Syllabi for Faysash
Introduction to Earth Science (ESC1000 – CRN 27312)
Valencia College West Campus Spring 2018
Dear Students,
My name is David Faysash and I would like to welcome you to your earth science course. I am very happy that you chose this course. I want to let you know that I am very excited to teach earth science. I hope to instill my love of this subject into all of my students this semester.
Prof. Faysash
“Choose a job that you love, and you will never work a day in your life”—Confucius
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name: David Faysash
Office location: This is an on-line course and I do not have an office on campus.
Office phone: You can call my Google voicemail (208) 615-4928 and leave a message. I will try to call you back as soon as I can.
Email: dfaysash@valenciacollege.edu
Fax: I do not have a fax number. If you need to send me a document you can either scan the document or take a picture of it and send it to me via email.
Office Hours: Since this is an on-line class I do not have official office hours. Since I work full time the only time I am available is from 5 – 8 pm on Tuesday & Thursday evenings and 8 am – 5 pm on the weekends. If you need to speak to me on the phone I will call you during those times.
Teaching Styles: This course is taught entirely on-line via Blackboard. Students will need to login once a week and do the assigned tasks. This will include reading the assigned chapter in the book, reading the summary notes that I provide, posting in the discussion forum, doing an assigned homework sheet, and taking quizzes (quizzes are about every other week). Assignments will be posted weekly on Fridays and due the next Friday. This is not a traditional lecture course; rather students will learn the information by reading the assigned chapters, reading my summary notes for the chapters, visiting websites for additional information, and reading posts in the discussion forum.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
I want you to know that I have high expectations for you. I firmly believe that if you work hard, study, and do your best that you will have great success in this class. Challenge yourself to do your best this semester!
“Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work”—Booker T. Washington
COURSE INFORMATION
Contact days and hours/week: This course will run from February 12, 2018 to April 29, 2018. Students can take their final exam anytime between April 23-29. Since this an on-line course, students can login and do their work at any time. Students are expected to put between 6 and 9 hours a week studying the course material.
Class meeting location(s): There is no meeting location. You will do the work on-line.
Term the course is offered: Spring 2018
Credit hours earned upon passing: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s) and Co-requisite(s): Since this course is taught entirely online, students will need to have an Internet connection that is regular and reliable. Students should be up to speed in using the different tools in an online classroom. There are not any specific course requirements but it is helpful that you have an understanding of Algebra.
Course Description (From the course catalog): Study of earth sciences with emphasis on geology. Additional topics selected from astronomy, oceanography, and meteorology. Emphasis on Florida.
Course Learning Outcomes—Students will be able to
1. Describe what minerals are and their general properties
2. Compare and contrast the various types of rocks.
3. Identify and explain how water shaped landscapes form.
4. Identify and explain how glacial and arid landscapes form.
5. Explain the theory of plate tectonics.
6. Explain how the movement of plates creates earthquakes, mountains, faults, folds, and volcanoes.
7. Describe the various methods for creating the geologic time scale.
8. Identify and describe the various features of the ocean floor.
9. Explain how ocean currents and waves form; identify and describe shoreline processes.
10. Explain how the atmosphere is heated
11. Describe various methods for determining atmospheric humidity.
12. Explain how clouds and fog form.
13. Explain the factors that influence the wind and describe the atmospheric circulation.
14. Describe various air masses, fronts, and storms.
15. Describe the various parts of the solar system.
16. Identify and describe various parts of the universe.
Required, Recommended, Supplemental and Optional Instructional Materials
1. Required textbook: Foundations of Earth Science. Authors: Lutgens & Tarbuck. Edition 8.
ISBN 0134577809 You need to purchase the text with the access to the online Modified Mastering Geology program.
Purchasing options:
The bookstore will be selling:
Foundations Of Earth Science LL (W/Modified Mastering Geology) Lutgens & Tarbuck ISBN 0134577809 Publisher Pearson Edition 8 Binding Shrink Wrapped (this is the loose leaf version of the book that you will have to put in a binder).
You can buy the book anywhere (including from the publisher Pearson). Here are other versions of the book:
Online book & access to Modified Mastering Geology: Modified Mastering code w/ eText - ISBN: 0134287924 = $68.24 net
Online book & access to Modified Mastering Geology: Modified Mastering access w/ eText (direct from Pearson) – NO ISBN required = $78.95 retail
Hard cover book & you get access to Modified Mastering Geology: Bound Text + Modified Mastering code w/ eText – ISBN: 0134577833 = #141.75 net
The publisher’s website is www.pearsonhighered.com
You have to in some way, shape, or form have access to the online Modified Mastering Geology program that comes with the book. The weekly chapter homework assignments are on it.
I will provide additional information about the book and access to the online components in the introductory module in Blackboard.
2. Access to a computer that has regular and reliable Internet connection. Students should plan on logging into the course via Blackboard at least 2-3 times per week.
3. In addition to having access to a computer with regular/reliable Internet connection the computer should also have a web browser, word processing software, and a PDF reader.
4. Students should be familiar with how to browse the web, how to communicate via email, and how to use word processing software. I would recommend that students use the spell and grammar checks on the word processing software to edit any discussion forum posts.
5. You do not need a special calculator; in fact you can use the calculator on your computer if needed.
6. Students will submit all course assignments electronically. I will return the results to you electronically. This course is entirely paperless.
Delays in getting the textbook
You will need the official textbook for this course by the first day of the semester. If you are unable to get the book until after the course begins you can follow these guidelines. However, you will need to do the coursework and not having the book will not be accepted as an excuse.
1. Complete all administrative items (downloading/printing the syllabus and schedule, posting an introduction, and returning the class contract) during the first week of the semester.
2. Watch the chapter power point presentations.
3. Answer the study guide questions—use the chapter power presentations and/or google search the questions.
4. Read all of the messages posted in the discussion forums (you may only be able to read messages after you have posted something).
5. Go to the publisher's website for the book. See what free resources are available to you. The book does allow you to purchase individual chapters for $7.50. You can also try searching the publisher's website for similar books and different editions.
6. See if slightly older editions of the book or similar earth science books are available from the library.
7. You will still have to participate in the weekly forum discussions for this class. If you follow suggestions 1-7 you should be able to still successfully participate.
These guidelines are not enough to replace to the textbook entirely but they should allow you to learn enough information to participate in the weekly discussion forums. This participation is part of your grade.
Refund of Fees & Important Dates
Drop/Refund deadline (February 19th @ 11:59 p.m.)
Student Withdrawal deadline (April 6th @ 11:59 p.m.)
Click here for important dates.
Course Mechanics
This is an online course and it is different from traditional classroom based courses. In a classroom based course the professor typically lectures and has class discussions. Since this is an online course I will not hold traditional lectures but I will provide lecture notes/explanations of concepts for students to read.
It is very important that students keep up with the due dates for assignments. Assignments will have a 5% grade deduction for every day it is late up to 10 days. Beyond 10 days I cannot accept them. It is also important that students do not wait until the last minute to do the assignments. Each module is chapter module is 9 days long and students should commit 3 to 6 hours to each chapter during this time frame.
There are 16 chapter modules. Since this is a shortened 10 week course each new module will be available every 3-4 days. You will have to login to Blackboard to access the modules. There is a link on the upper left side of Blackboard that will take you to the chapter modules. Here is what a typical module will look like.
1. Students will be assigned the selected chapter in the textbook.
2. Students will be given narrated Power Point presentations. Please view them.
3. Students will be given a study guide. This is a set of topics/questions that students should be able to answer and explain after reading both the chapter and watching the Power Point presentations
4. Students will have to post to the weekly discussion forum (aka class participation)—typically due a week after the beginning of the module.
5. Students will have to complete the chapter homework assignment on the Pearson Website (https://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/)
6. Just about every other week there will be an on-line quiz.
7. There are three writing assignments
I’ve tried to set up the course schedule so that the discussion forums posts are due on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Students will need to submit at least one of the following—discussion forum post, quiz, homework, or writing assignment, by the due date to be considered in attendance for the week (please see attendance section). You can't just log in to Blackboard and have that count as being in attendance.
Here is the course schedule of assignments. It is very important that students keep up with the assignment deadlines.
| Week | Module/Assigned Chapter to Read | Assignments & Due Dates |
| 2/12-2/19 | Chapter 1 | Introductory Discussion Forum—2/19 Course Syllabus Assignment—2/19 Chapter 1 Discussion Forum—2/19 and two replies 2/21 Ch 1 Homework 2/24 Students must complete one of the above assignments by 2/19 otherwise they will be dropped Drop/refund deadline 2/19 |
| 2/14-2/21 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 2 Discussion Forum—2/21 and two replies 2/23 Ch 2 Homework ---due 2/24 |
| 2/17-2/24 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 3 Discussion Forum—2/24 and two replies 2/26 Ch 3 Homework ---due 2/26 Quiz 1 Chapters 1 & 2—2/26 |
| 2/21-2/28 | Chapter4 | Chapter 4 Discussion Forum—2/28 and two replies 3/2 Ch 4 Homework 3/3 Essay #1 Assigned & due 3/10 |
| 2/24-3/3 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 5 Discussion Forum—3/3 and two replies 3/5 Ch 5 Homework 3/5 Quiz 2 Chapters 3 & 4—3/5 |
| 2/28-3/7 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 6 Discussion Forum—3/7 and two replies 3/9 Ch 6 Homework 3/10 Writing Assignment #1 (Ch 4 Module) due 3/10 |
| 3/3-3/10 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 7 Discussion Forum—3/10 and two replies 3/11 Ch 7 Homework 3/21 Quiz 3 Chapters 5 & 6—3/21 |
| 3/7-3/21 | Chapter8 | Chapter 8 Discussion Forum 3/21 and two replies 3/23 Ch 8 Homework 3/24 Writing Assignment #2 assigned & due 3/31 |
| 3/10-3/24 | Chapter 9
| Chapter Discussion Forum—3/24 and two replies 3/26 Ch 9 Homework 3/26 Quiz 4 Chapters 7 & 8—3/26 Writing Assignment #2 due 3/31 |
| 3/21-3/28 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 10 Discussion Forum—3/28 & two replies 3/30 Chapter 10 Homework—3/31 |
| 3/28-4/4 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 11 Discussion Forum—4/4 and two replies 4/6 Ch 11 Homework 4/7 Quiz 5 Chapters 9 & 10 4/7 |
| 3/31-4/7 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 12 Discussion Forum—4/7 and two replies 4/9 Ch 12 Homework 4/9 **Withdrawal deadline 4/6 |
| 4/4-4/11 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 13 Discussion Forum—4/11 and two replies 4/13 Ch 13 Homework 4/14 Quiz 5 Chapters 11&12—4/14
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| 4/7-4/14 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 14 Discussion Forum—4/14 and two replies 4/16 Ch 14 Homework 4/16 Writing Assignment #3 due 4/16 Quiz 7 Chapters 13 & 14 due 4/16 |
| 4/11-4/18 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 15 Discussion Forum—4/18 and two replies 4/20 Ch 15 Homework 4/21 |
| 4/14-4/21 | Chapters 16 | Chapter 16 Discussion Forum—4/21 and two replies 4/22 Ch 16 Homework 4/21 Quiz 8 Chapters 15,16—4/21 |
| 4/23-4/29 | Final Exam | Final Exam due 4/29 by 5 pm |
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I will now give a detailed explanation of the weekly activities.
1. Reading the assigned chapter in the textbook: I would suggest that students do the following to get the most out of their textbook. Before reading the chapter, survey the chapter—read the contents, look at the headings (even turn them into questions to answer like “What is an Air Mass?”), read the chapter summary, and look at the questions for review/questions for thought and exploration at the end of the chapter. When reading the chapter, highlight important information and take notes. As you read the chapter answer the study guide questions that I provide for you. I would suggest doing an outline of the chapter and write notes in your own words. After reading the chapter I would suggest defining the key terms (in your own words) and answering the questions at the end of the chapter.
2. Power Point presentations: I will provide narrated Power Point presentations for each chapter. This would be the equivalent of coming to class and listening to a lecture. As you watch the Power Points answer the study guide questions that I provide you. At the end of the Power Point write a summary of what you just learned.
3. Study guide: I will provide a study guide with questions and concepts that students should answer on their own as they read the chapter and watch the PowerPoint presentations. This is non-graded assignment, just another tool students can use to help them learn the material. Answer the study guide questions as you read the chapter and watch the PowerPoint presentations.
3. Chapter discussion forum post
First I want students to know that they do not have to go this course alone without any help. I am here to help you and so are your classmates. With that said I am setting up weekly discussion forums for students to post their explanations of concepts we are learning as well as a forum to ask questions about the content. Each week students will have to post to the discussion forum. I highly encourage students to read all of the posts in the discussion forums. The weekly discussion forum posts are your required interaction. I would encourage all students to do more than the one required weekly post: read all of the posts and whenever possible reply and respond to other students' questions. Your professor will also be an active participant.
How you will be graded on the discussion forum/class participation. Here is what is required for your discussion forum post and how you will be graded:
a. You will have to make an initial post to the chapter discussion forum by 11 pm on the due date. In your post you will explain three things you learned this week, list two things you found interesting and explain why you found them interesting, and list one thing you didn’t really understand so well.
I will take off points if the question is incorrect, if it is missing important details or details are wrong, if there are spelling and grammar mistakes.
b. You need to make at least two substantive replies to other classmates’ posts two days after the initial post is due. You will need to read at least two other classmates’ posts and make reply to what they wrote. The replies need to add information to the conversation. You can provide additional extra information to what your classmate wrote, by being the first person to answer any follow up questions that I post, by explaining the something your classmate didn’t understand, or indicating what you learned from reading the post. A reply such as “I agree with what you said” or “Great post!” is not acceptable. Your two replies will count towards 1 point for the weekly discussion forum post.
c. Here is how you will earn points for the discussion forums. Each discussion forum is worth 10 points.
1. Explain three things you learned this week—3 points for accurately describing three topics from the assigned readings and chapter power points.
2. List two things you found interesting and explain why you found them interesting—2 points for listing what they are and explaining why you found them interesting
3. List one thing you didn’t really understand so well—1 point for clearly listing what you didn’t understand
4. Two substantive replies to other classmates’ posts—up to 2 points if each reply is in-depth and adds to the conversation
5. Two points for a clearly written post with no spelling or grammar errors.
d. This is an uncomfortable topic but I need to share this with you. When you answer these questions please answer them in your own words (as if you were trying to explain the concept to someone in the class). It’s not a good idea (in fact it is wrong) to copy and paste answers from the book, copy and paste answers from what you found from the Internet, etc, even if that includes copying something and just changing and modifying a few words. You are a smart person and I know each of you can answer these questions. Please see the section about academic honesty for more information. At my discretion I may run your answer through “Safe Assign” plagiarism checker.
e. Etiquette on the discussion boards—Students will need to conduct themselves in a civil manner with their classmates in the discussion forums. I’ve been fortunate that the vast majority of the discussion forum interactions in my courses have been positive and polite—please do the same. A good rule to live by in the on-line environment is to pretend you are talking to that person face to face—would you say the same thing in the same way to that person face to face instead of what I like to call ‘hiding behind a reply’. If you disagree with someone or find that they have an error please email them privately instead of posting it to the forum. Let me handle any errors (typically if there is an error in a post I will ask follow up questions to address it).
4. Chapter homework assignments—These are available via www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com
The homework assignments are multiple choice, matching, and sorting questions. You will need to read the chapter before you do the assignment.
5. Essays. You will have three essays. The essays are meant to summarize several chapters worth of material. I will provide more detailed instructions and rubrics for each essay on Blackboard, including what needs to be addressed as well as the grammar, spelling, and organizational requirements.
6. Online quizzes and final exam: You will take all quizzes and the final exam online via Blackboard. You do not have to take any of the tests on campus (woo-hoo!). With that said here are the guidelines for the online quizzes and final exams.
a. Quizzes and the final exam are open book and open notes and you are allowed to use calculators.
b. Quizzes and the final exam will have a time limit. The purpose of this is to test you on what you learned. If you find that you are constantly looking through the book to find the answers then you have not prepared for the test and you will likely run out of time! The quizzes and final exam should automatically submit themselves at the end of the scheduled time. You are responsible for keeping track of the time. You will be penalized if the quizzes and final exam are not submitted on time.
i. The quizzes will have 30 questions and you will have 60 minutes.
ii. The final exam will have 60 questions and you will have 2 hours.
c. The questions for the quizzes will be multiple choice, and true false. The final exam will be multiple choice only.
d. Computer problems—you may have legitimate computer problems during quizzes. If that happens please do everything that you can to document the problem and contact me immediately. I can reset your quiz so that you can take it again but I have also lost control of the test. At my discretion I may assign you an alternate makeup quiz. With a makeup quiz it will be harder and will likely consist of essay questions. I have to do this because I have lost the integrity of the original quiz. Be very careful that you don't cause any problems with the quizzes as you are taking them. If you think that you might have computer/Internet problems then you can always using the computer labs at Valencia to take your quizzes. The first time that a student has to take a makeup quiz, due to computer problems, I may either reset the quiz or create an alternate makeup quiz. The student can take the quiz anywhere. For the second time I have to reset a quiz I will not reset the quiz but rather give a more challenging makeup quiz that will be taken in a proctored setting on campus at a testing center.
For the final exam I will not reset it if there are any problems. If a problem comes up during the final exam then you will get a much harder makeup exam that will be given in a proctored setting on campus.
e. Preparing for your quizzes and final exam: Students should read the chapters several times, once to get an idea of what is in the chapter and again to ensure that you understand the concepts. Students are also encouraged to outline and take notes on the chapter. Students should also read the chapter notes and explain each concept in the study guide portion of the notes. In addition, post questions to the discussion forums when you need help with concepts.
Students will need to submit any one of the items: weekly discussion forum post or quiz by the due date to be considered in attendance for the week (please see attendance section). You can't just log in to Blackboard and have that count as being in attendance.
STUDENT SUCCESS INFORMATION
Grades
Grading scale (points/letter grades)
A=100-90% B=89.49-80% C=79.49-70% D=69.49-60% F: less than 60%
Grade break down—how you will earn your points
1. Introductory assignments 3%
2. Chapter Discussion Forum Posts—16 total each worth 1% 16%
3. Chapter Homework Assignments—16 total each worth 1% 16%
4. Essays—3 total each worth 5% of your grade 15%
5. Quizzes--8 quizzes each worth 5 % of your grade 40%
5. Final Exam 10%
I will be using a weighted average to determine your final grade. The formula will be something like this
Final Grade= (Introductory assignments x 0.03) + (Discussion Forum Average x .16) + (Homework assignments x .12) + (Essay Average x .05) + (Quiz Average x .40) + (Final Exam x .10)
You might be confused why your grade doesn’t match the points you have divided by the total number of points. Remember this is a weighted average. Just check the “Weighted Average” column in the grade center to know your actual grade. I usually post this after the first quiz.
I will round the final percentage grade to the nearest point. For example if a student earns a 79.5% I will round it up to an 80% “B” but if they earn a 79.4% then it will be rounded down to a 79% “C”.
Final Exam date, time and place
There will be a final exam which students will take on-line. They can take it at any time between April 23-29. I would encourage students to take the final exam earlier in the week in case there are any glitches.
The final exam will have 64 multiple choice questions (4 from each chapter). Students will have two hours and thirty minutes to complete the exam.
Missing the final exam will result in a 10% (1 letter grade) drop in a student’s grade until the student takes a make up final, at which time a grade of A, B, C, D or F will be given.
Late Work, Make-up Policies, and Procedures
I want to let you know that the biggest thing that can bring down a student’s grade is missing work. I also want to let you know that you are 100% capable of keeping up with the work in this class! With that said here are my policies:
1. Any missing assignment (weekly forum discussion post, missing quiz) will result in a grade of a zero (0%) for that assignment. This will cause a reduction in the student's overall grade.
2. Any assignment not submitted by the specified date and time in the schedule of assignments is considered late. The only exception is if you have contacted me and I have approved an extension in advance.
3. I will accept assignments up to 10 days late unless you have contacted me first and I have approved an extension. If I approve the extension there will be no penalty. If I did not approve an extension and you turn in the assignment late there will be a penalty (see below):
4. I will accept late work (discussion forum posts, quizzes) up to 10 days late for a reduced grade. I will deduct 5% each day that it is late. For example if a student earns an 82% on a quiz but they turn it in 3 days late then they will get a 67% for the quiz. After 10 days I cannot accept the late work unless there is an extenuating circumstance and I have given the student permission to turn in the work late.
5. The late policy does not apply to the final exam and/or any assignments due during the last week. I have to submit grades the Monday after final exams week and I am not able to process late assignments.
6. Unfortunately I cannot accept computer/Internet problems an excuse for turning in your work late. Come up with a plan for alternate computer/Internet use ahead of time in case something goes wrong with your primary computer/Internet access. I would encourage students to submit assignments ahead of time instead of at the last minute.
7. If there is a college server outage on the due date and you are unable to access the online classroom then these policies and procedures will apply
a. Email me the assignment as an attachment before the assignment is due. I would also encourage you to leave me a voice mail.
b. If you do not have Internet access, please leave me a voice mail.
c. If there are any problems with the Blackboard server that stops you from taking any exam/quiz, I will make a reasonable accommodation.
8. If there is an extenuating/emergency circumstance please make every effort to contact me to discuss the situation and allow you an extension on your assignments. I will need some sort of official documentation (ex: doctor's note, court summons, etc) to be able to approve an extension.
I want to let you know that I understand that things happen to everyone—unexpected illnesses, family emergencies, etc. I want to let you know that if something major comes up please let me know as soon as possible so that I can work with you.
9. Unfortunately I don’t allow students to redo writing assignments, discussion forum posts, or tests because they are unhappy with their grade. If I allowed students to redo their assignments then this would double the amount of grading that I have to do every week.
Extra Credit Policy
I will offer extra credit at the end of the term for up to 4 points total added to the final grade. For example if a student earns a 68% and they do the assigned extra credit then that should be enough to bump them up to a 70% “C”. Extra credit will be given towards the end of the semester, but not during the last week of class. Unfortunately I do not take student requests for extra credit. For example, if a student has a 54% and they ask for extra credit to bring their grade up to a 70% then I cannot accept that request. I would encourage all students to do extra credit—it might just give you the extra point you need to get to the next letter grade.
Attendance Policy
Instructors will have to use their professional judgment to determine if students are actively participating in class and are in attendance. I will use the following policy to determine student attendance, to determine grades (based on lack of attendance), and any administrative withdrawals for lack of attendance.
1. Students can withdraw from a course without any academic penalty as long as it is by the deadline established by the college's calendar. A student will earn a grade of a “W” for the course and it will not count against their GPA. The student withdrawal deadline is April 6th, 2018 at 11:59 pm.
2. To be marked as present or in attendance for the week a student will need to submit at least one assignment per week. Simply logging into Blackboard does not count as attending.
3. Students are responsible for withdrawing from the course by the date published in the college academic calendar. Students who want to withdraw must do so himself/herself in accordance with current college procedures. I will not withdraw students for this course.
4. Students who stay in the course after the withdrawal deadline will earn a grade of an A, B, C, D, F, or I.
5. Students will need to be in attendance for the first week. The drop/refund deadline is February 19, 2018 and the faculty no-show reporting period is right after that. I have to document your attendance during the first week of class. In order to be counted as present and in attendance during the first week of class you must complete one of the assignments for the first week—returning your signed syllabus contract and/or posting in one of the discussion forums.
Students will be dropped as a no-show after the Drop deadline and during the No Show period if they do not complete one of assignments from the Chapter 1 module.
6. Computer reliability and Internet access: Students will need a computer with reliable internet access. I cannot accept as an excuse that a student's computer/internet is not working as a reason for not completing assignments on time as well as a reason for non-attendance.
7. Students are subject to receive a final grade of an “F” if they DO NOT WITHDRAW THEMSELVES BY THE WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE AND SUBSEQUENTLY ABANDON THE COURSE.
Withdrawal Deadline and Policy
A student who withdraws from class before the withdrawal deadline of April 6, 2018 will receive a grade of “W.” A faculty member is permitted to withdraw a student from the faculty member's class up to the beginning of the final exam period, for violation of the faculty member's attendance policy, as published in the faculty member's syllabus. A student is not permitted to withdraw from this class after the withdrawal deadline; if you remain in the class after the withdrawal deadline, you can only receive a grade of A, B, C, D, F or I. An I grade will only be assigned under extraordinary circumstances that occur near the end of the semester. If you receive an I, the work missed must be made up during the following semester, at which time you will get an A, B,C,D or F. Failure to make up the work during the following semester will result in you getting a grade of F in the course. Any student who withdraws from this class during a third or subsequent attempt in this course will be assigned a grade of “F.”
I want to let you know that I am not going to withdraw students for any reason. It will be up to you to withdraw yourself for any reason.
Students who are on financial aid should consult with an advisor or counselor before withdrawing from a course. There may be financial implications to the student which he or she must know about to make an informed decision before withdrawing from a course. Students with some scholarships who withdraw or are withdrawn from a class must pay the college for the cost of the class. Other scholarship sponsors may also require repayment.
In order to academically maintain financial aid, students must meet all of the following requirements:
? Complete 67% of all classes attempted, and
? Maintain a Valencia GPA of 2.0 or higher, and
? Maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher, and
? Complete degree within the 150% timeframe
Detailed information about maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP) can be found at:
http://valenciacollege.edu/finaid/satisfactory_progress.cfm
- For a complete policy and procedure overview on Valencia Policy 4-07 please got to:
http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policy/default.cfm?policyID=75&volumeID_1=4&navst=0
Course Attempts/Course Withdrawal
Agencies and organizations which provide financial assistance/scholarships (federal and state government, businesses, etc.) may have requirements relative to withdrawal, course repeats and grade forgiveness which are more stringent than those described below. It is your responsibility to verify the effects of enrollment and/or withdrawal upon your financial assistance (financial aid, scholarships, grants, etc.).
According to State Rule 6A-14.0301, you may attempt the same course only three times at Valencia including the original grade, repeat grades and withdrawals at any point in the term. Students in Bachelor’s degree programs are limited to two attempts. The same course usually means the subject prefix and course number are the same when posted on a Valencia transcript. Courses that have been deemed equivalent will all count as attempts even if the current course number is not the same as your previous attempt(s). Being enrolled in a course for credit beyond the Drop/Refund Deadline counts as an attempt. The Drop/Refund Deadline for each term is listed in the Academic Calendar in the online official catalog.
Notice to Students Seeking to Withdraw from a Course(s)
Before you withdraw from a course, you should be aware that course withdrawals:
· Will increase the cost of your education
· May affect your financial aid status
· May affect your transfer grade point average
· May result in your having to pay the full cost of instruction fee to retake the course
· May affect your anticipated graduation date
· May result in your being denied access to limited access programs
· May affect your eligibility for the Honors Program
· May affect your immigration status if you are attending Valencia on a nonimmigrant visa
· Will result in your required repayment of course fees paid by a Bright Futures scholarship.
To withdraw from a course(s) you must access registration on Atlas. The Withdrawal Deadlines for each term are published in the Academic Calendar in the online official catalog. All requests for withdrawals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the Withdrawal Deadline date April 6 2018.
Before you withdraw:
· Talk with your professor to discuss your progress in the course
· See a Student Services staff member to discuss how a withdrawal will affect your career and education plans and/or the status of your financial aid
Conditions That Apply to a First or Second Attempt in a Course
On or Before the Withdrawal Deadline:
During a first or second attempt in the same course at Valencia, if you withdraw, or are withdrawn by the professor, you will receive a W (Withdrawn). You will not receive credit for the course, and the W will not be calculated in your grade point average; however, the enrollment will count in your total attempts in the specific course.
Following withdrawal, you may, with the professor’s approval, continue to attend the course for the remainder of the term.
After the Withdrawal Deadline:
A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline. A professor may withdraw you up to the beginning of the final exam period for violation of the class attendance policy, as published in the faculty member's syllabus, in which case you will receive a grade of “W”. If the professor does not withdraw you, your grade will be what you had earned.
For a complete policy and procedure overview on Valencia Policy 4-07 please got to:
http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policy/default.cfm?policyID=75&volumeID_1=4&navst=0
Valencia College Core Competencies
Valencia college has four core competencies (think, value, communicate, and act) that help to prepare students for success in the world. You can find these competencies in the college catalog. You will work on these competencies through the various activities in this course.
ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM INFORMATION
Special Copyright Notification
I will offer PowerPoint presentations that use graphics from the publisher’s textbook. I have consulted with the publisher and I have permission to use these graphics. Students may view my PowerPoint presentations but everything in those presentations are copyrighted, including the publisher’s graphics. Students are not permitted to share the presentations or graphics, post them to the internet, copy/save the presentations, etc. These are only for students in my course. In addition these presentations are only available for a limited time (two weeks).
Security Statement
We want to reassure you that our security officers are here around the clock to ensure the safety and security of the campus community. It’s important to remain alert and aware of your surroundings, especially during the early morning or evening hours. Remember that you can always call security for an escort if you feel uncomfortable walking alone on campus. White security phones can also be found in many of our buildings; simply pick up the phone and security will answer.
Finally, report any suspicious persons to West Campus Security at 407-582-1000, 407-582-1030 (after-hours number) or by using the yellow emergency call boxes located on light poles in the parking lots and along walkways.
Faculty/Student Communication
I want to let you know that I am always here to answer any question you have. I check email and course messages every day. My virtual office door is always open for you. There are several ways that you can communicate with me and that I will communicate with you.
1. For general class information that pertains to all students.
a. I will post announcements in Blackboard letting students know about important due dates and other important information. You should check the announcements every time you log on to blackboard. Students are responsible for all of the information that I publish here.
b. On occasion I may send information to students via e-mail if it is something that is time sensitive. Please check your Atlas college email at least every other day.
c. I will have a discussion forum where students can post general questions about class policies and subject matter and I will answer them. I would encourage students to post questions here that way my answers can benefit all students.
2. For private communication students can do the following. Private communication would be for subject matter that is not appropriate to share with the entire class (example—questions about your grades).
a. E-mail me at dfaysash@valenciacollege.edu
b. Send me a private message via Blackboard There is an email and messaging utility within Blackboard
c. Call me at my Google voice mail (see first page).
I will try my best to answer student communications within 24 hours. Please remember that I work one full time job and teach two nights a week. I am usually able to answer emails, return phone calls, etc between 5-9 p.m on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, and between 9 am-8 pm on the weekends. I will also login to my email every day at some point (typically around 5 pm). If I haven't gotten back to you within 24 hours you should assume that I did not get your message. You should then send another message. Also do not double post an urgent message, i.e. in the discussion forum and email. Just send an email. Please don’t call my google voice mail between 9 pm and 8 on the weekends as I will likely be asleep. Seriously I had student wake me up one time and that wasn’t cool.
Here at Valencia College we are committed to providing all students with a quality educational experience. High standards have been set by faculty members for students and themselves. If at any time you have a problem in a class you should first step is to talk with the instructor. If this matter is not resolved then you may talk with the academic dean of the division for your class. We will resolve any issues that come up by working together.
Academic Honesty Statement
This is an uncomfortable subject matter but I need to address with all students so that we are all clear. Overall I would have to say that this only applies to a few students every semester. With that said it is important that you do your own work on your own and that the work you do is your own, not someone else’s.
Each student is required to follow Valencia policy regarding academic honesty. All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the student’s individual thoughts, research, and self-expression unless the assignment specifically states ‘group project’..
Valencia College has an Academic Honesty policy. Students are responsible for becoming familiar with the policies, rules, and the consequences of violations.
Click here for Valencia College's Academic Honesty Policy.
Click here for Valencia College's Student Code of Conduct
What is academic dishonesty? There are a variety of forms of academic dishonesty which include (but or not limited to).
a. Cheating on a test (working with another student on a test, looking at another student's answers, etc).
b. Plagiarizing—Copying/pasting information from a published source (website, textbook, academic paper, another student's work, etc) as well as changing a few words from published information. When using another author's work students must cite the source and write what they learned, not copying information word for word or just changing a few key terms. Students cannot just simply copy and paste information, or just change a few words and claim it to be their own. Students must submit their own words! Here is a good rule of thumb (which I learned from the link below): When using another author's information read it, look away from the computer/book, and write down what you learned. Of course when you use another author's information you must cite the source.
Here is a good link that explain plagiarism. I would encourage all students to read this.
c. I do encourage students to collaborate together for situations such as studying for tests and discussing course material. However that students are not allowed to work together on class discussion forum postings, quizzes, and the final exam.
What will I do if I find that students have violated the academic dishonesty policy?
Working together on a class assignment (discussion forum, homework,quiz)
First offense—zero on the assignment
Second offense—zero on the assignment, referral the dean of students
Third offense—referral to the dean of students and a failing grade for the course
Cheating (copying answers, working together on a test, etc)
First offense—a zero for the assignment
Second offense—a zero for the assignment and referral to the dean of students.
Third offense—referral to the dean of students and a failing grade for the course.
Plagiarism (copying another author's work word for word or nearly word for word, not citing your sources, etc)
First offense—I will contact the student, explain the situation and how to not plagiarize, and allow the student to redo the assignment.
Second offense—zero for the assignment & referral to the dean of students
Third offense—referral to the dean of students and a failing grade for the course.
I will handle any act of academic dishonesty per the Valencia policy as set forth in the Student Handbook and Catalog. Students are required to follow Valencia's academic dishonesty policy. When students submit work the work should be the student's individual thoughts, self-expression, and research. There are no group projects for this class.
If I suspect a student of cheating then I will likely use “SafeAssign” to verify if the work was plagiarized.
Upon detecting the occurrent of plagiarism, I reserve the right to look back at previous written assignments and assessments and if another instance of plagiarism is found then the student will receive an F for the course and a referral to the Dean of Science and the Dean of Students.
Classroom Rules of Student Behavior
Students are responsible for learning about and following Valencia's Student Code of Conduct. Click here for Valencia College's Student Code of Conduct
The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the faculty to leave the class. Violations of any classroom or Valencia's rules may lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from Valencia. Disciplinary action could include being withdrawn from class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate and authorized action.
I will have different expectations for classroom conduct since this is an on-line course. In general a student's conduct should contribute to a positive experience for themselves, their classmates, and their professor. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that doesn't interfere with a student's right to learn and a professor's right to teach, or interfere with the general rights of others (including classmates and the professor). I cannot anticipate every and all possible classroom disruption but I can say this. Students are prohibited from posting inappropriate materials in the Blackboard chats, discussion forums, etc. This would include (but is certainly not limited to) posting negative, hostile, demeaning comments, materials, links to websites, etc. If I find that a student is in violation of this policy I will take appropriate action such as (but not limited to) as removing inappropriate posts, warning the student, removing the student from the web course, and to file disciplinary charges with the dean. I will alert the dean if I deem a student's action to be a major offense and/or if the student has been warned once and repeats their behavior.
Computer/Equipment Use Policy
The use of computers at Valencia College (in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms) is restricted to activities given by the instructor to enhance course materials. Any other use of computers is strictly forbidden and includes (but is not limited to)
1. Using a computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites that are not assigned for the class.
2. Using a computer for your job, internship, homework and/or anything not assigned in class.
3. Changing any hardware/software settings and configurations.
4. Any activity that violates the Valencia Student Code of Conduct.
5. The Business Students open lab (Bldg 2 Rm 304) is only to be used by students for course activities in the IT or Business departments.
6. Student use of computers is remotely monitored. If a student uses a computer inappropriately then they can be dismissed from class and/or banished from the lab. Any further offense can be referred to the dean for further disciplinary action.
Student Feedback on Instruction (SFI)
Each term students taking courses are asked to complete the electronic Student Feedback on Instruction survey to let us know more about their experiences. It is used at Valencia by faculty members to improve the teaching and learning experience. Faculty cannot access your student feedback until after final grades are posted. Through this link you can find answers to other commonly asked questions about the SFI.
Baycare Behavioral Health’s Student Assistance Program
“Valencia is committed to making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help that may assist them with psychological issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. Students have 24 hour unlimited access to the Baycare Behavioral Health’s confidential student assistance program phone counseling services by calling (800) 878-5470. Three free confidential face-to-face counseling sessions are also available to students.”
Students with Disabilities Information:
I want to let students know that Valencia is sensitive to and concerned with meeting the needs of all students. Students are encouraged to make their accommodations known to their professors early in the semester.
This statement is from Valencia:
"Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a Notification to Instructor (NTI) form from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class; accommodations will not be applied retroactively. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities."
West Campus SSB, Rm. 102 Phone: 407-582-1523 Fax: 407-582-1326
Additional Information from Valencia
A full description of all College policies can be found in the College Catalog at http://www.valenciacollege.edu/catalog/
The Student Handbook can be found at: http://valenciacollege.edu/studentdev/CampusInformationServices.cfm
The Policy Manual can be found at http://www.valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/
The college calendar can be found at http://valenciacollege.edu/calendar/ for important dates.
Support Services
Valencia college does have support services which can be found by clicking here. Tutoring services are available in bldg. 7-240 (extension 1633). Valencia also recommends
Smarthinking (smarthinking.com), an online on-demand student support site. Finally, Valencia College offers a variety of SkillShops: short seminars covering a variety of topics which deal with student success, goals and purpose. To check out Valencia’s Skillshop offerings, go to: http://valenciacollege.edu/studentservices/skillshops.cfm
Disclaimer
During the semester the need to change either the class schedule of assignments and/or the syllabus may come up. I will do my best to communicate these changes via ATLAS email and Blackboard announcements. By continuing to participate in this course after the drop-add deadline constitutes an agreement with and an acceptance of the conditions that are presented in this syllabus.
Study tips/How Much Time You Should Study Each Week
In higher education professor recommend that students should study 2-3 hours for every 1 hour of class time. For a 3 credit course like this one you should probably study 6-9 hours a week. This is just a guideline. You may need to study more than this.
As mentioned earlier I suggested that you read the chapter, outline and take notes on the chapter, read my summary notes, explain the study topics, and visit the web links that I provided for further explanation. In addition read all of the discussion forum posts and whenever possible answer other students' questions. I believe that people learn by repetition. The more a person is exposed to something the more it will sink in. This is what studying is all about.
I can tell you that this is a concepts based course. I am not asking students to memorize definitions, but rather understand the physical processes that govern the atmosphere.
Blackboard
Please make sure that you log off of Blackboard when you are done. This frees up space on the server for other students to use the system. It also accurately records how much time you are logged in (but remember just logging in does not count for attendance). Don't just close your web browser, actually click on the log out button.
Weather Emergencies
In the case of weather emergencies, you can find out about school closings by signing up to update your information for Valencia Alerts.