First Year Seminar - Learning Framework Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Office Location

First Responders Academy, 3891 Plains Blvd, Office# 1046

Office Hours

Office hours are an excellent opportunity to receive individualized support, and I encourage you to take full advantage of them. During these times, I’ll be available for scheduled in-person appointments, FaceTime calls, Google Meet sessions, or virtual assistance through prompt message or email responses. My weekly office hours are as follows:

Monday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Friday As Needed
Saturday/Sunday As Needed

Virtual office hours can and will be scheduled as needed. I regularly check Blackboard messages, emails, phone messages, and texts outside of the times listed above. However, these scheduled office hours provide dedicated opportunities for you to receive immediate responses and real-time support.

Choosing the Best Way to Reach Me When You Need Guidance or Help

Communication is an essential part of effective learning in an online environment. The type of response or assistance you need will determine the best way to contact me. The chart below outlines some general guidelines to help you choose the most appropriate method.

Type of Assistance Needed Suggested Method of Contact Information
Immediate response needed, with very brief explanation required Text message or phone call My Cell: 806-290-2727
Immediate response needed, but requiring a more detailed and lengthy explanation Phone call My Cell: 806-290-2727
Response needed within 24 hours and brief to lengthier explanation required Message me within Blackboard OR send me an email You can message me in Blackboard either by clicking on the Messages link on the options bar in the class shell at the top of the page, or by using the Message link on the Institution page in Blackboard.

Communication Expectations

You can generally expect a response to your course messages or emails within 24 hours of when you send them. Occasionally, responses may take a bit longer, depending on timing or workload. If you don’t hear back within a reasonable period, please don’t hesitate to follow up with me.

How I Will Communicate with You

My primary method of communication with the class will be through course announcements and messages/emails. All announcements will appear under the Announcements link on the top menu bar of the course in Blackboard, and a copy will also be sent to your AC Google email.

For individual communication, I will primarily use the Message function within the course. If you’re unsure how to access or use this feature, please visit the HOW TO’s page located in the Course Resources folder in the class. 

To stay up to date, make sure to check your announcements, messages, and email at least every other day so you don’t miss any important updates or reminders.

Additional Resources for Help

In the event you’re unable to contact me directly, there are some additional resources for assistance:

  • The offices for the Criminal Justice department are located in the First Responders Academy, Office #1007. The general phone number is (806) 457-4450.   You can leave a message for me at this number as well. 

  • ASK AC Helpline at (806) 371-5000,  or after hours you can email them at askac@actx.edu.

  • CTL Student & Faculty Help Center at (806) 371-5992. It’s available to students who are currently enrolled in academic or continuing education courses on a walk-in and/or appointment basis. They are located on the Washington Street Campus, WARE Bldg.

Expected Courtesies - Course Communications

This course is built on the idea that our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences make learning richer for everyone. The variety of viewpoints you bring is a real strength, both in and outside of our virtual classroom. To help maintain a positive learning environment, please make sure you’re familiar with appropriate netiquette, which are the guidelines for respectful and professional online communication.

You’ll find helpful information and links about netiquette in the Course Resources folder within the class content. There are also several excellent online resources you can explore for more details.

Always communicate with your classmates and with me in a professional, respectful, and courteous way. Messages, emails, texts, or phone conversations that are rude, discourteous, or aggressive will not be tolerated.

If you have a question, concern, or issue about the course, please reach out to me first. Other students or Amarillo College faculty and staff aren’t responsible for making decisions about my course policies. If we’re unable to resolve the issue together, you may contact my immediate supervisor. His contact information is listed in the Additional Information section at the end of this syllabus.

Course Information

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:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

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-1100-065 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:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact 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

All content necessary for the course can be found within the class site on Blackboard; not textbook or access code required. Google applications are used.

Supplies

Student must have the following items for this class:

  • Computer/internet access
  • Active computer camera and good audio either through computer, headset or other listening device.

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. Google applications are used.

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 Outcomes

1 - Students will evaluate strengths, abilities, values, and motivations and apply this self-knowledge to personal, educational and career goal-setting.

2 - Students will determine appropriate campus wrap around resources for assistance and engage in strategies to successfully navigate college and overcome personal and academic challenges.

3 - Students will evaluate and determine, by engaging in their Community and career pathway activities, the extent to which education and career expectations align with personal interests and goals.

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

 

  1. This is not a lecture-based course as a large majority of the content is derived through conversations, activities, and self-exploration.  You must participate to earn a passing grade in this course.  You get out of this course what you put into this course, you will learn a lot about yourself, including how to be successful in college.
  2. You are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supported include, but are not limited to: non-participation, tardiness/leaving early, electronic device noises, talking at inappropriate times, and using abusive, offensive or disrespectful behavior/language. 
  3. 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. 
  4. You should put your cell phone on vibrate or silence during class.
  5. You should expect to have all homework completed when it is assigned to be successful. This is especially true for preparatory homework like course readings, online activities, or videos. 
  6. 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.

Grading Criteria

Type

Percentage

Written/Classroom Assignments 50%
Annotated Bibliography  20%
Portfolio 30%

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.

Overall Course Grades are broken down in this manner:

Letter Grade Numerical Grade
A 89.5-100
B 79.5-89.4
C 69.5-79.4
D 59.5-69.4
F 59.4 and below

All work must be turned in prior to the due date. Late work is only accepted at the discretion of the instructor. If work is submitted late, it is subject to point or percentage deductions at the discretion of your instructor.

Students need to email/call the faculty member prior to the assignment due date to request an extension on assigment submissions.  It is at faculty discretion, to what is reasonable or acceptable absences and timeliness of absent work submission.   

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential for satisfactory completion of this course. Attendance is a portion of the classroom assignments course grades. Daily attendance in any online course is actively logging in, reading content, and completing assignments on-time. It is recommended you check your course announcements and email (AC) several times daily.

Calendar

EDUC 1100 LEARNING FRAMEWORK

Refer to the weekly checklists for specific information on course work.

WEEK 1 – Who I Am

WEEK 2 - What I Need

WEEK 3 - What I Need

WEEK 4 - What is My Plan

WEEK 5 - What is My Plan

WEEK 6 - What is My Plan

WEEK 7 - Who I Am, What I Want, How I Will Achieve

WEEK 8 - Who I Am, What I Want, How I Will Achieve

Additional Information

 

There is no final exam for this course, but you will submit a final portfolio.

Your participation in an online class helps you learn more and makes the class more interesting and meaningful.  

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 the Ware building, suite 205 or first floor desk, tutoring sessions both in person or virtual to assist students with homework and navigating Blackboard and Google applications. 

Syllabus Created on:

10/25/21 5:53 AM

Last Edited on:

10/25/21 5:59 AM