INSTRUCTOR:
Manager, Alternative Education
Oakton Community College
1600 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Office: Des Plaines Campus, Room 2548
Phone: 847-635-1971
Email: rnash@oakton.edu
Fax: 847-635-1764
WebPage: http://www.oakton.edu/~rnash
Note: I will respond to emails/phone calls as soon as possible daily during weekdays, M – Th,
9:15 AM – 6 PM; Fridays Spring and Fall terms, 8 AM to 4:45 PM. Over the weekend, I will check for emails a minimum of once each day.
I.
Course Information
II.
Course Prerequisite
III.
Course Description
IV.
Learning Objectives
V.
Academic Integrity
VI.
Course Components and Topics
VII.
Methods of Instruction
VIII.
Course Practices Required
IX.
Instructional Materials
X.
Methods of Evaluating Student
Progress
XI.
Other Course Information
XII.
Support Services
XIII.
Student Success
XIV.
Outline of Topics and Assignments
XV.
Grading

I.
Course Information:
Course Prefix: Course
Number:
COL 101
Course
Section:
OC1
Course Name: Credit:
College
Success
Seminar
3 credit hours:
Lecture – 3
Lab - 0
II. Course Prerequisite: None
III. Course (Catalog) Description:
Course explores and demonstrates the nature of learning in higher education and the attitudes and abilities that successful students use. In the process of addressing issues related to social justice and diversity, students will learn how to effectively use study skills, test-taking strategies, critical reading, interpersonal communication skills, and personal knowledge of their own attributes as
IV. learners to practice college level learning. Students cannot receive credit for both COL 110 and
COL 101.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Be an active agent of your own learning by taking responsibility for your choices and performance.
2. Understand your characteristics and styles as a learner and use that
V. understanding to identify and employ effective strategies in a variety of learning environments.
3. Identify your goals and purposes based on a sound understanding of your values and past experiences.
4. Understand your role as a member of the global community by exploring multiple points of view and cultures.
5 Read, listen, write, speak and communicate more skillfully.
6. Develop strategies for solving problems.
7. Link specific resources at Oakton and on the Internet to your own educational goals and needs.
Academic Integrity
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
 cheating,
 plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
 falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
 helping others to cheat,
 unauthorized changes on official documents,
 pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
 making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and

 any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment, and a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI. Course Components and Topics:
The course is designed to address many aspects of student success, including understanding goals and purposes as a learner; and developing specific skills and strategies to support academic success. See Outline of Topics at end of syllabus for further details.
VII. Methods of Instruction:
Section overview material; group discussion; readings from textbook as well as other sources; videos; homework and other assignments; course guests.
VIII. Course Practices Required:
You will be expected to read assigned texts; complete written assignments; participate in weekly group discussions; and complete or participate in several forms of assessment, including written exams and quizzes, a presentation and portfolio.
IX. Instructional Materials:
TEXT: Holschuh, Jodi Patrick and Nist-Olejnik, Sherrie, Effective College Learning , 2 nd
ed.,
Pearson: 2011. ISBN#9780205750139. Note: This text is also on reserve in the Oakton library at
X. both campuses, but cannot be checked out.
Methods of Evaluation of Student Progress:
Homework and self assessment assignments, exams/quizzes, presentation, portfolio, online participation in discussions and posting of key learnings each week. See “Grading” document for details.
XI. Other Course Information: Late assignments, Disability, Resources
Dishonesty, including cheating/plagiarism as outlined in section V is subject to disciplinary action.
Late assignments must be discussed with the instructor in advance of the due date.
DISABILITY :
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.


Learning Center for tutoring, testing, study skills, academic support for nonnative students and students with disabilities

Student Services for academic advisement, personal counseling, career exploration, job placement

Health Services for on-campus students health concerns

Financial Aid Office for assistance with scholarships, grants, loans, advice on financing your education

Library for general and specialized print and online resources, assistance with research, circulation and inter-library loan services

IT Help Desk for technical problems with MyOakton, and for difficulties with login IDs or passwords
 Distance Learning for general questions about online learning, problems with course access, navigating within D2L, course (re)registration, etc. Alternative
Education: Alt-ed@oakton.edu
, ph: 847-+6-1971
Succeeding in an online course requires that students work consistently throughout the term. Waiting until the last minute will not be productive. For resources to help with student success, but sure to:

Complete the OASIS Survey at the top of the Illinois Community College Online
(ILCCO) site.

Take this Online Learning survey from a college consortium to determine if online learning is right for you.
 Contact Oakton’s Learning Center or Student Services offices for assistance, if needed

Feel free to contact me directly with questions or concerns
Week 1
Introduction to COL
101 and Higher
Education
Sept. 4 - 9
Week 2
Individual Exploration:
Learning Styles,
Strengths &
Preferences
Sept. 10 - 16
Objective: Students will be able to describe the standards of college level academic performance, identify resources for the college student, and demonstrate an awareness of how to be an active agent of his/her own learning by taking responsibility for choices and performance
Reading Assignment: Chapters 1 and 4 in text, Effective College
Learning
Other Assignments:
1.
Resource Scavenger Hunt
2.
Academic Biography
3.
Post to D iscussion
4.
Key Learning for the week
Objective: Students will be able to identify their preferred learning style and analyze results of self-assessment for use in various learning environments.
Reading Assignment: Chapters 3 and 6 in text
Other Assignments:
1.
OASIS Survey
2.
Oakton Reading, Writing and Math Placement tests or equivalent
3.
Rutgers Interest, Skills and Values Assessments
4.
Vocabulary Assessment
5.
Extra credit – Strong/Campbell Interest Inventory, Myers/Briggs Type
Indicator, Finding Strengths 2.0, etc.
6.
Post to D iscussion

Week 3
Effective Self
Management: Time,
Finances, Health and
Stress
Sept. 17 - 23
Week 4
Research, Resources,
Presentations and
Plagiarism
Sept. 24 - 30
Week 5
Reading skills: active reading, reading within different disciplines
October 1 - 7
Week 6
Listening and Taking
Notes
October 8 - 14
Week 7
Studying and Taking
Tests
October 15 - 21
Week 8
Goals, Courses of
Study, Role in
Community, Synthesis of Learning
October 22 - 28
7.
Key Learning for the week
Objective: Students will be able to describe and practice effective self management strategies.
Reading Assignment: Chapters 2 and 5 in text
Other Assignments:
1.
Quiz: Time Management
2.
ADD screening – submit to Dropbox
3.
Stress reduction technique – post information to Discussion and
Dropbox
4.
Post to Discussion
5.
Key Learning for the week
Objective: Students will be able to describe and practice standards for collegelevel research and presentations
Reading Assignment: Chapters 10 and 14
Other Assignments:
1.
MID-TERM EXAM (textbook and course work to date)
2.
Work on Research project/presentation
3.
Post to Discussion
4.
Key learning for the week
Objective: Students will be able to describe and practice college-level reading skills
Reading Assignment: Chapters 9 and 15
Other Assignments:
1.
Read and annotate Memory chapter in text Appendix, PP. 259-265; submit to Dropbox
2.
Post to Discussion
3.
Key Learning for the week
Objective: Students will be able to describe and practice college-level listening and note-taking skills
Reading Assignment: Chapter 8
Other Assignments:
1.
Watch videos and take notes; submit to Dropbox
2.
Post to Discussion
3.
Key Learning for the week
Objective: Students will be able to describe and practice the standards for college-level study habits and test-taking strategies
Reading Assignment: Chapters 11, 12 and 13
Other Assignments:
1.
Presentation on Career - submit to Dropbox
2.
Post to Discussion
3.
Key Learning for the week
Objective: Students will be able to evaluate and define their career and educational goals based upon a sound understanding of self and values, articulate the role the study will play in the global community by examining multiple points of view and cultures, and demonstrate synthesis of course learning
Reading Assignment: None
Other Assignments:
1.
Post to Discussion
2.
FINAL EXAM
3.
PORTFOLIO , including self-assessment information, key learning, application of information to career and educational goals, and impact on subsequent course of study; submit to Dropbox.

Week 1 20
Week 2 20
Week 3 20
Week 4 20
Week 5 20
Week 6 20
Week 7 20
Week 8 20
Week 1 15
Week 2 15
Week 3 15
Week 4 15
Week 5 15
Week 6 15
Week 7 15
OASIS Survey
Rutgers Assessments
20
30
Placement Tests

Reading placement (or
20 equivalent)

Writing placement (or equivalent)

Math placement (or equivalent)
ADD Screening
Vocabulary
20
20
Resource Scavenger Hunt
Academic Biography
20
15
Stress Reduction Techniques 30
Reading Annotation (Memory) 30
Video Notes 30
Bibliography for Career Research 20
Time Management
2.
Myers Briggs Type Indicator (5 points)
3.
Strong Campbell Interest
Inventory (5 points)
4.
Oakton SDS Inventory (5 points)
5.
Oakton Values Assessment (5 points)
6.
Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom
Rath (5 points)
7.
Attend OCC career development workshop or similar (10 points)
90 – 100%
80 – 89%
70 – 79%
60 – 69%
Below 60%
= A
= B
= C
= D
= F