Welcome to Students in the Worldview and Values Course!
My name is Dr. Patricia Lamoureux, the Instructor for this course. Prior to coming to
Marist College in 2008, I taught at St. Mary’s University in Baltimore, MD where I was
Professor of Christian Ethics. I also held the Richard and Barbara Fisher Chair in Social
Ethics. My Ph.D is from Fordham University in New York where I was trained in ethics
within the broader Western theological and philosophical tradition. While at Marist I
have taught courses in Philosophical Ethics and Worldviews and Values in the classroom
and online.
I think you will find the journey into the exploration of worldviews and values an
interesting one. My goal is to facilitate an enriching learning experience and hopefully
lead you to some new insights into the philosophical questions that we will investigate.
Toward that end, there will be interplay between your own ideas and the viewpoints of
others. These “others” include philosophers who have, over the centuries, developed
theories about the meaning of life, values, worldview, and the good life. These “others”
also include your colleagues and myself.
There is one book noted in the Syllabus that is required for the course. It can be ordered
from the Marist bookstore online: http://marist.bkstore.com. To order the book, go to
the “Textbooks” tool; use the Drop Down menu to find the course; view texts and place
your order.
Additional resources are in the Lessons tool. You will also need to view the Docurama,
Happy, which is available as streaming through iTunes, Amazon ($2.99 rental fee), or
Netflix.
The course is divided into Modules, which span a one - two week period. You will be
graded on the assignments and/or discussions at the conclusion of each Module. You
will find further information on grading and evaluation criteria in the Syllabus Rubrics.
To begin each Module, go to the Lessons tool where you will find instructions for
that lesson in a document entitled, “What Should I be Doing?”
Because this is a fully online course and there is no face-to-face interaction, you will be
asked to post comments twice weekly, except when there is a writing assignment. This
provides an opportunity for you to engage in discussion, raise and clarify questions, and
gain insight from each other’s ideas. In so doing, we create a community of learning. In
order for me to assess class participation and your understanding of the material,
comments will be graded according to the Rubrics in the Syllabus.
Remember that each of you will bring something of value to this community of learners
and to me.
Most of all enjoy the journey!
REMINDERS
Attendance and participation are measured by meeting assignment deadlines, actively
participating in class discussions with meaningful comments, questions, and ideas.
As Internet access is world wide, travel for work or pleasure does not constitute a
justification for asking for special consideration and/or not meeting deadlines. If
illness, an emergency, or some other serious situation prevents a student from any of
the stated activities, Dr. Lamoureux must be notified immediately. Further,
documentation of the dates and nature of the illness or other serious situation is
required to prevent points being deducted for lateness.
Odd things happen in cyberspace—computers crash, emails get lost, servers disconnect
temporarily, and logins fail. Do not wait for the last minute to do your work. Allow time
to meet deadlines. Have backup computer access should your computer fail, e.g. a
neighbor or friend, the library, a Kinko or Internet cafe. You are responsible for getting
the work to the professor on time.
Time management is very important in an online course. I cannot encourage you enough
to pace yourself in such a way that you come to enjoy the learning process that takes
place.
When sending an iLearn message or email, you must identify yourself by name. When
responding to someone in the Forum discussions, address that person by name before
responding. For example, Mary, I agree with your point etc.
ONLINE ETIQUETTE
Adjusting to an Internet-based classroom can be a challenge when you can't see or hear
your classmates or instructor. Even though you are studying online, you are still in a
classroom. Thus, the practices of courtesy and respect that apply in the ordinary
classroom also apply online, and even require more attention. Here are some three points
to remember.
 Think before you push the Send button. Re-read what you have written
and be sure you said what you meant.

Avoid using words that might seem harsh or offensive to others. Any
derogatory or inappropriate comments regarding race, gender, age,
religion, or sexual orientation is unacceptable

Humor might come across differently when it is written and read than
when it is spoken and heard. Strive to maintain a respectful tone and
present your thoughts matter-of-factly.
POLICIES
Academic Honesty
Students are responsible for the honesty and truthfulness of their academic
work. Academic honesty entails the responsibility of giving proper acknowledgment of
another’s work, including the use of the Internet. A particularly egregious form of
academic dishonesty is plagiarism, which will result in an F for the course. Also, the
Dean will be notified of the infraction. Plagiarism is: 1) Submitting written materials
without proper acknowledgement of the source. 2) Deliberate attribution to, or citation of
a source, from which the referenced material was not in fact obtained. 3) Submitting data
that has been altered or contrived in such a way as to be deliberately misleading.
Americans with Disability Act
All efforts have been made to ensure the iLearn system is compliant with Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. Information about the accessibility of the system can
be found at: http://tinyurl.com/28p59pq
SUPPORT SERVICES
Since this is an online course, so there is an expectation that students will have a basic
knowledge of iLearn. Also, you are expected write clearly with correct grammar and
spelling. Marist College provides a range of resources to help you get the most from
your online educational experience.
For access to iLearn support, click the links at the bottom of the iLearn login screen
(http://ilearn.marist.edu). Here, you will find access to a brief web tutorial for an
overview of iLearn tools, 1- or 2-page tips sheets for using specific tools, and a page of
frequently asked questions for students.
For additional technical support please contact: helpdesk@marist.edu
Or call: 1-845-575-4357 (HELP). Students requiring assistance with course content
should contact Dr. Lamoureux via the Message tool (preferably) or email. Messages will
be checked and responded to within 24 hours, Monday – Friday.
Important information about the Marist College Help Desk (including hours) is available
at the Help Desk Website: http://www.marist.edu/it/helpdesk/
Please note: the Help Desk is usually closed on weekends, so you will need to plan your
schedule accordingly when completing assignments with weekend due dates in this
course.
Marist College also has a number of academic resources, including tutoring, writing
assistance, and advising, and proofreading assistance. You are encouraged to visit
http://www.marist.edu/academics/resources.html to learn more about these support tools.
The Marist College Academic Learning Center hosts a proofreading site in iLearn. On the
proofreading site, you can submit your academic papers for review before you turn them
into me for this class. To access the site, click My Workspace in your Quicklinks bar at
the top of this screen. Then, click Membership in the left hand navigation bar. At the top
of the screen, click Joinable Sites and scroll to join PROOF_001N_001.