COURSE DESCRIPTION/PURPOSE AND GOALS OF COURSE:

This course will explore the social, psychological, cultural, and personal experiences of death, grief, and loss. Current theories and research regarding the study of death and dying will also be introduced and discussed. Attention is also given to appropriate coping strategies for dealing with death and for aiding others in the coping process.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. To analyze contemporary attitudes and beliefs about death. 

2. To understand the practices of dying and subsequent coping skills. 

3. To understand the process and rituals associated with bereavement. 

4. To explore the impact of death, dying, and bereavement on the family. 

5. To understand legal and ethical issues associated with death and dying.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

STUDENT BEHAVIOR: What is expected of you!

IF THIS IS AN ON CAMPUS COURSE: Students are expected to attend class, to participate in class and to prepare for class lectures and discussions by reading the text and doing homework assignments. Students are expected to turn off all electronic devices (if you have a sick child, you may bring your phone and put it on vibrate). Please do not engage in side conversations during class time, texting, reading newspapers, taking naps, and any other distracting behaviors. If you miss class, you are expected to contact the instructor and/or other students in the class to get information about the class. 

FOR ALL COURSES: Since this instructor emails reminders via the AC ONLINE classroom announcement page, it's best to check into your AC ONLINE class frequently.  As well, all course notes and assignments are in the AC ONLINE classroom folders, as directed by your instructor.   It is your responsibility to get the information and printed materials, as well as take EXAMS in the AC Online classroom. If you don't have a computer, simply check the ones in the library.  You can get onto AC ONLINE from any computer anywhere!

Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty, refraining from cheating on EXAMS or plagiarism. YOUR EXAMS ARE MEANT TO BE TAKEN BY YOU!  IF THIS INSTRUCTOR LEARNS THAT YOU ARE COLLABORATING ON EXAMS, YOU WILL FAIL THE COURSE!  Plagiarism on written work will NOT be tolerated.  PLAGIARISM IS USING SOMEONE ELSES’ MATERIAL AS IF IT WERE WRITTEN OR ORIGINATED BY YOU.  If you plagiarize, you can fail the assignment and receive a 0.  Plagiarism means copying off of the internet, quoting directly without giving credit to the source, or using parts of another persons work as your own. Copying and pasting material off the internet is strictly forbidden!   YOU MUST CITE ALL SOURCES AND HAVE A REFERENCE SECTION WITH APA STYLE CITATIONS FOR YOUR PAPER! PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE IN THIS BEHAVIOR.  We have access to a plagiarism checker program and any paper that this instructor sees is plagiarized in part or in full, will be getting a 0 on the paper, and a letter of reprimand will be filed in your academic record.  IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER SOMETHING IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM, PLEASE ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR BEFORE YOU ENGAGE IN QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOR!  AGAIN, I CONSIDER THIS A VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE AND WILL NOT TOLERATE IT!!!

FOR ONLINE COURSES AND ONLINE PORTIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND HYBRID COURSES: Students are expected to engage in appropriate "netiquette" in the ONLINE PORTIONS of this class AT ALL TIMES.  Inappropriate online behaviors, such as swearing, discussion of inappropriate issues NOT related to the course room material, or any type of intolerance or rudeness to other learners will not be tolerated and may result in having to drop this course, failing the class, or dismissal from Amarillo College. Treat others as you like to be treated and everything should be fine!

Now, having said that, please remember that this is an COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE, and we will be discussing controversial issues in an ADULT MANNER!  You are expected to act like an adult in these discussions and realize that others may think and feel differently than you on a host of issues related to sociology!  Diversity is a GREAT THING and to be APPRECIATED in this instructors opinion.  If you find something offensive that is said by another student OR your instructor, please don't hesitate to contact me and discuss this with me.  However, it's important to remember that this course is not designed to CONFIRM YOUR OWN POLITICAL or RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, but rather to get you to think about sociology, society, and people in a bigger way than you may have already been exposed to. IN THAT, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES, AS YOU ARE BEING REQUIRED TO STRETCH OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE! This is a part of what it means to get an education!  Obviously, learning to see the world in a different light is the goal of this course!   You are encouraged to debate others, and your instructor, in a polite BUT WELL INFORMED manner!  If you want to debate a point made, all this instructor asks, is that you bring your sources and do a good job of backing up your ideas.  In academics, we like well informed opinions!  This is KEY to analytical and creative thinking and is the hallmark of what it means to have academic freedom!  If you are not comfortable expressing your opinions in front of the class, you may obtain 10 extra credit points by WRITING a rebuttal paper.  If your instructor feels that you have backed up your point of view with sources that are informed and expert on the topic, your instructor will READ your paper to the class (with your permission of course!).  Let's enjoy the spirit of debate and differing viewpoints.  I look forward to a REAL educational experience with you all! 

If you have a complaint about this course, please contact me first.  If you are uncomfortable doing that, you may contact my supervisor, Dr. Alan Kee, at DUTTON HALL 202-N, or call him at 371-5183. 

If you have a concern that something you want to say or write that you think might offend others in the classroom or in the online course-room, run it by me first. Simply contact me via the AC ONLINE class email. As well, if you are aware of any student being mistreated or harassed in this course (including yourself), please bring it to my immediate attention.  We have zero tolerance for any student being mistreated here at Amarillo College. This will be a SAFE place for the expression of ideas and exchanges! Remember, you are an adult and differences in opinions, beliefs and ideas are a critical part of adult education!  You are expected to be an adult in this class!  Thank you for making our class a safe place to discuss ideas and to learn!   ~ Dr. Harding

Grading Criteria

Your Final Grade is comprised of the following point items:

Syllabus Quiz                                                                                                         = 10 points

Unit 1 and Unit 2 Discussions are 20 points each                                                       = 40 points

Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 Exams over Kastenbaum are worth 100 points each

             (you get to drop your lowest score from the first 3 exams. NOTE: the grade book automatically drops lowest or missed score)                                                                                             = 200 points

 Unit 4 Exam over Klicker book worth 100 points and is required for everyone                  = 100 points

Final Project: Death & Dying Inventory worth 100 points                                                 = 100 points

Extra Credit donation (voluntary) worth up to 20 points                               (=up to 20 points)

Total points = 450 points (with up to 20 extra credit points

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR THE EXAMS?

1. This is a three hour course. An estimate of study time outside of class is 3 hours for every 1 hour in class. Therefore, you need to plan on spending at least 9 hours per week in studying for this class outside of class. 

2. Studying in college is a complex task in that it involves many factors such as time management skills, reading ability, nutrition, exercise, study skills, motivation, sleep, and stress among others. The guidelines offered in this section may help to some degree. However, I recommend that you take the course on Student Success at AC and/or read books on study skills, motivation, time management, and stress management.

3. Achieving success in this course will require a time commitment. I recommend that you prepare for your exams and for class by ACTIVELY reading and outlining (taking detailed notes) the assignments.  Then, I suggest you take practice exam questions as there are publisher INTERACTIVE QUIZZES For Kastenbaum. As well, you will want to fill out the study guides as you read the text.  This will help you focus your ideas on main concepts.  Students who commit to doing this tend to get the highest grades in my courses.!

4. I recommend that you use a word processor to create your own outline of the reading material and answer the study guide questions and definitions. After you complete this process, you have a way to test your knowledge level and you will have covered the material in a systematic and comprehensive manner. This process will allow you to “chunk” the material into smaller pieces, which is more effective than trying to “digest” it all at once by cramming or just “reading over” or skimming over the reading.

5. If you are having difficulty with the material, you may want to receive tutoring or study skills training free of charge from the Access Center (Library; 3rd floor). There are also many web sites on study skills and strategies.

6. Study "How To Prepare For Exams" and “How to Study by Summarizing and Marking the Text.”  This information will help you to develop effective study skills. These documents can be found under the Lessons Tab.   

7.  Students report that it is helpful to make a flash card for each paragraph of reading material.  They ask a question on one side of the card and answer it in their own words on the other side of the card.  Then, they have a way of testing their understanding of the content. 

EXAMS:

1. How many exams are there in this course?

There will be four multiple choice EXAMS.  The four exams include Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3 over the KASTENBAUM text, and the final Exam 4 which covers the KLICKER text and has a few Comprehensive questions on it. You get to DROP YOUR LOWEST EXAM from Units 1,2, or 3, but EVERYONE MUST TAKE THE UNIT 4 Final Exam.   Each exam is worth 100 points towards your final grade. .  

2. How many questions are on the exams?  How much time do we have to take each exam? 

Each online exam will have 40 to 50 questions that will be randomly selected from a test generator.  Each online exam will have a time limit of 65 to 80 minutes (a little more than 1.5 minutes per test item), so you will not have much time to look up the answers.  In other words, you will need to know the information well before you take the online exams. YOU GET TWO ATTEMPTS ON THE FIRST EXAM ONLY!  This is to help you if you haven’t taken an online exam before. If the timer bothers you, cover it over with a sticky note.

3. What time do the exams open and close? 

In my course, exams are open at the start of the unit. Since this is an online class, you can work ahead if you like. All exams close at 11:55 pm on the DATE POSTED ON THE CALENDAR! If you miss an exam, in units 1, 2 or 3, that will be a 0 and will be your dropped score.  You will need to be sure to allow plenty of time to take the exam.  You need to allow an hour and a half to take an exam, even though most students will finish in about 50 minutes. Once you start the exam, keep working as the exam will TIME OUT. If you get thrown out of the exam, go right back in. If you cannot get back in, TAKE A SCREEN SHOT of the ERROR MESSAGE to show me.

4. What are the basic instructions for taking the exams online?

All exams will be taken online.  You are allowed to use your notes on the exams.  You will be able to see only one question at a time, and you will have one attempt for each question.  You are not penalized for guessing.  You can go back and review or answer questions.  Remember to click the “submit” button at the end of your exam. 

The computer will allow you to stop the exam at any given time during the time allowed.  You can then go back into the exam and resume taking the exam.  However, no matter how many times you stop and resume the exam, the timer NEVER STOPS.  For example, let's say that you have an exam set for 75 minutes. You start taking the exam at 3:00pm.  Again, no matter how many times you stop and resume the exam, the timer NEVER STOPS.  (If you stop an exam, the timer will continue to run.)  Therefore, your access to the exam will be over at 4:15 (75 minutes) no matter how many times you start and stop the exam. 

Please review the test dates in this course schedule. If your schedule cannot accommodate these dates and times, you will need to drop this course and find a course that will work with your schedule. No exams will be given after the deadlines posted in your course schedule with the exception of a true emergency such as death in the family or serious illness. In such a case you must provide documentation from a physician or psychologist indicating that you were not able to complete the final exam.

5. What is the penalty for cheating on an exam?

You may NOT have another person with you at the time that you are taking one of the online exams.  If there is indication that you received help during an online exam, the penalty will be an F in the course and likely expulsion from Amarillo College.  

6. Do you release the tests or allow additional time to go back and review the exams?

You can review your exam the day it closes to see what you missed. Go to MY GRADES and click on the exam to review it.

7. Do you offer extra credit?

Yes. You can donate up to $20.00 of food to the AC Pantry or HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK. You must get a receipt from the Pantry folks or the Food Bank people, as well as provide me with the purchase receipt for the food. You may not donate money. You get a point for each dollar of food donated.

• NOTE YOU MUST HAVE DOCUMENTATION: You must either bring your receipts (receipt from the Pantry or Food Bank) & purchase receipt to my office in an envelope, stapled together with your name and class on them and put them in the manila envelope by my door at DUTTON HALL 202 J, or mail them to me at Dr. Deborah Harding, 3909 Huntington Dr, Amarillo, Tx 79109 OR take a screen shot or scan them and make a JPG file and upload them into the EXTRA CREDIT DROP BOX in your AC CONNECT CLASSROOM. 

8. Do you round up grades that are “borderline?”

Yes, I round up grades that are “borderline”, for example, 79.5 would be rounded up to a “B” and a 79.4 would round to a “C.”   

9. Where do I go to check my grades?

In order to check your grades, you can go to “My Grades” on the Home Page for the course. 

10. What is the Grading Schema for the Final Grades?

89.45 to 100 = A

79.45 to 89.44 = B

69.45 to 79.44 = C

49.45 to 69.44 = D

0 to 49.44 = F

11. Explain how Blackboard grades the exams and other assignments.  Blackboard is the software that runs the exams in your course.

The lowest exam grade out of the first 3 exams will be automatically dropped.  After you have taken exam 1, that test grade will NOT be calculated in the Course Average until you have completed exam 2.  If you have only taken exam 1, then that exam score is being dropped for now, meaning that it will not show in the Course Average.   You are required to take EXAM 4 because it’s over the KLICKER BOOK and has a few comprehensive questions on it over Kastenbaum (major concepts only).  Blackboard does a running total with your discussions and will add your final project grade as well. You can see your COURSE AVERAGE WITH EXTRA CREDIT, which is  your FINAL GRADE FOR THE CLASS.

12 PRACTICE TESTS and PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS:

I recommend you study the Death & Dying Example Test Questions which can be found under the Lessons tab.  These practice exam questions will simulate the types of questions you will have on your exams. THERE ARE ALSO INTERACTIVE QUIZZES to practice on which you will find in EACH OF THE UNITS EXAM FOLDER.  For example, to take the Kastenbaum Interactive Practice Quizzes for Unit 1, go to LESSONS TAB, then CLICK ON UNIT 1, then click on the UNIT 1 EXAM folder, and you will see the link to the PRACTICE QUIZ.  Click on that link and select the chapter quiz you wish to do! These will help you a lot with preparing for the exams.

13 GENERAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

When you go to Lessons Tab and then to Discussion Forums, you will see General Questions and Answers.  Here, you can ask a question or provide comments that the entire class (including your instructor) can see. 

If you have general questions (and answers) that other students may benefit from, please direct them to the instructor (or class) by posting them in General Questions and Answers. When I answer the question (or when you answer a question) in "General Questions and Answers", all students will be able to see my (and your) responses.

14 DISCUSSIONS / PARTICIPATION:

15. How do we participate in this online class?

There are two important Unit Discussion Assignments that provide you with a way to participate in the course.  Your Course Schedule (found in the Lessons Tab) will give you the instructions for each Unit Assignment as you proceed through the course.  By participating in class, the class will become more interesting and rewarding as more students actively share their ideas.

Furthermore, the group discussion will be a safe place to share ideas. The rules of the group do not allow group members to put another person down for their idea. I will respect you, and I expect you to respect me and the other group members. I also expect you to have carefully read the assigned chapter before you post your response.

The reason for assigning the discussions (participation homework) is because it will help you become more actively involved in the reading.  This activity improves learning.  By participating in class, the class will become more interesting and rewarding as more students actively share their ideas.

16. Where do we go to post our Unit Discussion Assignments in the class?

Participation occurs in this class by clicking on the Discussions tab (on the Home Page for the course), and then click on the specific Unit Assignment you are working on.  You will then post your paper into the appropriate Unit Assignment.   

It is the student’s responsibility to make sure the paper for a Unit Assignment is posted.  You should post directly into the Discussion for the specific assignment.  Do not post your paper as an attachment.  After the paper is posted, it is the student’s responsibility to check to make sure that their discussion in fact was posted. 

17.Are we required to respond to other students posts?

Yes.  The Course Schedule will give you the instructions for each Unit Assignment.  Your response to your peer must be a minimum of 100 words.  No credit is given for a peer response that does not meet the minimum requirement of 100 words.  Your word processor should give you a word count for your discussion papers.

18.Do we need to save a copy of our responses?

Yes. I recommend that you write your response in Word, and then paste your response into the Discussion.  You should save a copy of your paper in your files. If there is a problem with the online course, then you will have a backup copy. You also need to run spell check, grammar check, and then post it into the course. Do NOT post your paper as an attachment.

19. How will the Unit Discussion Assignments be graded?

The details / instructions for the Unit Assignments and the rubric for each of the Unit Assignments are found in the Course Schedule. A rubric is a document that articulates the expectations for an assignment by listing the criteria, or what counts, and describing levels of quality from excellent to poor.

20. Where do I find the details of how to complete the Unit Discussion Assignments?

Your Course Schedule and the MY DISCUSSION POST, which starts the THREAD, will provide you with the details of how to complete these Unit discussions. You can find the discussion by going to the DISCUSSION TAB or by clicking on LESSONS, go to the Unit that it is in, and you will see a link to the discussion Assignments.  This document is found under Lessons on the Home page for the course.

21. How do these Unit Discussion Assignments help me to learn?

The quality of your participation is based on what you bring to the course with regard to your papers and your responses to your peer’s papers. You will be able to determine the student who puts his or her heart into the discussion in contrast to the student who provides very little to the group.

By reading how your peers connect to specific concepts from the assignments, you will likely improve your understanding of the reading because you will see another person’s specific connection to the material.  When you make meaningful connections to the material, you are more likely to remember and apply the concepts. You are required to edit your work, use your best GRAMMAR, and complete sentences. NEVER USE TEXTING LANGUAGE! Also, you will be responding to at least 1 or 2 other student’s discussion posts.

22. What are the ground rules for group discussion?

The objective of establishing ground rules is to honor free speech and the dignity, respect, and worth of everyone in the classroom.

• In order to create a climate for open and honest discussion and to encourage the broadest range of viewpoints, it is important for class participants to treat each other with respect. Name calling, accusations, verbal attacks, sarcasm, and other negative exchanges are counterproductive to successful teaching and learning about topics.

• The purpose of class discussions is to generate greater understanding about different topics. The expression of the broadest range of ideas, including dissenting views, accomplishes this goal. However, in expressing viewpoints, students should try to raise questions and comments in a way that will promote learning, rather than defensiveness and conflict in other students. Thus, questions and comments should be asked or stated in such a way that will promote greater insight into and awareness of topics as opposed to anger and conflict.

Example of a question that may put students on the defensive: Why do you insist on calling yourself Hispanic? That's wrong. It seems to me that Latino is the correct term? Can you explain to me why you insist on using the term Hispanic?

Example of a non-defensive question: I don't understand. What is the difference between the terms Hispanic and Latino?

• Learning is both about sharing different views and actively listening to those with different views. Students in this class are expected to do both. Learning is maximized when many different viewpoints are expressed in the classroom.

• Keep the discussion and comments on the topic, not on the individual. Don't personalize the dialogue. Rather than personalizing the dialogue, please direct challenging comments or questions to the instructor or the entire class.

• Remember that it is OK to disagree with each other. Let's agree to disagree. The purpose of dialogue and discussion is not to reach a consensus, nor to convince each other of different viewpoints. Rather, the purpose of dialogue in the classroom is to reach higher levels of learning by examining different viewpoints and opinions.

24. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS:
    If you experience a technical problem with some online aspect of the course, you will need to contact the Helpdesk at 371-5992.

25. DROPPING/AUDITING THE CLASS:
    YOU MAY WITHDRAW FROM THIS CLASS however, YOU MUST CALL AND TALK TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR FIRST as to your reasons.  Only after you discuss this with me will I issue the start of your withdrawal process. You must also visit with your advisor and financial aid before you get your W.  You must officially drop a class in the Registrar's office. If you simply stop attending, a grade of F will appear on your transcript. An F will have a strong negative effect on your GPA.

Attendance

"90% of Success is SHOWING UP"  ~ Woody Allen

While it may be tempting to skip class if this is a traditional on campus course OR not check in frequently in an online class, know that the #1 factor linked with good grades , whether the class is traditional OR ONLINE, IS class attendance!!!  You can work ahead in this class, BUT note that each unit, exam, lab and assignment has a closing time.  You MUST stay current with your work and it’s highly suggested that you fill out the study guide as your read your chapters before you take the exam for that unit!

The people that will do the best in the class are those that are in the class every CLASS or ONLINE FREQUENTLY if it’s an online course, that do their study guides and practice quizzes, along with watching all required films and doing the written labs over the material in that chapter!  I hope you will be ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS!  Good luck with that! I LOVE GIVING A's for EXCELLENT WORK!  ~ Dr. Harding

DISABILITY STATEMENT:

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Location: Student Service Center, Room 119, Phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. It is the responsibility of the student to attend class.

MAKEUP POLICY:

Please review the test dates in this course schedule. If your schedule cannot accommodate these dates and times, you will need to drop this course and find a course that will work with your schedule. No exams will be given after the deadlines posted in your course schedule with the exception of a true emergency such as death in the family or serious illness. In such a case you must provide documentation from a physician or psychologist indicating that you were not able to complete the final exam.

Calendar

Additional Information

HOW TO REVIEW YOUR EXAMS & QUIZZES, and VIEW GRADES, INSTRUCTOR's FEEDBACK COMMENTS AND RUBRICS FOR YOUR LABS AND DISCUSSIONS:

  You can REVIEW YOUR EXAMS AND QUIZZES ONCE THE DUE DATE AND TIME HAS PASSED. In order to review your exams, click on MY GRADES TAB, go to the exam or quiz in the list that you want to review and Click on the exam.  It will show you what you missed.  In order to view your assignments, discussions, papers, and other work for YOUR INSTRUCTOR’s FEEDBACK, again, go to MY GRADES tab in the left hand menu, click.  Find the item you want to look at in the LIST (they are not necessarily in order...sorry!).  Click on that and you will see a place that says RUBRIC and COMMENTS.  Click on comments to see anything your instructor has said, and click on RUBRIC to view the rubric grading system and how your instructor graded you.  PLEASE...this instructor SPENDS A LOT OF TIME to give you CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK...USE IT and make corrections accordingly! If you keep making the same error time and again, YOUR GRADES WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN!  I expect you to USE THE FEEDBACK I GIVE YOU TO BECOME A BETTER STUDENT and to IMPROVE IN YOUR SCHOOL WORK!