PSU 15 COURSE SYLLABUS

Fall 2008

                         

INSTRUCTOR  

 

Jim Manis

EMAIL: jdm12@psu.edu

PHONE: 570.450.3189

Office:  A-205

76 University Drive                                                                  

Hazleton PA 18202     

 

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

                        Additional hours available by appointment                                                                      

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This interactive seminar provides opportunities for you to learn strategies that will support your success as a student at Penn State University. During the semester we will explore, discuss and apply relevant information to the daily activities and responsibilities of a university student. Emphasis will be placed on the development of practical knowledge and skills to assist you toward your academic and career goals.

 

 

 

 

FYS COMPETENCIES

The seminar provides opportunities to develop competencies in six areas:

  1. Academic survival
  2. Communication skills
  3. Research library skills
  4. Critical thinking
  5. Computer literacy
  6. Personal responsibility

 

 

 

TEXT

 

See the list distributed in class. You will be required to read five books from this list, all available from the Hazleton campus library.

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

Students will

 

1.      demonstrate their acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that contribute to effective self- management in the university community through class discussions and the thoughtful completions of chapter activities;

2.      develop problem-solving skills through active participation in class discussions and out-of class presentations;

3.      model the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for effective performance in a group during the facilitation of selected chapter discussions;

4.      develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes to cope successfully in the university and later in chosen career by successfully completing this course, mastering the use of ANGEL, preparing for their next semester and completing the class schedule template.

 

TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES 

 

·        Discussion

·        Exercises/activities

·        Student facilitated discussion

·        Guest speakers and student life presentations

·        Portfolio

·        ANGEL computer program

 

 

 

 

 ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

Students are expected to attend all in-class and out-of -class meetings as indicated on the class schedule. Chronic absences will result in a lower final grade. More than one absence will require an appropriate written excuse.

                 

CLASSROOM CONDUCT

 

Due to the nature of discussions involved in this class, it is important that we respect each other’s opinions and values. You are expected to participate in classroom activities and discussions in such a manner as to maximize learning for yourself and your classmates.

 

Basic Ground Rules:

·        Value differences as strengths

·        One person speaks at a time

·        Laugh with each other – not at each other

·        Maintain confidentiality if requested

·        Have consideration for opinions other than your own

·        No one dominates – everyone participates

·        Keep an open mind – seek to understand others’ viewpoints

·        Enjoy the course!

 

Beepers and cellular telephones are not permitted to be on in the classroom.  Any exceptions must be approved in advance by the instructor. If they are permitted they must be on silent mode.

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION:

 

This course is designed for you.  Class activities and discussions will focus on behaviors which contribute to a successful and positive college experience at Penn State.  It is important for you to take an active role in your learning.  You may find it difficult or uncomfortable to actively participate in class discussions and small group activities at first.   However, it is one of the most important skills to learn at college.  Remember, you will get out of the course what you put into it.

 

Please share your needs, concerns, fears, challenges and victories.  The course will be much more rewarding for you.  We at PSU Hazleton take the purposes of this course seriously and are committed to helping you adopt ways of being a successful student.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

 

All students are expected to act with civility, personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts.  An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for self and others and a civil community.

Academic integrity includes a commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception.  Such acts of dishonesty include cheating or copying, plagiarizing, submitting another persons' work as one's own, using Internet sources without citation, fabricating field data or citations, "ghosting" (taking or having another student take an exam), stealing examinations, tampering with the academic work of another student, facilitating other students' acts of academic dishonesty, etc.

Students charged with a breach of academic integrity will receive due process and, if the charge is found valid, academic sanctions may range, depending on the severity of the offense, from F for the assignment to F for the course.

The University's statement on academic integrity, from which the above statement is drawn, is available at      http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/G-9.html

DISABILITY STATEMENT

 

 

            The Pennsylvania State University is committed to providing access to a quality education for all students including those with documented disabilities. If a student has a disability and wants to request an accommodation for a course, it is the responsibility of the student to first obtain a University accommodation letter confirming the disability and suggestion appropriate remedies. This letter can be obtained from the Penn State Office for Disability Services (105 Boucke (814) 863-1807) from the campus Disability Contact Liaison. The contact liaison at Penn State Hazleton is Jackie Walters located at The Learning Center (Laurel-105, (570) 450-3005, jxw2@psu.edu)

 

            Students are encouraged to request accommodation need early in the semester. Once identified, a reasonable accommodation will be implemented in a timely

ASSESSMENT

 

 Your course grade will be assessed according to the following criteria:

 

Participation and attendance                  50 %

 

Portfolio                                               50 %

 

Total                                                    100%

 

 

NOTE:  Your portfolio will be assessed sevaral times throughout the semester. Criteria include completeness at the time of assessment and basic writing skills, comparable to the standards used in freshman composition courses.

 

Participation includes attendance at all presentations as they occur during class times and the completion of any assigned work given by either the instructor or the presenter during these presentations.

 

 

 

AGENDA

 

August 27:   Introduction to class, completion of “Scenario”

 

September 3:  Class exercises

 

September 10: Class exercises

 

September 17: Turn in first written assignment

 

September 24: Class exercises

 

October 1: Class exercieses

 

October 8: Class exercises

 

October 15: Turn in second written assignment

 

October 22: Class exercises

 

October 29:  Class exercises

 

November 5:  Turn in third written assignment

 

November 12: Class exercises

 

November 19:  Class exercises

 

December 3: Turn portfolio in for assessment.

December 10: Final day of class. Hand back portfolios.