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Regular (web enhanced) Class, Hybrid Class, and Online Class Grading Criteria, Spring Semester 2010.
(As taught by Dr. Jan A. Nilsson.)
To reduce the length of this page (and some other pages) it contains "overlib links" for comments and additional information in boxes hidden until you move your mouse over the link. It is your responsibility to read the information on these "overlib links". It is possible to read this page without "clicking" on the "overlib links", but you might not understand some parts until you read the text in the "overlib link" box. You open the link by moving your mouse over the link, and closing it by removing the mouse. To separate the "overlib links" from regular links the text in an "overlib link" is colored blue, and has a small colorful arrow in front of it. Regular links, which takes you to another page, are NOT blue. I have found one "draw-back" so far with these links, in that one cannot use " signs and ' signs in the posted text -- since these characters, " and ', are part of the overlib code. "We will have to live with that..."
Here is the first "overlib link". Try it!
This is the Grading Criteria, the standards used for how you will be graded in this class. It is part of the Syllabus, for the regular class (web-enhanced) (all regular classes taught by Dr. Nilsson are web-enhanced), the hybrid class, and the online class. Read this page with care, because you are responsible for the contents. It is a rather long reading, but that is because care has been taken to attempt to include all aspects of how you EARN a grade in this class to help you understand the class requirements. Students who know and understand the grading criteria usually do better in college classes. Serve yourself a big cup of strong coffee and start reading! 
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Before you will be able to continue with the course you must acknowledge that you have read the syllabus information. You do so by answering the Blackboard "Syllabus Acknowledgment Quiz" (also sometimes called the Student Contract) on or before the due date listed in the Semester Calendar. |
Student Contract Note
Letter Grades: This is not an academically "hard" class. In fact, what you have to learn is fairly easy! This is a WORK CLASS! You work, sometimes by repeating quizzes and worksheets several times, to LEARN and EARN your grade. Did you read that? Open the overlib link to make sure. You collect as many points as you feel is necessary to EARN the letter grade you desire (see below). As per the main document of the Syllabus, there are normally no make-ups. You miss an assignment -- you do not collect the points. If you wish to EARN the letter grade C you must collect a minimum of 70 points (70 percent). Highest possible point is 100 (100 percent) -- which is letter grade A.A: 90 (90%) -- 100 points
B: 80 (80%) -- 89.9 points
C: 70 (70%) -- 79.9 points
D: 60 (60%) -- 69.9 points
F: 0 -- 59.9 points
Assignments Overview: Overview list of assignments that will EARN you a grade in this class. For practical purposes the class is identical for all the class types -- Regular (web enhanced) class, Hybrid Class, and Online Class -- with minor exceptions for some grading criteria pointed out below. (There is a more detailed description further down the page.)Category I: 12 points
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Regular Class and Hybrid Class only: Video attendance classroom meetings. Online Class only: Blackboard discussion/reaction to textbook case studies. |
Category II: 15 points
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Textbook Chapter Open Book Quizzes |
Category III: 9 points
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Geography Open Map Drills |
Category IV: 16 points
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Class Discussions (Class Discussions/Reflections on the Blackboard REGULAR course shell) |
Category V: 10 points
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Worksheet Open Book Quizzes |
Category VI: 10 points
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Town Hall Meeting (evolution discussion on the Blackboard TOWN HALL course shell) |
Category VII: 9 points
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Semester Project |
Category VIII: 10 points
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Endterm Exam (Also called Final Exam) |
Category IX: 9 points
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Learning Self-Assessment |
NOTE
--- TOTAL: 100p ---
Assignments Details (100p): Detailed list of assignments that will EARN you a grade in this class. (It is the same as above, but with more details and with hyperlinks to instructions.)Selective Release Criteria What is Selective Release Criteria? (GREEN COLOR).Category
: Video Attendance Instructions / Case Study Instructions (
12p)Regular (web enhanced) and Hybrid Classes only: Video Attendance Classroom Meetings
For logistics and insurance reasons online students cannot attend classroom meetings.To attend classroom meetings you should have registered for the regular (web enhanced) class or the hybrid class. Classroom Meeting 1: Class Introduction + The Environment (A Historical Perspective). The video is 53 minutes. |
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Classroom Meeting 2: An Inconvenient Truth (A Global Warning). The video is 96 minutes. |
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Classroom Meeting 3: Genetic Engineering (GATTACA). The video is 106 minutes.|
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Classroom Meeting 4: Evolution (Darwin's Dangerous Idea). The video is 120 minutes. |
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-- If time permits there will also be a few short YouTube video segments --
For more information go to Video Attendance Instruction page. Two (2) textbook chapter Case Study discussions/reactions. Submitted on Blackboard bulletin boards
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For more information go to Case Study Instruction page.
Category
: 15 Chapter Quizzes on Blackboard, based on Textbook Reading ( 15p.)
For points the EARNED grade must be minimum 94.Clarification Note
For more information go to Chapter Quizzes Information page.I didn't get the required minimum grade. What do I do now?
When you have completed this category you can fill in the points in the Grade Recorder:
Category
: 3 Geography Drills on Blackboard, based on map studies ( 9p.)
Geography Drill 1|
For points the EARNED grade must be minimum 94. |
Geography Drill 2|
For points the EARNED grade must be minimum 94. |
Geography Drill 3 Password required. 
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For points the EARNED grade must be minimum 94. |
Respondus LockDown Browser Note: Geography Drill III needs a password and must be taken using Respondus LockDown Browser. Click on this link to read more information about the Respondus LockDown Browser! For more information go to Geography Drill Information page. I didn't EARN the required minimum grade. What do I do now?
Category IV
: Class Discussions/Reflections Reading Assignments and Blackboard Bulletin Board (BB) postings ( 16p.) 
Submitted as Blackboard bulletin board discussion/reflection
Class Discussion Key Quiz (score 100) required for access to the bulletin boards. NO Password required. 
What is the difference between the Category IV: Class Discussion and Category VIII: Town Hall Meeting?
Answer: The two most important differences:
(1) The idea of the CLASS DISCUSSION/REFLECTION is to be a student REACTION to a topic, rather than a DEBATE, and the most important posting is your COMPOSED minimum 100 word posting based on critical thinking about the topic. The idea of the TOWN HALL meeting is to be a DEBATE of various opinions, with no minimum word requirements.
(2) The CLASS DISCUSSION/REFLECTION bulletin board is located on the REGULAR course shell, so only students from a particular class can participate. The TOWN HALL meeting bulletin board is located on the extra TOWN HALL course shell (same shell as the Class Help Desk and pending the set-up by the Blackboard people), including ALL Environmental Biology classes taught by Dr. Nilsson.
These class discussion assignments, submitted via Blackboard bulletin boards, are "all or nothing assignments". You post the minimum postings required (or more) and EARN a 100, or you post less than the minimum and earn a ZERO. Note that you are not graded on your opinion, you are graded on whether you post an opinion or not. Also note that the Town Hall discussion postings do NOT count towards the class discussion/reaction grade, but towards the Town Hall assignment. Before you can participate you must answer the short Class Discussion Philosophy Worksheet Key Quiz -- based on the instructions posted on the Class Discussion Philosophy, Scope, and Instructions page. Until you score 100 on the quiz, you will not be able to participate in the Class Discussions (critical thinking discussion/reaction) or the Town Hall Meeting (Intellectual discussion/debate). You will not be able to see the Class Discussion bulletin board folder and even though you may be able to see the Town Hall Meeting bulletin board, you will not be permitted to post for points. Key quizzes are to make sure students read certain reading assignments and are not worth any grade points -- because they are so easy a sponge can answer the questions -- but as soon as you "turn the key" by EARNING 100 on the Class Discussion Philosophy Worksheet Key Quiz the Class Discussion bulletin board folder will become visible on Blackboard Plaza.
Unlike the Town Hall discussion (see Category VIII below) in the Town Hall course shell, the instructor does not participate in -- only oversees -- the regular Class Discussion.
GRADING CRITERIA: The rules are simple -- you participate you EARN an 100. You don't participate you EARN a zero. You are not graded on your opinion, you are graded on whether you participate or not. The minimum requirements are very simple to fulfill -- but the line must be drawn somewhere -- most students post more than the minimum. Don't take any chances, post more than the minimum. These criteria are tracked by a Blackboard server statistics software. As an instructor I have to do very little to assign a class discussion grade. I know exactly how much, where and when you posted, read, and/or visited. There are no secrets in Blackboard... 
--- Minimum Postings Category I ---
3 points. Participation in All Class Discussion Bulletin Boards. You must post a minimum of ONE "composed" message, minimum 100 words, in ALL bulletin boards. Student not posting in ONE or more of the Class Discussion bulletin boards will lose ALL points in this category and receive a zero. Partial credit will NOT be given. For points you MUST do a posting in ALL bulletin boards. Posted at least 1 message (minimum 100 words) in all required BBs - 3 points
Did not post at least 1 message (minimum 100 words) in all required BBs - 0 (ZERO)
--- Minimum Postings Category II ---
10 points. 40 Minimum Posts. Student not posting a minimum of 40 messages -- "compose" and "reply" combined in ALL bulletin boards TOGETHER -- will lose ALL points and receive a zero in this category. Partial credit will NOT be given. Posted at least 20 messages - 5 points
Posted less than 20 messages - 0 (ZERO)
Posted at least 40 messages (at least 10 must be from the second part of the semester) - 5 points
Posted less than 40 messages - 0 (ZERO)
This assignment is a SEMESTER assignment. Students must participate on a regular basis throughout the semester. The Minimum Postings Category II grade will be the midterm and endterm grades added together. The minimum number 40 is from ALL bulletin boards TOGETHER. In other words, since there are usually are around 15 bulletin boards (the YouTube bulletin boards may vary) an average of less than 3 postings per bulletin board (the number of YouTube discussion bulletin boards may vary every semester). Many students post MUCH more than the required minimum. Only 1 message needs to be 100 words -- and not necessarily the first message. Start with a few shorter postings if you are shy or unsure about what to say. The midterm reading date will not be disclosed, but will be done during the week BEFORE the midterm point. Students with 19 or fewer messages will EARN a ZERO, students with 20 or more postings will EARN 5 points. These points are PERMANENTLY lost and cannot be regained. At the assignment closing deadline listed in the calendar all messages will be tallied. Students with 39 or fewer messages will EARN a ZERO, students with 40 or more postings will EARN the or remaining 5 points. Total minimum posting category II grade is the midsemester grade added to the endsemester grade, 10 points, of the total Class Discussion grade (16 points).--- Minimum Reading Category ---
3 points. Number of messages "read" on Blackboard. Student with a set number of readings at the end of the semester. The number required is fairly low and will not be disclosed. READ AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE -- SHOW INTEREST IN OTHER STUDENT'S OPINIONS. Student not showing interest in other students' opinions are not fulfilling the assignment according to the requirements -- will receive a zero in this category. Partial credit will NOT be given. Minimum reading score indicating interest in other peoples opinions -- 3 points
Minimum reading score indicating very little interest in other people's opinions -- 0 (ZERO)
CLARIFICATIONS:
Reading Assignments: Most, but not all, discussions have required online reading material, and in the hybrid class a video viewed in class is also part of the required background material for a discussion. Some discussions have a worksheet quiz. Even though the worksheet quizzes constitute a separate grade category, they are an integral part of the class discussions. Students who don't read the reading assignments usually contribute very little to these discussions. Students must in a separate grading category (see below) answer worksheet quizzes for certain discussions. 
Spell-checking Requirement: This is college! You must check your message with a computer spell checker before posting. If you are a poor speller or if you are too lazy to use a computer spell checker, you may not receive any points if you have ONE spelling mistakes in your message that could have been corrected by a spell checker. In some discussions, the instructor will remove your message from the BB if it is clear that the message has not been spell checked (time and posting criteria will not permit that this is done in all discussions). A removed message will not receive any points. Remember: If you don't spell check your message, and it is removed, you will not just loose the points for that message, but loose ALL "Minimum Postings Category I" points. Again, this is not a high school class; this is college. Write your message in a word processor. Use the word processor spell checker. Then post your message. Using a computer spell checker is easy. USE IT, or loose the points! If you need more information why you need to spell-check class discussion messages in a college class click here.
Midterm Grade: To prevent students from only participating at the beginning or near the end of the semester (and make up low participation by posting like a maniac at the beginning or near end of the semester) a midterm reading will be taken for Minimum Postings Category II grade will be determined at an undisclosed date around the mid-semester point. Your best bet for a good grade in these SEMESTER class discussions is to participate on a regular basis throughout the semester. These discussions are sharing of knowledge and ideas about the REAL world, to inspire critical thinking and formulation of EDUCATED opinions. This is why "cramming" is not allowed. Students must participate on a regular basis during most of the semester. Each discussion topic has a separate bulletin board with the same name as the discussion topics, located on Blackboard in a folder appropriately named Class Discussions. Messages sent via e-mail do NOT count (it should not have to be said, but it has happened...). Sending e-mail to the instructor is not sharing with members of the class. Messages sent via e-mail will receive a ZERO. For more information go to Class Discussion Philosophy, Scope, and Instructions page.
Category
: Worksheet Quizzes ( 10p.) Submitted as Blackboard assessments (quizzes)
5 percent, Darwin "Worksheet" Quiz. (A Blackboard Quiz located on the REGULAR course shell.) For points the EARNED grade must be minimum 94. Password required.
5 percent, Evolution "Worksheet" Quiz. (A Blackboard Quiz located on the TOWN HALL course shell.) For points the EARNED grade must be minimum 94. Password required. 
The Blackboard worksheet quizzes are "in progress", and at present only two worksheet quizzes are required, the Evolution Worksheet Quiz and the Darwin Worksheet Quiz. Students are expected to take the worksheet quizzes seriously. They are necessary to assure that students participating in the discussions have read the reading assignments. Ignore any links and instructions to fill in worksheets by hand. (Regular worksheets were used BEFORE the Blackboard worksheet quizzes were required. Some of these links and instructions may remain but will eventually be removed.)
Note that the Evolution Worksheet Quiz is located in the Town Hall course shell. For this reason a grade will not be shown in your "My Grades", since "My Grades" is only for assignments in the Regular course shell. You will find the grade for the Evolution Worksheet Quiz by opening up "View Submissions" for the quiz. But since the Evolution Worksheet Quiz also functions as a "key" quiz, when you can see the Town Hall Bulletin Board you know you have scored the required minimum, which is 94. All grades between 100 and 94 will be recorded as 100. (Until you have scored 94 or higher you cannot see the Town Hall Bulletin Board.) For more information go to Worksheet Information page. At the moment all additional information is located on the reading assignment hub for evolution -- since the only worksheets finished at this point are related to the concept of evolution.
Category
: Town Hall Meeting Intellectual discussion/debate with Reading Assignments and Blackboard Bulletin Board (BB) postings ( 10p.) Submitted as Blackboard bulletin board discussion in a separate Town Hall Meeting class shell
The Evolution Worksheet Quiz (minimum score 94) required for access to the beginning of the semester Town Hall bulletin boards. Password required. 
The Evolution Midterm Key Quiz (minimum score 100) required for access to the bulletin boards (it is a "key" to open the bulleting board used after the midterm). (A score of 94 on the The Evolution Worksheet Quiz is also required.) Password required. What is the difference between the Category IV: Class Discussion/Reflections and Category VIII: Town Hall Meeting?
Answer: The two most important differences:
(1) The idea of the CLASS DISCUSSION/REFLECTION is to be a student REACTION to a topic, rather than a DEBATE, and the most important posting is your COMPOSED minimum 100 word posting based on critical thinking about the topic. The idea of the TOWN HALL meeting is to be a DEBATE of various opinions, with no minimum word requirements.
(2) The CLASS DISCUSSION/REFLECTION bulletin board is located on the REGULAR course shell, so only students from a particular class can participate. The TOWN HALL meeting bulletin board is located on the extra TOWN HALL course shell (same shell as the Class Help Desk and pending the set-up by the Blackboard people), including ALL Environmental Biology classes taught by Dr. Nilsson.
The Town Hall discussion is a discussion about Evolution. Other topics may be added in the future. The discussion consists of two semester sessions (before and after the midsemester point) and a two-day final "town hall meeting". The first session takes place from the start of the semester (when the Town hall opens up) until the midterm grade reading. The second session takes place after the first session, starting after the midterm grade reading, to the date of the "town hall meeting" (the 2-day Reply to "The Serve"). The midterm grade reading is to assure that students participate in the Town Hall throughout the semester. Unlike the "regular" class discussion in the regular course shell, the instructor participates in the two semester Town Hall discussion sessions as an EQUAL participant. The instructor will NOT participate in the town hall meeting -- the Reply to "The Serve", because the reading assignments -- The Preface (to the serve) and The (Tennis) Serve -- are the instructor's participation/contribution to the discussion. For the reading assignment, and further Town Hall discussion information, click the Town Hall button below. 
GRADING CRITERIA: The rules are simple -- you participate you EARN an 100. You don't participate you EARN a zero. You are not graded on your opinion, you are graded on whether you participate or not. The minimum requirements are very simple to fulfill -- but the line must be drawn somewhere -- most students post more than the minimum. Don't take any chances, post more than the minimum. These criteria are tracked by a Blackboard server statistics software. As an instructor I have to do very little to assign a class discussion grade. I know exactly how much, where and when you posted, read, and/or visited. There are no secrets in Blackboard... 100 percent. --- BOTH Discussion Sessions Required For Points
In part for grade --- First Discussion Session (from beginning of semester) ---Required Minimum Posts 20. Student not posting a minimum of 20 messages as a semester total will lose ALL points and receive a zero in this category. Partial credit will NOT be given. (There are no minimum word requirements, and NO requirements to compose or reply as with the regular class discussion.) A midterm grade reading with a minimum of 10 required postings will be taken.See selective release criteria.
Posted at least 10 messages - 3 points (provided the student continues posting and reache minimum 20 at the end of the semester)
Posted less than 10 messages - 0 (ZERO)
Posted at least 20 messages, and at least 1 in each discussion string - 3 points
Posted less than 20 messages and/or NOT at least 1 in each discussion string - 0 (ZERO)
The midterm reading date will not be disclosed, but will be done during the week BEFORE the midterm point. Students with 9 or fewer messages will EARN a ZERO, students with 10 or more postings will EARN 3 points. These points are PERMANENTLY lost and cannot be regained. At the assignment closing deadline listed in the calendar the remaining 3 points, will be tallied. Students with 19 or fewer messages will EARN a ZERO, students with 20 or more postings will EARN the remaining remaining 3 points. Total grade for Session 1 is the midsemester grade added to the endsemester grade 6 points.
In part for grade --- Second Discussion Session (2-day discussion after session 1, Reply to "The Serve") --- STUDENTS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST SESSION WITH MINIMUM 1 MESSAGE IN EACH BULLETIN BOARD WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE SECOND SESSION. (Note that participating with only 1 message in each bulletin board will not earn you any points -- you need minimum 20 for points, but it will allow you to participate in the second part.)
Required Minimum Posts 6. Student not posting a minimum of 6 messages will lose ALL points and receive a zero in this category. Partial credit will NOT be given. There IS a 50 minimum word requirement for ALL 6 of your postings, and ONE (1) message must be "composed" as a "serve return" (answer to the instructor's "serve") the FIRST DAY of the Town Hall Meeting, and FIVE (5) must be replies to other student postings. (One of the 5 replies must be in your own composed message string the SECOND DAY of the Town Hall Meeting as a reply to students who have posted in your composed string.) See selective release criteria.
-- Posted at least 6 messages minimum 50 words, minimum 1 composed and minimum 5 replies (one of the replies must be in your own composed message string) - 4 points
-- Posted less than 6 messages minimum 50 words, and/or no "composed" message - 0 (ZERO)
Total grade is the first session grade (6p or ZERO) added to the second session grade (4p or ZERO) of the total Class Discussion grade (10 points).
NOTES:
Students must participate in BOTH sessions with the minimum number of postings. Student missing Session 1, will not have access to Session 2, and will EARN a ZERO as the Town Hall grade. Student missing Session 2, but posted in Session 1, and will EARN a ZERO as the Town Hall grade. (Students who do not wish to participate as intended have the option to write a term paper replacing the discussion participation. The "reply to the serve" -- Session 2 -- is always scheduled for two days near the end of the semester as noted in the Semester Calendar. Session 1 start at the beginning of the semester.
Selective release criteria for the Town Hall Meeting (Session 1 and Session 2). Read this note!
Category
: Semester Project ( 9p.) Submitted as described in the project descriptions. Outside of Class/in the Field Semester Project. For more information go to the Semester Project page
. Students have the opportunity to replace the longer Environmental Detective Project with a Humane Society Donation and Dog Walk. It is especially recommended for the short one month summer semester. For more information go to the Semester Project page, or for a short description of the Donation and Dog Walk read the paragraph below.
Humane Society Donation and Dog Walk: Visit the Humane Society (Palm Valley Animal Center), donate a 16lbs bag dry dog food, walk a dog, and take 2 paper QUALITY copy photos of activity for display (one with dog food, one with dog); only 1p if both photos not quality -- take more than 2 photos for "safety". Then ask the Humane Society for a receipt stating that you have donated a 16lbs bag of dog food. (Believe it or not, there have been students who cheat by taking a picture of themselves with someone else's bag of dog food -- and then not donating anything.) Depending on how you submit the semester project receipt can be submitted as the original paper copy or as a digital copy. Whether you use digital camera or "old-fashioned" [negative/positive slide film] camera, the photos you turn in must be quality photos. If you submit paper pictures they MUST be on PHOTO PAPER (developed or printed). Regular photocopy paper will NOT be accepted. For more information on how to submit the photos and receipt see the this page. For more information go to Semester Project page.Category
: Endterm Exam (also called Final exam) ( 10p.) Submitted as Blackboard assessments (quizzes)
At the end of the semester, you must take the Endterm Exam (Online; Open Book, Timed, and only ONE (1) attempt). The exam consists of two parts. Part 1 is based on (1) the Blackboard Chapter Quizzes 7 - 15, (2) the Worksheet Quizzes. Part 2 is based on the Geography Drills. The exam will be available in the Blackboard "Exam" folder as per the Semester Calendar, and as soon as the Selective Release Criteria are fulfilled (see below).
Respondus LockDown Browser Note: The Endterm (Final) Exam needs a password and must be taken using Respondus LockDown Browser. Click on this link to read more information about the Respondus LockDown Browser!Password required.
Selective release criteria for the Endterm Exam. Read this note!
Category
: Learning Self-Assessment ( 9p.) Submitted as Blackboard bulletin board discussion
To think about and analyze your learning attempts, to see if you have learned -- or not, is an important part in the learning process. Learning is NOT a spectator sport. It is important to talk about it, to write about it, and to relate to previous experiences, so that you can make learning an integral part of yourself. You will assess YOURSELF, not the class or the instructor. You will be graded on if you take your learning analysis seriously by thinking about what you have done this semester as per each aspect required. If you are shy about doing this because other students can read the posting, keep it simple without going into personal details (like grades). Taking responsibility for your learning and discussing it with your peers is a good method to better yourself as a student. Remember to spell check the writing! (It is best if you write your assessment in a word processor. Then post it in the Learning Assessment folder on Blackboard Plaza. Important Note: All students not submitting a Learning Self-Assessment will automatically lose 9 points as per the grading criteria. The final examination week assignment is a mandatory STC REQUIREMENT.) In this class the Learning Self-Assessment is the final examination week assignment. For more information click here. -----------------------
100p
The grading criteria for a particular class may be changed due to unforeseen circumstances to meet the needs of a particular class. The instructor therefore reserves the right to alter (add, delete, or revise) any items of the above, online or via verbal instructions in class. The student is responsible for taking note of any such changes and acting accordingly.
The grading criteria for the class occasionally change from one semester to another. The online class documents are updated to reflect the current criteria. However, if a grading criterion discrepancy is present -- if by accident a grading criterion has not been updated on a class document -- the grading criterion posted on this page is the correct grading criterion. The student is responsible for reading this page and referring to it for the grading criteria for the current semester.
Addendum --- will not be discussed in class ---
Alternative to Evolution Blackboard Class Discussion:
There are normally no alternative assignments, but students who so wish can read the text below, and later ask for clarification if needed. Due to some problems with sensitive religious students during previous semesters, a religious student may select to do a term paper option, replacing the Town Hall Discussions -- on the topic evolution, AND the Evolution "Open Book" Worksheet Quiz. The related Darwin Open Book Worksheet quiz on the REGULAR course shell CANNOT be replaced. If students selecting the term paper option do not submit the Darwin Worksheet Quiz a ZERO will be EARNED on that assignment. The instructor also like to remind students "prone" to making instruction delivery suggestions, with these words from Patrick Allitt, that:I'm the Teacher, You're the Student
"The title refers to my belief that the teacher should take control in the classroom. The students come there not to be my friend but to learn history. I know it; they don't, so it's my responsibility to create conditions in which they can learn it. It is not a democratic or egalitarian situation. If they query my rules and regulations I sometimes say: "Ah well, I'm the teacher, you're the student, so you must put up with it." I've found that students are well-behaved and work hard if you make it clear to them right from the beginning that you have high expectations and high standards. They're very eager (at least here at Emory) to get good grades, and will strive to meet my expectations so long as I'm not unreasonable."
Patrick Allitt (Professor of U.S. History at Emory University) in: Rosen, Christine. 2004. I'm the Teacher, You're the Student. National Review Online. (http://www.nationalreview.com)
(Search URL: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ODVlMTllNDIwNjRhZjdkYTZkNjRiNDJjNTljOWE1ZDg=)
I also like to remind students who don't understand why they have to use computers and critical thinking (such as about evolution/religion) in this class that Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board requires that each higher education institution's core curriculum must be designed to satisfy a series of "basic intellectual competencies" - reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy. The Blackboard discussion part of this course is very important, and is designed to help students overcome fear of using computers and fear of speaking out (after using critical thinking). As the instructor of the class I prefer that you remain a participant in the discussion and defend your faith -- if that is what you feel you must do. Or is your faith that weak so you think you cannot defend it against scientific arguments? You might realize after participating that this discussion is NOT about God. Perhaps you will come to the conclusion -- as many students have -- that the only thing you have to do instead of loosing your faith, is to keep an open mind, learn and update your knowledge about the REAL world to the year 2009 (or whatever year is is when you read this). That is why you are here taking college classes -- to LEARN! However, if you don't want to participate in the Town Hall evolution class discussion, and the Evolution Open Book Worksheet Quiz, these assignments can be replaced with a minimum 10,000 words essay based on a minimum of 20 DOCUMENTED ONLINE REFERENSES (sources). (This number of words is significantly lower than the number of words students participating in class as intended must read for the evolution reading assignments.) A minimum of 10 references must be on the topic evolution (not religion, faith, intelligent design, creationism, or creation science) from a SCIENCE source that is PRO evolution, and a minimum of 10 references must be on the topics intelligent design, creationism, or creation science opposing evolution. The essay must clearly be arguing for creationism / intelligent design and clear arguments must be presented using CRITICAL THINKING why the 10 science (evolution) sources selected are incorrect, and the religious (creationism / intelligent design sources) are a correct description for how life began on Earth. ARRANGEMENTS for the alternative delivery method must be made with the instructor at the beginning of the semester, or no later than the week BEFORE the Town Hall discussion about evolution starts (See the semester calendar). The essay is DUE ONLINE, in a bulletin board that will be assigned, the first day of the 2-day Town Hall Meeting called "Reply to the Serve" for the students participating in the class as intended by the instructor (see semester calendar). Again note the following: There is by no means any guarantee that a students electing this alternative method will EARN a 70. If the essay is not a serious, acceptable quality attempt -- clearly arguing for creationism / intelligent design with the 20 ONLINE sources included (10 creationist sources, and 10 scientific sources), the grade will be lower. If judged by the instructor to be a serious, acceptable quality attempt, the essay will EARN the student the Town Hall Evolution Discussion grade 70 and the Evolution Open Book Worksheet grade 70 -- replacing the grades for these two assignments. (It does not have to be an A attempt, because you cannot earn an A, but it must be a "serious, acceptable quality attempt".) A student PLAGIARIZING will EARN a zero on both assignments and will be blocked from continued participation in the regular class discussion, and will also be blocked from posting in the Learning Self-Assessment at the end of the semester -- as a consequence for cheating. If a zero is recorded for these assignments due to plagiarism, the highest grade the student can earn in class is letter grade D. Students participating in class as intended by the instructor, in the Town Hall, cannot EARN an intermediate grade 70. The Town Hall Evolution Discussion grade and the Evolution Open Book Worksheet grade both are "all or nothing" -- 100 or 0 (zero). The grade based on PARTICIPATION, not on opinions given in the postings. All student participating in the Town Hall discussions, according to instructions, ALWAYS earn 100. If you don't like that you only can EARN a 70 with the alternative method -- then participate in the discussion as intended by the instructor. There are no alternative methods for any other Blackboard discussions.Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Jan A. Nilsson. Page created 17.V.2006, last updated 23.I.2010, most likely during the wee hours of the morning on a G3 PowerBook owned by Jan A. Nilsson. Web page layout and design © and intellectual property Jan A. Nilsson. Content on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice may not be used for commercial purposes. All rights reserved. Except for educational purposes and 'fair use' (see below), reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. If used for educational purposes and 'fair use', including photographs, source must be given. (Some clip art, texts and backgrounds used on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice downloaded for educational purposes and/or 'fair use' from Internet free domain has no source.)
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