SYLLABUS

College Success (SK31) –Winter 2002

MW 7:00 - 8:20

G Bldg, G-5

 

INSTRUCTOR

Viola Olsen

Office Hours: MW 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. – G Building - Ground Floor Staff Office, Room 115

Phone: 245-7500 Ext.3111

E-mail: volsen@rogue.cc.or.us

SK31 Web Page: http://www.oocities.org/violsen/sk31.html

 

COURSE CREDIT: 3 Hours (Graded A, B, C, D or F)

 

REQUIRED TEXT: Becoming a Master Student by David Ellis

 

PREREQUISITES:

There are no prerequisites for this course. SK31 is designed for anyone who desires to acquire effective strategies for college success.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The College Success Course (SK31) is designed to provide you with many opportunities to explore behaviors associated with student success and allows you to practice numerous study skills techniques. In addition, SK31 introduces you to a variety of tools for personal growth and enrichment.

 

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

The primary purpose of this course is to help you become a master student, as our textbook title suggests. In other words, SK31 aims to provide you with the tools necessary for college success. The objectives listed below are structured to help you achieve this long-term goal.

 

You will:

  1. _____ Explore your preferred learning style and experiment with other learning strategies.
  2. _____ Set short term and long term personal goals to determine your performance, achievement, and grade for this course.
  3. _____ Develop and maintain a time management schedule and daily planner.
  4. _____ Use reading improvement techniques for greater speed and comprehension.
  5. _____ Practice reflective writing by keeping a“Discovery and Intention Statement” journal. 
  6. _____ Create and deliver a group project presentation.
  7. _____ Practice dialogue, discussion, and "friendly" debate to enrich your interpersonal skills.
  8. _____ Take lecture notes using a variety of techniques.
  9. _____ Use memory enhancement techniques.
  10. _____ Develop your test-taking abilities, reducing test anxiety in the process.
  11. _____ Practice critical thinking and problem solving.
  12. _____ Uncover and expand your creative thinking abilities.
  13. _____ Discuss diversity issues, relationships, and interpersonal communication with an open mind.
  14. _____ Explore health issues.
  15. _____ Be a mentor and guide to others.
  16. _____ Maintain a well-organized “Learning Log” or Portfolio.
  17. _____ Demonstrate growth and change as a result of all these experiences.

 

In your Learning Log, dated today, specify your needs, wants, and desired outcomes. In other words, why are you taking this course? What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the term? Do the objectives listed coincide with yours? Please turn in at the end of today's session so that we can discuss on Wednesday. (You will attach that sheet to this syllabus and use it as part of your goal-setting and planning.)

 

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:

To accomplish the above objectives, I use a "learning-in-community" approach. This means (1) we do most classroom activities in a collaborative manner and (2) the context for the course revolves around the needs of the class. You may expect some of the following strategies (in addition to those that we will develop together):

 

What We Plan to Do In Class

Why We Do It

Listen to brief lectures or films.

Guest speakers will provide you with a variety of lecturing styles.

To practice note taking

Note: A good lecture will be forgotten unless you take good notes -- which you will review and act upon within 24 hours.

Work in teams.

We will create "expert groups" for sharing information with the whole class.

 

To practice collaborative learning, the most effective way to learn in a community.

Develop group projects and class presentations.

To practice public speaking and prepare you for other classes at RCC . Many instructors require presentations.

Visit the library, computer lab, and tutoring center often.

To expand our classroom experience.

Note: Using library tools and computers is essential to your college success.

Maintain a Learning Log, or Portfolio, in addition to doing the textbook Journal Entries.

To record reflections and self-evaluations. This will help you discover how you learn best and therefore plan your life-long learning strategies.

Perform a variety of activities, such as a Learning Styles Inventory, Discovery Wheel, The "Who am I" collage, Time-Line (Road Map of the Journey) and other teacher-directed projects.

 

To encourage self-discovery for personal transformation and growth.

Solve puzzles and other problem-solving activities.

To improve your problem solving and thinking skills.

Read the entire textbook, taking one chapter per week, using the quizzes at the end of each chapter as study guides.

To practice college reading skills.

Note: College classes demand long hours of reading. Plan ahead by reading a few hours each night.

Participate in open dialogue, panel discussions, informal conversations, and other means of oral discourse.

 

To improve interpersonal and communication skills. To develop topics for writing.

Use our web page on the Internet:

http://www.oocities.org/violsen/sk31.html

 

To use information and communication technology, another essential skill for college success.

Add other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A "C" GRADE:

_____ Attend class regularly.

The success of this course depends on the full participation of all its members. While in class, we practice "mindful" learning. See Power Process #2, Be Here Now, page 70. Please limit your absences to emergencies only.

_____ Do your homework before coming to class.

Prepare for class by studying at least one hour for each class hour. See Course Calendar for assigned readings. We will review and evaluate all homework activities in class. At the end of the term, you will turn in your completed calendar.

_____ Visit the Tutoring Center and library on your own at least twice during the term.

_____ Maintain your Learning Log, or Portflio, in an orderly and consistent manner.   

This is an important tool for recording your daily reflections and other free writing activities. I encourage self-direction, initiative and creativity. I also expect a certain amount of order and neatness (so that I can read your material without eye strain).

_____ Participate in group activities, peer readings, mentoring, teaching, and facilitating.

Writing, critical reflection, and communication emerge best within a social context. This is why I call our class a learning community. To be part of a learning community, you need to participate fully in all activities.

_____ Use the technology available. Get an e-mail account at RCC.

If you do not yet have an e-mail account, I encourage you to get one. We have a computer in the classroom and will use our class web page on a regular basis.

_____ Create with your group a Final Class Presentation.

_____ Take the Final Exam

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A "B" GRADE:

If this is the grade you expect, fulfill the above requirements and demonstrate enthusiasm and thoroughness in all work in class and in the daily reflections. You and I can discuss what these words mean to you and how you intend to "demonstrate" both.

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR AN "A" GRADE:

Fulfill the above requirements and get results. Demonstrate plenty of growth and change. Show your growth and change through the reflections in the Learning Log and through the essays you write in the Final Exam. Your writings and class work are the main source of information for determining your growth and change. Save your reflections, calendar, and all class activities in the Learning Log or Portfolio. This will help us both configure your grade for the course.

 

Note: "F" Grades indicate a lack of participation. Participation is the key to success. If you feel that this course load is too heavy for you at this time, please withdraw officially during the "no-penalty" period. Check your schedule of classes for this exact date. "D" grades are a symptom of "non-committal" and for that reason are considered equivalent to an "F." Likewise, please withdraw from the course until you can commit to fulfill at least the minimum requirements for a "C" grade.

 

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES FOR THIS CLASS:

In addition to the consumable text, Becoming a Master Student by Dave Ellis, you will need:

·        Pens (black or blue) and pencils

·        Ruled paper

·        Three-ring binder and two sets of index dividers

·        Highlighters or colored pens or crayons.

·        Index cards

·        Five to ten recycled magazines of your choice. Bring to the second session.

 

CONTACTS:

·        If you cannot attend a class period, call me at 245-7500 EXT 3111 and leave a message in Voice Mailbox, or e-mail volsen@rogue.cc.or.us.

·        Use the Mailbox in the Tutoring Center Office to communicate messages or drop work into if necessary.

·        Tutorial help is available at no cost to you. The Tutoring Center is located in G Building.

·        Find a class buddy immediately, someone to call for assignments if an emergency keeps you from class.

 

CLASSROOM POLICY:

·        Remember that mutual honor and respect for all is required at all times during class. A safe learning atmosphere is important in taking the risks necessary to acquire new skills. Any infringement on the rights of others will not be tolerated. You will be asked to leave the room or dismissed from class.

·        Students shall practice educational honesty. We will discuss in class what this means.

·        It is each student's responsibility to be aware of all college procedures, such as, how to add, drop, or withdraw from a class; and to be familiar with the available student resources. For more information, refer to the Student Handbook, Schedule of Classes, and the Student Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities Statement. See Student Code of Responsible Behavior.

 

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES:

See: http://www.rogue.cc/Departments/textpages/Dev_Ed/Support.htm