Course objectives or intended learning outcomes. The course objectives should be stated clearly so that they can be related to the expected learning outcomes in each section or module of the course and to the goals of the overall assessment process.
Course description. A brief statement describing the nature of the course, what the student can expect to learn, and an overview of course activities such as teamwork, group projects, student web pages, etc.
Prerequisites for the course. A list of all course prerequisites with a statement of why the prerequisites are deemed necessary.
Course instructor. A biographical sketch of the instructor of record and any other participants in the course if, for example, the course is a team-taught course.
Virtual office hours. A statement indicating that the instructor will respond to student emails in 24/48 hours.
How to contact the instructor. A listing of the instructor’s institutional e-mail address, fax number (if available), office telephone number (if available), etc. should be included for emergency use in case the course management system server is unreachable.
Timing of instructor response. A statement that the instructor will make every attempt to respond to course e-mail within 24 or 48 … hours during the work week though it may not be possible in all cases. Students will be notified when the instructor is not available to meet the stated response time.
Textbook. A link to the RODP Bookstore must be present in the course syllabus. A list of all required textbooks with the author, title, publisher, edition, date, and ISBN number is suggested. .
Supplementary material. A list of other published material the student is required to purchase for the course including lab manuals, lab kits, software, etc.
Specific course requirements. A description of any special course requirements, such as knowledge of specific software, and why it is necessary for successful completion of the course.
Course topics. A suggested sequence of course topics, perhaps noting that students should complete certain core modules prior to moving to elective or more advanced modules.
Assignments and Projects. A sequenced list of all graded d assessments arranged by course module with points attirbutable to each assessment.
Due dates for all graded assessments must be posted in the Calendar tool..
Punctuality. A statement of course milestones to keep the students on track in an asynchronous environment. No synchronous events such as chat sessions, audio conferences, or physical meetings should be required.
Class participation. A statement that students must participate in all interactive aspects of the course if interaction is part of the course design. For example, students are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource, students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements, and students must actively participate in threaded discussion events.
Grading procedure and grading scale. A detailed statement of how grades are related to or reflective of the expected learning outcomes. A statement of what constitutes high achievement in the course. Grades awarded do not include a plus or minus (+/-) designation.
Course ground rules. A reiteration and emphasis of certain rules and course expectations. For example,
Participation is required
Expected to communicate with other students in team projects
Learn how to navigate in the course management system
Keep abreast of course announcements
Use the assigned college or university e-mail address as opposed a personal e-mail address
Address technical problems immediately
Observe course netiquette at all times. Instructor guidelines for communication by email, discussion groups, chat, and the use of web resources. Some examples are:
Email
Always include a subject line.
Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
Use standard fonts.
Do not send large attachments without permission.
Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
Respect the privacy of other class members.
Discussion groups
Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
Try to maintain threads by using the “Reply” button rather starting a new topic.
Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Web Resources
Columbia Guide to Online Style by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor
Citation Styles Online http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite6.html
Course syllabus changes. A statement that any necessary changes to the course syllabus will be sent to the student by e-mail and posted within the class..
Sources of technical assistance. A listing of contacts to help resolve technical problems with e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, pagers, etc.
Special needs. A statement of accommodation for students with special needs such as voice recognition software or special hardware.
RODP Virtual Library A statment regarding teh RODP Virtual Libary accompanied by a link to the RODP Library wesite.
