Syllabus
Course Title:
Term:
Number:
Credits:
Schedule:
Student Support Seminar SLS 1125
Summer2012
714543
Three credits
TUESDAY ONLINE( ANGEL)
THURSDAY 11:40-3:00pm
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office Hours
Aneisah V. Castro
Hialeah Campus, Building 1800 #314 L
305-237-8644
acastro5@mdc.edu
http://faculty.mdc.edu/acastro5
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides a foundation for gaining knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for
college success. Students will learn specific social, cultural, psychological, and academic
considerations that are known to impact student achievement. Students will also assess their
competence in each of these areas, and learn strategies that will improve their overall student
effectiveness.
MDC Learning Outcomes:
1. Communicati
on Skills
6. Personal
Responsibilit
y
The 10 MDC Learning Outcomes *
2. Quantitative
3. Critical
4. Information
Analysis
Thinking
Literacy
7. Ethical
Thinking
8. Technology
Use
9. Aesthetic
Appreciation
5. Global
Perspectiv
es
10. The
Environm
ent
* See the College’s Learning Outcomes Web Site:
http://www.mdc.edu/main/academics/learning_outcomes.asp
REQUIRED TEXBOOK
Keys to Success: Building Analytical, Creative, and Practical Skills, 6th ed. By Carol Carter,
Joyce Bishop, Sarah Lyman Kravits.
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GRADES
1. Students must take all exams and complete all assignments. A missed test or
assignment will be equivalent to an “F”
Non-attendance to tests MUST be justified and documented, preferably prior to the absence;
otherwise 0 point will be given. Students will be allowed to take a missed test or complete an
assignment upon proper documentation of a reasonable excuse (a dead of a close relative, a
hospitalization, a car accident etc.). A wedding, a vacation trip, oversleeping and other
miscellaneous events will not be acceptable excuses to re-take an assignment.
2. Internet connection problems will not be acceptable excuses for missing due dates or
anything else. MDC has several computer labs and the computers in the library that
you can use to do your course work.
This is a blended course therefore you will be taking quizzes and other assignments online through
ANGEL; nevertheless, you have to attend to every class since 5% of your final grade will be
attendance based.
GRADING SCALE
A
B
C
D
F
90 – 100
80 - 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
59 and below
GRADING CRITERIA
In order to pass this course, you must meet all course requirements. Grades will be based
on the following criteria:
Assignment
Total Points
Attendance/Participation
10
Writing Assignments
20
Quizzes
20
Midterm
25
Final
25
Total Points
100
Your attendance grade will be based on the following criteria:
Attendance 10%
2
Miss 1 class or 2 T = -1%
Miss 2 classes or 3 T= -4%
Miss 3 classes or 4 T= -6% (If the absences are consecutive you will be dropped)
Miss 4 classes, or 5 T= -8%
Miss 5 or more classes, or 6 T= -10%
Online and face to face classes count the same.
COURSE POLICIES
Academic Integrity
All students are expected to meet the College’s academic conduct standards. Acts of
academic misconduct, including cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, and facilitating
academic dishonesty will be referred to the Dean of Students. Students caught plagiarizing
will be charged with misconduct charges. For more information on these standards, refer
to the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at:
http://www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf
Access Disability Services:
Students with documented disabilities should contact ACCESS Disability Services in
advance for information and for obtaining assistance. No retroactive accommodations can
be provided. The ACCESS department is located in Room 6112 at the North Campus. They
may be reached at (305) 237-1272.
Make-up, Attendance& Withdrawal policy :
1. Students are expected to attend every class.
2. The instructor will keep a record of class attendance.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of any absence and to
show the corresponding documentation to be excused.
4. It is the instructor’s prerogative to withdraw students with more than three
consecutive absences. Online and face to face classes count the same.
5. The students are expected to participate in the online portion of the course at least
once a week for no less than 3 hours.
6. Students unable to complete at least 80% of the course assignments by the last day to
drop a student during the current semester will be dropped from the class.
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7. The use of cell phones, laptop computers, mp3 players or any other type of electronic device
is COMPLETELY forbidden during the lectures.
WITHDRAWALS and class DROP actions are the responsibility of the student and should
be done within the given time as specified in the MDC academic calendar.
IN CLASSROOM RULES
Visitors in the classroom
In order to maintain an appropriate learning environment, only individuals who are
officially registered will be allowed in the classroom. Any special arrangement must be
made in advance with the instructor.
The use of electronic devices in the classroom
Electronic devices for personal use such as pagers, cellular phones, MP3 players, and
headphones should not be used in the classroom. Students are also expected to abide by
the college’s Code of Conduct, as described in the Handbook of Student Rights and
Responsibilities.
Communication
ANGEL email will be the email communication tool to be used for all course related matter.
Grades, assignment performance and other academic matters will not be discussed/
reported by email or over the phone under any circumstance. They are to be discussed/
reported face to face during office hours only.
Competencies
1. Competency 1: The Student will develop the knowledge and skills necessary for
success in college by :
1. appraising his/her learning styles, personality traits and analyzing their impact on
academic performance and success.
2. understanding the role of emotional intelligence and multiple intelligences in academic
performance and success.
3. identifying and applying practices that promote successful learning, including effective
skills for studying, reading, note-taking, test-taking, managing time, setting priorities,
thinking critically and creatively, communicating, listening, and using internet and library
resources.
4. applying methods for improving memory and retention, including dealing with mental
blocks
and forgetting, practicing mnemonics and other memory enhancing techniques, and
increasing memory storage.
5. identifying effective methods for finding, identifying, integrating and synthesizing
information.
6. applying techniques for effective test preparation for objective, short answer, and essay
formats.
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7. acquiring strategies for reducing test anxiety.
8. developing an educational plan to meet graduation requirements and the requirements
needed for transfer to upper level institutions.
9. identifying resources available at the College for successful academic progress and
lifelong learning.
10. describing and applying the registration procedures including degree audit, adding and
dropping courses, official withdrawal policies, transcripts, and the Standards of Academic
Progress.
Competency 2: The Student will understand the relationship between attitudes, selfconcept, values, motivation, and success by:
1. describing the role of taking personal responsibility in making changes necessary for
success and achieving one’s goals.
2. developing an awareness of personal values and belief systems, and the impact of values
on decision making and overall success.
3. identifying the shaping influences on the self-concept.
4. understanding and applying critical thinking in decision-making.
5. implementing reframing and appropriate behavior changes.
6. recognizing self-defeating thoughts and exploring ways to modify negative cognitions.
7. identifying and using effective problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
8. identifying and using effective methods for managing emotions and anger.
9. exploring and applying knowledge about positive attitudes, taking initiative, motivation,
industry, integrity, and ethical principles.
Competency 3: The Student will identify and develop effective interpersonal and
multicultural skills by:
1. identifying and applying effective interpersonal skills.
2. identifying positive strategies for developing and maintaining healthy and satisfying
relationships.
3. developing strategies for working effectively with professors in and out of class.
4. identifying and applying effective leadership and time management skills.
5. developing cross-cultural awareness and skills for enhancing multicultural relations.
6. developing awareness of and respect for the rights and dignity of every person.
7. analyzing contemporary issues within the context of global perspectives.
8. identifying ways of contributing to a global community through the practices of civility,
respect, and civic responsibility.
Competency 4: The Student will demonstrate an understanding of effective life
management by:
1. demonstrating the ability to think and react with flexibility.
2. understanding the existence of multiple perspectives and points of view.
3. cultivating a sense of meaning, balance, and purpose.
4. understanding the different social and professional roles required within society and
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their relationships with authorities.
5. identifying the components of interdependence including mutual negotiation of needs,
mutual empathy, and mutual investments in growth.
6. exploring and applying knowledge about health and wellness.
7. developing an understanding of and participating in service learning.
8. developing informational literacy and technology skills effectively.
Competency 5: The Student will demonstrate an understanding of the process of making
appropriate career choices by:
1. describing the impact of personal interests, strengths, and values on academic program
and career selection.
2. matching knowledge about individual characteristics and abilities to information about
job or career opportunities.
3. synthesizing information from self-assessments, career inventories, occupational
inventories, and general career information acquired from various sources.
4. identifying preferred careers to select an academic program as part of a career plan.
5. identifying effective employability skills.
_______________________________________________
Class: SLS1125
Reference #: _____
I, ___________________________________ have both read and understand all
parts of this syllabus. I know the expectations of myself in order to pass this
class.
_________________________
Signature
________________
Date
6