Guided Studies Northeast College GUST 1270 College and Career Planning CRN #58398 - Fall 2011 Northline Campus - Room 210 7:00-8:30 pm Mon/Wed Online hours Tues/Thurs (24 hours total for term) 2 hour lecture course (2 hours lecture, 1 hour lab) / 48 hours per semester/ 8 weeks Hybrid Instructor: Paulette Heidbreder Instructor Contact Information: Office phone 713-718-8051; e-mail -- p.heidbreder@hccs.edu or use Eagle Online e-mail (preferred) Office location and hours Feel free to come by my office anytime during these hours: 2:30-7:00 pm MW, Room 423 Northline Learning Center 1:00-3:30 pm TTH, Room 149, Pinemont Learning Center Fridays, by appointment Please feel free to contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course. You do not need to wait until you have received a poor grade before asking for my assistance. Your performance in my class and others is very important to me. I am available to hear your concerns, to discuss course topics or to assist you with questions regarding HCC procedures, degree plans, resources, etc. Course Description Navigating the in s and out s of degree planning, transferring from college to university and succeeding in college classes where expectations are higher and reading assignments longer and more difficult is not an easy task for today s student. HCC realizes this, and rather than abandon new students to navigate the confusing college maze on their own, the College offers them a helping hand through the 1270 course. Think of it as the owner s manual for your college experience. By the end of the course, you will have received guidance in filing your degree plan, in developing a network of resources you can rely on for assistance at any point during your college career, in deciphering the dense textbook material all college classes require and in developing effective study methods that will help you improve your grades as well as helping put you in touch with resources that can assist you in exploring and attaining a satisfying career.
GUST 1270 page 2 This course emphasizes setting priorities, time management, effective listening, note-taking, concentration techniques, retention of information, book analysis and comprehension techniques and test-taking skills. This course also incorporates modules that are designed to facilitate the use of library databases in conducting academic research, planning and setting educational objectives, lifelong career assessment and decisionmaking, financial aid, tutoring and student support services, enabling the student to maximize the use of college resources. Prerequisites Scoring at or above GUST 0341 level reading. Course Goal To help students become more independent, confident and efficient learners so that they are better able to meet HCC s academic standards and successfully attain their own educational goals. The Guided Studies Department also promotes goal setting, self worth, positive attitudes and value clarification to aid students in becoming contributing members of society and gaining personal satisfaction. Student Learning Outcomes Know the essential steps in identifying a major and a career. 2. Model ability to interact in culturally diverse situations. 3. Identify the aspects which affect academic success. 4. Employ important academic skills. 5. Prepare for a degree and career. 6. Make use of college services. The student will be able to: 1. Know the essential steps in identifying a major and a career (develop an academic/personal/professional action plan that includes long-term goals). 2. Model an ability to interact in culturally diverse situations. 3. Identify the aspects which affect academic success. 4. Employ important academic skills (including, but not limited to, test-taking, note-taking, time management, critical reading and thinking skills in a variety of classroom settings). 5. Prepare for a degree and career. 6. Make use of college services. Learning objectives Students will: 1.1. File an HCC degree plan and develop a long-term goal statement that includes further academic and career goals. 2.1. Understand how to use campus and online resources available to assist them with academic, enrollment, financial and employment concerns while attending HCC. 2.2. Learn to navigate online resources and other academic materials available through the HCC libraries. 2.3. Be able to find listings of degree/graduation requirements, course descriptions, and other pertinent academic information and policies in the HCC catalog and student handbook. 3.1. Develop a time management plan tailored to the student s academic and career needs and preferences. 3.2. Practice note taking, study, test-taking and reading skills to enhance their learning and increase retention of important concepts and information in their classes. 4.1. Become acquainted with career resources that will help them prepare resumes and develop interview techniques as well as acquaint them with the requirements of a multitude of careers and job opportunities available locally and around the nation.
GUST 1270 page 3 8 WEEK COURSE CALENDAR (1 st 8 Weeks) Week 1 Course introduction, Eagle Online Orientation, accessing college 8/29 resources, learning styles, D Board 1: introduce yourself Portfolio: Compile HCC cheat sheet Read: Transitions section, Chapter 1 First Steps Week 2 Dealing with hidden homework, making sense of college texts, note taking, how to 9/7 read your professors, D Board 2: Portfolio: Begin reading note takers Read: Chapter 4 Reading, Chapter 5 Notes Labor Day holiday 9/6, no school Week 3 Making plans a reality: degree and career planning, D Board 3: 9/12 Divide and conquer: time management and concentration, D Board 4: study environment Portfolio: Goal setting steps, degree plans (must file and obtain copy of degree plan by end of term), time log and analysis, time management plans summary and evidence of experience, study environment evaluation Read: Chapter 2 Time, Chapter 3 Memory Week 4 Building a powerful memory, taking exams in college, D Board 5: 9/19 Midterm review and midterm exam Portfolio: Summary paragraph of results of career interest, values and skills inventories and reaction to results, attach print out of graphs of three inventories Read: Chapter 6 Exams Week 5 Discovering careers, critical thinking in core classes, developing college communication skills 9/27 Using the college library, D Board 6: critical thinking, D Board 7: job interviews Portfolio: Summary of TWC career information, prepare questionnaire for interview Read: Chapter 13 Discovering Careers, Chapter 8 Communicating Week 6 Student finances, stress management, Reality Check online 10/3 D Board 8: Reality Check, D Board 9: Stress strategies Portfolio: Reaction paper based on career research with Works Cited page Read: Chapter 10 Money Week 7 Transferring, career presentations, D Board 10: transferring/what s next? 10/10 Portfolio: include print out of Powerpoint slides on career research to be presented in class and posted online, prepare a one-page resume Read: Chapter 12 What s Next? Final Exam (review will be posted online) Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7:00-8:30 pm-- MANDATORY, YOU CANNOT PASS THIS COURSE WITHOUT TAKING THE FINAL EXAM--NO EXCEPTIONS Week 8 Portfolios due, Powerpoint slides posted online, D Boards completed 10/17 Grades posted
**Items on Course Calendar and Syllabus subject to change during semester GUST 1270 page 4 Instructional Methods GUST 1270 is required for all incoming freshmen. The exception are those who have completed 12 or more college level credits. A variety of instructional methods will be used throughout the semester, including but not limited to, class and group discussion, readings, videos/dvds, internet research, presentations, note takers, and some lecture. Half of the course is presented electronically using the College s Eagle Online program (hence its designation as a hybrid course). Quizzes, discussion board assignments and additional readings/activities will be provided via Eagle Online. All students must complete the required Eagle Online orientation with their instructor by Tuesday, September 6, or they will be dropped from the class. The urgency in completing the online orientation within the first week is due to the compressed time frame of the class and the fact that 50% of the course materials and assignments must be completed online during the two days students will not be in class. Although students are expected to complete the online component of the class independently, they may contact their instructor and set up a time to meet with her in lab for additional help with accessing online components. As I believe that engaging students in the learning process is essential for teaching to be effective, you will spend the majority of our class time involved in collaborative activities. You will be involved in discussions with your classmates and your instructor both in class and online. As you will want to contribute to these discussions, you will need to come to class prepared to discuss, analyze and evaluate information from your text and other assigned readings. Whenever you are given an assignment on Eagle Online, please be sure to complete the Discussion Board and its accompanying reading assignment as well as study the provided online materials prior to the next classroom session so you will be prepared to participate in that session s hands-on, interactive activities. Student Assignments Besides online quizzes on each major module covered in the text, related Eagle Online materials and class activities, as well as the midterm and final exams, students are also required to complete a portfolio that includes both a collection of reading note takers and samples of work focused primarily on career research and other aspects of the course. Detailed instructions on the 1270 Portfolio components including those related to career research will be made available as the term progresses, but the main components are described below. 1270 Portfolio and Career Presentation As part of creating the 1270 portfolio to be submitted at the end of the semester, students will select a career to research, complete several summaries of material collected on that career from different sources and present information they ve collected on that career to the class in a Powerpoint presentation. The summary paragraph and presentation will include data collected from an interview with an actual member of that profession (or other individual approved by your instructor) as well as other sources, such as the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor. Your 1270 Portfolio will also include a copy of your degree plan; surveys of your career-related skills, interests and values; an HCC resource cheat sheet, as well as a completed time monitor and other exercises. (See Course Calendar for details.) A note on Eagle Online assistance and access Eagle Online is a new platform for online course materials delivery at HCC. If you need assistance while working on Eagle Online, please feel free to contact me for one-on-one assistance in the Northline or Pinemont Learning Centers. Special sessions can be arranged prior to class on Monday or Wednesday or outside of class on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Please contact me immediately if you run into any
GUST 1270 page 5 technical difficulties while using Eagle Online. Failure to do so may mean you may be unable to access a quiz, access online class materials or complete a D Board by the required deadlines. At-home computer/internet access is helpful but not required for the course. Students with limited computer/internet access at home are welcome to access Eagle Online from the Northline or Pinemont Learning Centers or Libraries. Student Quizzes Students will be assigned 10 Eagle Online quizzes throughout the term. Once a quiz is made available on EO, students will have one week only to complete it (through the end of the 5 th week; after that time, they will have 3 days to complete quizzes). The instructor will check quiz submissions twice a week. All students are entitled to one re-take per quiz if they are not happy with their grade on the first try. However, both attempts must be made by the deadline, and the highest of the two grades will be recorded. Students who do not take the quiz by the deadline will lose access to the quiz and will receive a zero grade on that quiz. For students who complete all 10 quizzes, the lowest three quiz grades will be dropped at the end of the semester when the quiz grades are averaged. IMPORTANT: Contact your instructor via Eagle Online e-mail or phone immediately if you experience technical difficulties while accessing an online quiz, discussion board or any other online materials. The midterm and final exams averaged together count 30% of the final course grade. All students are required to attend midterm and final exam sessions in class. A student who fails to take the final exam in this course will receive a failing grade in the class even if their final average is 60 or above. If your encounter a problem which will cause you to miss either the midterm or the final exam, notify me immediately. A student who does not take the midterm or the final exam receives a zero as his/her midterm/final exam grade. Discussion Boards and Reading Note Takers Discussion board assignments and reading note takers count 30% of the course grade. It is essential that you complete assigned readings and the accompanying note takers and discussion boards before the classes in which they will be used as a basis for collaborative activities or practice of learning skills. Your reading note takers will be compiled in a special section in your 1270 portfolio and turned in at the end of the term to confirm their completion. Discussion boards will be graded individually each time they are assigned on the basis of quality and completeness. Course Grade determined as follows: Note taker assignments and Discussion Boards 30% of your final grade 1270 Portfolio, career project and career presentation 20% of your final grade Midterm Exam 15% of your final grade Final Exam 15% of your final grade Online quizzes 20% of your final grade Instructional Materials TEXT: Dave Ellis, Becoming a Master Student (13 th ed., HCC special edition). Cengage Learning, 2010. (See your instructor for acceptable alternatives to the 2010 HCC edition.) 2010-2011 Houston Community College catalog (available online at www.hccs.edu)
GUST 1270 page 6 Note paper, pens, pencils, Scantron answer sheets for midterm/final exams, one-inch 3-ring binder for compiling reading note takers and portfolio materials. USB drive or portable media for saving written work. HCC Policy Statements Services to Students with Disabilities Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to report to Dr. Kim Ingram at the Northline Campus or call 713-718-8420 to make necessary arrangements. Faculty is only authorized to provide accommodations by the Disability Support Services Office. Class Attendance It is important that you come to class! You are expected to attend all lecture and labs regularly. You are responsible for materials covered during your absences. Although it is your responsibility to drop a course for nonattendance, the instructor has the authority to drop you for excessive absences. As the information that is discussed in class is important for your career, students may be dropped from a course after accumulating absences in excess of six (6) hours of instruction, or 4 class meetings. The six hours of class time would include any total classes missed or partial classes missed for routine excessive tardiness (more than 10 minutes) or leaving class early. If you miss any class, including the first week, you are responsible for all material missed. It is a good idea to find a friend or a buddy in class who would be willing to share class notes or discussion or be able to hand in paper if you unavoidably miss a class. HCC Course Withdrawal Policy If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course prior to the final date of withdrawal. Before, you withdraw from your course; please take the time to meet with me to discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so. I may be able to provide you with suggestions that would enable you to complete the course. Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree. To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may alert you and HCC counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. to stay in class and improve your academic performance. If you plan on withdrawing from any class, please contact your instructor or the counselor PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to insure you receive a W on your transcript. **Final withdrawal deadlines vary each semester and/or depending on class length, so please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines. This semester the deadline for withdrawals is Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 at 4:30 pm. Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when communicating via email and/or telephone with a professor and/or counselor. Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline. If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade (probably an F). Repeat Course Fee The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed classes. To increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than twice, are required to pay extra tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students to pass their courses and to graduate. Effective fall 2006, HCC began charging a higher tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer
GUST 1270 page 7 with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available. Classroom Behavior As an instructor and student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. I take this responsibility very seriously and will inform members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for me to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you are asked to respect the learning needs of your classmates and help me achieve this critical goal. Use of Camera and/or Recording Devices As a student active in the learning community of this course, it is your responsibility to be respectful of the learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your fellow students and instructor, you will turn off your phone and other electronic devices, and will not use these devices in the classroom unless you receive permission from the instructor. Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Disabilities Support Services Office for information regarding reasonable accommodations. Academic Honesty A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not showing that the coursework has been learned, and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each student's individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcement roles. You are expected to be familiar with the College's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the student handbook online. What that means is: If you are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty : includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Definitions of these terms and penalties can be found in the Student Handbook or on my expanded syllabus on the Northeast College Learning Web, available through the HCC website. Children on Campus We love your children and understand that parents often face child care problems. However, the campus is a work place, and the purpose of our presence here is the business of education. Therefore, we cannot allow children in the college classrooms or labs or unattended on campus. We ask for your cooperation in adhering to this policy. HCC Grading Scale 90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D Below 60 = F Instructor s grading criteria/policy
GUST 1270 page 8 Class assignments both those you submit in person and online (discussion boards) are due at the beginning of the class period of the day they are due. Late work is NOT accepted UNLESS PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. Once deadlines for online assignments, discussion board postings and quizzes have passed, you will no longer be able to access them on Blackboard and a zero will be recorded for your grade on that assignment or quiz. IMPORTANT: If you cannot come to class on a day an assignment is to be handed in, please make arrangements for someone to deliver the materials for you.