Course Syllabus

It is the student’s responsibility to maintain regular contact with instructors.  Class attendance and participation are the responsibility of the student. All students must be officially enrolled in any course that they attend. It is expected that students attend and participate in all classes and be on time. If an absence occurs, it is the responsibility of the student for making up examinations, obtaining lecture notes, and otherwise compensating for what may have been missed. Students who stop attending class and do not officially drop, withdraw, or resign from the college may receive a grade of “F” for all coursework missed. Absences affect performance in this course and do not reflect well on participation.  No student may substitute the attendance of another student. Attendance and participation are MANDATORY. Attendance will be based on activity in the Canvas course and assignments. Online students should check in daily or as often as possible.

Students should frequently check Canvas (Learning Management System) for notifications and updates to the course. Students are expected to use the online resources provided by NTCC to:  

1. Track course assignments and progress.  
2. Discuss topics and issues with fellow students.  
3. Turn in assignments, quizzes, and tests. 
4. Check for any updates, changes, or alterations to the course.  
5. Access all course materials to include presentations, assignments, quizzes, and tests. 

 

What is considered “Absent" or "Present" in a face-to-face environment?

• • You must arrive at class on time and stay through dismissal.

Also, you MUST complete the “Syllabus Acknowledgement” assignment in Canvas by the designated deadline to be considered as a show in this course.

Grading Requirements

There are 8 educational modules. Each module represents a major concept in the course. There will be quizzes, class discussions, and a variety of activities and assignments. There are four regular exams in addition to a cumulative final exam.  One of the four exam grades will be dropped, so three exam grades will count.  The cumulative final will not be dropped.  There are no makeup exams. Any student who misses an exam will receive a zero for that exam, and have to use the exam as the dropped grade.  If you cheat on an exam, you will receive a zero and documentation of the offense will be submitted. The zero cannot be dropped. 

This system will not be altered for any student. Regardless of how the class does as a whole, the scale stays as is. You are competing with yourself and not your fellow students. In this class, you will get the grade you earn, not the grade I decided to give you. 

 

What You Will Need to Complete this Course:

Computer and the Internet: You will need a reliable desktop or laptop computer and a reliable internet connection to take this course. Your computer will be used to open various attachment types and view video with audio. You are required to develop a backup plan for maintaining access to the internet in case of a computer and/or internet failure – such as locating your local public library in case of emergencies. Please note that even temporary computer access problems are not considered in this course as legitimate excuses for your lack of participation. Nothing is ever accepted late in an online course. There are no make-up exams or assignments available.

Computer and Internet Issues:

• Your computer or Internet problems are not an acceptable excuse for missing an assignment deadline.
• You need to understand how your computer, word processor, browser, Internet connection, and Canvas work.
• PLAN so that if you do have computer problems of any kind you will have time to find a substitute computer or another way of accessing the Internet to complete your assignment.
• A good idea is to save and store your work as often as possible.
• Computers are available in the NTCC Computer Labs, SLU’s library, and public libraries.
• Wi-Fi is available on NTCC’s campuses, public libraries, and various businesses.
• Some assignments may require you to complete them timed and/or on the Respondus Lockdown Browser.

 

Computer or Software Help: I am NOT a computer technician, nor am I an expert on Adobe, Microsoft, PowerPoint, or Canvas. The NTCC Helpdesk (https://helpdesk.northshorecollege.edu/secure/Dashboard.jspa) or the 24/7 available Canvas Helpline (1-844-408-6456) can help you with most of the problems you may encounter in an online course. Please refer to the “Tips for Getting Help” section further in this syllabus.

 

Software: For software, you need to have access to a word processing program that can accept and open documents from Microsoft Word.  Most of the files I upload to Canvas are in this format. You will also need to download Adobe Reader (freeware) to access some of the files for the course. The forum for this course is Canvas and you MUST use your NTCC issued email address. If you need help with accessing your email, you should use the NTCC Helpdesk. You will use your LOLA login information to access your NTCC email and Canvas.

 

Canvas: Our online Learning Management System, Canvas, consists of various tools that serve a different purpose for this course. You need to be familiar with Canvas to participate and succeed in this course. Please visit the NTCC homepage and click on the Canvas button in the top bar. You can access the Canvas Student Orientation (https://www.northshorecollege.edu/canvas-student-orientation) and Canvas Learning Guides for in-depth information on how to use this learning management system. The Canvas Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-844-408-6456.  

• The Announcements tool: Announcements are found on our home page. Please make a point of reading the announcements daily. This is how I will communicate with the class as a whole to explain the week’s assignments and any other important information.
• The Modules tool: The modules tool is where, for each week of our course, you will find all of the necessary information for that part of the course. The modules are titled by unit numbers and by dates.
• The Discussions tool: You will be posting comments in discussions when assigned. This discussion is not in real-time and can be done any time before the due date given. See the section of this syllabus headed “Course Organization: How the Online Course Works” for details about using this tool.
• The Messages tool: I will contact you individually through Canvas messages, and please email me through this tool as well. I will check my Canvas messages several times each day, and I strongly suggest that you do so as well.
• The Grades tool: This tool is where you can see all the points you are acquiring through completing your quizzes/assignments/discussions thoroughly and on time.

 

Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor

This course is 100% online and measures will be taken to ensure students are working independently and ethically to complete this course. We will use Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor. These features do not allow students to share content with others or utilize other screens during assessments. The purpose of the Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor is to protect the integrity of online assessments. We will utilize these features for the "Navigating Canvas Quiz," regular exams (Exams 1-3), and the final exam.

 

LockDown Browser + Webcam Requirement
This course requires the use of LockDown Browser and a webcam for online exams. The webcam can be the type that is built into your computer or one that plugs in with a USB cable.

Watch this brief video to get a basic understanding of the LockDown Browser and the webcam feature.

https://www.respondus.com/products/lockdown-browser/student-movie.shtml

 

Download Instructions
Download and install LockDown Browser from this link:

https://www.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=754648385

Once Installed:

• Start LockDown Browser
• Log in to Canvas
• Navigate to the quiz/exam

Note: You will not be able to access a quiz that requires LockDown Browser with a standard web browser. If this is tried, an error message will indicate that the test requires the use of the LockDown Browser. Simply start LockDown Browser and navigate back to the exam to continue.

 

Guidelines
When taking an online quiz/exam in Canvas, follow these guidelines:

• Ensure you are in a location where you will not be interrupted.
• Turn off all other devices (e.g., tablets, phones, second computers) and place them outside of your reach.
• Before starting the test, know how much time is available for it, and also that you have allotted sufficient time to complete it.
• Clear your desk or workspace of all external materials not permitted - books, papers, other devices.
• Remain at your computer for the duration of the test.
• If the computer, Wi-Fi, or location is different than what was used previously with the "Webcam Check" and "System & Network Check" in LockDown Browser, run the checks again before the exam.
• To produce a good webcam video, do the following:
  • Avoid wearing baseball caps or hats with brims.
  • Ensure your computer or device is on a firm surface (a desk or table). Do NOT have the computer on your lap, a bed, or other surfaces where the device (or you) are likely to move.
  • If using a built-in webcam, avoid readjusting the tilt of the screen after the webcam setup is complete.
  • Take the exam in a well-lit room. Avoid backlighting (such as sitting with your back to a window).
• Remember that LockDown Browser will prevent you from accessing other websites or applications; you will be unable to exit the test until all questions are completed and submitted.

Getting Help
Several resources are available if you encounter problems with LockDown Browser:

• The Windows and Mac versions of LockDown Browser have a "Help Center" button located on the toolbar. Use the "System & Network Check" to troubleshoot issues. If an exam requires you to use a webcam, also run the "Webcam Check" from this area.
• As applicable, insert information about your institution's help desk, including details about how to contact them. Some help desks want students to run the "System & Network Check" and the "Webcam Check" before they are contacted - and even, to forward the results of these checks at the time of opening a ticket.
• Respondus has a Knowledge Base available from respondus.com. Select the "Knowledge Base" link and then select "Respondus LockDown Browser" as the product. If your problem is with a webcam, select "Respondus Monitor" as your product.
• If you are still unable to resolve a technical issue with LockDown Browser, go to respondus.com and select "Submit a Ticket." Provide detailed information about your problem and what steps you took to resolve it.

Tips for Success

You will spend approximately 4-10 hours a week working on this course. Each week of a 16-week college semester consists of 3 hours of onsite classroom time along with the time it takes students to read, study, and complete class assignments. Much of your time will involve reading the text and other course materials, but it will also include studying, completing assignments, participating in group discussions, and organizing course materials. When you are sitting at your computer for this course, consider that as your in-class time. Additionally, you cannot go on vacation during your participation in this course and expect to use your cell phone to complete the course.

Course Organization: How the online course works

There is work in this class, just like an onsite college-level course. Keep in mind, this is a college-level course.

Here is how the course is organized. It is divided into different sections (called “Modules”) which represent each week of the semester. Each Module includes an overview of the week(s), which includes reading assignments in your textbook, additional documents to read for that unit, and assignments. The reading assignments that appear in each module must be completed BEFORE the start of the next unit. For example, to complete assignments and discussions about Chapter 3 in Unit 3, you would need to complete the reading assignment of Chapter 3 by the end of Unit 2. Again, I am assigning the reading to be done BEFORE the start of the unit you will need the information. This is the only way you can complete your assignments and make discussion comments. Of course, for Unit 1 you have not read anything yet, so we will have to play catch up and read for Unit 1 and Unit 2.

Since this course takes place completely online, our class time will involve discussion about the readings, any videos, and other selected topics. These discussions do not take place in real-time; that is, there is no set time you need to be online each day, but you are required to post comments at least 2 times each module for each discussion. There may be more than one discussion assigned each week and therefore you may be required to make discussion comments.

As a student in an evolving technology-centered world, you must be or become an empowered learner, a knowledge constructor, an innovative designer, a computational thinker, a creative communicator, a global collaborator, and know your rights and responsibilities as a digital citizen. This course incorporates discussion boards, quizzes, and activities to strengthen your learning.

 

Focused Reading Quiz                                                                           Due: Designated due date of the unit at 11:59 pm

You will be assigned a focused reading quiz on the focused reading for the unit module. The focused reading quiz must be completed before participating in the class discussions unless otherwise stated. The main point of the focused reading quiz is to ensure you understand the textbook reading for the unit. Each quiz will be due the first Friday of the unit module unless otherwise stated. Do not wait until the last minute. There are no makeups.

Activities                                                                                                  Due: Designated due date of the unit at 11:59 pm

You will be asked to complete activities. The main point of these activities is to demonstrate your knowledge of the textbook reading for the unit and your ability to recognize its application in understanding concepts. When assigned, this will be due at 11:59 pm. Do not wait until the last minute. There are no makeups.

Paraphrasing

All your responses to quiz/assignment questions and all of the comments you make in the discussion section of the course MUST be completely paraphrased. You will never receive credit for plagiarism, so you must learn what paraphrasing and plagiarism are.

Paraphrasing is a process that you engage in cognitively. This process involves learning information and then summarizing and reorganizing the information (This is why it is often unsuccessful for students to highlight or underline in their books in the place of notetaking). It often involves meshing new information with old and critically evaluating the sources. All written work in this course must be paraphrased.

Plagiarism is sort of the opposite of paraphrasing. It is against NTCC policy to plagiarize, knowingly or unknowingly, and it is punishable by expulsion from the college. It is defined as taking someone else’s ideas without proper citation. A lot of students seem to believe that plagiarism is just about using the same words as someone else, but it is not. It is about ideas, not words. There are three types of plagiarism that you should be familiar with to avoid.

1. Outright copying. This is obvious. Do not do it. Also included here is using someone else’s work even if it is not published.
2. Cut & paste method. This one is all too common. This is where a student has three or four articles from which his/her paper will come, and simply takes sections out of each paper and pastes them together to create a single paper that will be turned in to the instructor. It does not flow nicely and usually does not make logical sense.
3. The word game. This occurs when a student takes a sentence such as, “Smith (1997) finds that most criminals conduct themselves legitimately in other spheres of their lives,” and “paraphrases” it like this: “Most criminals are legitimate in other areas of their lives.” Even if this sentence were cited, it would still be plagiarism. The student failed to interpret what was said here and simply changed some words around.

If you plagiarize on any assignment, it is an automatic zero. 

Communication Policy

Most of my communication with you will be through the Inbox, Announcements, and Discussions tools. You may send personal concerns or questions to me using the Canvas messaging or your NTCC email. You can expect a reply to any concerns within 48 hours under normal circumstances. I recommend you use the Discussion area “Questions” for asking any general course-related questions. Someone else may also have the same question.

You are welcome to meet with me in person. Email me for an appointment. We can also set up a time to do a web conference through Canvas if that works best for you. You will need a video camera and microphone for this option.

Please keep in mind that the classroom needs to be a safe and productive place for everyone. The same guidelines that apply to traditional classes should be observed in the virtual classroom environment. Please use proper netiquette when interacting with class members and the instructor. Below are some guidelines to remember.

There is a Person Behind Every Name

1. Respect the privacy of your classmates and what they share in class.
2. Ask classmates for clarification if you find a discussion posting offensive or difficult to understand.
3. Avoid sweeping generalizations. Back up your stated opinions with facts and reliable sources.
4. Understand that we may disagree and that exposure to other people’s opinions is part of the learning experience.
5. Be respectful of each other. We are all in this together. Before posting a comment, ask whether you would be willing to make the same comment to a person’s face.
6. Keep in mind that everything you write, indeed, every click of your mouse is recorded on the network server. On the Internet, there are no takebacks.
7. Keep in mind that you are taking a college class. Something that would be inappropriate in a traditional classroom is also inappropriate in an online classroom.

Online Communication

1. Be aware that typing in all capital letters indicates shouting.
2. Be careful with humor and sarcasm. Both can easily be misunderstood!
3. Review all discussion postings before posting your own to prevent redundancy.
4. Check your writing for errors by reviewing what you have written before submitting it.
5. Acronyms (LOL, etc.) and emoticons (smileys) are commonly used online. Be careful not to overuse them.
6. Many communications with your instructor or fellow students are best handled through email. Only post on the classroom discussion board if the conversation is relevant to others in the class.

Tips for Getting Help

If you are experiencing technical issues or issues with any facet of your online learning experience, you may have to ask for help. Remember that the person available for assistance does not see what you are seeing and sometimes descriptions do not readily translate. The tips below will help communicate your concern more effectively.

1. Canvas provides our first level of technical assistance. If you have any concerns or questions with Canvas, please click on the Help option at the bottom left of the Canvas interface. You will see several ways to contact Canvas or get assistance. They are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
2. For course questions, please contact me referencing the Communication Policy.
3. Be patient. Remember that you have been working with the issue at hand, and you may be very frustrated. The person trying to assist you may need to ask a lot of questions. Be patient while they try to reconstruct what is taking place.
4. Provide dates and times if at all possible. In the best-case scenario, screenshots of date and time stamps will communicate the timeline.
5. Send screenshots. A picture does replace 1000 words. Learn how to take screenshots on your equipment and use them to communicate.
6. Clearly explain the issue and what you have already done to try to correct it. If you can document the steps you took to get to where you are in a streamlined way, do so. You can type the path you took (breadcrumbs), restate error messages, and use screenshots to communicate.

I strongly encourage you to be concerned about your grade throughout the semester. Do not wait until the end of the term to put in the work necessary to get the grade you want. A lack of planning on your part does not create an emergency for me.