102_basicsyllabus

Course Syllabus - History 102 – Online
Fall Semester 2009

Ticket # 24274

Contact Information:

Cerritos College, Department of History
Social Sciences Building, SS31
http://www.cerritos.edu/soliver
soliver@cerritos.edu
Office Phone: 562-860-2451, 2770
Office Hours
MW: 9:30 - 11 am; Tuesday: 7 - 8 am

OR By Appointment
Virtual Office Hours: Daily

Verify Enrollment and Status in History 102: You must meet the following deadlines. Otherwise you will be dropped from the class if you are enrolled in the class.

· Complete the Online Orientation: located on Susan Oliver’s school website: http://www.cerritos/soliver. Due dates are:

o August 19 for students on the Cerritos College Roster for History 102

o August 27 for students who move from the wait list to the roster from August 17 – August 24.

· Deadline to Enroll in Course Compass

o August 20 for students on the roster.

o August 31 for students who move from the wait list.

Basic Information

Course Materials:

History 102/Online: Nash, The American People, Vol. 1, concise 6^th edition and Course Compass Access code ISBN 13: 9780205691975 (valuepak)

Available in college bookstore. Available at desk directly in front of shelves with textbooks. DO NOT purchase book marked as MYHISTORYLAB.
Primary Sources: Provided.
Course ID for Course Compass: oliver17566

Two Options for Purchase:

1. Option One: College Bookstore: Value Pak (textbook and Course Compass Student Access Code). ISBN 13: 9780205691975

2. Option Two: Purchase a used textbook and the access code for Course Compass from publisher ($15 range).

o ISBN for only the textbook: 978-0-205-57246-5 or 0-205-57246-4

3. Directions to purchase Student Access Code Online:

Go to: http://www.coursecompass.com/
Register as a student. You will need the following information:

· Valid email address – Make sure that this is the one you will use in this class.

· Course ID: oliver17566

· Credit Card: to pay for the access code. (approximately $15)

Course Websites: Two websites will be used for the materials and assignment in this class: Course Compass and Talon Net. You must register in both.

Temporary: Basic Information and the online orientation will be located on Online Courses from August 17 to August 26. See Online Classes/History History 102. To Access: http://www.cerritos.edu/soliver.

Course Compass:

Assignments, exams and interactive discussions will be posted in Course Compass.
To be active in the class, students on the roster must register in Course Compass by the dates stated above. Otherwise you will be dropped from the class.
To access: http://www.coursecompass.com A direct link to the Course Compass site is located at http://www.cerritos.edu/soliver.

Talon Net

· If you have registered in Talon Net in past courses, enter your user name and password. If you are new user, follow the directions on the Talon Net site.

· Video Clips (Used for online discussions, activities, and exams): Located in Talon-Net. All registered students for this class can view this site. To access: http://talonnet.cerritos.edu/osp-portal .

· Orientation Test: You will need to take a quiz on the noted items in this syllabus. You must score 70% or higher.

My Approach to Teaching a Survey Course

My Learning Objectives:

· To increase your awareness that past events has relevance to the events and issues in today.

· To provide an understanding of the historical method: its tools, skills and methods.

· To focus on increasing ability to read, understand and interpret primary sources. These sources will include text, images and documentaries.

· To provide opportunities to practice critical analysis

· To encourage and reward good study habits.

· To expose you to the advantages of computer based technology and resources.

Course Requirements

Course Materials: Purchase the textbook as soon as possible. If you plan to purchase the textbook from an online vendor, do so before class begins. Used textbooks are available in the college bookstore.

Online Coursework: 90% of the content for this class is located in Course Compass. The remaining content (video excerpts) is located in Talon Net.

Course Compass:

· Content: The content is organized into four learning modules. The assignments for each learning module will be four weeks. Each learning module includes three chapter tests, exam essays, activities//discussions, and extra credit options.

· Specific assignments for each learning module will be posted in a folder located in Course Compass. These folders will be located in Course Documents which is shown as a navigation bar. The “Schedule of Assignments” noted below is a general overview. Refer to the specific assignments for each learning module to stay on track.

· Interactive/online discussions: Typically each learning module includes one online discussion. In rare cases there might be two. Each discussion requires that you complete an activity (homework) that gives you information and ideas for the online discussion. Most discussions will require that you view video excerpts and do some additional research on the topic. The videos are located in Talon Net and the activity will provide web links for additional research. The online discussion is NOT a chat session in which you need to participate at specific times. Instead, you have the freedom to participate at any time while the discussion is active. Most importantly, these discussions each count between 20 – 30 points. Therefore, by not participating, your grade would likely be lowered by at least one letter grade, e.g. B to C.

Guidelines for Student Success

Computer literacy and convenient and frequent access to a computer and the internet.
Familiarity with the various features of the Course Compass, the primary website for this class.
Time management and a commitment to spend 10 - 15 hours per week on assignments for this course. Plan to log in to Course Compass two to three times per week to complete the assignments and check the Announcements.
Enter an accurate and current email address in Course Compass. Otherwise you will miss important email messages from me.
Contact me (soliver@cerritos.edu) if you have questions and concerns about the class and/or assignments. Your email message will be answered within 24 hours.

Grading Procedures

Grading scale: The scale is 90% - 100% = A, 80% - 90% = B, and so on.

History 102/online

Item	Description	Points	% of Total

Chapter tests**	12 tests; 25 points each	300	56%
Exam Essays	4 exams/30 points each	120	22%
Activities/Discussions	4 discussions/ 30 points each.	120	22%

Total		540	100%

Bonus Points***	Various Assignments	30

** The lowest score for two quizzes will be dropped. This calculation will occur at the end of the third learning module.
*** Students can earn only 30 points for the entire class

Explanation:

· Chapter tests (300): Chapter tests will be located in Course Compass. Each test will be posted for two weeks and be taken only once. It is recommended that you make use of the practice quizzes for each chapter.

· Exam Essays (120 pts.): Each is worth 30 points. The essay topics will be posted one week in advance of the due date, and you are to email these to soliver@cerritos.edu.

· Activities/Online Threaded Discussions (120 pts): Most activities and discussions will use the video excerpts from the Documentary “Slavery and the Making of America.”

· Extra Credit points: Not to exceed 30 points. The extra credit assignment will be an added activity/discussion. Students can choose that option at any point in the class. Extra credit can only increase one’s grade by one letter grade, e.g. from C to B.

· No make up quizzes, exam essays or assignments. At the end of the third learning module, the two lowest test scores will be dropped. An average of the other tests will be used to replace these two dropped scores. In addition, the extra credit points can compensate for missed assignments.

· Policy of Attendance/Drop: If you do not complete the quizzes and assignments in Course Compass on a consistent basis and/or your work consistently does not earn a passing grade (70% or higher), then you will be dropped from the course. I will monitor your progress every two weeks and send a “warning” before dropping you.

· Scholars’ Honors’ Program: Students can take this course for honor’s credit. Contact Susan Oliver during the first two weeks of class if you are interested.

· Teacher TRAC: If you are in this program, please let me know. Assignments could be designed to meet the California Teaching Standards.

· If you choose to not take the chapter tests online, contact Susan Oliver (soliver@cerritos.edu) for alternative arrangements.

Schedule of Assignments

The course is divided into four learning modules. Each learning module will have the following:

Due Dates and Assignments: A specific list of the due dates of assignments.
Chapter tests: Practice Quizzes (not graded) and Graded Tests
Activities/Discussion Topic(s)
Assignment on the Friedan biography
Exam Essay Study Guide

Overview of Schedule of Assignments – This is an overview and subject to change. Be sure to consult the specific “due dates and Assignments” for each learning module.

Date	Topic	Textbook Reading Assignments
Week of August 17	Orientation	Purchase textbook and access code; log in online; review the organization of the website. Also register in Talon Net.
LM1: Aug. 24 – Sept. 21.	Colonial America: Foundations for Independence:	Textbook Chapters: Chapters 3, 4, 5.
LM2: Sept. 21 – Oct. 19	Revolutionary America: Forging a New Nation	Textbook Chapters: 6, 7, 8- 9
LM3: Oct 19 – Nov. 16	Antebellum America: Causes of the Civil War	Textbook Chapters: 10 – 11 (sections); 12, 13.
LM4: LM4: Nov. 16 – Dec. 14	The Second American Revolution: The Civil War & Reconstruction	Textbook Chapters: 14, 15, 16.

Susan Oliver, soliver@cerritos.edu

Last updated: 8/8/2009