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Academic Honesty:
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Cheating, in any form, is absolutely forbidden. Anyone caught cheating will receive a grade of zero, a grade of F in the course, and may face other punitive measures.
WARNING: D2L provides the instructor with many tools for detecting cheating. Don't do it; dishonest actions will be detected! Your moral character is more valuable than any unearned grade in this course.
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| Assignments and Participation |
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Assignments and Projects:
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PowerPoint Presentations: Students enrolled in this course are required to view the online PowerPoint presentation for each lesson before doing the homework. Each presentation contains a "keyword" on a randomly selected slide. Students are required to submit this keyword to the instructor (one of the questions in the Mod Check). Printed versions of these presentations are available for purchase at a nominal fee, but should be used only for review. The printed slides do NOT contain the required keyword. Viewing the animated presentations diligently has proven to greatly increase the probability of success in this course!
Homework: Assignments in MathZone must be done by the due date. An automatic two-day extension may be acquired by submitting the correct password (via the MathZone Assignment password submission tool). The password for an assignment is the keyword found in the associated slide Presentation. Homework grades will be posted periodically in D2L, e.g. a few days after each of the four major Tests.
Full or partial credit may be given for late homework (after the 2-day extension) at the discretion of the instructor, provided the student contacts the instructor in advance to offer an explanation and request another extension. Homework may be done before the due date. Any student who has not completed the assigned homework before a scheduled Quiz or Test will be at a distinct disadvantage, and will be graded more harshly.
Warning: Doing the assigned homework is absolutely essential for students to learn the skills necessary to successfully complete this course. Any student who has not successfully completed at least 70% of the relevant homework may be denied access to a Quiz or Test and is not eligible for any extra credit and/or grading curve that might otherwise be available.
Mod Checks: The Mod Checks will count in the Homework Average and are to be done online after viewing the PowerPoint Presentation and completing the assigned Homework for that lesson. A detailed solution of the included problem may be viewed immediately after submitting the Mod Check.
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Class Participation:
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Discussions: Online discussions among students are to be posted at the appropriate time in the appropriate folder of the course message board. Students are required to regularly read and post course-related messages. D2L allows the instructor to track discussion messages posted, as well as messages read. Both quantity (articles "read" and "posted") and quality of participation in these threaded discussions will count in the student's Participation grade, which counts 5% of the overall grade. The questions posted in each forum are intended only as suggested topics to begin the discussion for that module. Other topics may be discussed, as long as the dialogue is primarily relevant to the course module --- and secondarily, to the course in general.
TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE: A student may get additional tutorial assistance from the instructor during regular office hours in W-100H or by calling (615)741-3215 or (615)452-8600 or 1-888-335-8722, extension 3386. For online interaction with the instructor, use D2L Email.
Math Lab: Trained tutors are also available in the Math Lab (Wood-102) or by calling extension 3387. Lab hours are posted on the Math Lab web site at http://www.volstate.edu/MathScience/Lab. Any time a student needs additional tutorial assistance, e.g. homework help, the Vol State Math Lab is highly recommended. At times when the Instructor and other resources are not available, the trained staff in the Math Lab stand ready and willing to offer free tutoring six days a week.
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Punctuality:
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Homework assignments must be delivered (or at least postmarked) on or before the due dates posted in the course Calendar. Quizzes and Tests must be completed on the scheduled dates. Any student who is unable to meet a stated deadline should contact the instructor before the deadline to request an extension.
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| Course Ground Rules |
Students are expected to participate in all interactive aspects of the course. You should regularly communicate with other students and the instructor using the D2L online communication tools, including email and discussions. View the online PowerPoint Presentation for each Lesson before attempting the homework. Practice until you can navigate proficiently in D2L. Check the course message board every day or two for new postings. For this course, use the email component of D2L, in lieu of your regular email address, such as one supplied by your Internet Service Provider. When you have technical problems with your computer or the online components of this course, get the necessary assistance immediately. Observe course netiquette at all times.
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| Instructor Response Times |
The primary means of communication in this course will be D2L Email. Messages should be sent to the Instructor any time a student feels the need. Messages will be read and responded to every day --- even two or three times a day in the first week and at other critical times during the semester. Whenever a student has something to share with classmates, the Discussion component of D2L should be used. Tests and Quizzes will be graded and grades posted within a few days after the availability period has ended. Homework grades will be posted periodically, e.g. a few days after each of the four major Tests.
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| Guidelines for Communications |
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Email:
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- Always include a subject line.
- Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
- Use standard fonts.
- Do not send large attachments without permission.
- Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
- Respect the privacy of other class members.
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Discussion Groups:
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- Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
- Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
- Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other�s ideas.
- Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
- Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
- Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
- Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
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Chat:
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- Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
- Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
- Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
- Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
- Be constructive in your comments and suggestion.
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Web Resources:
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- Click on [Contents], and scroll down near the bottom to [References], under [Study Tools].
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Library
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The VSCC Library is available to all Vol State students. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) are available.
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Students With Disabilities
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It is the student's responsibility to self-identify with the Office of Disability Services to receive accommodations and services in accordance with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Only those students with appropriate documentation and who are registered with the Office of Disability Services will receive accommodations. For further information, contact the Office of Disability Services at (615) 230-3472, TDD (615)-230-3488, or visit the office which is located in Room 108, Wood Campus Center.
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Equal Opportunity Statement
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Volunteer State Community College is an equal opportunity Affirmative Action Educational Institution. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the College because of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. The college also complies with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended and with the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974. The commitment to equal opportunity applies to all aspects of recruitment, employment and education of individuals at all levels throughout the College.
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Syllabus Changes
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The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.
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Technical Support
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Telephone Support:
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If you are having problems logging into your course, timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please use the MyVolState Online Support Website at http://www.volstate.edu/DLSuccess/. If the necessary assistance is not found there, call the VSCC Help Desk at extension 3302. If necessary, you may also contact the Instructor.
VSCC Phone Numbers: (615) 452-8600, (615) 741-3215, (888) 335-8722
- Help Desk, ext 3302
- Instructor, click on [Instructor Information] in the course Content
NOTE: Technical advice is free; however, neither the Help Desk nor the Instructor will attempt to make needed repairs to your computer.
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