Course Syllabus

as of 12-28-2012

I. CLASS GENERAL INFORMATION

Course Name: Spring 2013 Academic Technology

Instructor: Kenn Gorman

Location: Room 164

Course Dates: January 3 to May 30, 2013

Work email address: kgorman@student.oakschristian.org

I actually have two school email accounts, but expect students to use the above account for all class questions and issues. Parents are asked to use my teacher account for all email  - kgorman@oakschristian.org

Office phone number: (818) 575-9133

Phone calls will always go directly to voice mail, but are then attached to an email. Since I check my email accounts daily, I will find those attachments and reply to them as requested. Please let me know if you would like a phone call reply, as I typically reply by email.)

Work texting (SMS) number: (805) 876-4019

This number is part of a Google Apps account I use for school - it is not a smart phone. I can only read, send and receive texts using a browser. This is NOT the number I will be using to send weekly announcements. This number will be used specifically for certain assignments. Students who send text messages to this number may not get a reply for days or weeks depending on if those texts are sent outside of the given times and dates.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Mr. Gorman has been teaching at Oaks Christian High School for eleven years. Along with the freshman Academic Technology class, he has taught Robotics, Introduction to Computer Languages, and Advanced Placement Computer Science. 

Along with his teaching responsibilities he has coached the boy's water polo team for eleven seasons, the men's and women's swim team for ten seasons, the girl's water polo team for four years, and the girl's soccer team for one season.

Before coming to Oaks Christian he was a Technical Trainer for the law firm of Buchalter, Nemer, Fields and Younger.

II. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN (CMP)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 The Academic Technology class is designed for incoming freshman. Although most high school students have a basic understanding of computers and related technology, there are many features, functions, and procedures that are unique to Oaks Christian School and to the classes the students will take at OCS. In order to properly prepare student for their time at OCS, the Academic Technology class will cover the major items, ideas, and information students will be able to put to use in the following years. As the class progresses, the student will have the opportunity to use new information immediately, and be able to apply their existing knowledge to new situations and assignments. 

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

By the end of the course the student should:

• Have an understanding of the terms and phrases used with computers and technology 
• Be able to recognize and define basic computer hardware items 
• Use the Windows operating system effectively 
• Understand the OCS network, file sharing system, and web site 
• Use Microsoft Word to develop effective documents for any class, project or assignment 
• Use Microsoft Excel to develop effective spreadsheets for any class, project or assignment 
• Use Microsoft PowerPoint to develop effective presentations for any class, project or assignment 
• Develop skills and abilities to help them be more effective in their use of computer and technology 
• Effectively communicate through papers, electronic files, e-mails and presentations 
• Understand internet research, and develop skills to make their searches more successful and productive 
• Use internet tools as both a substitute and in collaboration with existing applications 
• Develop self-assessment and self-evaluation abilities

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Computer:  the majority of the assignments and other work will be done in class during normal class meetings. There will be additional assignments, research, reading and other activities where a computer will be required. Students will need access to a computer with either Windows or Mac operating systems. These computers should be less than five years old and should be running the most recent version of their operating system. The school has other computers available in the library and other classrooms.
• Browser: any modern browser will work for this class. it is recommended that students use either Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mac Safari or Mozilla Firefox. Students should check for the latest updates whenever using a browser. 
• Internet Access: the school will offer both wired and wireless internet access for students. The wired access is available in the computer labs and library. Wireless access is available on campus for student laptops and tablets only. Since the majority of the class information is only accessible through the internet, a stable connection is required. 

• Textbook: Due to the ever changing issues with technology, it has been difficult to find a textbook with sufficient and relevant information; therefore, there is no textbook used in this class. Reading will be supplemented with handouts, internet sites and lectures.
• Back-up of Files: A flash drive (thumb drive) is required. It is suggested that this be at least 2 GB so it can be used for other classes.
• Printing: Students will not be printing in this class, but it is advised that they have a print card for personal use and for all other classes.
• Notes: Student will be taking notes every day, as there will be some type of lecture or information given each day. Each student will develop a Word document for their daily notes. Most of the terminology and vocabulary will be given during class – internet or book terms and vocabulary will likely be incorrect or outdated and not accepted.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:

Canvas LMS: Canvas is a learning management system (LMS) that will contain all of the basic information needed for all assignments in this class. Canvas contains this class syllabus, the schedule for the class (divided into modules), announcements, assignments, discussions, pages, quizzes and assessments, and other information. Students will be accessing this web site every day the class meets, and on other days as needed. The first place a student will go for any questions, information, assignments and schedules will be the class Canvas site.

Additional Web / Internet Sites: There will be other internet sites that students will need to visit during the semester. Most often them will be additional readings and videos. Since most video sites are blocked through the Oaks Christian network, students will need to either watch these videos off campus or use their own devices and data plans. Most videos will not be embedded in Canvas since they are usually large files.

Notes: This class considers notes to be very important. Academic Technology is not a "read and regurgitate" class. Students will be required to take certain notes and encouraged to add as many additional notes as needed. Every assignment will have some information about it in the notes, and student will be required to use their notes on future assignments. Most questions will have answers directly from the notes. Answers found by "Googling" questions will not be accepted, as these answers are often incorrect, out of date, or very biased. Notes are collectively the largest part of the class, allowing students to earn the most points. Students who take the time and energy to develop good and complete notes are almost guaranteed to get a good grade.

"Handouts" - additional files, pod casts, videos, web sites: As stated in the Classroom Management Plan, Academic Technology is a paperless class. There will never be anything given to students on paper, and all assignments and other requirements from students will be electronic. Anywhere the word "handout" is located students can assume that there is some type of electronic note, file, or other piece of information. These handouts could be any of the following (but not limited to the list below):

• Electronic files, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint files given to students as examples.
• PDF or other files that contain reading materials; since there is no textbook, most of the reading that is required will be given with short one to three page pdf files.
• Internet sites - the teacher will be referring to a number of different web and internet site for a variety of information.
• Podcasts - these are audio-only files; many of the lectures given during a regular meeting will be recorded live, and then converted to an mp3 file that students can listen to later.
• Videos - many different videos will be used during the class; some of these will be located on web sites such as YouTube or Vimeo.
• These handouts will be available at all time for all students who have internet access. One of the major issues that new students have is the change to an all electronic class. However, one of the positive issues of having an all electronic class is the ability for students to read materials and complete assignments at any time from any place. No more paper cuts, asking for a stapler, running out of money on your print card, or sprinting to the library right before class starts and having to wait in line behind ten of your classmates.

Communications: Students and teachers will communicate using a number of different technologies. The most common communication will be during scheduled class time. Email is a large part of the class, and students will use their school account for questions, issues or comments. Teachers are required to reply to email within two school days (not including weekends). For some assignments a texting service will be used. Student are also allowed to call the teachers if needed. 

CLASS MEETINGS:

 (1) Regular Meetings: Each Academic Technology section will meet three times a cycle as a regular class meeting. These meetings will include lectures, assignments, question & answer sessions, and other items. Students are expected to come to class prepared to take notes, access internet sites, work on assignments, complete readings, listen to pod casts, or watch videos. If a student has completed all Academic Technology assignments, they are expected to use any additional class time for other homework or research for other classes. The term "academically productive" will be used all the time to ensure that students use their time wisely.

 (2) X Periods: Each section will have at least one period each cycle that is designated as an "X" period. During each semester there are topics that need to be covered that are outside of the normal Academic Technology curriculum. These X periods are available for the Counseling Office, Dean of Students, or other departments to cover whatever materials or topics are required. Students will be given ample time to prepare for these X periods, and be told ahead of time when these X periods will be used. Students are required to attend these scheduled X periods regardless of the topic or location of that meeting. If an X period has not been specifically scheduled, it will be considered an Open period.

 (3) Open Periods: Open periods are not "free" periods - many freshman make the mistake of calling these free, and then misusing that time. An open period is given to freshman to allow them to use that time as they deem fit. Most freshman will take advantage of these periods to do homework, research, or personal study. Since these periods are schedule and open, the computer lab that students normally go to for a regular meeting will be open. There will not be any additional material covered during these open times. Students may also use the library, schedule meetings with other teachers, or access other opportunities at school. Students who are struggling with Academic Technology or other classes can be placed into a specific class during these open periods to help them bring their grade (or grades) up. Students cannot leave campus during their open periods, and are strongly encouraged to stay away from the quad or the cafe unless they are planning to be academically productive.

 COMMUNICATIONS / PARTICIPATION:

Class Lectures: During nearly every regular meeting, students can expect some type of lecture. At the beginning of the semester, lectures are typically 30 to 40 minutes. As the semester progresses, lectures become shorter as students need more classroom time to complete assignments and be involved in class activities. Lectures will include an outline for the students, which will be added to their notes. Students need to realize that the outline given is a very brief and incomplete overview of the lecture. Student should be ready to add additional information to their notes as needed. Knowing how important their notes are should encourage students to take appropriate and complete notes. Most lectures will be recorded and converted into a podcast (mp3 file) for students to listen to later.

Attendance: Although it would be possible to complete the assignments completely through the Canvas LMS, class attendance is required. A very small number (if any) of students may finish all of the requirements for the class before the last day; those students (if any) are still required to attend all class meetings through the end of the semester.

Class Participation and Behavior: Academic Technology will use a participation / behavior web site called Class Dojo. This allows the teacher to keep track of both positive and negative behaviors and participation. 

Assignments: All assignments will have a page of details which will include the name of the assignment, the date that it is due, and how it will be submitted. There will also be additional information that students will need to include before submitting each assignment. Assignments will all have a grading rubric that will be used to determine points and requirements.

In Class Discussions: Students will be expected to participate in class discussions. Discussions will include the Canvas web site, current and future assignments, class readings and videos, and other topics. 

Announcements: Regular announcements will be made through School Records, the Canvas LMS, during class, through email, and with texting. These announcements are designed to help students keep track of class assignments and other important information. They will be section-neutral, which means the information is being sent to all students. Additional announcements will be sent to specific sections or individual students as needed.

Comments: The School Records program allows teachers to add comments to any graded assignment. For example, if a student does not receive full credit for an assignments, a teacher can add a comment to that assignment's grade in School Records. Although this is not a requirement by the school, many teachers use this feature. When a student accessed their School Records, they can see comments (if there are any) to the right of each assignment's grade. Comments will be used extensively in this class, since it is not possible to add written comments to electronic assignments. Students need to read these comments carefully, and make adjustments and corrections as needed. There is no guarantee that every assignment will have a comment, but when there is a issue with an assignment being turned in incorrect, incomplete, or late, comments will be added.

Email: The primary way that the instructor will be communicating with students is the Canvas LMS, with email coming in second. Students are expected to check their email on a daily basis, not only for Academic Technology information but for other classes as well. Many teachers use email as their primary way to communicate with students outside of the class. The Academic Technology class also has specific assignments that can only be completed using the student email application. Students can expect at least one email per cycle from the Academic Technology teacher as a group email - other individual emails will be sent as needed. Students are expected to use the email account provided by the school. Teachers are not required to send email to any account other that the school provided accounts.

Text Messages: Some of the communication during class might be done using test messages. Since most students have cell phones or smart phones that have texting available, it has become an easy and effective way to communicate. The instructor will have a specific text number (not a personal number) where students can text questions and responses. Although many students believe that texting should be an immediate send/reply system, the class will be using texting more as a supplement to the Canvas LMS and email. Students will be able to register for a weekly or cyclical generic text (this will be done in the Texting assignment). There will be specific units or assignments where texting will be an important part of the curriculum.

Tablets and Smart Phones: Students will need to read the chapters on tablets and smart phones carefully. Fall 2012 will be the second semester that tablets and smart phones will be included as part of the curriculum of Academic Technology. Students are not required to have either a smart phone or a tablet, but those that do will have the opportunity to learn how to effectively and efficiently use them at OCS.

COURSE OUTLINE / SCHEDULE:

Unit Number	Dates	Notes
Unit One	January 1 to January 18	Introduction
Unit Two	January 22 to February 6	Research
Unit Three	February 7 to March 1	Ethics and Social Media (Winter Break)
Unit Four	March 4 to March 20	Presentations
Unit Five	March 21 to April 15	Spreadsheets and Charts (Easter Break)
Unit Six	April 16 to May 1	Images and Videos
Unit Seven	May 2 to May 17	Portfolio / Assessment / Practical
Finals	May 23 to May 30	No final for Academic Technology

 

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION / GRADING:

Class Participation, cooperation, and behavior:	10 points per cycle
Assignments, discussions, research, readings, forms and surveys:	15 to 100 points
Quizzes and Assessments:	25 to 100 points

•  Each assignment will have a rubric that explains how a student can earn the points for each assignment. Students are expected to use these rubrics to ensure that each assignment is completed before submitting.
• Grading will use a percentage scale as listed below, using two decimals of precision. Grades will not be rounded up.

A (93.00-100%)	A – (90-92.99%)	B+ (87.00-89.99%)	B (83.00-86.99%)
B – (80.00-82.99%)	C+ (77.00-79.99%)	C (73.00-76.99%)	C – (70.00-72.99%)
D+ (67.00-69.99%)	D (63.00-66.99%)	D – (60.00-62.99%)	F (59.99 - 40% )

 

 Grading Procedures:

• Assignments submitted early or on time - 

Assignments that are submitted on or before the individual due date will start at 100% points and then be graded. It is possible for an assignment to each full credit if it is submitted complete and correct. All assignments will receive at least 25% of the original points.

Example = a student submits a 40 point assignment on or before the due date. The assignment will be graded, starting at 40 points. The student will earn at least 10 points regardless of what is missing or incomplete (according to the assignment's rubric).

• Assignments submitted up to one cycle late - 

Assignments submitted after the due date will originally have an "M" added to that assignment. The "M" counts as a zero in the grade book. This letter M" will change according to the information below.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date and up to one cycle after the due date will start at 75% points and then be graded. The most points an assignment can receive up to one cycle late is 75% of the original points available, and will receive at least 25% of the original points.

Example = a student submits a 40 point assignment up to one cycle after the original due date. The assignment will be graded, starting at 30 points. The student will earn at least 10 points regardless of what is missing or incomplete (according to the assignment's rubric).

• Assignments submitted over one cycle late - 

Assignments submitted after the due date will originally have an "M" added to that assignment. The "M" counts as a zero in the grade book. This letter M" will change according to the information below.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date and up to one cycle after the due date will start at 50% points and then be graded. The most points an assignment can receive up to one cycle late is 50% of the original points available, and will receive at least 25% of the original points.

Example = a student submits a 40 point assignment over one cycle late. The assignment will be graded, starting at 20 points. The student will earn at least 10 points regardless of what is missing or incomplete (according to the assignment's rubric).

• Assignments not submitted - 

Assignments submitted after the due date will originally have an "M" added to that assignment. The "M" counts as a zero in the grade book. If a student does not submit an assignment before the end of class, it will remain a zero (listed as an "M") and that will be the final grade for that assignment.

A student can submit any assignment from any unit at any  time up to the last day of the class (11:5 pm on May 17, 2013).