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PDC 124 ONLINE - Syllabus


Photo of Cindy Morrin

Printable Version of Syllabus

"Be daring,
be different,
be impractical;
be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers,
the creatures of the commonplace,
the slaves of the ordinary."
— Cecil Beaton


 

Instructor/Counselor:  Cindy Morrin

Office Location and Hours:  Room A-209 (in the counseling center)
Thursdays:  8:30-1:00
Thursdays:  call for a counseling appointment or walk in

Phone: 619-660-4438
Email:  cindy.morrin@gcccd.edu
Cindy's Website:  www.cuyamaca.edu/cindymorrin

PDC Website:  www.cuyamaca.edu/pdc
To make a counseling appointment for educational planning call 619-660-4429

Getting Started!

Everything is listed in the syllabus and the online schedule for this 8 week course.  Readings in Collegescope (your online e-text), assignments, weekly discussions, quizzes and activities that are listed are due each week on Sunday night by 11:55 PM.  You will be able to log into your course on the first day.  Login to your Blackboard student account here.  Send me an email if you are not able to log into your course.  If you registered after the first week, I will need to add you manually to the course.  Click on "User Login."   username is your firstname.lastname

Required E-Textbook and Materials

  • COLLEGESCOPE:  We will be using the new interactive online edition of College and Career Success.  This online text is personalized for each student based on an assessment of your personality type and learning style which is taken at the beginning of the course.  There is an access fee of $50 which takes the place of purchasing a textbook. Order your online text at this website:  http://www.collegescope.com/ccs/cuyamaca.  Do not purchase the printed version of the textbook at the Bookstore, however you can purchase an access code for the e-text at the bookstore.  CollegeScope Support Help Email:  1-888-295-1520
  • USB Port/Thumb drive/Flash Drive is highly recommended.

Your textbook is fully online.  You will need a high speed internet connection to read your text.  You can use the computers and campus labs to read your text, but I advice you have a system at home.

Course Credit:

General Education Credit for California State Universities, Area E; UC transferable

 What Does “ONLINE LEARNING” Mean?

Click here to read more about how an ONLINE class works.  This is a ONLINE class which means everything is done entirely online.  Your reading, quizzes and assignments will all take place online.  We will never meet for class.  You are welcome to meet me during my office hours.

Blackboard for Online Classroom Work and Participation:

Blackboard is the course management system platform that we will be using.  You will be participating in discussions, doing assignments, taking quizzes, emailing, and checking your grades in Blackboard.  It is important that you check Blackboard daily for updates and class information.  You will have weekly quizzes, discussion boards (DB’s), reading, and assignments that must be posted via your Blackboard container.  It is nice to have high-speed internet connectivity at home.  If you do not, I would highly advise you become familiar with our campus computers and campus labs. 

Accessing your Blackboard (Bb) Account:

  • Go to http://bb.gcccd.net
  • Click on “User Login” (Bookmark this site by adding it to your favorite sites).
  • Your Blackboard ID is your first name and last name in lowercase with no spaces and a dot in the middle (For example, Joe Smith would have a Blackboard ID of joe.smith).
  • Your password is your birth date in 6 digits (For example, if Joe Smith were born on January 1, 1986, his password would be 010186).
  • If you have registered late or just before school starts, you may not be able to log in.  If you cannot log in, please contact me so I can log you in.

Grading - Check your grades under "My Grades" in Blackboard:

  • Discussion Boards (Dbs) = 8 x 10 points (20 pts for week 2) = 90 points

  • Online Assessments in College Scope (DWYA and PEPS) = 25 points

  • CollegeScope E-Textbook Reading (ch. 1-14) 10 points x 14 = 140 points

  • Weekly Quizzes in Blackboard (orientation + ch. 1-14) 10 points x 15 = 150 points

    Assignments (Turned in via Blackboard):

  • Educational Plan with a Counselor and Goal Statement Assignment = 25 points

  • Career, Major, and College Research Paper = 25 points

  • Scholarship Essay = 25 points

  • Extra Credit Project and Assignments (may be assigned periodically)***

Grading Scale

  • 25% Homework (CollegeScope--journals and activities in your e-text)

  • 25% Quizzes in Blackboard

  • 25% Assignments in Blackboard

  • 25% Discussion Boards (Dbs)

A = 87-100% awarded for work that exceeds expectations and/or shows exceptional effort, skill, or creativity
B = 75-86% awarded for work that exceeds expectations
C = 60-74% awarded for work that meets expectations
D = 50-59% awarded for work that is below expectation

Online Assessments in College Scope:

Your online text begins with two assessments; Do What You Are (DWYA) and a Learning Styles Assessment (PEPS).  You must complete these assessments before you can start reading the chapters in your online text.  It is important that you take your time and are careful in completing the assessments as the results will be used throughout the entire course and within your reading.  To begin go to: http://www.collegescope.com/ccs/cuyamaca.  The first time you log in, click on the "Register Here" button. You will use your e-mail address as your login ID and you will be asked to create a password for your account. Make sure to write down your e-mail address and password so that you can log into your account in the future. After you have created your account, log in with your e-mail address and the password that you created.

To get the most value from your text, it is important that you complete these assessments in a careful and honest way. On these assessments, there are no answers that are better than others. We all have different personality types and learning styles and every type has strengths that can be used to be successful in college and to choose the career that makes use of these strengths.  Do not answer the questions the way you think an ideal person would answer them. It is important to answer the questions honestly in the way that describes you the best. The assessment is easy, but long. Pick a time when you are not tired and have plenty of time. If you get tired during the assessment, take a break or come back to it later. After you have finished the assessments, go to My Portfolio. Read "My DWYA Report" and "My PEPS Report" for an interesting description of your personality and learning style.   You will use these reports for your personality paper during chapter 6.

Online Interactive Reading in College Scope: 

You will be reading two online chapters every week starting the second week after you have completed the Online Assessments the first week.  Each chapter contains journals, quizzes, and activities.  You cannot advance to the next chapter until you’ve completed these activities.  Access your text at http://www.collegescope.com/ccs/cuyamaca

Online Discussion Board (Db) in Blackboard:

You will respond to a weekly Db on Blackboard in this class, beginning with the first week to introduce yourself.  This is an asynchronous chat room where you will view all student replies.  You will be sharing your assignments and reflections on the Db as assigned.  You must reply to at least one other student for full Db points.

Online Quizzes (Weekly):

You will have a short “EASY” quiz on each chapter each week.  These quizzes must be completed in Blackboard and are due every Sunday night at 11:55 PM.  You should read your CollegeScope chapters before you take your quizzes for the week (because this is an 8 week course, you will have two quizzes a week for two chapters).  You will have an orientation quiz the first week of class.  You cannot make up a quiz or the points if you do not take it by the deadline.

Assignments:

You will have a number of assignments to complete throughout the semester.  You will receive detailed instructions in Blackboard for each assignment.  The assignments due dates are listed in the Course Schedule in Blackboard and details/instructions for each assignment is located under Assignments in Blackboard.  You must upload your assignment in Blackboard in the Assignment section. 

Late Work:

Items are due every Sunday night by 11:55 PM.  You cannot make up a quiz once the deadline has passed.  Late Reading and Assignments will receive partial credit depending on how late the assignment and/or reading is.  Extra credit opportunities will be announced throughout the semester.  Ask your instructor for details.

Academic Accommodations:

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact Disabled Student Services & Programs (DSPS) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible.  DSP&S website is http://www.cuyamaca.edu/dsps/.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

Personal Growth and Life Management:

1)       Assess their personality types, interests, values and learning styles

2)       Formulate a list of lifetime goals

3)       Apply a decision making process to practical problem scenarios provided in the textbook

4)       Identify priorities based on lifetime goals

5)       Select time management strategies to accomplish lifetime goals

6)       Identify money management techniques that lead to financial security

7)       Discuss techniques for positive thinking

8)       Apply behavior modification techniques to changing a behavior

9)       Identify motivational techniques for personal success

10)   Describe their life stage based on the theories of Erikson, Levinson and Sheehy

11)   Practice effective communication techniques

12)   Increase awareness and appreciation of social diversity

Career Assessment and Research:

13)   Based on the career development models presented in the textbook, list careers that match their personality types, interests, values and learning styles

14)   Select a career based on personal assessment and explore job requirements, outlook and skills required

15)   Develop and educational plan consistent with career goals

Lifelong Learning:

16)   Apply memory techniques to college reading, note taking and test preparation

17)   Identify their learning style and multiple intelligences

18)   Develop personal learning strategies based on learning style

19)   Formulate strategies for dealing with writer’s block

20)   Practice writing skills through written exercises, short papers and journal entries

21)   Identify the steps required to produce a college term paper

22)   Write a resume

Health and Wellness:

23)   Discuss topics related to maintaining good health in college and over a lifetime as presented in the text and make a personal wellness plan

24)   Assess their level of stress and apply appropriate stress management techniques

Critical and Creative Thinking:

25)   Identify fallacies in reasoning

26)   Describe the critical thinking process

27)   Evaluate a current event using a critical thinking process

28)   Apply creativity techniques to generate ideas for problem resolution

29)   Draw conclusions from a psychological experiment

30)   Use basic statistics to understand vocational assessments

Course Objectives:

1.  Personal Growth and Life Management

  • Personality, interests and values

  • Life time goals

  • Time and money management

  • Interpersonal communication

  • Appreciation of diversity

  • Life stages

  • Motivation

2.  Career Assessment and Research

  • Analyze personality, interests and values to select an appropriate college major and career

  • Create an educational plan consistent with major and career choice

  • Analyze employment trends and impact of technology on future career choice

  • Assess work skills necessary for success in the 21st Century

  • Complete career research project on a career that matches personality, interests and values

  • Practice decision-making techniques

3.  Lifelong Learning

  • Apply psychological principles of learning to practical learning tasks in college and throughout life

  • Apply learning principles to reading, note taking and test taking

  • Evaluate learning style and select appropriate learning strategies for lifelong learning

  • Assess multiple intelligences

  • Complete a behavioral modification project to change or begin a pattern of behavior (habit)

  • Practice effective writing techniques

4.  Health and Wellness

  • Assess wellness: physical, nutritional, alcohol and drugs, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual

  • Develop a personal wellness action plan

  • Understand the physiology of stress and practice stress management techniques

  • Practice techniques for relieving test anxiety

  • Examine strategies for successful longevity

5.  Critical and Creative Thinking

  • Describe fallacies in reasoning

  • Practice a critical thinking process

  • Apply a creative thinking process

  • Practice techniques for positive thinking
     

    Fall 2008 CALENDAR

    Continuous Through last day to add Application Period
    Continuous Through August 17 Program Advisement
    July 14 - August 22 Registration
    August 18 - 22 Professional Development - Organizational Meetings
    August 22 Application Deadline
    August 25 Regular Day & Evening Classes Begin
    August 25 - September 5 Program Adjustment Period
    September 1 Labor Day Holiday
    September 5 Last Day to Add Semester-Length Classes***
    September 5 Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes Without a "W" Appearing on Transcripts
    September 5 Last Day to Receive a Refund for Semester-Length Classes***
    September 8 Census Day
    September 26 Last Day to Apply for P/NP (CR/NC) - Semester Length Classes
    October 17 Last Day to Apply for Fall 2008 Degree/Certificate
    October 17 End of First 8-Week Session
    October 20 Second 8-Week Session Begins
    November 10 Veteran's Day Holiday
    November 14 Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes
    November 27 - 29 ** Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend
    December 12 End Second 8-Week Session for Weekday (M-F) classes
    December  15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 22 Final Examination Days
    December 22 Close of Fall Semester
    December 23 Instructor Grade Deadline
    December 23 - January 23 Winter Recess - Faculty
    December 22 - January 25 Winter Recess - Students
    December 24, 25, *26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 & January 1st District Employees Holiday
       
    *the date of Admission Day is no longer mandated for September 9. Local Districts must provide an equivalent holiday for classified employees if not observed on September 9.  **Campus closed in recognition of Friday Holiday. *** See pages 6-8, 10-11 for 1st 8-week, 2nd 8-week, Short-Term, Saturday, and Online course deadline dates.