7.3 Activity: Online Course Syllabus

The online course syllabus is often the first piece of information that the student reads from the instructor. This communication tool lays the foundation for the material and class process that will follow. As such the document must be succinct and provide the tools necessary for the student to quickly and easily obtain contact information as well as course outline and structure to refer back to during the course timeline. The following is an example of a sixth grade social studies course syllabus. This syllabus focuses on one unit or trimester.

6th Grade Social Studies, Ancient Cultures Syllabus

 

Course Objectives:

Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Kush

 

Instructor Contact Information:  sue.styren@sjnds.org

 

Policies:

·         Homework/Assignment/Participation

o   Late Policy: Points will be deducted for late work unless otherwise arranged with teacher

o   Assignments 30%

o   Participation 20%

o   Assessments 50%

·         Integrity

o   Students are expected to present their own work.

o   When utilizing outside sources proper citing or reference should always be given to allow credit to original source.

·         Participation

o   Your grade for class participation will be based on the following:

§  Online response to Discussion Board (on Edmodo)

§  Response to classmates posting on Discussion Board (on Edmodo)

§  Reading and associated Reading Check Questions (Google Forms and/or Edmodo Quizzes) 

ADA Compliance: 

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided online is accessible to all. If you experience any difficulty with the materials posted please contact me immediately and I will rectify it. Your help in this matter is appreciated.

Online Interaction: 

Students will be provided with Edmodo.com and Google login accounts via email. The first week of school students will need to log in to both Edmodo  and Google mail/drive. Directions for student collaboration, interaction with instructor, etc. will all be provided on Edmodo and via email to student Google email accounts.

 Technical Requirements: 

Students must have access to either a pc with Internet connectivity or tablet device. If utilizing a tablet be sure to download the Edmodo app to allow access to all class materials. Additional requirements:

·         Player and Reader Download Links:

·         Quicktime Player for Mac or Windows: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download

·         Windows Media Player: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-media-player

·         Flash Player: http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html

·         Adobe PDF Reader: http://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/

Browser Download Links:

·         Mozilla Firefox Browser Download: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new

·         Safari Browser Download: http://www.apple.com/safari/download

·         Internet Explorer Browser Download: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-ex0plorer/downloads/ie

·         Google Chrome Browser Download: http://www.google.com/chrome

 Papers/Projects

The four required writing assignments for this course are required as follows:

·     Mesopotamia

o    Five to six paragraphs in length, the first paper will be due on September 30th. Revisions may be submitted during the week after the final submission date for revised grade based on teacher comments. Further and more specific instructions for this paper will be posted on Edmodo.

·         Egypt

o    Five to six paragraphs in length, the second paper will be due on October 30th. Revisions may be submitted during the week after the final submission date for revised grade based on teacher comments. Revisions may be submitted on week after the final submission date for revised grade based on teacher comments. Further and more specific instructions for this paper will be posted on Edmodo.

·         Kush

o    Five to six paragraphs in length, the second paper will be due on November 30th. Revisions may be submitted during the week after the final submission date for revised grade based on teacher comments. Revisions may be submitted on week after the final submission date for revised grade based on teacher comments. Further and more specific instructions for this paper will be posted on Edmodo.

·         Comparative Essay

o    Compare and contrast the three civilizations we have studied. Complete instructions will be posted on Edmodo. Revisions may be submitted on week after the final submission for revised grade based on teacher comments. Due date: December 15th.

Assessments

There will be a test on each of the three civilizations as well as 6 quizzes throughout the course of the class. The final exam will cover a comparison of the three civilizations studied.

Office Hours

 I will be available online Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Edmodo to respond live to any questions you might have. Additionally, you may contact me via email at any time. I will respond to emails within 24 hours unless otherwise posted (holidays and school breaks).

At the end of the course I will provide you with a survey to comment on course content, structure, and instruction. Your feedback is always appreciated. I hope you enjoy your time in this course and come away with a keener understanding of these Ancient Civilizations.