Overview Objective Materials grading Exam ELI Policies and Procedures Contacting the Instructor Beginning the Course
CST 126 - Interpersonal Communication - 3 Credits
Professor: Thomas P. Morra

Overview


This humanities course is designed to increase your awareness and appreciation for the complexity of interpersonal communication skills in everyday situations. 

You will learn through various means including textbook readings, PowerPoint presentations, online quizzes and journals, individual and group presentations and other world wide web resources.

By studying communication principles and practicing interpersonal competence, you will develop a greater tolerance and understanding of your own and others' attempts to interact in personal and professional relationships

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Due to the interactive nature of this course, there are specific due dates that you need to follow to remain enrolled.  These dates may be different from the dates on your quick start syllabi (and other standard ELI dates), so you must check and then follow the Important Class Due Dates menu item on the left hand toolbar in our Blackboard course.

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Objectives

 


If you complete this course and do well, you will be able to: 

  • report increased self-understanding and confidence in human interactions; 
  • communicate ideas with fluency and rhetorical sensitivity; 
  • apply nonverbal communication theory in communicating and evaluating messages; 
  • use critical thinking to understand and resolve issues; 
  • demonstrate principles of organization and synthesis of information; 
  • adapt messages and behaviors to different communication situations; 
  • employ internal and external dialog to respond to messages; 
  • demonstrate respect for cultural and social diversity; understand the responsibilities associated with freedom of speech; 
  • demonstrate awareness of historical, cultural and social traditions which influence communication events. 
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Materials

 



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Grading
 

To determine your grade I will add the total points you have earned in completion of the assignments for the course. The following is the breakdown of the number of points that equal each grade level. All assignments are expected to be turned in on time and in legible format (the nature of this course DOES NOT allow for late assignment submissions).

Grading Scale
A
300-270
B
269-240
C
239-210
D
209-180

For a breakdown of how many points each assignment is worth please look under the Assignmnet section of Blackboard. In this section you will find a detailed explanation of each assignment, along with how many points you can earn through the completion of the assignment.

If you do not withdraw by the last withdraw date and do not finish your course assignments, you will receive a grade based upon the work you have submitted. Usually, this grade is an F.

Please Note: The attached grading scale is based on a total of 300 points. There are actually a total of 318 points you can earn in this class if you complete all the assignments. If you complete the discussion postings and quizzes for all 12 chapters in the text you could earn a total of 60 points each for those assignments-but the attached scale shows them as being worth a total of 55 points (essentially making one quiz and one discussion thread "extra" points you can earn). Also, Exam one and Exam two have extra questions in them (worth extra points towards your final grade). Therefore, there is no additional "extra credit" available in the course. To determine your final grade simply locate your total points score in your gradebook and locate that total in the chart above.

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Exams

 


There are two proctored exams in this course. These are objective exams based upon the information you are being exposed to in the course.

Before you go, print the Exam Pass page and cut off the appropriate pass for the exam you want to take. When you go to the Testing Center, take along a photo ID and the appropriate exam pass. The Testing Centers have been asked not to give exams unless you have a photo ID and the appropriate exam pass.

Please Note: These exams must be completed by Friday December 12th.

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

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ELI Policies and Procedures

 
This is an Extended Learning Institute (ELI) course. ELI courses differ from campus courses in several important ways, including enrollment dates, communication with faculty, assignment completion requirements, and exams. You must follow ELI's policies and procedures if you take this course. Read (or review) ELI's Policies and Procedures before you begin the course. If you have questions, call ELI at (703) 323-3347 or (888) 435-6822.
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Contacting the Instructor

 


I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : tmorra@nvcc.edu
BY CAMPUS TELEPHONE: (703) 323-3136
BY ELI TELEPHONE: (703) 323-3347

Please Note: The most effective way of getting in contact with me is through email. Please send me an email at tmorra@nvcc.edu for assistance. In sending me an email (anytime you send me an email) please make sure you tell me your name AND what class you are enrolled in (SPD 126 86N) so I can readily identify who you are.

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Beginning the Course

 


1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.