Course Syllabus US/101 Version 4

Course Syllabus
Axia College/College of Humanities US/101 Version 4 Introduction to University Studies
Copyright 2011, 2010, 2009 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description The essential information, skills, tools, and techniques necessary for academic success and personal effectiveness at the University of Phoenix are introduced in this course. The course develops and applies practical knowledge and skills immediately relevant to first-year university students. Course topics include goal setting and working with personal motivation, understanding and using university resources, developing efficient study habits, making the most of personal learning styles, and how best to manage time and reduce personal stress levels. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Gardner, J. N., Jewler, A. J., & Barefoot, B. O. (2009). Your college experience: Strategies for success (9th ed.) Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins. All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: University of Phoenix Experience

Details
Objectives 1.1 Compare online and traditional college education. 1.2 Differentiate between academic and casual communication. 1.3 Summarize expectations for attending the university. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own. Read Ch. 1 of Your College Experience. Read Appendix A. Participate in class discussion. 15

Due

Points

Course Preparation Reading Reading Participation

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Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation Academic vs. Casual Written Communication Nongraded Activities and Preparation Online Learning Assignment Confessions of a College Student

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

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Watch the information presentation, Academic vs. Casual Written Communication, located on the student website.

Watch the tutorial, Online Learning, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94207_success_axia/lesson _1/launch.htm

Access the Confessions of a College Student assignment, located at http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/axia/us101/confessions.html Complete the assignment. Post the assignment as a Microsoft Word attachment.

6/26/11

60

Week Two: Personal Goal Setting

Details
Objectives 2.1 Identify interests related to career planning. 2.2 Explain the relationship between career choice and sense of purpose. 2.3 Identify personal goals using learned strategies. Read Ch. 12 of Your College Experience. Read Appendix B. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. 15 15

Due

Points

Reading Reading Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation Reasonable (SMART) Goal Setting Nongraded Activities and Preparation Exploring Careers by Examining What

Watch the tutorial, Reasonable (SMART) Goal Setting, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94207_success_axia/lesson _3/default.htm

Watch the video, Exploring Careers by Examining What You Enjoy and Value, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94206_success_axia/career _path/index.html

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You Enjoy and Value Nongraded Activities and Preparation One Persons Struggle to Find their Career Path Nongraded Activities and Preparation Meet the Authors Assignment Goal Action Plan Watch the video, One Persons Struggle to Find their Career Path, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94206_success_axia/engine ered/index.html

Watch the video, Meet the Authors, located at http://bedfordstmartins.com/newcatalog.aspx?isbn=0312683383&dis c=College+Success&course=The+College+Experience&detail=Meet +the+Authors Read Appendix B. Access the Goal Action Plan assignment via the following link: http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/axia/us101/goals.html Explore the Hexagonal Model of Career Fields by scrolling over the categories on the hexagon. Read the following to complete the assignment: After reading about Dr. John Hollands Hexagonal Model of Career Fields on pp. 222224 of the text, identify which of the six general categories your interests and abilities match best. Then, determine which career field best match your interests and your sense of purpose. For example, Sally is very assertive and is a risk taker. She reads the description of enterprising on p. 223 of the text and recognizes that she does have good verbal skills, loves people, and is interested in achieving organizational goals. Sallys personal sense of purpose has always been to achieve a managerial position where she can help others become better at their jobs, earn more income, and have a better life. Sally turns to p. 223 and reads that a salary and wage administrator, city manager, and health administrator are in the enterprising category. She sees the salary and wage administrator career as a great opportunity to fulfill her lifes purpose. Create a goal action plan for achieving your long-term career goal. Use the chart provided in the Goal Action Plan assignment to create your action plan. Post the assignment as a Microsoft Word attachment.

7/3/11

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Week Three: Motivational Influences & Personal Relationships

Details
Objectives 3.1 Describe motivation as it relates to goal setting. 3.2 Identify strategies to sustain motivation throughout college. 3.3 Explain the importance of relationships to the success of degree completion. Read p. 11 in Ch. 1 of Your College Experience. Read Ch. 14 of Your College Experience. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. 15 15

Due

Points

Reading Reading Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation Motivation

Watch the video, Motivation, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94206_success_axia/sherfie ld/index.html Feedback Question (Optional): How are communication skills related to diversity and intercultural interactions, for example, communication with people from other cultures? How might communication skills influence personal relationships?

Assignment Circle of Support

Access the Circle of Support assignment, located at http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/axia/us101/circle.html Read the directions and complete the questions. Post your assignment as a Microsoft Word attachment.

7/10/11

60

Week Four: Academic Reading Strategies

Details
Objectives 4.1 Explain the four-step system of textbook reading. 4.2 Describe the purpose of primary source material. 4.3 Recognize strategies for improving reading comprehension. Read Ch. 7 of Your College Experience. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Due

Points

Reading Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation

15 15

Access the Toolwire Learnscape: Reading Strategies and Media Utilization through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities.

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Reading Strategies and Media Utilization

Access the Big Picture activity, located at http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/axia/us101/bigpicture.html Read the directions shown in the activity: Go to the Student Code of Academic Integrity, located in the Center for Writing Excellence. Practice mapping the Student Code of Academic Integrity into the map located in the Big Picture Activity. Map the central idea, any ideas that support the central idea, and any other important details of the piece you are reading into the corresponding locations on the map.

Post the activity as a Microsoft Word attachment. Assignment Midterm Exam Complete the Midterm Exam located under Assessments on the student website. You may complete the exam only once. Your instructor will receive a separate copy of your quiz results in your Individual forum. If you experience technical difficulty with the exam, please call Technical Support. Technical Support can be reached at 1-866-334-7332 and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 7/17/11 130

Week Five: Time & Stress Management

Details
Objectives 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Recognize strategies for effective time management. Identify different methods for organizing projects. Identify sources of stress. Recognize stress-management techniques.

Due

Points

Reading Reading Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation Effective Time Management Nongraded Activities and

Read Ch. 2 of Your College Experience. Read pp. 294300 of Your College Experience. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. 15 15

Watch the information presentation, Effective Time Management, located on the student website.

Complete the Find Your Stress Score exercise, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94206_success_axia/thermo

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Preparation Find Your Stress Score Assignment Your Daily Routines: Then and Now

/thermo.html

Access the Your Daily Routines: Then and Now assignment, located at http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/axia/us101/planner.html Complete the planner to describe your daily routines before you were a college student versus a typical days routines now that you are a college student. Look at the chart and answer the following questions: What are the major differences in your daily routine now that you are in school? Have you included enough time into your schedule for academics? What information in the chart demonstrates evidence to support your answer? Do you have an effective balance in the use of your time and your priorities? Explain why or why not. What time management strategies have you learned this week that you might implement to make your daily routine effective?

7/24/11

60

Post your paper as a Microsoft Word attachment.

Week Six: Personal Learning Styles

Details
Objectives 6.1 Describe various learning models. 6.2 Identify a personal learning style. 6.3 Describe effective learning strategies for an online learning environment. Read Ch. 4 of Your College Experience. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. 15 15

Due

Points

Reading Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation Assessing Multiple Intelligences

Watch the tutorial, Assessing Multiple Intelligences, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94207_success_axia/lesson _2/launch.htm Feedback Questions (Optional):

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What do you think are the fundamentals of academic and professional teamwork? Why do you think teamwork is important in an academic and professional setting? 7/31/11 60

Assignment Learning Inventory

Complete the VARK Learning Styles Inventory on pp. 5559. Complete the Multiple Intelligences Inventory by using the link located under the week six materials section on the student website. After completing the Multiple Intelligences Inventory, add up the number of check marks for each section. The number of check marks may vary from one to ten. The higher scores ranging from seven to ten can help you identify your multiple intelligences. Answer the following questions: Based on the descriptions in the text, where do you see yourself on the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles? After reading about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, determine which personality is most like you, such as ENTJ List the results of the VARK and Multiple Intelligence Inventory learning assessments. What similarities do you see among your results? What are some of the differences that you see? Which learning strategy is most effective for you based on these four models? How might this knowledge make you a more effective college student?

Post your results for each assessment and your responses as Microsoft Word attachment.

Week Seven: Effective Study Habits

Details
Objectives 7.1 Identify effective study strategies and techniques. 7.2 Identify strategies for improving short- and long-term memory. 7.3 Match study techniques with personal learning style. Read Ch. 8 of Your College Experience. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. 15 15

Due

Points

Reading Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation

Watch the tutorial, Using Multiple Intelligences to Enhance Studying and Learning, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94207_success_axia/lesson

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Using Multiple Intelligences to Enhance Studying and Learning

_2_separate/launch.htm Feedback Question (Optional): What are some of the things that make people different? How might working with a diverse group of individuals help the collaboration process in an academic setting? Create a study plan for Week Eight of this course using Appendix C. Include the following elements in your study plan: How to approach the content of Week Eight How to study the content of Week Eight How to remember the content of Week Eight

Assignment Study Plan

8/7/11

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Post your assignment as a Microsoft Word attachment.

Week Eight: University Resources

Details
Objectives 8.1 Recognize services provided by the Center for Writing Excellence. 8.2 Recognize services provided by the Center for Mathematics Excellence. 8.3 Identify forms of student academic support assistance provided by Axia College. Read Appendix D. Read Appendix E. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions.

Due

Points

Reading Reading Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation Finding Information at the University of Phoenix Nongraded Activities and Preparation Utilizing Information from the University Library Nongraded

15 15

Access the Toolwire Learnscape: Finding Information at the University of Phoenix through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities.

Access the Toolwire Learnscape: Utilizing Information from the University Library through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities.

Read the Turnitin Student User Manual Originality Report, located

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Activities and Preparation Turnitin Student User Manual Originality Report

at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CWE/pdfs/Turnitin_Stude nt_Manual_UoP.PDF Feedback Questions (Optional): Do you think it is important to understand ones personal and professional ethics? How do you think understanding your ethical beliefs could affect your personal, professional or academic life? Explain. 8/14/11 60

Assignment Who Wants to Be a Billionaire?

Access the Who Wants to Be a Billionaire? game located on the student website. Click on the Begin button on the first screen of the game to begin playing. Refer to the Center for Writing Excellence, the Center for Mathematics Excellence and the University Library located on the student website for help answering the questions. Copy the final game screen into a Microsoft Word document. You may copy and paste the final screen or create a screen shot (print screen) of the final screen for submission. Print Screen Instructions: o o o Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot. Open a blank Microsoft Word document. Press Ctrl + V on your computer keyboard to paste the screen shot into a Microsoft Word document.

Laptop Print Screen Instructions: o o o Press Fn + Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot. Open a blank Microsoft Word document. Press Ctrl + V on your computer keyboard to paste the screen shot into a Microsoft Word document.

Answer the following questions: How did this game help you understand the electronic resources available to you? What resource do you want to explore more when you have the time? Explain why.

Submit a copy of the final game screen showing you completed the game and answers to the follow-up questions as a Microsoft Word attachment.

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Week Nine: Academic Credibility

Details
Objectives 9.1 Identify the three steps of critical thinking. 9.2 Describe how college enhances a students ability to think critically. 9.3 Explain the Student Code of Academic Integrity. Read Ch. 5 of Your College Experience. Read pp. 162164 of Your College Experience. Participate in class discussion. Respond to the discussion questions. 15 15

Due

Points

Reading Reading Participation Discussion Question Nongraded Activities and Preparation Critical Thinking, Key Actions to Take Assignment Final Exam

Watch the video, Critical Thinking, Key Actions to Take, located at http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_94206_success_axia/critical/ index.html

Complete the Final Exam located under Assessments on the student website. You may complete the exam only once. Your instructor will receive a separate copy of your quiz results in your Individual forum. If you experience technical difficulty with the exam, please call Technical Support. Technical Support can be reached at 1-866-334-7332 and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

8/21/11

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Optional Discussion Questions Week One Discussion Questions Why did you decide to pursue your degree online instead of in a traditional classroom? What do you expect some of the benefits and challenges of the online approach to be? Review the Online Learning tutorial and answer the following questions: What does it mean to be part of the class in an online environment? How is being a part of the class different as an online student than as a traditional student? What are your personal and professional reasons for pursuing a college degree at this time in your life? What does communication style mean to you? Describe how your communication style changes depending on who you are communicating with. How does your communication style change with friends, family, classmates, and instructors? What are the key differences between academic and casual communication styles?

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What did you expect your online classes would be like before you started at Axia College? What has been the difference between your experience in this past week and your expectations?

Week Two Discussion Questions What does sense of purpose mean to you? What are some of your professional short- and long-term goals that fulfill that sense of purpose? Review the tutorial, Reasonable (SMART) Goal Setting, and answer the following questions: How do you prioritize equally important goals? How do you maintain flexibility and focus in reaching all these goals? Which of Dr. Hollands categories, located on pp. 222224 of the text, describes you best? Looking at the career choices that Dr. Holland has identified with those categories, do those career choices make sense to you? Explain why or why not. Based on your personal interests, abilities, and life goals, which college degree is the best fit for you? Explain why. What barriers must you overcome in order to achieve your college goals? Describe at least three strategies you have created to overcome these barriers.

Week Three Discussion Questions Think about the most important people in your life. How do the relationships you have with these people influence your academic motivation and success in college? Review the video, Motivation, and then answer the following questions: Who is a person (family member, acquaintance, or a famous person) who has overcome various obstacles and achieved his or her goals? How can this persons story of triumph influence your academic goal of obtaining a degree? What are three motivational strategies you have created to help you successfully reach your academic goals? What was your motivation for enrolling in college? How do you plan to stay motivated throughout your college career? Describe two sources of anxiety you have about being in college. What are some of your concerns? Describe how you will address them.

Week Four Discussion Questions How do your surroundings affect your reading comprehension? How might you minimize distractions while you are reading for your class assignments? How might you apply each of the four steps in the system of textbook reading (pp. 116121) to reading text on your computer? Part of reviewing is developing your vocabulary. Page 127 of the text lists strategies to help you develop vocabulary skills. Which of these strategies would be most effective for you? How would you apply these vocabulary strategies when reading primary source materials? After completing the activity, The Big Picture, answer the following questions: Did mapping help you understand the information you were reading? Do you think that this visual map will help you for the future

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in test preparation? Explain why or why not. According to the information on p. 122 of your text, what is the purpose of using primary sources in academic writing? What strategies might you use to improve reading comprehension of primary sources?

Week Five Discussion Questions How efficient is your daily schedule? What are some aspects of your daily schedule that cannot be changed? What aspects might be changed to save more time? Brainstorm any time-saving tips you might have with your classmates. Complete the Find Your Stress Score exercise. Without revealing personal information, answer the following question: How might being a college student contribute to your stress level? Brainstorm strategies with your classmates for overcoming potential college stressors. What are some ways you might effectively manage time now that you are an online student? Review the information on pp. 2124 of your textbook. How will you overcome procrastination, set priorities, and remain focused on your goals? What do you do to relieve the stress in your life? Has this strategy been effective? Explain why or why not. Refer to the list of stress relievers on p. 300 of the text. Are any of these stress relievers on your list? Would you consider trying any of them? If so, which ones would you consider? Do you have any additions to the list?

Week Six Discussion Questions What were your results for the VARK and Multiple Intelligence Inventory models presented in Ch. 4 of the text? How might these insights about your personal learning styles help you to be a more effective college student? Review the Assessing Multiple Intelligences tutorial and answer the following questions: What did you learn about your learning style? How might you maximize your strengths and enhance your areas for improvement? What did you learn about yourself from the VARK Learning Styles Inventory? How might this information help you as a college student and adult learner? What did you learn about yourself from the Kolb Inventory of Learning Styles? How might this information help you as a college student and adult learner? Based on all the sources of information about learning styles this week, which learning model was the most accurate and provided you with the most useful information?

Week Seven Discussion Questions Review the Tips for Effective Studying on p. 133 of the text. What are two of the tips you find useful? Explain why. Review the tutorial, Using Multiple Intelligences to Enhance Studying and Learning, and answer the following questions: What tips for creating a study environment may be most effective for you? What might you do to make that study environment real for yourself?

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What techniques do you use to remember what you have studied? Review Studying to Understand and Remember on p. 134 of your text. Which of these techniques do you currently use? What techniques you would like to add to the list? Have you ever used mnemonics (see p. 139 of your text) to remember something complicated? If so, describe the techniques you have used. What ways might you use mnemonics to be a more effective college student and adult learner? How might writing summaries of key concepts and important information be useful in promoting effective learning and remembering?

Week Eight Discussion Questions Located in the Library and Program sections of the student website, there are multiple resources available at Axia. What are the top three resources you think you will use the most throughout your college career? Why do you believe each of these will be the most valuable resource? What are the key services offered through the Center for Writing Excellence? Describe how these services may make you a more effective academic writer. What are some of the services provided by the Center for Mathematics Excellence? Which service do you think will be the most useful throughout your college experience? Review the list of student workshops available to you. Have you taken any of the workshops? If so, were they helpful? Which workshops would be most helpful to you to take in the future? Review the Turnitin Student User Manual Originality Report and answer the following questions: What is the overall similarity index? How might you use this report to ensure you are avoiding plagiarism when writing essays?

Week Nine Discussion Questions What are the three steps of critical thinking? What do they include? How might mastery of these skills make you a more effective college student and adult learner? Watch the video, Critical Thinking, Key Actions to Take and answer the following questions: How have you used these actions to solve problems in your daily life? How are critical thinking skills in your daily life and in your academic life similar? How are they different? How does collaboration foster critical thinking? How might the two work together in your academic and personal life? What is academic credibility? How does it relate to critical thinking? How does referring to, or citing, the experts in any field enhance your academic credibility? What does the Student Code of Academic Integrity mean to you? Which of the seven forms of academic dishonesty do you consider the gravest threat to being an ethical student?

Copyright
University of Phoenix is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not

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intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix editorial standards and practices.