FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention Course Syllabus Course Description Opportunity to study the fundamentals and latest information on fire prevention practices and procedures. Addresses both the public and organizational responsibilities for fire safety and prevention. Course Textbook Robertson, J. C. (2010). Introduction to fire prevention (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Course Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Trace the historical background of fire prevention and the tragedies that proved to be the impetus of fire prevention and how it relates to fire service. 2. Summarize the struggles in the philosophy of fire prevention and how they affect fire service organizations. 3. Explain the development and enactment of fire safety codes and the effect on fire prevention programs. 4. Analyze the role of fire prevention and the fire service administration within municipal government. 5. Explain the functions of fire prevention within the fire service. 6. Analyze the need for preparing fire service personnel for fire prevention duties and how this training impacts fire services. 7. Explain fire safety inspection procedures and the enforcement of fire safety codes. 8. Evaluate programs for public fire safety education and how these programs benefit the fire service. 9. Recommend how fire prevention can be accomplished through civic organizations and schools. 10. Assess the need to instill positive fire reaction and the effect this has on the fire service. 11. Explain publicity and media programs and how they impact the fire prevention efforts of the fire service. 12. Evaluate how volunteer fire departments are able to be successful and the effect volunteers have on the fire service. 13. Assess the fire prevention efforts of the private sector. 14. Summarize the fire prevention responsibilities of various agencies of the federal government and state, county, and municipal governments. 15. Analyze and critique how arson suppression can become a tool of fire prevention programs throughout the fire service. 16. Summarize the fire prevention research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Research, the National Fire Academy, and the U.S. Forest Service. 17. Explain the measure of fire prevention effectiveness and its effect on the fire service. 18. Analyze the similarities and differences between United States and international fire prevention programs. Credits Upon completion of this course, the students will earn three (3) hours of college credit. Course Structure 1. Unit Learning Outcomes: Each unit contains learning outcomes that specify the measurable skills and knowledge students should gain upon completion of the unit. 2. Unit Lessons: Each unit contains a Unit Lesson, which discusses the unit material. FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 1
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. 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. Discussion Boards: Discussion Boards are a part of all CSU term courses. Information and specifications regarding these assignments are provided in the Academic Policies listed in the Course Menu bar. 6. Unit Assessments: Unit Assessments are to be taken by students at the completion of Units I-III and V-VII in this course. 7. Unit Assignments: Students are required to submit for grading Unit Assignments in Units II, IV, and VI. Specific information and instructions regarding these assignments are provided below. Grading rubrics are included with the assignments in Unit III and VIII. Specific information about accessing these rubrics is provided below. 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. CSU Online Library There is a virtual library with resources, including both journals and ebooks, to support your program and your course at Columbia Southern University. eresources are accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a week from the CSU Online Library gateway page. To access the library, log into mycsu, and then click on CSU Online Library. Resources are organized in the library by title, but if you click on Research Guides, you will find eresources arranged by subject. The Library Reference service is available 7 days a week; you can reach CSU s virtual librarians by emailing thevirtuallibrarian@columbiasouthern.edu. These professional librarians will be glad to help you develop your research plan or to assist you in any way in finding relevant, appropriate, and timely information. Librarian responses may occur within minutes or hours, but it will never take more than 24 hours for a librarian to send a response to the email address you have provided. Replies to reference requests may include customized keyword search strategies, links to videos, research guides, screen captures, attachments, a phone call, live screen sharing, and meeting room appointments, as well as other forms of instruction. Unit Assignments Unit III Reflection Paper For this assignment, you are asked to prepare a Reflection Paper. After you finish the reading assignment for this unit, reflect on the concepts, choose one, and write about it. Consider the concepts that you may not fully understand; what did not quite make sense? The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with the opportunity to reflect on the material covered in this course and to expand upon those thoughts. If you are unclear about a concept, either read it again, or ask your professor about it. This is not a summary. A Reflection Paper is an opportunity for you to express your thoughts about the material by writing about them. The writing you submit must meet the following requirements: Be at least one page in length Include one historical change or event that had an impact on the current fire prevention practices. Include your thoughts about the concepts from this unit s Reading Assignment Optional through this Reflection Paper, consider brainstorming ideas about how you would increase the public s awareness about the importance of reacting to a fire. Use your creative ability and consider ideas other than what the textbook has to offer. Format your Reflection Paper using APA style. Use your own words, and include citations and references as needed to avoid plagiarism. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below. FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 2
Unit IV Article Critique The purpose of this assignment is to investigate professional journals in the field of fire prevention of interest to you. The objective of your critique is to find an article and compare the information in the article to what you have been learning in class. Critique the article in terms of how the information within the article supports or disproves material that you have learned in this course. Please include the following topics in your critique of the selected article: a brief introduction and overview of the article, a description of how the article either supports or disproves material in the course, your point of view, and a summarization of your thoughts and suggestions in support of your opinion. The selected article should not be more than four years old. You are encouraged to utilize the Research Databases found in the CSU Online Library located in the Course Menu. These databases will allow you to quickly search through thousands of journal articles. Students can access this information, as well as other CSU Online Library resources by selecting the My Library button located in the Course Menu. The completed assignment should be no more than two pages in length, and should include the article link in the 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. Unit VIII Article Critique The purpose of this assignment is to investigate a professional journal in the field of fire prevention that interests you. The objective of your critique is to find an article and compare the information in the article to what you have been learning in class. Critique the article in terms of how the information within the article supports or disproves material that you have learned in this course. Please include the following topics in your critique of the selected article: a brief introduction and overview of the article, a description of how the article either supports or disproves material in the course, your point of view, and a summarization of your thoughts and suggestions in support of your opinion. The selected article should not be more than four years old. You are encouraged to utilize the Research Databases found in the CSU Online Library located in the Course Menu. These databases will allow you to quickly search through thousands of journal articles. Students can access this information, as well as other CSU Online Library resources by selecting the My Library button located in the Course Menu. The completed assignment should be no more than two pages in length, and should include the article link in the 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. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below. 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 in the mycsu Student Portal by clicking on the Citation Resources link in the Learning Resources area. 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 FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 3
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) Discussion Board, (2) Assessment (Written Response), and (3) 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 Discussion Board rubric can be found within Unit I s Discussion Board submission instructions. 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 Discussion Boards, Assessments, and Assignments is the method by which your instructor assigns all grades. 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. 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 Discussion Boards (8 @ 2%) = 16% Unit Assessments (6 @ 9%) = 54% Unit III Reflection Paper = 10% Article Critiques (2 @ 10%) = 20% Total = 100% FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 4
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. FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 5
FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 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 History and Philosophy of Fire Prevention and Status of Education, Engineering, and Enforcement in the U.S.A. Chapter 1: History and Philosophy of Fire Prevention Chapter 2: Status of Education, Engineering, and Enforcement in the United States Assessment by Unit II Public Fire and Life Safety Educational Programs, Enforcing Fire Safety Compliance, and Inspection Procedures Chapter 3: Public Fire and Life Safety Education Programs Chapter 4: Enforcing Fire Safety Compliance Chapter 5: Fire Safety Inspection Procedures Assessment by Unit III Preparation, Organization, and Administration of Fire Prevention Personnel for Prevention Duties and Instilling Positive Fire Reaction Chapter 6: Preparing Fire Service Personnel for Fire Prevention Duties Chapter 7: Organization & Administration of Municipal Fire Prevention Units Chapter 8: Instilling Positive Fire Reaction Assessment by Reflection Paper by FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 6
FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention Course Schedule Unit IV Mid-term Review and Article Critique 1 None Article Critique by Unit V Fire Prevention Efforts and Responsibilities in the Private and Public Sectors Chapter 9: Fire Prevention Efforts of the Private Sector Chapter 10: Fire Prevention Responsibilities of the Public Sector Assessment by Unit VI Fire Prevention through Arson Suppression and International Fire Prevention Practices Chapter 11: Fire Prevention through Arson Suppression Chapter 12: International Practices in Fire Prevention Assessment by FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 7
FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention Unit VII Fire Prevention Research and Proving Fire Prevention Works Course Schedule Chapter 13: Fire Prevention Research Chapter 14: Proving Fire Prevention Works Assessment by Unit VIII Review and Article Critique 2 None Article Critique by FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention 8