ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY FRESHMAN COLLEGE USTD 1101 STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING SPRING 2016 CRYSTAL NELMS, M.Ed. ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY
COURSE NUMBER USTD 1101 COURSE TITLE Strategies for Learning FACULTY Crystal Nelms, M.Ed. Office: Vincent Nursing Physical Science building, room 164 Phone: (325) 486 6308 Email: Crystal.Nelms@angelo.edu Student Contact Hours Office hours: Monday Friday, 8:00 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 5 p.m. Appointments preferred. Students should make every effort to email prior to stopping by my office. Course Description USTD 1101 is designed to help students who have struggled academically earn higher grades and improve their academic status at ASU. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, we need to ensure that you are working toward your future goals and to help you persist toward your college degree. Everyone stumbles. This course will help you find the grit and resilience to recover and decide how you will move forward. Core Student Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to Study more effectively to improve academic performance Use effective time management strategies to balance academic and personal responsibilities Locate campus resources to solve problems/answer questions Apply critical thinking and problem solving techniques to improve academic performance IDEA Course Objectives: 3) Learning to apply course materials (to improve rational thinking, problem solving and decisions) 9) Learning how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving problems 11) Learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view Course Requirements and Responsibilities Information Technology Blackboard Literacy Information Literacy/Critical Thinking Participation in a university or college wide event Multiple blog and other writing activities Reflection on academic progress Required Materials: See the Textbooks and Materials page for the course readings. Additional readings will be linked within the Modules. There are NO books to purchase for this course. Course packet and readings located in Blackboard.
Daily Newspaper: All students have access to Press Reader or Press Display. You should read, at a minimum, section A of either The Dallas Morning News, Austin American Statesman, or Houston Chronicle. Via Angelo State Wi Fi Connect your smartphone or tablet to authenticated Wi Fi Download Press Reader from store or go to www.pressreader.com Launch Press Reader, pick your title and enjoy reading Press Display The older interface may be more convenient for users utilizing desktop computers https://easydb.angelo.edu/login?url=http://library.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplayviewer.aspx. Students with difficulty above can Log in to Ramport Use the Library Tab (top left) Click on research tools (in the magnifying glass section) Hoover mouse over Research Routes Click on Library Databases Choose P in View by Title box (right hand side) Click on Press Display or Press Reader Course Grade Your grades will be recorded in the BB gradebook. USTD 1101 is a pass/fail course. Student Responsibilities We will discuss your responsibilities in class. Instructor Responsibilities We will discuss my responsibilities in class. Academic Integrity Academic honesty is expected on all work. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity. Any student found guilty of any form of dishonesty in academic work is subject of disciplinary action and possible expulsion from ASU. Access the Angelo State University Student Handbook (2011 2012) at http://www.angelo.edu/studenthandbook/code of student conduct/misconduct.php. The University "faculty expects all students to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach and to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experience both in and out of the classroom setting and may initiate
disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials." Plagiarism Plagiarism at ASU is a serious topic. The Angelo State University s Honor Code gives specific details on plagiarism and what it encompasses. Plagiarism is the action or practice of taking someone else's work, idea, etc., and passing it off as one's own. Plagiarism is literary theft. In your discussions and/or your papers, it is unacceptable to copy word for word without quotation marks and the source of the quotation. Quotes should be used sparingly. It is expected that you will summarize or paraphrase ideas giving appropriate credit to the source both in the body of your paper and the reference list. Papers are subject to be evaluated for originality via Bb Safe Assignment or Turnitin. Resources to help you understand this policy better are available at the ASU Writing Center http://www.angelo.edu/dept/writing_center/academic_honesty.php. Student with Disabilities 1. Angelo State University is committed to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the university, or be subjected to discrimination by the university, as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and subsequent legislation. 2. The Office of Student Affairs is the designated campus department charged with the responsibility of reviewing and authorizing requests for reasonable accommodations based on a disability, and it is the student s responsibility to initiate such a request by contacting the Office of Student Affairs, University Center, Room 112 at (325) 942 2047 or (325) 942 2211(TDD/FAX) or by e mail at studentservices@angelo.edu to begin the process. The Office of Student Affairs will establish the particular documentation requirements necessary for the various types of disabilities. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students determined to be disabled or who have documented disabilities. Incomplete Grade Policy (OP 10.11 Grading Procedures) It is policy that incomplete grades be reserved for student illness or personal misfortune. Please contact faculty if you have serious illness or a personal misfortune that would keep you from completing course work. Documentation may be required. Student Absence for Observance of Religious Holidays A student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to the instructor prior to the absence. Please see ASU Operating Policy 10.19. Copyright Policy Students officially enrolled in this course should make only one printed copy of the given articles and/or chapters. You are expressly prohibited from distributing or reproducing any portion of course readings in printed or electronic form without written permission from the copyright holders or publishers.
Attendance Policy Students can miss up to three classes in USTD 1101. Students who miss more than three classes typically have difficulty keeping up with class work and miss opportunities to contribute to and learn from class discussion and in class group activities. If you must miss class, notify me prior to missing class or within 12 hours if you think your absence should be excused. Oversleeping, being tired, focusing on other classes, or forgetting are not excused absences. Students with more than three excused absences will receive a five point deduction from your final course grade for every class you miss beyond the allowed number. In addition, if you come to class unprepared (e.g., without a homework, without assignments, etc.) or behave disruptively or disrespectfully, I will ask you to leave class and mark you absent. Syllabus Changes The faculty member reserves the option to make changes as necessary to this syllabus and the course content. If changes become necessary during this course, the faculty will notify students of such changes during class time or via email. It is the student s responsibility to look for such communications about the course on a daily basis. Course Schedule: The course schedule below is a general outline of the course, but it is NOT the official schedule. We will make updates to the syllabus during class. It is your responsibility to attend class to learn about schedule changes. I will NOT update this schedule during the semester. DATE LEARNING GOAL ASSIGNMENT 1/26 How to read a syllabus In class ASU technology In class Day Planners Bring all of your syllabi to next class Blackboard discussion Due by next class meeting Academic Self Assessment 1/28 Fill out day planners Academic Self Assessment Due Establish teams 2/2 Basics of professional Day planners due Communication Take the Grit Survey bring results to The Key to Success? Grit class. 2/4 Time Management Sheet Complete time management sheet Scavenger Hunt Email picture 2/9 Note taking Journal/blog assignment Things that Using Notes go bump in the night 2/11 Career Development Julie Ruthenbeck Information Literacy Videos 2/16 Financial Literacy/paying for college Bill Bloom Fin Aid Information Literacy Videos 2/18 Meet in the Library Information Literacy and Library Week; Students should have Info Lit. Videos and Quizzes finished; Tour of library
2/23 Learning Styles Critical thinking Reading for understanding 2/25 Stress management, anxiety ASU Counseling Center Bring Degree plan to next class 3/1 Understanding Advising Advising discussion, scheduling Understanding Degree Plans appointments, Ramport degree Calculating GPA evaluations, degree plans, GPA 3/3 Examining academic Academic progress report (provided) progress/understanding grades How to meet with a professor 3/8 Professor Meeting Ask questions, make notes, bring to class 3/10 Balancing involvement and Student Involvement presentation? academics 3/15 17 Spring Break 3/22 TBD Course review 3/24 Reflecting on progress Final class reflection on academic progress (in class writing/discussion) Plans for the semester