First Year Seminar (Life Maps) 110/58 Monday’s 11:00 – 12:18 9/14/2009 – 11/30/2009 Fall 2009 “Life is a Journey… You’ll Need a Map” Contact Information Professor Sarah Wollet [email protected] or 517-403-5604 Office Hours Office hours are available by request either by e-mail or in person. Course Description This first-year experience course equips students for transitions in education and life. You will be actively involved in learning and integrating practical applications to promote success. You will develop a learning portfolio and an educational plan while enhancing critical thinking and study strategies. Course Organization: LifeMaps explores four major journeys in life. Inner Journey – We will be learning more about ourselves, our strengths, and our learning styles. This journey boosts our confidence and helps us become more comfortable in the college setting. - This journey is meant to help us steer through our college courses. It includes active learning, helpful study strategies, effective test-taking, and time management. – This journey deals with navigating college, using available resources, and understanding the process and what JCC has to offer. – You will spend time considering career options and develop an educational plan that leads toward your career goals. ADO’s to Cover 7: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 9: Working in Small Groups Supply’s 3-ring binder (½ inch) for portfolio, loose-leaf paper, two-pocket folder for handouts, pens, pencils, student plannerClassroom Policy’s There are to be NO CELL PHONE CONVERSATIONS OR TEXT MESSAGING during class time. If you are unable to be respectful to the others around you who are in the course to learn, you will not be privileged enough to stay within the classroom, and you will be asked to leave, resulting in a “0” (zero) for participation for the day, and a “0” (zero) on any course work that is done during class time. I do acknowledge that EMERGENCIES do occur, with which I will allow a phone call to be answered or returned, but if I notice that a numerous amount of “emergencies” seem to occur during class time, a meeting will need to take place outside of class time. Food & Beverages are acceptable for consumption during class time, as long as the consumption does not interrupt other’s ability learn, or my ability to teach. If you need to use the restroom, or take an “emergency” phone call, please excuse yourself to the hallway by making the least amount of distraction as possible. Attendance Policy Seeing as Participation is ESSENTIAL to this course, absences other than an emergency basis will be limited to three (3). Any absences beyond three (3) will result in your final grade being reduced by 1%; Expect attendance to be taken at EVERY class period. Expectations My Expectations: Respect; Responsibility; and Reflection Respect: The ability to respect your peers, yourself, and your professor. Responsibility: The ability to be responsible for yourself and your progress. Reflection: The ability to look upon what you have learned and exemplify that into your life. Your Expectations: To learn the skills and academic guidelines that will allow you to be successful in an academic setting such as Jackson Community College, while acquiring the capability to enact these skills in an everyday environment. Academic Policy The JCC Catalog states, “Academic honesty . . . is the ethical behavior that includes producing their own work and not representing others’ work as their own, either by plagiarism, by cheating, or by helping others to do so. Faculty members who suspect a student of dishonesty may penalize the student by assigning a failing grade for the paper, project, report, exam or the course itself. The academic dean will be notified of the situation. Grades Grading will be based on the following scale Participation 20 points Educational Plan 35 points Final Project 40 points Homework 55 points - ALL assignments will be started during class, and ALL but 3 will be completed in class! Total Points 150 pointsCapstone Project You will assemble a portfolio that contains information about your career goals, education plan, learning style, and effective study and time management strategies. Grading Scale 90-100% 4.0 85-89% 3.5 80-84% 3.0 75-79% 2.5 70-74% 2.0 65-69% 1.5 60-64% 1.0 59% 0.0 Extra Credit Extra credit is not “essential” or “needed” to pass FYS, but extra credit opportunities are available by attending a Project Success Day. More details will become available as the date of Project Success Day approaches (Tuesday September 29, 2009). Course Calendar 9 / 14 Introduction - Syllabus, Online book buying Exercise - 0-312-68306-5 or 978-0-312-68306-1 - campusbooks.com - Academic Advisor Assignment 9 / 21 Chapter 1: Beginning Your College Experience - E-Services Exercise - Financial Aid - Adding / Dropping Classes 9 / 28 Chapter 2: Managing Time and Staying Motivated - Agenda Planner Exercise - Goals Exercise - Goals Taxonomy 10 / 5 Chapter 3: Thinking Critically - Introduce Educational Plan Exercise - Computer Lab (Academic Catalogs)? 10 / 12 4: Maximizing Your Learning Success - What Type of Learner are You? http://www.vark-learn.com/english/index.asp - 1 page reflection paper referencing the learning test - Center for Student Success Exercise (Walker 123) 10 / 19 Chapter 5: Communicating Clearly- 1 page reflection paper due - Public Speaking Exercise 10 / 26 Chapter 6: Listening, Note-Taking, and Participating in Class - Finish Public Speaking Exercise 11 / 2 Chapter 12: Making the Right Choices for Your Major and Career - Discover Career Assessment (CSS) - Resume Builder - Academic Advisor Assignment Due 11 / 9 Chapter 8: Taking Exams and Tests 11 / 16 Chapter 9: Relationships, Diversity, and Values - Values Exercise 11 / 23 Chapter 10: Staying Healthy Chapter 11: Experiencing College Life to the Fullest 11 / 30 Final Projects Due! 12 / 7 REGISTRATION