Course Syllabus
Foothill College
S1. Instructor Information
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REQUIRED MEETINGS: None
CANVAS Online Platform ACCESS: http://www.foothill.edu/fga/canvas_login.php
S2. Course Description
Designed to help students understand the impact of financial decisions on their personal, professional, and community lives. More specifically, the course will. discuss personal finance and quantitative reasoning concepts, frameworks, and techniques to plan, implement, and evaluate financial strategies and tactics. Topics will also include the time value of money, major consumer purchases (e.g., home, car, student loans, credit cards), retirement planning, investment options and their interrelationship with psychological, sociological, and economic factors. The course will culminate with the development of a comprehensive personal financial plan and simulate investment, retirement, tax, insurance, credit, and other financial decisions. The long-term objective is for students to develop a critically-reflective and adaptive capacity for life-long financial decision-making..
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: Elementary Algebra or equivalent; demonstrated proficiency in English by placement via multiple measures OR through an equivalent placement process OR completion of ESLL 125 & ESLL 249.
Transfer Credit: UC, CSU
S3. Student Learning Objective and Outcomes
Learning Objectives
During this course, you will be able to:
- Develop personal and family financial goals and plans
- Discuss the effects of financial decisions on a person's emotions, behavior, health, and relationships
- Prepare a household budget
- Apply the "time value of money" to personal finance problems, including major life events/purchases
- Assess financial decision outcomes by using financial metrics
- Calculate personal net worth (balance sheet) and liquidity (income/cash flow statement)
- Explain payroll and tax concepts, forms, and processes
- Appraise insurance needs
- Explain access to and maintenance of credit and other debt
- Examine retirement plans and options
- Examine investment options, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
- Prepare a personal financial plan
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this class, you will be able to:
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- Students will demonstrate appropriate use of business and finance terms and concepts.
- Students will critically analyze, evaluate, and interpret personal finance problems and solutions and connect to the larger society.
- Students will demonstrate professional communication skills while demonstrating a functional working knowledge of budgeting and other tools (e.g. excel, research) to develop and maintain a personal financial plan.
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S4. Course Outline / Topics
Note: The order of topics is not necessarily in the same sequence as in the textbook. Refer to CLASS CALENDAR (below) for actual coverage sequence and deadlines. Class Calendar always controls all assignments and due dates.
But briefly, the initially planned sequence will be:
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Part 2 |
Parts 3 & 4 |
Part 5 |
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Financial Planning Ch 1: The Financial Planning Process Ch 2: Measuring Your Financial Health and Making a Plan Ch 3: Understanding and Appreciating the Time Value of Money Ch 4: Tax Planning and Strategies
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Money and Debt Ch 5: Cash or Liquid Asset Management Ch 6: Using Credit Cards: The Role of Open Credit Ch 7: Student Loans: The Role of Planned Borrowing Ch 8: The Home and Automobile Decision |
Insurance Ch 9: Life and Health Insurance Ch 10: Property and Liability Insurance
Investments Ch 11: Investment Basics Ch 12: Investing in Stocks Ch 13: Investment in Bonds, Other Ch 14: Mutual Funds: Diversification |
Life Events Ch 15: Retirement Ch 16: Estate Planning Ch 17: Financial Life Events |
Please note that everyone is responsible for learning all of the material in assigned textbook reading, even if we do not explicitly discuss it within the class (faceto- face) or in my lecture notes (I cannot be as broad as the textbook).
Business Program Coursework for 2020-2022 Academic Years *(course titles abbreviated)
| Core Courses | Support Courses | New and Upcoming Courses |
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ACTG 1A: Financial Actg I BUSI 11: Bus Info Sys BUSI 18: Bus Law I BUSI 22: Principles of Busi BUSI 59: Principles of Marketing BUSI 60: Fundamentals of Finance BUSI 90A: Principles of Mgmt or BUSI 95: Entrepreneurship - The Business Plan |
BUSI 19: Bus Law II BUSI 53: Survey of International Busi BUSI 53A: Busi Communications and Technologies BUSI 57: Principles of Advertising BUSI 59A: Web Marketing BUSI 59B: E-Bus BUSI 61: Investment Fundamentals BUSI 70: Bus Ethics BUSI 70-73R: Independent Study BUSI 91L: Intro to Bus Inf Processing BUSI 96: Entrep - Starting and Managing a Small Bus |
Effective as of Winter 2020
* part of new Analytics Cert. ** part of new Digital Marketing Cert. Effective as of Fall 2020 and in 2021, respectively:
^ part of upcoming personal financial planning certificate ^^ part of upcoming "leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship" certificate
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For further information, refer to the business program site: https://foothill.edu/business/programs.html
S5. Course Type, Canvas, and MyLab
This class is conducted fully online and requires the use of both Canvas and MyFINANCELab (MFL)
Class Website (Canvas)
The college uses Canvas as its online course management system. At this website, students will find the course materials organized and available for their download and use. Items such as the lecture PowerPoint slides, project handouts, announcements, and grades can be located on the site. Students can access the class website at(http://www.foothill.edu/fga/canvas_login.php) and should check it regularly for any class announcements and documents. Refer to the FGA (Foothill Global Access) site to learn more about Canvas.
For help with Canvas, refer to Foothill College's Help Desk for Canvas. Instructors are not a good source for help with respect to Canvas.
Publisher Website (MyLab or MFL)
The course textbook includes many online resources –such as practice quizzes, flashcards, and videos, which can be accessed through the publisher’s website MyFinanceLab (MFL) << this is not the link to use to REGISTER into our MFL section; use the MyLab and Mastering, in the related video in Module 0. In addition to the study resources available, various graded assignments will be accessible only through MFL which is why it is recommended that students register as soon as possible (see registration handout link below).
NOTE: The book comes bundled with an 16-digit ACCESS CODE for MFL, if you purchased it at our bookstore (option 1 below). Alternatively, you can get it from the publisher directly (options 2a or 2b, see below).
NOTE 2: You will NOT need a Course ID, since our Canvas course is already LINKED or PAIRED with the correct section of MFL.
To start the registration process for MFL, follow the MFL REGISTRATION HANDOUT (above), which will direct you to the MyLab and Mastering link on the left-hand side navigation panel.
Do NOT use the "Direct to MFL..." link or try to register directly by going to myLab, outside of our canvas class.
View my ad-hoc video from the orientation module 0 to guide you, if you need it (Registering for our section of MyLab (youtube: ~7 min)).
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note: the image of the textbook cover above may be different from yours |
Title: Personal Finance (8th edition) Authors: By Arthur Keown Publisher: Pearson Available: At Foothill College Bookstore or from Pearson ("Directly") See Options Below -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Please purchase the textbook ASAP. You will have assignments due the first week, so if you don't get access, you will not be able to complete your assignments in a timely fashion. Option A: $106 at our Foothill College Online Bookstore (http://books.foothill.edu/home.aspx) << Use CRN 21706 to search title >>> eBook + Access Code bundle
Option B: Purchase "DIRECTLY" from publisher << actually done via the registration process within our Canvas course shell, explained in the MyLab Registration Instructions below. 1 Option available:
Option C: Purchase textbook separately from MyLab access code << strongly not recommended
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Please purchase the textbook ASAP. You will have assignments due the first week, so if you don't get access, you will not be able to complete your assignments in a timely fashion. |
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PURCHASING TEXTBOOK & MYLAB REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please purchase the textbook ASAP. You will have assignments due the first week, so if you don't get access, you will not be able to complete your assignments in a timely fashion. You will purchase the book (ebook) and MyLab access together (as a bundle) at either the Foothill College Online Bookstore or "DIRECTLY" from the Publisher (Pearson) via our Canvas course site. In either case, you will begin the Registration Process explained below (Step 1-3) in the same way. Steps 1 and 2 are the same in all cases. The difference comes when you get to Step 3:
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- Bookstore Purchase: If you purchase the book/access code bundle from the bookstore, you will get an access code (via email, I presume) that you will then enter in Step 3.
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Temporary Access: If you wish to delay the purchase until the 2nd week of the quarter (applicable to 12-week quarters), you should then Select the 14-day temporary option shown at the bottom of Step 3. During the temporary access period, you can use MyLab and access the eBook normally.
- In this case, you must UPGRADE by purchasing the same bundle before the temporary access expires or you will lose the ability to access and submit assignments (please keep in mind that passed assignments will not reopen).
- DIRECTLY from Publisher: If you instead prefer to purchase directly (or UPGRADE from temporary access) from the publisher, Step 3 provides you the option to do so by using a credit card or a PayPal account.
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REGISTERING INTO MYLAB
Registering into the MyLab section (referred to as "course" in Mylab)
To "Pair" our Canvas course shell with the correct MyLab "course, " you need to "REGISTER" via our CANVAS course site. You can only complete this registration process after you are able to log into our Canvas class -- usually on the first day of the quarter when canvas courses are generally published.
a. Go to the Mylab and Mastering link on the <<< Left-side-navigation panel (you should be able to see it from this page).
b. Click on the "orange button":
In the subsequent pages, you will be asked to
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- Accept a "User Agreement"
- And LOG INTO your Pearson MyLab account, if you previously used MyLab for another class OR CREATE a new account. Once you create your new account; you will be back to the login screen to log into the subsequent registration window.
- Once you are logged in, you have an option to ENTER the ACCESS CODE (you purchased) OR Select the 14-day temporary access (if you are not ready to purchase). In all your transactions with MyLab, as they relate to our course, always use the very same EMAIL ADDRESS on record with the college. That is how the system will track and validate that you have purchased the book.
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NOTE: If you purchase the book from another source, you may be purchasing the incorrect version or edition of the book. You would need to resolve any issues on your own with whomever you purchased the book/mylab from. There are many versions and editions of the book (and access codes) that are sold by 3rd parties. We cannot track these external sources.
S7. Course Communication
Announcements
Announcements will be posted in CANVAS on a regular basis. They will appear on your CANVAS dashboard when you log in and/or will be sent to you directly through your preferred method of notification from CANVAS. Please make certain to check them regularly, as they will contain any important information about upcoming projects, changes to the class/syllabus, or class concerns. Part of your class attendance grade is based on logins (3 logins per week minimum). See grading section below for detail.
In this course we will use the INBOX feature on the help corner (located in the upper right hand navigation links)to send email for private messages. You can either check your messages in the CANVAS system or set your notifications to your preferred method of contact. Please check your messages regularly. When submitting messages, please do the following:
- Put a subject in the first line of your email subject box that describes the email content with your name, week and message subject. For example: ****YOUR NAME WEEK2 ASSIGNMENT****.
- Send email only to the INBOX and not my personal email account.
- Do not send messages asking general information about the class, please post those in the Q& A Forum.
- Do not submit your assignments by message.
- Make certain to check your messages frequently, daily is recommended.
Questions
In online courses it is normal to have many questions about things that relate to the course, such as clarification about assignments, course materials, or assessments. Please post these in the Q&A Forum which you can access by clicking the MODULES button in the course navigation links. This forum is in the ORIENTATION and CHECK-IN MODULE. This is an open forum, and you are encouraged to give answers and help each other. If those discussions are not appropriate for your question, please use the INBOX in Canvas (do not use email).
Discussion Forums
Discussion Forums are a way for you to engage with each other about the course content. Each lesson module will have a question that links to a forum. You can also access each forum by clicking on the MODULES button in the course navigation links and working on your weekly module. In order to get full credit for each discussion, you will need to post a substantive question or response to the question to your classmates’ questions/comments.
Virtual Office Hours
Use Conversations from your INBOX to ask me questions regarding the class or private questions about your work, grade, etc. You can also use the VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS thread in DISCUSSIONS to ask public questions that relate to the class.
Turnaround/Feedback
During the week (M-F), I will scan Conversations and Discussion Postings within the currently active module at least once a day. If you have a concern and send me a message, you can expect a response within a day. Note that I am usually much more responsible to Messages in Conversations (inbox) than the standard requirement of 1-2 days. If within 24-48 hours, I do not respond to your question in the discussions, prompt me by sending me a message via Inbox letting me know that I may have missed your posting.
- Each week runs from Monday through Friday, with a FRIDAY at NOON cut-off time for posting questions in Private Messages or in Discussion Forums.
- Instructor and classmates will respond to your questions within 24-48 hours. I respond well within 24 hours to all PM’s and to Discussion forums postings within the required 24-48 hours. DO NOT rely on weekend help, even if most deadlines are set for Sunday at 11:59pm.
Netiquette
When posting on the discussion boards and chat rooms it is important to understand how to interact with one another online, netiquette. You can read more about the rules of netiquette at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html.
Important Dates
The due dates for your assignments can be found in the SYLLABUS-CLASS CALENDAR in the global navigation links on the left-side navigation panel. Please review these. In addition, I will post reminders prior to the due dates in the Announcements.
Note: If you click on the assignment from the calendar, you will not be able to access it. You must access your course assignments through the MODULES.
Weekly Assignments - Deadlines
Each week where the course is conducted online you will need to complete the following:
- Read the weekly module/textbook/other reading material, as assigned. This will be available every Monday at 8 AM PST until the following Sunday at 11:59 PM PST.
- Complete the lesson assignments in each course lesson by Tue, Fri and Sunday at 11:59 PM PST (refer to class calendar for more specific deadlines).
- Homework Assignment (e.g. brief exercises, exercises, problems, cases) in MAL
- Other tasks, as assigned.
- Post in the weekly Discussion Forum by Friday at 11:59 PM PST or respond to other students’ posts in the Discussion Forum by the following Sunday at 11:59 PM PST.
- Late submission is allowed for Quiz, Homework and Mid-term exam, but there will be a 10% penalty. No late submission is allowed for final exam.
- Practice exams do not count towards final grade.
Special Projects/Assessments
If this course requires a team project. I will post the instructions in Modules, labeling it Team Project Module by the middle of the quarter. Number of members per team will be shown in project instructions which will be announced later in the term.
Assignment Detailed Descriptions
Homework (Selected Assigned HW Items from back of each chapter) in MFL
The purpose of these assignments is to check that a minimum amount PROBLEM-SOLVING has been attempted - preferably using a spreadsheet. HW's will be approximately 5-15 exercises/problems from the book. You may take each HW 3 times, and your highest score will be recorded. Unlimited time in MAL.
Exams
There will one (1) Midterms (in MFL) and one (1) Final Exam (in MFL) The purpose of the exams is to verify that you have learned the concepts and calculations (including accounting process) covered during the course; final exam will be cumulative (covering all chapters in the book). The exam will consist of both theory questions and problems. You may take the Final Exam once. The time limit for the final exam is 120-150 minutes.
Project / Case Study (instructions released later in term, if assigned for this class)
There may be 1 Project or Case Study. It's primary purpose is to offer you the opportunity to apply concepts from the course and to collaborate with others in the planning, implementation, and presentation of a deliverable similar to those in the finance profession. The main objective is on fostering good project management, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Attendance and Participation
Attendance and Class Participation are distinct graded components.
Attendance: I will make note of your logins per week. The standard is for 3 logins, one must be on Monday to make sure you review and acknowledge the agenda for the week. The other 2 logins can be any time during the week. Although only 3 logins are expected, I highly encourage daily logins throughout the week.
Participation: Participation is essential to your success in this class. In distance education courses you are required to participate just as if you were in a face-to-face course. This means that in order to get full credit for participation, you will have to complete your discussion assignments, lesson activities and assignments on a timely basis. Consistent failure to participate in class for a total of 1 week's worth of assignments will result in your being dropped from the course.
Various assignments are scheduled for students during the course of the semester in order to reinforce new topics and concepts. These assignments will be mostly individual work. However, the class participation grade, in our online class, is based solely on a single posting per week per chapter. Given that we have 6/12 weeks and that I discount both the first and last weeks, there are 6/12 required postings throughout the semester (one per week). This is my way of getting each student to at the very least enter the discussion forums once a week - hoping that much more than 1 posting is made, nonetheless.
Note: use your low score drops strategically for issues related to technology glitches, illness, incidents, etc.
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Grading Scale
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Note: use your low score drops strategically for issues related to technology glitches, illness, incidents, etc. **Grading and syllabus are subject to change, any changes will be announced** |
Grades
You can view your grades using the GRADES button in the course navigation links. Please check your grades regularly to make certain that I have received all your assignments. If you have a question about a grade, email me through the CANVAS INBOX. Please do not post your personal concerns in a discussion forum.
Please take note of the following course guidelines:
- Grades are not curved.
- Late assignments are not accepted. Make-up work is not permitted. use these drops strategically (i.e. getting sick, technical issues with computer/internet, travel, work, etc.)
- Assignments are not accepted via email. They should be submitted in the manner instructed.
- Students are responsible for retaining all returned work until the end of the term.
- If a period is missed, it is the student’s responsibility to independently catch up on the material covered, maybe by contacting a classmate and/or reviewing announcements, discussion postings.
- To ensure that grading in this course is fair, I will adhere to the guidelines in this syllabus and related documents (such as project handouts). Your academic responsibility is to be aware of and adhering to those.
- Grade disputes must be submitted to the instructor via e-mail within five days of the date the graded item is available for your inspection (except for final grades, which will only allow for 1 day review). Such documentation will trigger a review of the entire graded item, which may result in a higher or lower grade.
- If you have a documented disability, please contact the DRC Center as soon as possible to discuss the necessary testing or other accommodations needed for the course. No accommodations will be arranged outside of the DRC process.
- Everyone in this class is expected to behave ethically and professionally. That behavior includes, but is not limited to:
a. Completing work in the manner assigned (individually or in a group).
b. Ensuring the work you submit reflects your own original thinking and effort.
c. Respecting classmates and the classroom environment.
d. Adhering to the standards of ethical behavior and academic integrity set out in the Mission College catalog and related documents.
Failure to behave ethically and professionally may result in any or all of the following: no credit for specific assignments, being dropped from the class, referral to the Vice President of Student Services for further disciplinary action.
Drop / Withdrawal
In order to avoid getting an F for the course, it is your responsibility to officially withdraw from the class prior to the deadline.
If you do not actively participate in class, that is, if you consistently do not complete assignments, assessments (reading checks, homework), respond to forums or turn in other work for the total of 1 week's worth of assignments, you will be dropped from the class for non-participation.
Note that you can DROP (without a "W") or WITHDRAW (with "W") by certain deadlines. Check the college website for specific dates. If you do not withdraw properly/officially from the class via your portal or in person, you will receive whatever grade you earned (usually not a good grade). It is fully your responsibility to drop/withdraw from the class. After the withdrawal deadline passes, instructors do not have the ability to drop you from the class.
S11. Additional Resources: Tutoring and Other Resources
Tutoring Services
The school offers free accounting tutoring to all enrolled students. Please visit the school’s. STEM Center in the 4200 Building. Refer to the Stem Success Center Webpage for more information.
Open Hours:
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Mondays |
12-4pm |
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Tuesdays |
12-4pm |
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Wednesdays |
12-4pm |
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Thursdays |
12-4pm |
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Fridays-Sunday |
none |
Teaching and Learning Center (computer lab)
If you do not have access to a computer off campus, the college offers free access to computers Teaching and Learning Center (located behind the library), Bldg 3600.
Computer Requirements
You will need to have an up-to-date browser, operating system and some additional software on your computer to take this class. Check this Distance Education page for hardware & software requirements. Some of the documents in this course will be available to you in PDF form. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader software on your computer, you can download it by going to http://get.adobe.com/reader/. We will also be using google-docs and google-spreadsheets, selectively. You may want to get familiar google-docs (if not already) and even get a google-drive (free) to create, store, and share documents.
Transfer /Career Center
Taking classes is just the first step in your academic lives, to learn about the next step –transferring to a university or job placement, please visit the school’s Transfer Center in the at the Students Services Building, Third Floor, Room 8329.
Tech Support and Distance Education help
If you need technical assistance at any time, you can contact the college's Foothill Global Access Program, refer to their webpage at: http://www.foothill.edu/fga/.
Student Services
There are many services on campus to help you achieve success in your courses. Check out this Current Students Webpage for more information.
S12. Class Calendar
While I will try diligently to follow this schedule, I reserve the right to amend this schedule at any time during the course based on the needs, interests and progress of the class, and students are responsible for changes announced in CANVAS.
S13. Important Notes
*Team Work (if applicable):
Primarily for the Project, however, you can team up with classmates for Reading Check’s and HW’s. No Team work on Exams or as otherwise announced.
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Note on Class Calendar: The class calendar controls the timing, submission location, and other logistics for the graded components. The class calendar also lists the assigned hw items. The class calendar overrides any due dates shown in any other part of the class.
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Note on Point-System: The point system above works well most of the time, in capturing the true performance of students. Sometimes, however, it does not. In such cases, I reserve the right to adjust your scores, based on my judgment, to reflect what we believe is an appropriate final grade – one that represents to 4-yr schools and potential employers your true learning from this class.
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NOTE on “bump-ups” to final grade: NO “bump-ups” to the next grade level will be made without evidence that supports such an action on my part – no matter how close you are to the next grade level. Support for “bump-up” purposes is appropriate performance on final exam and exceptional class participation (substantive, non-trivial postings in chapter discussion forums) beyond any minimum required. “Exceptional” participation would probably fall in the range of 3 postings or more per chapter per week or approximately a minimum total postings of 36 (or more, depending on substance of your postings - my judgment).
S14. Declaration Statement, Responsibilities, and Philosophy
By staying in the class, you agree to the terms of this class and the related requirements. If after the class has started, changes to the class syllabus occur, they will be announced for your comments and feedback, before they become effective.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT
Enrolling in this online course is a COMMITMENT. It is your obligation to manage your commitments responsibly. Please make sure that you can fully meet the responsibilities of this course before you commit to enrolling in the course. If you are unable to fully meet these requirements, please consider not enrolling in this course this term. Sometimes, we are too busy already and may overcommit.
By enrolling in this class, you agree:
- To uphold the standards of academic integrity as maintained by Foothill College
- To read, fully understand, and abide by the Class Syllabus.
- To reserve an average of 15 hours per week to spend on reading, studying and homework assignments.
- To login to the Course Shell frequently each week (preferably daily) to read all class announcements, class postings, and private messages, so that you can stay up-to-date with class information
- To complete assignments and quizzes on-time per due dates in the Class Calendar
- To review your course points in the course Grade Book regularly throughout the term and contact me immediately if you identify an error or have questions regarding your grade
- To use PRIVATE MESSAGING in CANVAS (inbox) to communicate with your instructor. Do NOT use email.
- That it is YOUR responsibility to drop this class if it becomes necessary to do so
- To respond to communications from the instructor (me) and your fellow students in a timely manner. Please make every effort to respond to communications within 24 hours or less
- To stay active and engaged in class and to HAVE FUN while doing so
NOTE: Stay active in class: By State Law, students who are “inactive” in an online class are subject to being dropped from the class by the end of the 8th week (about 4th week of summer session) of the quarter (REFER to college website for specific dates and deadlines). Inactivity is defined as not attend (log into CANVAS) or not submission of assignments for 7 consecutive days.
CLASS PHILOSOPHY
This class is a community. We all have the same objective: TO LEARN - in addition, mine is to certify that the grade YOU EARN represents your true learning, as accurately as possible. Employers, transfer institutions, and the community expects us to measure your learning honestly.
To do so, in this class we will engage in multiple approaches to learning (and sharing knowledge) including cooperative learning (interacting with each other to maximize learning opportunities), active learning (active engagement in discrete learning activities like reading, problem-solving and discussion), and experiential learning (“learning by doing”).
This class also places great emphasis on teamwork and active communication in class; as you enter (or return to) the business world, you will realize that being able to productively work in teams and clearly communicate with others are “worth their weight in gold.”
Finally, I want to encourage you to have fun and enjoy this class experience -- it is going to be a lot of work but also a lot of fun!!!
Course Summary:
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