First Year Seminar - Learning Framework Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

EDUC-1100-016 First Year Seminar - Learning Framework

Prerequisites

Course Description

A study of the: research and theory in the psychology of learning, cognition and motivation; factors that impact learning; and application of learning strategies. Theoretical models of strategic learning, cognition and motivation serve as the conceptual basis for the introduction of college-level student academic strategies. Students use assessment instruments (e.g., learning inventories) to help them identify their own strengths and weaknesses as strategic learners. Students are ultimately expected to integrate and apply the learning skills discussed across their own academic programs and become effective and efficient learners. Students developing these skills should be able to continually draw from the theoretical models they have learned.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(1 sem hr; 1 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

• Cengage Learning 1st ©2017 
  LMS Integrated for MindTap® College Success Toolkit, 1 term (6 months) MindTap (9781337275927)
• Free copy of The Things They Carried

Supplies

Student must bring these items to class each day:

• Thumb/flash drive
• Notetaking materials
• Access to etext

All students enrolling in this class must have access to a working computer, active and functioning internet service, Microsoft Word or some other type of word processing program, Adobe Acrobat Reader and exhibit computer competency.

Adobe Acrobat Reader may be downloaded FREE from https://get.adobe.com/reader/.

Assistance with Computer Access

If you do not have a computer, you may access the computers at the AC Library or AC Library Academic Computing Center. Click on the link below to access phone numbers, hours of operation and locations for all Amarillo College libraries and computing centers:

https://www.actx.edu/library/

Student Performance

   Learning Objectives

1 - Students will identify their academic strengths and weaknesses.

2 - Students will apply practical skills such as organization and time management, and stress and conflict management.

3 - Students will demonstrate knowledge of, and interact with, college resources.

4 - Students will experiment with a variety of academic strategies.

5 - Students will identify an academic community that aligns with their long-term goals.

Microsoft Word or Google Docs for typing papers and turning assignments into the dropbox

If you have a Macintosh (Apple) computer, you will need to know how to convert Pages documents into .pdf files.  I cannot and will not grade anything submitted as a Pages document.  Pages files will earn zeros.

I cannot grade direct links to Google Drive documents.  Download the files as .pdf files and then submit them.  I cannot and will not grade anything submitted as a Google link.  Google Drive links will earn zeros.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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

• This is not a lecture-based course.  A large majority of the content will be derived from conversations and activities.  You must participate to earn a passing grade in this course.
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• Do not plan on working ahead.  Weekly content will be posted/opened on Monday mornings at 12:00 a.m.  Feel free to work in the week we're covering, exploring the issues.  You will get out of this class what you put into it.
• You are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supportive include, but are not limited to: tardiness/leaving early; electronic device noises; talking during lectures; abusive, offensive or disrespectful behavior/language. 
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• You should address and sign all e-mails sent to your instructor and classmates. E-mails, like all academic work, should be proofread, should not include slang or abbreviations, and should not resemble text messages. 
•  
• You should put your cell phone on vibrate or silent during class.
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• You should expect to have all homework completed before coming to class.  This is especially true for course readings.  Throughout the term, you will be asked to have read chapters/stories from the Common Reader.  If you do not read the chapters/stories you will be asked to complete the assignments associated with the readings on your own, or, you will be asked to write a 3-page book report.  If assigned the book report, students must also make an appointment with the Writer's Corner prior to submitting the report to a faculty member(s).
• If you are caught plagiarizing or cheating, you will receive a failing grade for the assignment. According to the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct, plagiarism is the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the acknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work. If you are caught plagiarizing or cheating more than once, the instructor has the right to take appropriate actions as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Please review the Student Code of Conduct for a complete understanding of rules and policies.

• Checking Grades

  Periodically checking your course grade through the “My Grades” feature will help you be successful in the course.  More specifically, if you see a small blue speech bubble next to your grade I have left comments/feedback on the assignment.  Those comments help drive your success in the course.  I may ask for resubmissions, specifically rewriting, clarification, or other information within a stated period.  I assume students read and review the feedback given.  Students who fail to reply or follow through with feedback comments within the extended timeframe will lose the opportunity.

  Campus Email

  Amarillo College students receive all official College information through their @amarillocollege.com account.  As a rule, I will be contacting you through your @amarillocollege.com account for all things related to our class, presentations, etc.  Emails act as a final notification of important class information.  If a student has further questions or needs clarification, it is up to the student to contact the faculty member.

  Email conversations

  As a rule, email conversations are a form of business writing.  In that, I reserve the right to request clarification as needed understand the question posed.  I also expect our conversations to be collegial, or that of a partnership.  Please ensure you are using appropriate grammar/punctuation.  When referring to yourself, please use “I” and not “i.”  Please use periods, questions marks, and exclamation points to clarify where your individual thoughts end.  If you struggle with grammar (as I do), please consider using Grammarly.

   

  Additionally, please consider the tone of your email.  Below is an example of a poor communication attempt (both in tone and in grammar).

  

Grading Criteria

Type	Percentage
Written/Classroom Assignments	40%
MindTap Assignments	30%
Quizzes	15%
Journals/Discussion Boards	15%

Grades in this course are not given, they are earned.  As a student you will be required to complete the necessary work to earn your grade.

Earning Your Grade

There is no “grade recovery” in my course.  You will be awarded the grade that you have earned (both on assignments and in the class).  Final grades will be assigned on the following basis:

Overall Course Grades are broken down in this manner:

Letter Grade	Numerical Grade
A	90-100
B	80-89.9
C	70-79.9
D	60-69.9
F	59.9 and below

All work must be turned in on time.  Students who do not complete homework will be required to attend a mandatory tutoring session during the week the homework assignments are completed; however, students will automatically lose 15 points for late homework submissions.  If the assignments are not completed during the week assigned, students will earn a zero for any assignments  not completed that week.  

Students may meet with faculty member prior to any excused absences to develop a timeline for homework submission.

Excused absences are determined at faculty discretion.  Please contact your faculty member as soon as you know you must miss a class session.

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential for satisfactory completion of this course. Daily attendance is recorded.

Class sessions are held online.  Students should plan on logging into the class at least 3-4 times per week. Students should make regular class attendance a priority for all of their courses.

If you are unable to attend class, please follow these guidelines to begin the conversation with your instructor.

1. Email your instructor as soon as you are able. In your email, give your instructor a timeline for returning to the classroom.
2. If a personal issue is keeping you from attending class, please let your instructor know. S/he may have access to resources, which may assist you in returning to class sooner.
3. If you would prefer to call your instructor (instead of emailing), and you receive the instructors voicemail, please leave the following information:
   1. Name
   2. AC ID number
   3. Course (EDUC 1100), time, days of the week
   4. Call back number

Calendar

Additional Information

Attendance Policy – Online Courses

Eight-week classes move quickly.  

Census Day Roster

Students who have not attended class prior to the Census Day (January 23, 2018) will be reported as “non-attending.”  In online classes, course assignments will be used to measure attendance.  Non-attending students will be removed from courses by the Registrar’s Office.

Withdrawal Policy

No administrative withdrawals will be initiated by the instructor.  If you stop attending class but do not officially withdraw from the class, your name appears on the ending roll sheet.  Grades will be assigned based on the work completed.  The final day to withdraw from the class with a guaranteed grade of “W” is February 27, 2018.

Success Team

In this course, you will have several people surrounding you helping you to success.  These people are members of your success team.  Below you will find their contact information.  Please reach out to any or all of these people when you need help throughout the year.

Your Success Team members are:

• Peer Mentor: Josh McCormack, jsmccormack21@amarillocollege.com
• Peer Mentor: Alexis Ramirez
• Courtney Milleson, cgmilleson@actx.edu, 806-371-5427

There is no final exam for this course.

Your participation in class and online helps you learn more and makes the class more interesting. Mark your calendar today to attend each class.

Honesty, integrity, and respect will guide this course. You are expected to treat all participants with respect at all times.  In discussing controversial issues, it is important that students feel comfortable expressing their opinion, yet it is imperative that students refrain from using derogatory or offensive language.

Peer Tutoring

Peer Mentors are available daily in WARE 205F to assist students with homework and navigating Blackboard.  Check with your Peer Mentor for her/his tutoring session schedule.

Once you have completed this course...

You need to update your resume based on your performance in this course.

If you earned an "A"

• Exemplary knowledge of personal academic strengths and weakness
• Exemplary application of practical skills such as organization and time management, and stress and conflict management
• Exemplary experience in learning about resources and strategies to become successful
• Exemplary ability to identify communities supporting personal long-term goals

If you earned a "B"

• Outstanding knowledge of personal academic strengths and weakness
• Outstanding application of practical skills such as organization and time management, and stress and conflict management
• Outstanding experience in learning about resources and strategies to become successful
• Outstanding ability to identify communities supporting personal long-term goals

If you earned a "C"

• Knowledge of personal academic strengths and weakness
• Application of practical skills such as organization and time management, and stress and conflict management
• Experience in learning about resources and strategies to become successful
• Ability to identify communities supporting personal long-term goals

Teaching Evaluations

You will have the opportunity to evaluate your instructor through teaching evaluation forms.  It is extremely important that you complete these surveys and provide feedback about the class and the instruction you received.