COURSE SYLLABUS COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: TSTC 1101: College Success (2-0-1) COURSE (CATALOG) DESCRIPTION: This course will examine factors that underlie learning, success, and personal development in higher education. Topics covered include information processing, memory, strategic learning, self-regulation, goal setting, motivation, educational planning, and learning styles. Techniques of study such as time management, listening and note taking, library and research skills, preparing for examinations, and utilizing learning resources are covered. This includes courses in college orientation and development of students' academic skills that apply to all disciplines. INSTRUCTOR: John C. Hensley, MSW OFFICE: C103 OFFICE HOURS: TBA OFFICE PHONE: (956) 364-4112 EMAIL: john.hensley@harlingen.tstc.edu MAJOR COURSE REQUIRMENTS: A. College As Your Workplace B. Assessment and Planning for Educational Success C. College Electronic Resources D. Financial Literacy E. Information Literacy STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to: Demonstrate successful personal and classroom behavior Analyze personal learning style abilities and personality Create short-term and long-term goals Recognize the benefits of a higher education Identify ways to pay for a higher education Apply time management effectively through use of self-monitoring and planners Apply reading skills and techniques to improve vocabulary Apply active listening skills, recording, and reviewing in note-taking by using the Cornell Method Distinguish exam question formats and prepare for exams Evaluate ways to cope with test anxiety Apply cooperative learning in their classrooms and in study groups
Apply critical thinking throughout their academic career Examine library resources Describe and apply the research process Identify and describe plagiarism and how to avoid it Apply personal integrity and honesty Apply public speaking skills through discussion and an oral presentation Operate current technology to create e-mails, internet research, access TSTC and departmental websites Identify and locate campus resources and services Compute a Grade Point Average Apply basic information learned through USA Funds Life Skills Create a personal budget Create a time management plan Demonstrate academic planning and registration process REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS: Textbook: No Text is required for this class Materials: TSTC 2013-2014 Student Planner and Handbook View course materials and maintain access to TSTC, TSTC Portal, and TSTC Email Account Required Computer & Software: Internet accessibility (high speed) Browser Mozilla Firefox (download for free) Adobe Reader - Can be downloaded for free at (http://get.adobe.com/reader/) Access to (https://mycourses.tstc.edu/). For questions, contact the Online Learning Office (956-364-4950) or Help Desk via phone: 1-800-592-8784, email: tstchelpdesk@tstc.edu, or Yahoo IM: tstchelpdesk. o On the site run the Browser check to ensure that your computer will run and course quizzes and tests properly. o For more information on TSTC System Requirements, access the Quick Start Guide for Students on the Homepage
GRADING CRITERIA: GRADING SCALE: Assignment/Discussion/Quizzes 50% A = 90-100 B=80-89 Student/Instructor Conference 20% C=70-79 D=60-69 Group Project 15% F = 59 and below Campus Life Activities (3) 10% SOLO 5% *Student/Instructor Conferences. You are required to attend one conference with your instructor. The conference is to be completed no later than February 21, 2014. This conference provides us the opportunity to become acquainted, discuss coursework, and for you to discuss any issue(s) that you would like to address in a private setting. *Campus Life Activities. You are required to attend three (3) campus activities from the list below or any other events sponsored by one of our many campus student organizations. If you are not sure what constitutes an event, please consult with your instructor. Start Time End Time Date Event Location SGA 21-Jan WW: Activity Day 11:30am 1pm SC Cafeteria 22-Jan WW: Join a Club Day 11:30am 1pm Student Quad 23-Jan WW: SGA Open House 11:30am 1pm SC 122 28-Jan Open Mic Night 5pm 8pm SC Cafeteria Cultural Arts Center 12-Feb Vegas Bash -Casino Night 6pm 10pm 18-Feb Culture Week 12pm 1pm SC VIP Room 19-Feb Culture Week 12pm 1pm SC VIP Room 20-Feb Culture Week 12pm 1pm SC VIP Room 26-Feb Movie on the Lawn 7pm Athletic Field 4-Mar Fashion Show 12pm 1pm TBD 5-Mar Spring Break Hookup 12pm 1pm Student Quad 5-Apr Service Project TBD TBD TBD 9-Apr Techsan Day 12pm 3pm Student Quad Support Services 4-Apr Sexual Assault Awareness 12pm LRC Gathering & Silent Walk Orientation Room 23-Apr Denim Day 11:30am 1:00 pm Student Center 23-Apr Spring Abilities (time and location to TBA)
MOODLE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM This course will utilize as the Learning Management System. Below are some guidelines to help you understand the course expectations. 1. It is the responsibility of the student to complete discussion topics, assessments, activities, and exercises by the specified due date. No late assignments, discussions, and assignments will be accepted after the due date. 2. Quizzes You will have quizzes throughout the semester. The quizzes are not proctored. This means that you will be able to take the quiz at home, library, lab, etc., anywhere with internet connection. Missed quizzes will not be made up. 4. Discussion assignments Students are to respond to each discussion topic with clarity. In addition to their response to the topic, students must reply to one other student response. Discussions assignments cannot be completed after the due date. 5. Written assignments Students are to complete written assignments using Microsoft Word. You will need access the internet to complete some written assignments. Many of the assignments in this course are specifically developed to promote student success at particular times or stages during your first semester; assignments need to be completed in a timely manner to be most effective. No late assignments will be accepted. 6. General News and Announcements I will be utilizing this forum for News and Announcements pertaining to our class. Deadlines, quizzes, etc 7. Questions for the Instructor Forum This forum will be utilized to post any questions you may have about the course to the class or the instructor. Keep in mind all students in the class are able to view the questions and the responses. If you want to contact me or a classmate privately, please utilize Mail located on the right hand side of your screen. DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION POLICY: The college classroom is a place for individuals to come together with the common purpose of improving their intellectual and academic skills. All students deserve a classroom environment that is free of interruptions or distractions that impede learning. Disruptive activity that hinders other students learning or deters an instructor from effective teaching will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Because active participation in class discussions is essential, it is important that all students are fully prepared for class each day. Attendance is required as it is essential for optimal learning experiences in this class. Material and information will be presented in class that is not found in. The only excused absences are documented illness, a death in your immediate family, an official religious holiday, or a documented emergency or natural disaster. Absences beyond these will adversely affect your final grade. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain material that was covered.
Tardiness will adversely affect your final grade. Arriving late or leaving the class early without notifying your instructor disturbs the class in process. ACCOMMODATIONS: If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out class work as outlined and/or if you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact (956) 364-4520 or visit the Consolidated Student Services Building (Room 216) as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements. Copyright Statement The materials used in the course (textbooks, handouts, media files (podcast, MP3, Videos, RSS Feeds), and all instructional resources on the colleges Learning Management System () are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course, and are only to be used for instructional use, activities associated with, and for the duration of the course. By "handouts," this means all materials generated for this course, which includes but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and any additional materials. These materials may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act. These materials may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder or TSTC. For further information contact your instructor. Communicating with your instructor Your instructor will correspond with you within your TSTC course via the News Forum, Discussion Forums, and Messaging. Although you may receive messaging notifications to your personal email account, your responses should be made within the environment by responding to the appropriate Discussion Forum post or message. It is your responsibility to check Course Discussion Forums and Messages on a daily basis. In the event that is down or if the instructor advises, you may email the instructor at [Instructor Email]. All correspondence to the instructor at this email address must come from your TSTC student mymail.tstc.edu email address and must contain the course you are enrolled in within the email subject line. Your instructor will make every attempt to respond to your emails within 24 hours, except on weekends and holidays. Any technical questions should be directed to the TSTC Help Desk at 1-800-592-8784, tstchelpdesk@tstc.edu or Yahoo IM: tstchelpdesk.
Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring Program The Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring Program at TSTC offers free tutoring and academic support services to help you achieve your academic and career goals. You can access the most up-todate Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring Schedule, as well as MyTSTC Video Tutor Library, by using your smart phone to scan over the QR code below or visiting our webpage at: http://www.tstc.edu/harlingenoss/situtoringprogram For more information, please contact the Office of Student Success at 364.4163 or the Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring Program at 364.4170.
MAJOR COURSE LECTURE, TOPICS DESCRIPTION/REQUIRED/RECOMMENED/READINGS/ELECTRO NIC RESOURCES TO VIEW: Date Week 1 Tentative Schedule (Subject to change by your instructor) Topic/Lecture/Event Required/Recommended Readings/Electronic Resources to View Module I: College As Your Workplace Welcome/Course Overview Review TSTC Handbook/Planner Week 2 Welcome Week 1/20 Student and Staff Holiday Welcome Week Activity Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Read/Bring for Next Class Course Syllabus Course Syllabus Review Welcome Week Activities and start planning on what activities you will be attending next week. Attend Welcome Week activities SOLO SOLO Course Contact the Distance Learning Office for difficulties (W104 364-4950) Module II: Assessment and Planning for Educational Success Multiple Pathways to Learning Assessment Personality Spectrum Assessment Time Management Goal Setting SQ3R Method Test Taking Strategies Cornell Note Taking Method GPA Summary vs. Reflection Video Learning Styles Slideshow Goals, Values, and Time power point Upload assignments via SQ3R Slide Show Test Taking Slide Show Discussion & response via Cornell Note Taking Video How to calculate my
Date Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Topic/Lecture/Event Required/Recommended Readings/Electronic Resources to View GPA video? Cornell Note Taking Quiz Discussion & response via Module III: College Electronic Resources Introduction to TSTC Portal Introduction to WebAdvisor Introduction to MyMail Getting to Know Your Campus Activity Academic Planning and Registration Module IV: Financial Literacy How Do I Manage My Student Loans? How Do I Live On A Budget While I Am In School? What Do Credit Scores Mean To Me? How Can I Protect Myself From Identity Theft? Module V: Information Literacy Introduction to LRC Evaluating & citing sources TSTC Portal Website (www.portal.tstc.edu) TSTC Portal Quiz Mid Term Week TSTC Portal Website (www.portal.tstc.edu) WebAdvisor MyMail TSTC Student Handbook TSTC Website USA Funds Website (www.lifeskills.org) Meet in LRC Orientation Room TSTC Learning Resource Center Website What you don t know about copyright and citing slideshow Read/Bring for Next Class Bring your USA Funds transcript (printed results) to your next scheduled class meeting.
Date Week 14 Week 15 Topic/Lecture/Event Required/Recommended Readings/Electronic Resources to View What you don t know about database searching slideshow What you don t know about researching slide show What you don t know about evaluating sources slide show Upload your assignment via Research Readiness Project Research Readiness Project Due: Group Presentations Read/Bring for Next Class Work with your group Bring your research material (notes/index cards) to class Bring your research material (notes/index cards) to class Meeting in classroom & present with your group Worth 15% of your final grade