Course Syllabus - History 103 – Online
Fall Semester 2009

Ticket # 23314

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 103: 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 103

o   August 27 for students who move from the wait list to the roster from between 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 103/Online: Nash, The American People, Vol. 2, concise 6^th edition and Course Compass Access code: ISBN – 9780205621866 (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: oliver07883
  
  

Two Options for Purchase:

1.       Option One:  College Bookstore: Value Pak (textbook, Course Compass Student Access Code, Friedan biography). ISBN 13: 978020561866. The valuepak is located at the desk in front of the shelves books for history.

2.       Option Two: Purchase used textbook; Friedan biography in the college bookstore or from Amazon.com ($20 range). Purchase access code for Course Compass online from publisher ($15 range).

o    ISBN for textbook:  10-0-205-57247-2 0r 13: 978-0-205-57247-2

o   ISBN for Friedan biography: 978-0-321-39388-3

 

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:  oliver07883

·         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 103. 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. 
• Course ID: in the registration process you will need to submit the course id.  This is oliver07883

 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 Quiz: 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.

** At the end of Learning Module 3 the two lowest test scores will be dropped. An average of the scores in the other chapter tests will replace those scores.

Explanation

·         Chapter tests (300): These chapter tests will be located in Course Compass.  Each quiz 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 clips, “History of American Photography.”  There will be two activities and discussions for each learning module. One will focus on domestic policy and reform; the other will focus on foreign policy. You can select the topic that most interests you. Activities/ Discussion topics will be posted for two weeks.

·         Project: Betty Friedan: The Personal Is Political (104 points):  This biography will be a semester-long project. It includes homework assignments, online discussions, reflections and a written analysis of this biography.

·         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.  Two dropped quiz scores and extra credit option will compensate.   

·         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 use this course for honor’s credit. Contact Susan Oliver during the first two weeks of class if you are interested.

·         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 document of “Due Dates and Assignments” for each learning module.  This document will be posted in a folder in Course Documents.

 

 

 

 

Susan Oliver, soliver@cerritos.edu

Last updated: 8/8/2009