BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat Course Syllabus Course Description Provides an overview of the comprehensive approach to fire prevention within the community. Covers strategic planning and community programs as it relates to fire safety prevention and terrorist incidents. Explores the plan review process, code development, code enforcement, fire investigation, and evaluating prevention programs. Course Textbook Crawford, J. (2002). Fire prevention: A comprehensive approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Sachs, G. M. (2003). Terrorism emergency response: A workbook for responders. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Course Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Recognize the history of the development of the fire codes. 2. Explain the components of a comprehensive fire prevention system. 3. Distinguish how each component: Education, Engineering, and Enforcement are part of the fire prevention system. 4. Discuss the fundamental concepts in planning fire and life safety prevention. 5. Identify the engineering elements in fire prevention. 6. Describe the enforcement process for fire safety code. 7. Compare and contrast various types of safety education programs. 8. Define fire investigation and explain what makes this type of investigation different from others. 9. Explain the importance of human resources activities in fire prevention. 10. Discuss the evaluation of prevention programs. Credits Upon completion of this course, the students will earn three (3) hours of college credit. Course Structure 1. Unit Summaries: Each unit contains an overview, or summary, of the information to be covered. 2. Unit Learning Objectives: Each unit contains learning objectives that specify the measurable skills and knowledge students should gain upon completion of the unit. 3. Key Terms: Key terms are intended to guide students in their course of study. Students should pay particular attention to key terms as they represent important concepts within the unit material and reading. 4. Textbook and Supplemental Reading Assignments: The assignments include approximately 1-4 textbook chapters in each course unit. Assigned readings are not limited to textbook chapters, but may include supplemental books, professional journals, and internet sites. 5. Assessments: This course contains six unit assessments to be completed at the end of Units I-III and V-VII. 6. Article Critiques: Information and specifications regarding these assignments are provided in the syllabus below, and in the Units IV and VIII Study Guides. Grading rubrics are included with the Unit IV and VIII Article Critiques. Specific information about accessing these rubrics is provided below. 7. Final Examination (Proctored): Final examinations are to be administered to students by an approved Proctor on a date that is mutually convenient to both. To request to take proctored final exams, select the designated links BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat 1
found in the online course. You are permitted four (4) hours to complete this exam, in the presence of your approved proctor. This is an open book exam. Only course textbooks and a calculator, if necessary, are allowed when taking proctored exams. 8. Ask the Professor: This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content related questions. 9. Student Break Room: This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Article Critiques Unit IV Article Critique The purpose of this activity is to investigate a professional journal in the field of fire prevention that interests you. The objective of your critique is for you to locate an article that covers a school or community-based program. You will critique the article in terms of the effectiveness of the program. Please include the following topics in your critique of the selected article: a brief introduction and overview of the article, a description of the school or community-based program, your interpretation of the program s effectiveness, and a summarization of your thoughts and suggestions for improvement or follow-up. The selected article should not be more than four years old. You are encouraged to utilize the Research database found in the CSU Online Library located in the course menu. This database will allow you to quickly search through thousands of journal articles. The completed assignment should be no more than two pages in length and should include the article link or reference. CSU requires that students use the APA format in writing course papers, therefore, the APA rules for formatting, quoting, paraphrasing, citing, and listing of sources must be followed. Submit your completed assignment by uploading it using the "Unit IV Article Critique" link. Do not e-mail your paper directly to your professor. By uploading into Blackboard, your university record will automatically be updated to indicate you have submitted your paper, and it will be provided to your professor for grading. Information about accessing the grading rubric for this assignment is provided below. Unit VIII Article Critique The purpose of this activity is to investigate a professional journal in the field of fire prevention that interests you. The objective of your critique is for you to locate an article that covers an emergency fire scenario and the actions taken by the firefighters. You will critique the article in terms of the effectiveness of the response team. Please include the following topics in your critique of the selected article: a brief introduction and overview of the article, a description of the firefighters actions, your interpretation of whether or not you feel their decisions were effective, and a summarization of your thoughts and suggestions for improvement. The selected article should not be more than four years old. You are encouraged to utilize the Research database found in the CSU Online Library located in the course menu. This database will allow you to quickly search through thousands of journal articles. The completed assignment should be no more than two pages in length and should include the article link or reference. CSU requires that students use the APA format in writing course papers, therefore, the APA rules for formatting, quoting, paraphrasing, citing, and listing of sources must be followed. Submit your completed assignment by uploading it using the "Unit VIII Article Critique" link. BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat 2
Do not e-mail your paper directly to your professor. By uploading into Blackboard, your university record will automatically be updated to indicate you have submitted your paper and it will be provided to your professor for grading. Information about accessing the grading rubric for this assignment is provided below. Submitting Course Papers/Projects Once you have completed your papers/projects, submit your completed papers/projects by uploading through the view/complete link under the Assignment tab in each unit. Do not e-mail your paper directly to your professor. By using the Assignment tab, your university record will automatically be updated to indicate you have submitted your papers/projects and the assignment will be provided to your professor for grading. Instructions for submitting your assignment can be found under the Assignment tab in each unit. APA Guidelines The application of the APA writing style shall be practical, functional, and appropriate to each academic level, with the primary purpose being the documentation (citation) of sources. CSU requires that students use APA style for certain papers and projects. Students should always carefully read and follow assignment directions and review the associated grading rubric when available. Students can find CSU s Citation Guide by clicking here. This document includes examples and sample papers and provides information on how to contact the CSU Success Center. Grading Rubrics This course utilizes analytic grading rubrics as tools for your professor in assigning grades for all learning activities. Each rubric serves as a guide that communicates the expectations of the learning activity and describes the criteria for each level of achievement. In addition, a rubric is a reference tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts to meet the requirements of that learning activity. It is imperative for you to familiarize yourself with these rubrics because these are the primary tools your professor uses for assessing learning activities. Rubric categories include: (1) Assessment (Written Response) and (2) Assignment. However, it is possible that not all of the listed rubric types will be used in a single course (e.g., some courses may not have Assessments). The Assessment (Written Response) rubric can be found embedded in a link within the directions for each Unit Assessment. However, these rubrics will only be used when written-response questions appear within the Assessment. Each Assignment type (e.g., article critique, case study, research paper) will have its own rubric. The Assignment rubrics are built into Blackboard, allowing students to review them prior to beginning the Assignment and again once the Assignment has been scored. This rubric can be accessed via the Assignment link located within the unit where it is to be submitted. Students may also access the rubric through the course menu by selecting Tools and then My Grades. Again, it is vitally important for you to become familiar with these rubrics because their application to your Assessments and Assignments is the method by which your instructor assigns all grades. Final Examination Guidelines Final Examinations are to be administered to students by an approved proctor on a date that is mutually convenient. The student is responsible for selecting a qualified proctor that must be approved by the university. A list of acceptable proctors is provided in the Examination Proctor Policy. To review the complete Examination Proctor Policy including a list of acceptable proctors, proctor responsibilities, proctor approval procedures and the Proctor Agreement Form, go to the mycsu Student Portal from the link below. http://mycsu.columbiasouthern.edu BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat 3
You are permitted four (4) hours to complete this exam in the presence of your approved Proctor. This is an open book exam. Only course textbooks, writing utensils, and a calculator, if necessary, are allowed when taking proctored exams. Other materials are not permitted unless specified in the examination instructions and only the sources identified in the instructions may be used as source material. Communication Forums These are non-graded discussion forums that allow you to communicate with your professor and other students. Participation in these discussion forums is encouraged, but not required. You can access these forums with the buttons in the Course Menu. Instructions for subscribing/unsubscribing to these forums are provided below. Once you have completed Unit VIII, you MUST unsubscribe from the forum; otherwise, you will continue to receive e-mail updates from the forum. You will not be able to unsubscribe after your course end date. Click here for instructions on how to subscribe/unsubscribe and post to the Communication Forums. Ask the Professor This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content questions. Questions may focus on Blackboard locations of online course components, textbook or course content elaboration, additional guidance on assessment requirements, or general advice from other students. Questions that are specific in nature, such as inquiries regarding assessment/assignment grades or personal accommodation requests, are NOT to be posted on this forum. If you have questions, comments, or concerns of a nonpublic nature, please feel free to email your professor. Responses to your post will be addressed or emailed by the professor within 48 hours. Before posting, please ensure that you have read all relevant course documentation, including the syllabus, assessment/assignment instructions, faculty feedback, and other important information. Student Break Room This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Communication on this forum should always maintain a standard of appropriateness and respect for your fellow classmates. This forum should NOT be used to share assessment answers. Grading Unit Assessments (6 @ 10%) = 60% Article Critique (Unit IV) = 10% Article Critique (Unit VIII) = 10% Final Exam = 20% Total = 100% Course Schedule/Checklist (PLEASE PRINT) The following pages contain a printable Course Schedule to assist you through this course. By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat 4
BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat Course Schedule By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. Please keep this schedule for reference as you progress through your course. Unit I Overview of Fire Prevention and Planning for Fire and Life Safety Prevention Chapter 1: An Overview of the Comprehensive Approach to Fire Prevention Chapter 2: Planning for Fire and Life Safety Prevention Unit II The Plan Review Process and Code Enforcement and Development Chapter 3: The Plan Review Process: Engineering Elements in Prevention Chapter 4: Code Enforcement and Development: Developing Quality Codes and Making Sure they are Enforced Proctor Approval Form Unit III Public Fire and Life Safety Education Programs and Fire Investigation Chapter 5: Public Fire and Life Safety Education Programs Chapter 6: Fire Investigation BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat 5
BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat Course Schedule Unit IV Article Critique Chapter 1 6: Review course material in preparation for the Article Critique Article Critique Unit V Staffing, Training, and Funding Options for Prevention and Evaluating Prevention Programs Chapter 7: Staffing, Training, and Funding Options for Prevention Programs Chapter 8: Evaluating Prevention Programs Unit VI History of the Use of Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Agents and Safe Operations at Terrorist Incidents Terrorism Emergency Response: A Workbook for Responders Chapter 1: The History of the Use of Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Agents Chapter 2: Safe Operations at Terrorist Incidents BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat 6
BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat Course Schedule Unit VII Effects of Biological and Chemical Agents and Terrorism Emergency Response Scenarios Terrorism Emergency Response: A Workbook for Responders Chapter 3: Effects of Biological, Chemical, and Radiological Agents Chapter 4: Terrorism Emergency Response Scenarios Request to take Final Exam Unit VIII Article Critique Chapter 7 8: Review course material in preparation for the Article Critique Terrorism Emergency Response: A Workbook for Responders Chapter 1 4: Review course material in preparation for the Article Critique Article Critique Final Exam BFS 3820, The Community and the Fire Threat 7