XXXX ###
COURSE NAME
(Online)
[ADULT LEARNER’S GUIDE]
Adult Learner’s Guide
XXXX ### – Course Title
Adult Learner’s Guide
Section ###: Online
Semester, Year
# Credits
Instructor
Instructor’s Name
Office
Enter office location, if applicable
Contact Information
Instructor’s Contact Info
Office/Home/or Cell Phone: (XXX) XXX-XXXX
E-mail Address
Instructor’s email address
Online Office Hours
Days and hours instructor is available online for immediate
feedback – Online office hours may be conducted via email,
phone, or using the chat feature in Moodle (which makes
comments available for others to read later). Instructor must hold
virtual office hours for 1-3 hours per week where they are
available to immediately answer questions.
Instructor’s Response
Policy
Response policy should articulate that instructors will respond to
emails within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on
weekends. The course syllabus should also include virtual office
hours for 1-3 hours per week where instructor will be available to
immediately answer questions (e.g., via email, phone, chat, etc.).
Viterbo University Mission:
The Viterbo University community prepares each student for faithful service and ethical
leadership.
Course Description:
[Enter course description here]
Section-Specific Description: (if applicable)
[Enter section-specific description here if applicable, or remove all together]
Prerequisites:
[List prerequisites here]
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Adult Learner’s Guide
Text and Other Required Materials:
[Include the textbook and any other required materials. Also, indicate whether the text must be
purchased new (if a software pass code is needed, for example), or whether it can be purchased
used, as an eBook, or rented. Also, list any other materials the student is required to purchase
and have available for the course (such as safety goggles, clickers, or a certain type of
calculator).]
Student Learning Outcomes:
[The course syllabus should include course learning outcomes and show how they align with the
department, program, and/or core curriculum outcomes. Additionally syllabus should
communicate specific measures of course learning outcomes. Example of learning outcomes
from ENGL 360 (Instructor: Rolf Samuels):]
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Sample the work of major writers of and around the Latin American Boom.
2. Understand the concept and defining features of the Latin American Boom.
3. Situate Latin American literary texts in the context of relevant regional and national
politics and culture.
4. Develop and apply interpretive approaches for unrealistic writing (e.g., magical realism).
5. Support clear literary analyses with apt textual evidence.
Learning Outcomes Alignment:
[Show how learning outcomes for the course align with the outcomes for the core curriculum
foundations or ways of thinking, and/or outcomes of the major or minor for which the course is
required. See example below.]
Example: This course serves multiple student audiences. It meets requirements for Literary
Analysis in the core curriculum. It develops skills and knowledge for English majors. And it
provides cultural knowledge and contexts for Latin American Studies minors. The table below
shows how the learning outcomes for each of these audiences aligns with the assignments you’ll
complete.
Course Outcomes
Apply generic conventions
and/or cultural/historical
contexts to elucidate
meaning in literature.
Identify how language
manifests meaning in
literature.
Use textual evidence to
demonstrate a convincing
Outcomes for
Major
Understand literary
classifications.
Read critically.
Read critically.
Read critically.
Outcomes for
Program
Identify the diverse
ethnic, linguistic, and
cultural composition
of Latin American, and
Latino population.
Relevant
Course
Outcomes
Course activities
promoting
outcomes
1, 2, 3
Class discussion
Midterm exam
All papers
4
Response papers
Class discussion
5
Class discussion
Response papers
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Adult Learner’s Guide
Course Outcomes
written claim about
meaning in literature.
Outcomes for
Major
Outcomes for
Program
Relevant
Course
Outcomes
Write effectively.
Course activities
promoting
outcomes
Midterm
Final paper
Class discussion
Response papers
Midterm
Final paper
Derive evidence from a
literary text to
demonstrate a claim.
Read critically.
5
Cite textual evidence
according to Modern
Language Association
style.
Research and
document
proficiently.
5
All papers
3
Context
presentations
Describe main
historical events in
Latin America from
Pre-Columbian times
to the present.
Moodle:
As a student, you are expected to be familiar with the Moodle course management software.
Materials, announcements, and assignments will be posted on Moodle, and you will need to
refer to your course site often to check for new announcements and to meet all course
requirements posted. For more information on how to use Moodle, go to
http://libguides.viterbo.edu/moodleforstudents (from the Moodle login or home page, via
“Moodle Help and Tutorials”).
Teaching and Learning Strategies:
[The course should include and identify multiple forms of instruction (e.g., interactive
discussions, writing assignments, and testing) to address multiple styles of student learning.]
Grading Schedule:
The following activities combine and are weighted to form the final grade for the course:
Component
Participation (in the form of online discussions and teamwork)
Individual Assignments
Weekly Quiz (Weeks 1-6)
Financial Statement Analysis Project
Capital Budgeting Analysis Project
Total
Percentage
10 percent
20 percent
20 percent
25 percent
25 percent
100 percent
Grading Scale:
Once your final percentage is calculated, the final grade will be based on the following scale:
[Note to instructors: this is a commonly-used scale, but can be adjusted for this course. We do
not have a mandatory or standard grading scale.]
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Adult Learner’s Guide
Overall Percentage:
93% and above
88.0 to 92.9%
83.0 to 87.9%
78.0 to 82.9%
73.0 to 77.9%
68.0 to 72.9%
60.0 to 67.9%
59.9% or below
Grade:
A
AB
B
BC
C
CD
D
F
Formatting and Documentation Guidelines:
[Enter formatting and documentation guidelines here if applicable. If you expect students to
submit using a particular file type such as Word or PDF, please note that here.]
Policies and Procedures:
Attendance Policy
Include expectations for how often students are expected to access the Moodle course site (e.g.,
every 48 hours minimum). Course calendar should show a detailed schedule of deadlines for
course activities.
Academic Integrity Policy
Maintaining a standard of academic honesty is a responsibility shared by the students, faculty
and administration at Viterbo University. The faculty has the responsibility to create an
atmosphere in which students may display their knowledge. This atmosphere includes sufficient
safeguards to control dishonesty including an orderly testing room, restrictions on text
messages, etc. Students have the responsibility to understand academic misconduct and to
refrain from it.
Students may view details for the academic integrity policy at:
http://www.thezonelive.com/SchoolStructure/WI_ViterboUniversity/handbook.pdf
Late Work Policy
[Please articulate your late work policy here.]
Electronic Submissions Policy
[Syllabus should include information about the anti-plagiarism detection program Turnitin – if
this program is used in a course, the syllabus should include a statement similar to the one
below:]
Anti-plagiarism software: You may be required to submit some of your written work via an antiplagiarism software package called Turnitin. Turnitin is an anti-plagiarism software package that
checks your work against internet databases and an institutional database of other student
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Adult Learner’s Guide
papers. The work that you submit via Turnitin will automatically become part of the Viterbo
institutional database – it will not be accessible to other students, however, if someone uses
your work in the future, Turnitin will report there is a matching student paper in the database. If
you have technical problems using this software, you will be required to provide your instructor
with an electronic copy of your written work. If you do not agree to submit your work via the
anti-plagiarism software if requested by your instructor, you will receive a score of zero for that
assignment.
Course Support Services:
Learning assistance is available from the Academic Resource Center. Content tutoring is
available for all students by signing up in the Center. Writing specialists are also available to
assist students in any course. Students may schedule writing appointments by going to the ARC
web page and clicking on the book now icon.
You may access student support services directly from your Moodle course page; go to the
upper right hand corner and view the tabs for help desk, library, academic resource center, and
student services.
Disability Statement:
The Academic Resource Center provides services to students who have indicated that they have
a disability. Students who have a diagnosed disability and require legitimate accommodations
must complete an Application for Accommodations Based on Disability-Related Need and
should contact the Academic Resource Center at 796-3190.
Syllabus Statement on Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual
Misconduct:
Viterbo University seeks to ensure that campus community members learn and work in a
hospitable and inclusive environment. To this end, Viterbo policy and Title IX prohibit sex
discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct including, but not limited to sexual
assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
As a faculty member, I am required to report incidents of sexual misconduct and thus cannot
guarantee confidentiality. I must provide our Title IX Coordinator with relevant details such as
the names of those involved in the incident. Viterbo is legally obligated to respond to reports of
sexual misconduct, and therefore we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of a report, unless
made to a confidential resource. Although I have to report the situation, you will still have
options about how your case will be handled, including whether or not you wish to pursue a
formal complaint. Viterbo’s goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available
to you and that you have access to the resources you need.
Viterbo encourages anyone who has experienced sexual misconduct or relationship violence to
get support and assistance from one of the confidential or non-confidential resources listed at
this link: http://www.viterbo.edu/sexual-misconduct/make-report-or-file-complaint
For the complete Viterbo University Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual
Misconduct Policy with resources, procedures, and flowchart, please visit this web site:
http://www.viterbo.edu/sexual-misconduct/sexual-misconduct-policy-and-sanctions
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Adult Learner’s Guide
Counseling Services:
It is common for college students to struggle with stress or other emotional challenges, and you
may feel a need or desire to seek professional help. If you would like to talk to someone, you are
encouraged to contact Viterbo University’s Counseling Services:
https://www.viterbo.edu/counseling-services; 608-796-3825. For assistance after normal
business hours, you can call the Great Rivers 24-hour helpline: dial 211 from a campus phone or
800-362-8255. For emergencies, dial 911 or campus security (3911 from campus phone or 608796-3911).
Course Support Services Schedule:
[Please include your course support services schedule, such as online office hours, here.]
Detailed Activity Schedule:
[Course calendar should show a detailed schedule of deadlines for course activities and include
rubrics/specific expectations for assignments when available (or information on where/when in
course site rubrics or expectations will be posted).
[Complete the following table to indicate course tasks, events, projects, assignments, tests, and
any other due dates or benchmarks:]
Week #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Detailed Required Activities Outline:
(Subject to change if necessary).
[Insert Weekly Outlines for each week of the course (including a checklist for what the online
student needs to accomplish each week. Here is an example for Week One:]
Week 1 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week


Identify the primary goals of financial management, and understand the role of the financial
manager.
Analyze an organization’s financial statements, and calculate and interpret common ratios
to monitor an organization’s performance over time, compare the company’s performance
to industry leaders, and report results to investors.
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Adult Learner’s Guide
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities

Read Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the textbook

Review power point presentations and other resources in the Week 1 Materials folder
on Moodle

Review Online Student Resources for Ch’s 1, 2, and 3
Homework
Assigned problems: Submit these problems into the Week 1 Assignment link on Moodle by
Sunday, _____ at midnight.
Ch. 1: Critical Thinking 1.1 and 1.10; McGee Co. Case Study-p. 21
Ch. 2: Critical Thinking 2.2; Problems 1, 2, 6*, 8, 10* and 18
Ch. 3: Problems 1, 2*, 3, 4, 5, and 6
*Note: Problems marked with “*” have Excel templates available – see the weekly materials
folder.
Discussion Forum: See this week’s discussion question on Moodle.
Participation expectations: You must submit your initial response to the discussion questions by
Wednesday of Week 1 at midnight. Be sure to answer all parts of the question, and support
your answer with something you have read, citing your sources. Then, read through the other
learners’ responses, and reply to at least two of them by adding something from your own
experience, something you have read, or something you are questioning. If they reply back to
you, go ahead and carry on an online conversation. Your reply to at least two other learners
must be posted by Sunday of Week 1 at midnight.
Assessments
Quiz #1 (Ch’s 1-3): Complete Quiz #1 on Moodle by Sunday, _____ at midnight.
Projects: Begin working on the Financial Statement Analysis paper – due _____. See details
following the weekly outlines in this Adult Learner’s Guide.
Week 2 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities
Homework
Assessments
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Adult Learner’s Guide
Week 3 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities
Homework
Assessments
Week 4 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities
Homework
Assessments
Week 5 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities
Homework
Assessments
Week 6 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities
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Adult Learner’s Guide
Homework
Assessments
Week 7 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities
Homework
Assessments
Week 8 Outline
Course Level Outcomes for the Week
Reading Assignment and Preparation Activities
Homework
Assessments
Major Course Assignment Details and Grading Rubrics/Marking Guides
[Provide details for what the student needs to do to complete assignments, discussions,
projects, or exams.]
Credit Hour Equivalents:
Regardless of format, all courses are required to meet the required credit hour standards by a
combination of instructional time and outside work. Outside work could include additional
outside reading, group work, service projects, field work, clinical rotations, among other
learning activities.
The following instructional time is required for this course:
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Adult Learner’s Guide
[Copy and paste the appropriate row for your course from the table provided in Appendix 1 of
the Faculty Guide. The example below is for a 3-credit undergraduate course.]
**Requirements
for a 3-credit
Course**
Course Format
8-week fully
online course
Outside Work Time
Requirements
Instructional Time Requirements
In Class (face-toface) time per week
Online instructional
activity time per week
(amount of time students
will spend on outside
activities per week)
Total Time per
week times
number of weeks
Weeks 1-7: 0
minutes (or 0 hours)
Weeks 1-7: 307
minutes (or 5.1 hours)
Weeks 1-7: 743 minutes
(or 12.4 hours)
Week 8: 0 minutes
(or 0 hours)
Week 8: 100 minutes
(or 1.7 hours)
Week 8: 200 minutes (or
3.3 hours)
[(307+743)*7] +
[100+200] = 7650
minutes
The following schedule demonstrates how instructional time and outside work time will be met
in the course, specifically for the correct number of credits and number of weeks the course will
run.
[Example of a schedule for a 3-credit, undergraduate, 8-week online course:]
Week#
1
2
Instructional Time
Hours
estimated
Outside Work Time
Hours
estimated
Discussion board assignment #1
3 hours
Assigned reading: Chapters 1-3
2.4 hours
Voice narrated powerpoint #1
1 hour
Article readings & critiques
4 hours
Short video with discussion board
posting
1.1 hours
Homework assignment #1
6 hours
Discussion board assignment #2
3 hours
Assigned reading: Chapters 4-6
2.4 hours
Voice narrated powerpoint #2
1 hour
Homework assignment #2
6 hours
Computer simulation with discussion
board posting #1
1.1 hours
Short position paper #1
4 hours
3
5.1 hours
12.4 hours
4
5.1 hours
12.4 hours
5
5.1 hours
12.4 hours
6
5.1 hours
12.4 hours
7
5.1 hours
12.4 hours
8
Culminating final activities
1.7 hours
Reading, studying for finals activities
3.3 hours
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