Welcome to
CS123: College Success Strategies
for Professional and Liberal Studies
Professional
Introduction
Professor Abby Ngwako, M.Ed.
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Introductions
You will have a chance to introduce yourself in
more detail under the “Introduce Yourself ”
link located in Unit 1 but let’s do some brief
introductions…
If everyone can tell me…
Where you are from?
Why you chose to attend Kaplan?
What’s the one thing you like to do in your spare time?
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Course Introduction:
Course Description:The academic-focused course content will facilitate
communication students’ successful social and academic transition into the
Kaplan University community and provide a foundation for success in the
pursuit of academic excellence and within the students’ chosen profession.
Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
 Demonstrate basic critical reading, writing, and reasoning skills
 Use a variety of personal management tools and strategies to enhance learning
 Use problem solving skills to increase academic and professional proficiency
 Locate research resources applicable in the student’s chosen profession
 Indentify careers in student’s chosen profession
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Conditional Acceptance Policy:
 All Kaplan University undergraduate students will be considered
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conditionally admitted to the University and will not receive
financial aid while in this status.
After the 5th week, students who have earned a grade up to that
point of 65 percent or higher for all coursework will be allowed to
continue in their program
The University will reverse the enrollment of any student not
meeting these criteria, and such a student will not owe any
financial obligation to the University except for the application fee,
which is non-refundable
Students whose enrollments are reversed in this manner may not
reapply for admission for one year unless they qualify for a waiver
If you have any questions, please contact your Academic Advisor.
Types of Coursework:
 Seminars
-Option 1:
 attend on time
 actively participate at scheduled time each week
If not able to attend live…
-Option 2 (see next slide for directions on accessing):
 Answer seminar questions
 Your response to Option 2 response should be a minimum of
400 words
 Make sure to answer ALL questions in Word document
 Submit as Word document in drop box for correct unit
(make sure to choose seminar not project )
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Step 1
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Click on unit you
missed seminar
for to access link
Step 2
Then, click on
Seminar link
Then, there is an explanation
on Option 2 for seminar. And
questions that will need to be
answered
Types of Coursework:
 Discussion Board
-Respond to 1 Discussion thread for each unit
-Address ALL questions required for each discussion (100-150 words or more)
-At least 2 peer responses to each discussion question (at least 3 separate posts)
-Remember: objective is to discuss topics and interact with classmates so make
sure to advance the discussion
-Following schedule would be good way to contribute regularly to discussion
and avoid only posting on last day or one day out of the unit
 Units start on Wednesdays
 By Friday, respond to the original discussion question
 By Sunday, respond to at least two of your classmates’ responses, don’t forget
to also see if anyone responded to yours and then post any further response
 Monday-Tuesday, continue checking the discussion board, responding to your
classmates (or to me) to continue advancing the discussion
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Types of Coursework:
 Response to Discussion Board
 Does the post move the conversation forward? (i.e. Adding additional information, elaborating a
point, Asking thoughtful questions, post a reasonable disagreement).
 Does the post show thoughtfulness?
 Does the posting contribute to the overall discussion that is being developed?
 Does the posting add value to the discussion, or is it simply a response to fill a square?
 Does the posting expand on the main theme (in the discussion question, assignment posting, or
weekly summary)?
 Peer Responses to Discussion Board
 Share a related experience
 Ask questions about their ideas/experiences.
 Consider an idea being discussed, and offer a different perspective on it.
 Describe an interesting idea from the week's reading, and explain what insights you gained from it.
 Describe how you have applied the recent course concepts to your personal/professional life.
 Share another resource you have used as you explored the course topics.
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Questions
that need to
be addressed
are here
First, click on
Discussion link
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Then click on
Respond link
to respond to
the discussion
thread
Types of Coursework:
 Projects
-Submitted to drop box for designated unit. (Under each Unit click on
“Academic Tools” then “Dropbox Guide” to view details on submitting)
Click the link that says Submit an Assignment.
• In the "Submit to Basket" menu, select Unit #: Project
• In the "Comments" field, include at least the title of your paper.
• Click the Add Attachments button.
• Follow the steps listed to attach your Word document.
• To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or go to the
Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it.
• Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted project.
-Word document (save as full name unit #.doc. For example,
AbbyNgwako unit 5.doc)
-Click on Project link for detailed information and templates/examples
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Types of Coursework:
 Quizzes
-Make sure to take them on time before end
of unit
-unlimited time and unlimited times to take
until end of unit.
-Open book (You may use your reading materials,
notes, and other resources as long as you work
independently).
-Save your answers often
-Let me know if you have any technical issues
or extenuating circumstance after unit is
over, so I can reset.
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Deadlines
 ALL assignments for each unit (discussion
responses, seminar option 2 , projects and/or
quizzes):
Due on following Tuesday before midnight
(ET) of each Unit
***Remember that peer responses should be
done throughout the week for each
discussion
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Late Policy:
 I do understand life happens but it is also important to
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follow due dates since they are set for a reason. However if
something comes up please let me know and I will work
with you the best I can. Depending on the extenuating
circumstance late penalties may apply.
Late projects -5 points for each week that it is late (max.
20pts)
Late Discussion boards no credit for peer responses, only
original responses to discussion will count
Please email me once you have submitted any late
assignments. The email should include what type of task
you submitted late for which unit. (i.e. Discussion for Unit
1)
Due to the new conditional acceptance policy: NO LATE
WORK will be accepted for UNIT 5. Also, all late work from
units 1-4 with exceptions MUST be submitted by Unit 5
Participation:
1. Students should be respectful and professional in
all areas of classroom, whether it is to the professor
or another classmate.
Please be cautious of how you are phrasing things because
Kaplan is mostly based on written work it can be perceived
differently, similar to email your intent may not come across
as how you intended it to in an online environment.
 We are all entitled to our opinions and can disagree or agree
but in a professional and respectful manner. We should not be
making personal judgments or hindering the learning process
of others. Please treat others as you would like to be treated.
 Inappropriate posts or coursework will be deleted and will
not be accepted. Further actions may be taken which include
and are not limited to disciplinary action or dismissal from
school.
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Plagiarism:
 Plagiarism is an offense that is taken seriously at Kaplan. If it is
determined that you are plagiarizing it can not only earn a 0
for the assignment, fail the class or even permanent dismissal
from the University.
 Students are expected to be the sole authors of their work.
Use of another person’s work or ideas must be accompanied
by specific citations and references. (Please see syllabus for
specific examples of plagiarism).
 APA is not required for this course, so please make sure to cite
your sources with relevant info (author name, title,
publication date, website address)
 Kaplan University subscribes to a third-party plagiarism
detection service, and reserves the right to check all student
work to verify that it meets the guidelines of this policy.
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Grades:
 Grades for all course projects, discussions and
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seminar will be posted within 5 days (Sunday)from
when the unit ends.
 Late projects will be graded within 5 days of
submission date.
 Assignments will be graded according to the
grading rubrics for each type of assignment in your
syllabus.
 Please make sure to check out “Academic Tools” link
under each unit, click on “Gradebook Guide” to
understand how to check feedback on grades
***Please be patient with grades, I teach more than
one class and at more than one school but I
understand that feedback is important and will get
grades in as soon as I can.
Communication:
 The best way to reach me is via email ANgwako@kaplan.edu
I usually will respond within 24 hours or less (weekdays) 48
hours (weekends).
 To meet on an individual basis, you will need AIM so please
download free service by visiting : http://www.aim.com/
My AIM Instant Messenger Name: angwako
Please email me to make an appointment and we can chat/talk
via AIM
 Please make sure you are letting me know of any situations
that may arise as soon as you can otherwise I can not help
you.
 Please make sure all correspondence (email, IM) includes
your full name, class, and section number
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Be Prepared for Tech issues
 With Technology it’s not a matter of IF but WHEN? So, the
only thing we can do is be prepared.
 Set up alternate places to access a computer and/or internet
(e.g. friend’s or relative’s house, library, WIFI hotspots,
Fedex/Kinko’s, internet cafes)
 Save and backup your work
(e.g. flash drive, external hard drive, thumb drive, emailing
work to yourself, storing files electronically)
Who can you contact for technical assistance?
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Unit 1 Assignments
 Introduce yourself to the class (separate
discussion board in unit 1)
 Please respond to discussion questions for
unit 1 on Effective Communication and your
Career
 Also post at least 2 peer responses or more
 Please make sure to take short quiz on Unit 1
before Tuesday, 12/13 before midnight(ET)
 If unable to attend seminar tonight, then
make sure to complete option 2
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