STEM Advanced College Success Skills - RSS 1510C
Fall 2015 CRN 45554
Ms. Sarah L. Eisnaugle, M.S.
(under supervision of Dr. Karen Becker)
Prerequisites
Placement in this course is based upon the candidate’s COMPASS® Reading Test scores, which
indicated a reading score between the grade levels of 10 and 12. The candidate’s raw score may
be obtained from the candidate’s academic advisor.
Class Meetings
MWThF 2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Lecture Room: Maag, Room 166
CAI Lab:
Day:_____
TutoringLab: Day:_______
Time:______
Room:________
Tutor:________
Time:______
Room:_______
Tutor:________
Texts/Supplies
Becker, K.A., and Towler, K. (2015). The Art and Science of Quality Learning. (4th Edition),
Van-Griner Publishing, Cincinnati, OH
ISBN – 978-1-61740-260-9
3 ring binder (for student portfolio)
Supplemental STEM Content Package, Cengage Learning (Mason, Ohio, 2010).
ISBN – 978-1-11152-189-9
Instructors
Sarah Eisnaugle, MS
R&SS Center Office: Maag 154
RSS Phone: 330-941-3099
E-mail: Sleisnaugle@ysu.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Timothy Styranec, MS
Chemical Management Center
Office Phone: 330-941-1327
Email: tmstyranec@ysu.edu
Office: By Appointment
R&SS Website: http://web.ysu.edu/rdgstudyskills
ASQL Website: http://artsciencequalitylearning.com
Catalog Description
Develops study skills in STEM disciplines by improving comprehension and retention of
textbook and lecture materials. Covers reading rate flexibility, vocabulary growth, learning style
preferences, critical reading, and problem solving. Uses classroom instruction, computer-aided
instruction, and small-group tutoring sessions to apply strategies, including STEM-based lecture
applications. . Prerequisites: placement into MATH 1501 and ENGL 1540 and either RSS
1510A or no reading placement. Grading: A, B, C, and N/C.
4 s.h.
Course Objectives
A. Knowledge. The University student, henceforth referred to as “student”, will:
(1) Gain an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses as college learners.
(2) Apply study strategies to textbook and workbook exercises in class with instructor, in
small tutor groups, and to STEM area textbooks outside of class.
(3) Improve self-management relating to the college learning process and as applied to
STEM material.
(4) Improve their command of concepts in STEM disciplines.
B. Skills. The student will:
(1) Practice and adopt a variety of reading and study skill strategies for college learning,
including note-taking, test-taking, and making visual study tools.
(2) Work to improve reading rate and comprehension through computer assisted instruction.
(3) Improve learning in STEM disciplines, including mathematical-logical reasoning and
the scientific method.
(4) Practice problem solving in mathematics, science, and technology.
C. Dispositions. The student will:
(1) Learn to view himself/herself as responsible for, and capable of, adopting strategies to
increase his/her academic successes in STEM disciplines.
(2) Consider the roles of self-awareness, self-responsibility, and life-long learning in the
learning process.
(3) Focus upon his/her successes through specific goal setting steps.
(4) Learn to appreciate the academic rigor and structural thinking in STEM disciplines.
Classroom Policies
ATTENDANCE/ABSENCES: Students are expected to attend all class and tutoring sessions and arrive
on time. Attendance is considered when assigning a final grade, and is a significant portion of your
tutoring grades in CAI and small-group tutoring. In-class assignments (including journals) cannot be
made up for unexcused absences. An excused absence means you have informed the instructor via e-mail
or phone that you will be absent AND have written medical notification of your absence. Only medical
excused are acceptable for missing tutoring sessions. Students who fail the course due to non-attendance
will be assigned a grade of NAF.
If you miss an exam due to illness or uncontrollable circumstances you must notify the instructor before
the exam begins. You must make-up the exam within one week and will be given a different exam. If you
are unable to make-up the exam within one week of your return, you will be assigned 0 points for the
exam.
READING ASSIGNMENTS: It is expected that you prepare for your class. I understand that you may
have other obligations and courses to prepare for, but I expect you to attend to your assignments in a
professional manner. Reading the assignments will help you understand the material when presented –
and prepare you to ask questions for clarification. It is expected that you will bring your textbook to every
class and tutoring session as we will use it during in class assignments. For those who may not be able to
immediately afford the textbook, copies are on closed reserve in Maag Library and the Curriculum
Resource Center in Beeghly Hall. You may use these reserved textbooks to complete readings and
assignments while IN the library or CRC.
DUE DATES/ASSIGNEMENT SUBMISSION POLICY: All due dates are listed by week on your
course schedule. Specific due dates will be announced throughout the semester. All work is expected to
be turned in on time at the start of class. For every class session an assignment is late 10% will be
deducted from your assignment grade late assignments will not be accepted after 1 full week.
Certain assignments will not be accepted late
No electronic copies of assignments will be accepted (no email)
All assignments must be typed in 12 point font and have 1” margins
CLASSROOM CONDUCT: I expect all students to be courteous, respectful, and non-disruptive to not
just me but to your fellow students and your tutors. If I believe you are being disruptive I will ask you to
leave class and/or tutoring. Please see the Student Handbook regarding disruptive behavior. TURN OFF
ALL CELL PHONES AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS AND TUTORING AND PLACE THEM IN
YOUR BOOKBAG. If you must make or receive a phone call during class or tutoring please leave the
room quietly before answering the phone. Take out all ear buds, ear phones, Bluetooth devices and
sunglasses before class begins. Participation in class and tutoring is expected. Participation will be
factored into your final grade.
DIAGNOSTIC TEST: Both pre- and post- test is mandatory. Please DO NOT miss class on this day. This
is a standardized test required of all RSS students. If you miss the test you must make the test up outside
of class within one week. If you do not make-up the test your final grade will be lowered by 20 points. A
grade is not given for the test but extra credit points may be assigned.
CONCERNS/FRUSTRATIONS: If at any time you are feeling frustration at your progress in this class
or believe you are having trouble in the course. PLEASE come see me sooner as opposed to later. I will
work with you as long as you have shown an effort to take responsibility for your grade.
Course fees: Each student registered for this course is charged a $50 technology fee to cover
costs for items consumed in and or maintenance of the Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) lab,
a required component of the RSS curriculum.
ACADEMIC CONDUCT: Cheating on exams, submitting work of other students as your own, or
plagiarism results in penalties ranging from an “F” on an assignment to expulsion, depending on the
seriousness of the offense.
CLASS CANCELLATION: If the class is being cancelled for any one day because of instructor illness,
or other reasons, notification will be sent to the student’s YSU email or if planned in advanced will be
told in class at least one week prior to the cancellation. Please be sure to sign up for YSU’s Text Alert
system for notification of University closings.
**A mandated student may not withdraw from RSS 1510C / STEM 1510 without
withdrawing from the university.**
Campus assistance: Students requiring additional academic assistance should consider
contacting the following FREE campus services:
Center for Student Progress, 330-941-3538, Kilcawley Center West
Foreign Language Lab, 330-941-3465, DeBartolo Hall 501
Maag Library, 330-941-3677, Maag
Math Assistance Center, 330-941-3274, Cushwa Hall 3090
Reading and Study Skills Center, 330-941-3099, Maag 154
Writing Center, 330-941-3055, Maag 171
Counseling Center, 330-941-3151, Jones Hall 1034
VA Office, 330-941-2503, 633 Wick Ave.
Students with Disabilities
Youngstown State University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all
persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternative format upon request. In
accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability and require
accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact me privately to discuss
your specific needs. You must be registered with the Center for Student Progress Disability
Services, located at 275 Fifth Avenue, and provide a letter of accommodation to coordinate
reasonable accommodations. You can reach CSP Disability Services at 330-941-1372.
YSU Non-Discrimination Policy
Youngstown State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age, religion or
veteran/military status in its programs or activities. Please visit www.ysu.edu/ada-accessibility
for contact information for persons designated to handle questions about this policy.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS (Points Breakdown is below)
•
Attendance & Class Participation in class and tutoring sessions.
•
Assignments & Team Projects: Some assignments will be completed in class and placed in your
Learning Portfolio. In some cases, I will ask you to turn assignments in so I can review them, but
please place them in the in-class section of your portfolio when they are returned. Assignments
done in class may be handwritten, but please be sure to use legible handwriting on lined paper. If
you carry a spiral notebook instead of loose leaf paper it is strongly suggested you use a notebook
that has perforations and is already hole punched. UNLESS STATED ALL ASSIGMENTS
MUST BE TYPED
•
Tutoring Lab Work: Reading (small group) lab work and CAI lab work, plays an integral part in
this course. Grades are assigned from the tutor based on attendance and motivation. For every 10
minutes you are late or leave early tutors are instructed to deduct one attendance point.
•
Learning Portfolio: You will be required to complete a learning portfolio. It will be divided into
sections: Intro, In-Class Notes/Assignments, Tutoring, Projects/Exams. You will turn in this
portfolio towards the end of the term and it will be returned to you during your end of the term
conference.
•
Exams: There are two exams in this course. Exams will be made up of lecture material, reading
material, tutoring material, and work presented from other sources (videos, presentations, etc.).
•
Extra Credit: Throughout the course there may be the possability for extra credit points at various
times.
Course Assignments and Points
Attendance 50pts
CAI Lab 50pts
Tutor Lab 50pts
Midterm 100pts
Final 150pts
In class Assignments/ Portfolio 100pts
Team Projects: 200pts total (50 pts. each project)
Total Points: 700
Final Grading Scale:
700-630 = A
629-560 = B
559-490 = C
489-0 = NC (and you must complete the course again)
Tentative Course Schedule
(this schedule/syllabus can be changed at the discretion of the course instructor in order to meet the
course objectives)
Academic Week / Date
RSS Topics/Assignments
STEM Topic/Assignments
1 / August 19th
2 / August 26th
Last Day to Add 8/26
3 / September 3rd (Wed.)
* First Week of
Reading/CAI Labs
4 / September 9th
5 / September 16th
*Majors Exploration Fair
11-2 on Sept. 16*
6 / September 23rd
7 / September 30th
8 / October 7th
9 / October 14th
10 / October 21th
11 / October 28th
Last day to “W” 10/24
12 / November 4th
Syllabus Overview
Module 9
Reading for Quality Learning
Intro to Information Processing
Information Processing Model;
Bloom’s Taxonomy (Pages 1821)
Pre-Test (: Bring pencil &
Student ID)
Explanation of Tutoring &
Goals
*Tutoring Begins*
Modules 4, 12 & 10
Reading Tune Up & Reading to
Learn
CAAP
Module 1
Studying to Learn
Instructor Provided Article:
Module 5
Note-Taking Principles
NTM: Note Cards (: Bring
notecards)
NTM: Visual Organizer
Module 14
NTM: Cornell
Reading to Research & Write
Instructor Provided
Assignments
NTM: Annotation
Module 2
Learning to Study
Review / Midterm
Module 2 Continued
Read Intro.
Bring #2 Pencil to Class
STEM Reader: pp. 77-78
NTM: 2/3 Column
Module 13
Resources Beyond the
Classroom
Module 13, 5
Resources Beyond the
Classroom continued
A Quality Foundation
Instructor Provided
Assignments
Modules 4 & 7
A Quality Foundation
continued.
Periodic Table and the Naming of Chemical
Compound
Memorization in mathematics: geometric shapes
STEM Reader : pp 62, 65-67, 72-79
Writing Lab Reports Medical/Bio lecture
simulation; vocab/word parts for future courses
pp.41-44
Scientific Method
Team Projects: Hand washing Experiment
pp.35-41
Pythagorean Theorem, statistical concepts of
mode, mean, median
Team Projects assigned "Empirically
Discovering Why the Pythagorean Theorem is
True"
Cell Structure
Medical/Bio lecture
Atoms and molecules pp. 12-24
Team Project: Cell Phone Case Study
STEM Reader pp 81-86
Team Project: Building Height
Taking Lecture Notes
13 / November 11th
**University Closed
Tues., Nov 11**
14 / November 18th
Learning Portfolio DUE
11/20
15/ November 25th
No Classes Nov 25, 26, 27
Thanksgiving Break
16/ December 2nd
17/ December 8th
Module 8
Test Preparation & Test
Anxiety
Test Prep. Continued
Post-Test (: Bring pencil &
Assign take-home portion of final exam and
explain final exam expectations
Student ID)
Final Examination Review, Conference Scheduling, Reading
Post Test
Instructor Conferences
Final Examinations Week
Final Examination Monday December 7th 1:00-3:00