected to contribute to group discussions and complete course projects and activities (be mindful of all deadlines). It is the student’s responsibility to keep up and/or contact the instructor regarding issues that could prevent completion of assignments.

If there is no evidence that a student has Actively Participated (as defined below) for two consecutive weeks, the instructor may complete the required paperwork for an ADMINISTRATIVE WITHDRAWAL.

Student engagement in online courses is defined as Active Participation. Online courses will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for student participation, which can be documented by any or all of the following methods:

• Completion of tests or quizzes

• Discussion forums

• Submission/completion of assignments

• Communication with the instructor

Or other supplemental activities as assigned

Withdrawals

It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from a course if circumstances occur that could prevent the student from successfully completing the course such as: medical/family emergencies, deployment, and/or significant economic burdens. Students should notify the instructor of the decision to withdraw and must not expect nor assume the instructor will complete the paperwork for the student. All students who remain in the course after the last day to withdraw will receive a grade based on their performance. Not attending is not the same thing as withdrawing from the class. The last day to withdraw is March 26th.

WITHDRAWAL REQUESTS SHOULD BE SENT DIRECTLY TO ADMISSIONS: admissions@brazosport.edu

Logging in to course

PSYC1300 is a totally online class, which means there are no on-campus sessions. All communication, submission of assignments, discussions, and testing will take place within the online course. The course will be available on the very first day of the semester and you are expected to access the course on that day, just as you would for a class that was offered on campus.

To log into the Virtual Campus and access your course go to https://online.brazosport.edu (add this log in page as a bookmark for faster access). Enter your Brazosport username and password. Once logged in, click on the course title for PSYC1300 in the My Courses area located in the middle of the page.

If you experience problems with log in contact the BC Helpdesk using the information provided below. The Helpdesk is there to provide fast assistance when having technical issues.

HelpDesk Contact Information: text chat with technical support, email helpdesk@brazosport.edu or call (979) 230-3266.

Student Support & Services

• Help Desk o Chat with a Helpdesk representative o helpdesk@brazosport.edu o 979-230-3266 o Helpdesk website o Campus Location: K.100

Online Tutors

o Create an Online Tutoring Appointment o Help Guide: Create Appointment

Online Academic Advisor

o Chat with an Academic Advisor o 979-230-3238 or contact the department secretary at 979-230-3237 o Online Counseling Services website o Campus Location: E-Wing

Learning Services

o Chat live with a Learning Service Representative o Proctor Testing o 979-230-3253 o Learning Services website o Campus Location: view map

Library

o Chat live with a Librarian o 979-230-3310 o Library website o Campus Location: F.134

Campus Bookstore

o Bookstore website o 979-230-3410 o Campus Location: view map

Distance Learning

o Virtual Campus Manuals & Tutorials o Success Tips

o Student Guide & Calendar website o Virtual Campus Tour Reservation form o Distance Learning website o 979-230-3436

Additional support service information, including Virtual Campus Accessibility information is detailed on the Distance Learning website.

When Taking an Online Course

You are currently enrolled in an online college course and will be asked to show a professional and mature attitude through the semester. The following shows what it takes to be successful in learning while taking a course that has little if no face-to-face contact with either your instructor or fellow students:

• Class time ~ 360 hours • Study time ~ 6 to 9 hours of study time per week • Tests ~

o weekly modules and exercises o be aware of quiz dates via Syllabus/Calendar/Announcements o if applicable, form independent study groups with peers o ask questions o quizzes may be timed

• Grades ~ o attendance/effort does NOT count toward a grade, LACK of attendance will

HURT you though o keep track of your own grades using the grad book o calculate your own grades to keep track of grade requirements o have questions about your grade ASK immediately via email (don't wait till the

mid or end of the course) • Instructors ~

o DO not remind you of incomplete work or assignment dates o DO not keep attendance

• Accountability ~ o monitor your own time o make your own decisions about extracurricular activities o practice good time management strategies o understand YOUR responsibilities and expectations of college o BE prepared o DON'T procrastinate

Course & College Policies

Course Disclaimer

Every attempt is made to provide a complete syllabus that provides an accurate overview of the courses. However, circumstances and events may make it necessary for the instructor to modify the syllabus during the semester. This may depend, in part, on the progress, needs and experiences of the students.

College Policies

View current Student Guide & Calendar (includes Student Conduct and Honor Codes) for detailed College Policy information.

Student Conduct Statement

Students are expected to be aware of and follow the Brazosport College Student Code of Conduct. Students have violated the Code if they “fail to comply with any lawful directions, verbal or written, of any official at BC.” Lawful directions include precautions and requirements taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Brazosport College. Students who do not follow safety requirements, including the wearing of a mask, may be removed from class by their instructor and referred to the Dean of Student Services.

Campus Closure Statement

Brazosport College is committed to the health and safety of all students, staff, and faculty and adheres to all federal and state guidelines. The College intends to stay open for the duration of the semester, and provide access to classes and support services on campus in the safest way possible. The College will also comply with lawful orders given by applicable authorities, including the Governor of Texas, up to and including campus closure. It is possible that on campus activities may be moved online and/or postpone if such orders are given.

Academic Honesty Policy

Brazosport College assumes that students eligible to perform on the college level are familiar with the ordinary rules governing proper conduct including academic honesty. The principle of academic honesty is that all work presented by you is yours alone. Academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and collusion shall be treated appropriately. Please refer to the Brazosport College Student Guide for more information. This is available online at http://www.brazosport.edu. Academic dishonesty violates both the policies of this course and the Student Code of Conduct. In this class, any occurrence of academic dishonesty will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for prompt adjudication, and may, at a minimum, result in a Zero for the assignment and/or an F in this course. Sanctions may be imposed beyond your grade in this course by the Dean of Student Services.

Online Student Conduct

• Students are expected to abide by Brazosport College's code of student conduct, including the rules applicable to online courses and student conduct in general.

• Students enrolled in distance education courses are expected to perform with the highest level of academic honesty and integrity.

• Breaches of conduct include: • Misconduct • Cheating on a Test • Plagiarism • Collusion

Title IX Statement

Brazosport College faculty and staff are committed to supporting students and upholding the College District’s non-discrimination policy. Under Title IX and Brazosport College’s policy FFDA (Local), discrimination based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression is prohibited. If you experience an incident of discrimination, we encourage you to report it. While you may talk to a faculty or staff member at BC, please understand that they are “Responsible Employees” and must report what you tell them to college officials. You can also contact the Title IX Coordinators directly by using the contact information below. Additional information is found on the Sexual Misconduct webpage at www.brazosport.edu/sexualmisconduct. Mareille Rolon, HR Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator

Office C-114; 979-230-3303; mareille.rolon@brazosport.edu

Students with Disabilities

Brazosport College is committed to providing equal education opportunities to every student. BC offers services for individuals with special needs and capabilities including counseling, tutoring, equipment, and software to assist students with special needs. For student to receive any accommodation, documentation must be completed in the Office of Disability Services. Please contact Phil Robertson, Special Populations Counselor at 979-230-3236 for further information.

• Steps to Apply for Disability Services at Brazosport College • Brightspace (formally known as D2L), our Learning Management System provides tools

which are compliant and easy to navigate and understand using assistive technologies and devices that support their needs. To learn more about Desire2Learn's commitment to accessibility visit their Accessibility Commitment page as well as their Accessibility Resource Center for both faculty and students.

• YouSeeU is used in our online courses for Virtual Classrooms (live presentations) and Video Assignments. The YouSeeU interface is screen reader friendly and has a high contrast user interface, visit their Accessibility page for additional information.

• YouTube Videos may also be used in online courses. Visit YouTube Accessibility Settings page for additional information on how to set accessibility for YouTube on Android, turn captions on and off and use YouTube with a screen reader.

Student Privacy

Brazosport College is committed to providing services and support to meet your needs and achieve your educational goals. We are equally committed to protecting your privacy. For information regarding the confidentiality of student records please view the Brazosport College Distant Learning Student Privacy Statement. For additional information related to Student Privacy contact the Registrar (979-230-3010).

Brazosport’s online courses may contain resources which link to other websites outside of the Brozosport College system. Brazosport College is not responsible for the privacy practices of these external websites. Brazosport College does not screen the content of any third party websites and is not responsible for their content. Please refer to the third party website privacy policy for specific information.

Copyright Policy

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) updates copyright law for the online (digital) environment. All information posted within the Virtual Campus is copyrighted under this and previous copyright law. No material can be used or redistributed without permission from Brazosport College. Alternative legal sources are available for use by faculty and students including books, music, and movies. There is also our campus library which has a variety of existing licensed and subscription based materials for use. Go to CopyRight@BC for additional information and resources dealing with copyright, practices, and procedures.