COURSE GUIDE
FOR STD 100 ORIENTATION - Section 91
Julia
Brown, Instructor
This guide explains week-by-week the assignments that are required to complete this course. If you have not read the Syllabus, you should do so first. The Syllabus contains important information about the textbook, grading, add/drop and withdrawal dates, and other Extended Learning Institute (ELI) policies and procedures.
The following is a site map of this Course Guide's
assignments. You should plan to schedule your work on a weekly basis.
Use the BACK
button on your toolbar to return to this location, or simply scroll up/down
the page to view information.
"Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
ENGLISH PROVERB
Open your Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) E- Mail Account and learn how to logon to Blackboard.
By enrolling in an NVCC course you
have access to an NVCC e-mail account and space for a web page.
You will be expected to use your
NVCC student e-mail during this course and to check it weekly for updated
information, feedback from the instructor, and other College announcements.
All NVCC instructors access the College student e-mail accounts with the
pre-arranged College e-mail address book.
You will also be using a tool called Blackboard to engage in discussion with other students. Your user name and password are found on the same page as your email user name and password.
Click here for directions to access your e-mail and receive your Blackboard logon. (Be sure to use your BACK button to return to this page.)
SEND: An e-mail message to my College e-mail account at jubrown@nvcc.edu with your reaction to the video, as explained below.
VIEW: "What Do You Want"
You must view this program before
you complete any further assignments. Plan to view this video on cable
or in any campus Learning Resource Center (LRC) as soon as possible.
See the information about videotapes in the Syllabus.
Directions
The author of your text does a great
job in the programs of introducing the course and describing several of
the important topics. By watching these programs you can better understand
how to put the ideas to work for you. The Syllabus has some general
information about the programs and you should have received a broadcast
schedule with your Quick-Start Syllabus.
There are two programs broadcast in the same half hour, "What Do You Want" and "Ideas Are Tools", which is required for Week 2. Decide whether you will watch them as they are broadcast or view them in the LRC. The programs run sequentially from 1 - 11 starting in Week 1 and then start over again in Week 6. Each program is approximately 12 minutes.
Grading
Include a summary of the "What Do
You Want" in your e-mail message. You do not need to tell what was covered
in the video. Discuss what you think will be helpful to you.
A satisfactory grade will be given when your e-mail message is forwarded
from your College account.
Read Text: Introduction, pages 1 through page 6.
Complete: Exercises in Introduction
Submit: Introductory Letter by NVCC email account. (This assignment was originally designed to use the voice mail system. However, because of the recent instability of voice mail, please complete this assignment by email.)
Directions:
The purpose of this letter is to introduce
yourself so that your instructor can get to know you individually.
Please follow these instructions for submitting
your introductory letter:
| Items to include in your
letter besides your name:
2. A statement about yourself that will help your instructor remember you from among the many other students in the course. The statement should be 2 to 3 sentences and focus on what is unique about you. 3. The grade you plan to attempt (i.e., A, B, C). |
Submit your email introductory letter to jubrown@nvcc.edu
Grading
There are no right or wrong answers
for this assignment. You will receive full credit when you submit
a letter: (S) Satisfactory or (U) Unsatisfactory.
Remember to keep a copy of everything you send. Also, wait at least 2 weeks before contacting to see if your assignment has been received. You do not need to notify your instructor by email or phone that you have just sent an assignment.
"For they conquer who believe they can."
VIRGIL
Read Text: Chapter 1, First Step
Complete: All written work in Chapter 1
Directions
As your text explains, the more actively
involved with it you become, the more you will accomplish. Some of the
techniques described will work for you; some won't. But
without trying them, you won't know which is which.
Read each assigned chapter and complete the corresponding exercises. There are two basic kinds of activities; one, the exercises, is identified by a tennis shoe. The other, the journal entry, is identified by a pencil in the shape of a figure eight. The exercises will give you the techniques needed to become a successful student, while the journal entries help you internalize what it is you gained from the exercises. BOTH ARE IMPORTANT.
The power processes, usually at the end of the chapter, are techniques that can be applied not only to your role as a student, but also to most every role in life. They are not pencil and paper techniques, but more "state of mind" techniques. Try them out.
Submit: Discovery Wheel, Learning Style Inventory, and Journal Entries #5 (Discovery Statement concerning the Discovery Wheel), #6 (Intention Statement), and #7 (Discovery/Intention Statement concerning the Learning Style Inventory). Do not submit pages 14-16 or pages LSI-1 through LSI-6.
Directions
The purpose of these activities is
to give you a starting point from which to work in this course. The Discovery
Wheel will allow you to systematically assess your study and related skills
and identify which approaches to learning are best for you.
The Discovery Wheel is Exercise #5 in your text. You have two options for completing the wheel.
(1) Send by mail: You may complete the wheel in your text on page 17 or complete it online. If you are using the text version, make a copy of it and a copy of your Journal Entry #5. If using the online version, print out a copy of both the wheel and Journal Entry #5 (Discovery Wheel Questions) which can be sent to your instructor. It is important to send a copy because you will need your wheel for comparison at the end of the course. Remember to put your name on both the wheel and the questions.
(2) Send by email: You may complete the wheel online, capture a picture of it, save it and send it via email attachment. Be sure to print out a copy of the wheel for you to keep for future reference. You may also answer the Journal Entry #5 (Discovery Wheel Questions) online and email directly to your instructor. Title the message _____'s (your name) Journal Entry #5
The directions for doing all of this online may be confusing. When you have finished your wheel, you can use the Print Screen key on your keyboard to capture a picture. Open your graphics program (such as Paint) and paste in the picture of the wheel. Use the File menu to "Save As". Call it ______'s Discovery Wheel using your name in the blank. Go to your email account and address a message to your instructor (jubrown@nvcc.edu) Add the Discovery Wheel as an attachment and send it.
The Learning Style Inventory (LSI) begins on p. 19. The inventory is not available online. Take the LSI and complete Journal Entry #7 on p. LSI-7. You may mail it by attaching a cover sheet and self-addressed envelope. If you have access to a scanner and want to scan the LSI and Journal Entry, you may send them by email.
Grading
You will be graded on the completeness of the Discovery
Wheel, the Learning Style Inventory and the Journal Entries. Full
credit (S) will be awarded if complete.
View: "Ideas Are Tools"
Complete:
Video
Report Form
Directions
View the program, as it is broadcast,
or in the LRC. The cable broadcast begins with "What Do You Want"
and "Ideas Are Tools" during Week 1 of the new semester and continues through
the rest of the programs by Week 5. Broadcasts will then begin
again and repeat the sequence. You may also view the programs in the campus
Learning Resource Centers (sometimes called "Libraries"). Taking notes
is recommended, as the final exam will contain questions pertaining to
the videos.
To fill out the Video Report Form, do a "Save As" to save the form onto your computer. Use a word processing program to fill in the boxes. You will want to use the "File" menu, look for "Page Setup" and change the "Paper Size" from portrait to landscape. You may also want to reduce the margin size. When you have completed all critiques, you can then attach the file to an email. Do not submit the form until all programs have been viewed and critiqued. The Video Report Form should be submitted no later than Week 14.
Grading
Grade will be Satisfactory (S) or
Unsatisfactory (U). Critiques of 6 videotapes are needed for (S).
S grade is required for the B or A contract.
"I write to understand as much as to be
understood."
Elie Wiesel
Take:
The 3rd week Survey
Directions: To complete this assignment
you will go to the Blackboard site for this course. You will be asked
for a user ID and password. Follow the directions
in Week 1 to determine your user name and password. I monitor the
survey site, but will not acknowledge individual entries.
Continue working on remaining projects and assignments.
TIME
MANAGEMENT
WEEK 4
"Dost thou love life, then do not squander time,
for that's the stuff life is made of."
Benjamin Franklin
Read: Chapter 2, Time
Complete: All written work in Chapter 2
View: "Time Management"
"Planning Sets You Free"
"Be Here Now"
Complete: Video Report Form
See directions for viewing videos.
Assignment: Participation in Student Study Skills Discussion Forum
Directions:
College students throughout history
have been interested in techniques to improve their study, reading and
writing skills. I've learned that students are one of the best resources
we have for techniques that work for students. This is an
opportunity to simulate an in-class experience of sharing and learning
from one another through discussions. Topics include, but are not
limited to: note taking, test preparation, testing, time management,
how to get the most out of reading time, organization skills, how to succeed
in distance learning, etc.
By Week 9, all students are required to participate in a Study Skills Discussion in Blackboard. When you click on Study Skills discussion you will be asked for a user ID and password. For your logon and password, review Week 1. Again, I will be monitoring the site, but will not inform you that I have read each entry.
Additionally, we've provided an Announcements section. (When you are at the Announcements section, use the Back button on your toolbar to return to this page.) This thread will be used to provide students with current course information, college information updates and announce new links.
This site will be closed when all students
have completed the course, usually at the end of the semester. I
expect all students to have made their Study Skills comments by Week
9.
"The art of true memory is the art of attention."
Samuel Johnson
Read: Chapter 3, Memory
Complete: All written work in Chapter 3
"...in every free moment I had, if I was not reading
in the library, I was reading on my bunk... An English writer telephoned
me from London, asking questions. One was, `What's your alma mater?' I
told him, Books!"
Malcolm X
Read: Chapter 4, Reading
Complete: All written work in Chapter 4
Plan: Project
If you are working for the `A' grade,
you should begin to plan your project. (See week 15)
You may submit your project earlier
than week 15, if desired.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your
consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Read: Chapter 5, Notes
Complete: All written work in Chapter 5
View: "I Create It All"
Complete: Video
Report Form
"You either change things or you don't.
Excuses rob you of power and induce apathy."
Agnes Whistling Elk
Read: Chapter 6, Test Taking
Complete: All written work in Chapter 6
View: "Test Taking"
"Stress Management"
Complete: Video Report Form
Fill out Video Report Form. Submit
only when all videos are viewed and form entirely filled in.
DIVERSITY
WEEK 9
& RELATIONSHIPS
"We don't see things as they are, we see things
as we are."
Anais Nin
Read: Chapter 8, Diversity and Relationships
Complete: All written work in Chapter 8
View: "Choose Your Conversation"
Complete: Video Report Form
Acquire: NOVA Catalog and Student Handbook. The Catalog is online or available for $1.50 at each campus Bookstore. The Student Handbook is online as well or available free from any Counseling Office at all campuses of the College.
Directions
The purpose of skimming both the College
Catalog and the Student Handbook is to gain awareness of all
the resources available at NVCC. Both booklets are valuable sources of
information concerning College policies and procedures. Most questions
concerning the College can be answered by information in one or the other.
Start with the College Catalog and skim through the Table of Contents. Find and skim the sections on:
REMINDER: Be sure to have submitted your contribution to the Skills Discussion Forum this week.
"Every problem has a gift for you in its hands."
Richard Bach
Submit: Campus Visitation Form
The College offers many resources free to you. The Counseling Office provides academic and career planning, resume writing advice, and transfer information. Unfortunately, many students go through their entire college career without ever utilizing these resources.
Other offices can provide a wealth of information about service learning, financial aid, tutors, writing assistance, internships, etc. Making contact with a person on your local campus is especially important for ELI students who may not visit the campus very often. For these reasons, it is recommended that you go to a campus to complete this activity. Be sure to read through all three (3) parts of this activity before you go to the campus so that you can schedule your time appropriately.
PART 1
Download the Campus Visitation Questions and Answer Sheet by using "save as". E-mail your completed answer sheet to me at: jubrown@nvcc.edu
PART 2
Visit a campus to learn about the services
that are provided to students enrolled in courses at NVCC. Offices
you should visit are:
Admissions and Records Office
Counseling Center
Computer Labs (more than one at every campus)
Writing Center
Learning Resource Center (sometimes called The Library)
Financial Aid Office (Not available on all campuses; Inquire in your Counseling
Center.)
Student Activities Office
Your faculty advisor (Not available on all campuses; Inquire in your Counseling
Center.)
College Bookstore
Community Education and Workforce Development Office
Review the NVCC College Catalog and Student Handbook for academic and general information, as well as services offered by the Student Development Services. Take particular note of the sections on Registration, Financial Aid, Academic Information, and Graduation Requirements.
You may also want to visit NVCC's Home Page. Browse around to locate the information you want.
PART 3
Visit the Library Home Page, found linked to NVCC's Home Page and click on Library Resources. There are three features which may be of particular interest to you, the distance learner: 1) the tutorial, 2) remote access to all of the library databases, and 3) "ask a librarian". The link for the VCCS Information Literacy tutorial is on the left and the other two are at the top. You are required to complete the Introduction and Module 1 of the tutorial and submit the printed results of the quiz at the end of Module 1.
Grading
You will be graded on the completeness
and accuracy of the answer to your questions. Fill in all questions.
Full credit will be given for satisfactory completion. (S) Satisfactory,
(U) Unsatisfactory - Re-write.
CONTINUE
WORKING
WEEK 11
"Your attitudes can be the lock on, or the key
to your door of success."
Denis Waitley
Study: For Final Exam (Chapters. 1- 8 and Videos)
Complete: All written work in Chapter 7.
View: "Finding a Bigger Problem"
Complete: Video Report Form
"The pen is the tongue of the mind."
Cervantes - Don Quixote
Complete: Final Exam Online in Testing Lab
The ELI Policy and Procedures for examinations is listed in the SYLLABUS and the following is a summary:
Prepare for Exam (see study tips below)
Call Testing Lab of your preferred campus for its hours;
Take Photo ID and Exam Pass to Testing Lab. When you arrive you will be asked to sign on to the STD 100 web site in Blackboard, just as you did during the course, using your logon and password described in Week 1.Take Exam. Your instructor will grade the exam.The exam is at the Assignments button.
If you are outside metropolitan Washington, incarcerated or disabled, see the information and the Proctor Request form in the SYLLABUS.
Please do not let the exam stop you from completing the course. If you have great difficulty getting to a Testing Lab or are very concerned about taking exams, please call your instructor instead of giving up!
STUDY TIPS and WHAT TO EXPECT: The Final Exam will cover the Introduction and Chapters 1-8, and the videos. There will be several short answer questions and short essays. This exam requires you to remember specific information so study accordingly. Use chapter headings as study guides. YOU CANNOT USE YOUR TEXT OR NOTES TO HELP YOU. For additional information on the final exam, you may phone ELI's voice mail information line and choose the box for final exam information -- 323-3713; choose option 2; choose mailbox #3681.
Allow at least 1-1/2 hours to complete the exam. Remember to take your exam pass.
Grading. Satisfactory completion is at least 75%.
NOTE: You must pass
the final exam to pass the course as stated in the syllabus.
"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get
run over if you just sit there."
Will Rogers
Submit: Video Report
Form
Directions
When you have finished the videos
and completed the Video Report Form, you may send it using a cover sheet
and enclosing a self-addressed envelope. You may also email it as an attachment.
(Do not include Course Overview video with these. It was critiqued
in your introductory e-mail message.)
Grading
For satisfactory completion of "C" grade - all videos must be viewed and 4 critiqued..
For satisfactory completion of "B" and/or "A" grade - all videos must be reviewed and 8 critiqued.
Grade will be (S) Satisfactory if the
form is accurate, neatly done, and complete.
"So much is a man worth as he esteems himself."
Francois Rabelais
Read: Chapter 10, What Next?
Complete: All written work in Chapter 10
Submit: Project (For grade A only)
Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to provide an opportunity for you to focus on a topic that will help you to become a Master Student. The projects below are suggestions. If you have something else you are particularly interesting in doing, contact your instructor by e-mail.
Directions
Choose ONE of the following projects, A through G. Some will require you to go to a campus or community resource in order to complete them. When you have completed your research, write at least a page paper describing your experience.
A. Transfer to another school following NVCC: If you are planning to transfer to a year college after attending NVCC, go to the Counseling Center and research the colleges which match your requirements. All have extensive libraries of college catalog information, transfer information and guides which will tell you which courses transfer most often to other colleges. When you have identified two potential colleges, describe why they are appropriate for your needs. List the resources that you consulted. Resources are available for colleges on the Internet. You may use either Internet technology or the Counseling Centers. Directions for exploring colleges on the Internet are under Project B.
B. Explore College Catalogs on the Internet. Does IST 117 transfer to Va. Tech? Does George Mason University have a degree in Physical Therapy? What is the application deadline for Fall semester of next year at Elon College? Explore the Internet and find the answers! You can explore college catalogs of community colleges, colleges and universities through the Internet. Many of Virginia's four-year institutions have their transfer guides on the Internet as well. Access any of the catalogs or transfer guides you wish following the directions listed below. Write a one page paper describing your experience using this new resource. Some topics that might be included are: ease of locating information you needed, transfer guide availability and ease of use, was the information obtained helpful (phone numbers listed and application deadlines printed), did they have on-line applications available, financial aid, etc. In other words, complete a thoughtful evaluation of this resource.
Some useful links to get you started on this project are:
Virginia state colleges' transfer guides
U. S. News and World Report's College Guide
C. Workshops - The Counseling Centers on the 5 campuses offer workshops dealing with a variety of study or life skills. Attend one of these workshops and critique your findings. Include name of workshop, instructor/presenter, number of participants, and a summary of the most helpful knowledge that you gained from the workshop.
D. Videos: In addition to workshops, the LRCs have various tapes on study skills, life skills and career planning. After viewing a videotape, write a one page critique. Tell what you felt was helpful specifically from this video. You do not need to tell the story or the material/story covered in the video. Mention the ideas that you will use.
E. Career Investigation -- Explore careers using:
Option A - Using software on campus
Deciding on a possible career or career change often
provides motivation and focus for college course work. Make an appointment
at your Counseling Center and use one of the computer programs available
to you. Most campuses have Virginia View, an interest inventory
identifying possible careers which are common to Virginia. Choices
is an in-depth career interest inventory and is very easy to use. When
you have printed out the material from your search, mention if the
information is helpful. (You may do this neatly on the printout.)
Option B - Using Internet
Using the Internet either with some of the addresses
suggested or finding your own career exploration web site, explore
a career in depth (salary, educational requirements, qualifications,
future outlook, advantages, disadvantages, etc.) or obtain general
information on resumes and interviewing techniques. Print out
your findings and tell if you think the information will be helpful.
(You may do this neatly on the printout.) This summary/critique part
is very important.
Suggested sites:
1. For specific information on careers (job description,
educational requirements, salaries, number of openings, and professional
organizations) from a national perspective you might look at the Occupational
Outlook Handbook written by the Department of Labor.
2. Virginia's Career Connect is a network designed to assist workers, students and individuals seeking employment with educational, employment, and career related information.
3. Jobweb is the web page of the National Association of Colleges and Employers that contains a listing of career and job related sites.
4. Virginia View is a career information site for Virginians developed and maintained by Virginia Tech. It contains not only state, but national information as well.
5. The Riley Guide is a site of employment opportunities and job resources on the Internet.
6. Or find your own Career Exploration web site. Include address with print out, please.
Note for Internet users: Review on-line networking etiquette if not familiar with the technology. A good resource is: The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette by Arlene H. Rinaldi.
F. Community Resources: There are many resources in the community which may help you in your search toward becoming a Master Student. For example, local recreation centers, YMCAs and YWCAs, libraries and churches often have workshops or seminars on topics which focus on your road to becoming successful. The Women's Reentry Center and Career Development Center for Women, Toastmasters and International Training in Communication (public speaking practice) are other excellent sources. Find out what is available, participate, and describe your experience.
G. Netiquette Research - Choose this project if you would like to review "on-line networking" etiquette related to job hunting. If you do not know the rules, study them before you start your surfing. Print out the rules and discuss which are the most helpful to you on the printout.
On-Line Networking Etiquette: Netiquette
The Basic Rule: Do not go boldly where you have never gone before!
1. Stop and learn the rules of Netiquette
2. Look for a list of Frequently Asked Questions (the FAQ)
3. Listen patiently to the lists or newsgroups you have joined
Resources: Netiquette and On-Line Networking Information
The
Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette by
Arlene H. Rinaldi
Address contributed by Margaret Riley,
"The
Riley Guide"
Grading
When you have completed your project you
may send it by mail or email. Successful
completion will be based on the following criteria: clear writing style,
grammatically correct, neatly typed, and adequate research. (The Writing
Center on each campus can assist you if you need help on this assignment.)
Satisfactory (S). Unsatisfactory (U).
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as
if you were to live forever."
Gandhi
Submit: PART 1 - Discovery Wheel
PART 2 - Course Evaluation
Part 1 is Exercise #24 on page 241 from your text. Be sure to answer all the questions and fill out the Discovery Wheel. Compare this wheel to your first Discovery Wheel. Consider what you learned, where changes were made, where some progress still needs to be made, etc. Send a copy of the second wheel and your written comparison either by mail or email using the directions in Week 2. Part 1 is required to pass the course.
Part 2 is a Course Evaluation. Answer each question at the course evaluation site. In addition, make any suggestions which you think will improve the course. You do not need to use your name on the evaluation. It will not be graded and is a sincere request for feedback to improve the course. The is the same evaluation as the one on the Study Skills Discussion site. You may use either. For directions concerning your user ID and password refer to Week 3.
Grading
Satisfactory completion will be awarded
an "S".
You will find the new skills you have
learned are transferable to home, work or further course work success.
Best wishes for continued success.