Course Syllabus

Fall 2024 | INT-1050-VG02 - Dimensions of Self & Society

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Clemma Dawsen
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Collin Lee

General Education Requirements

CCV 1st Semester Seminar

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

In this interdisciplinary first-semester seminar, students make the transition to college-level academic culture. This seminar is designed to help students develop the learning skills and habits of success that will support them throughout their college experience and as they consider career pathways. Reading, writing, and discussion are central to developing an understanding of academic and societal responsibility. Students critically examine the relationship between societal values, individual beliefs, ways of knowing, and cultural worldviews.

Essential Objectives

1. Interpret, analyze, and evaluate a text and its sources.
2. Demonstrate foundational information literacy, research skills, and academic honesty necessary for academic writing.
3. Demonstrate effective written communication skills, including active engagement in asynchronous online discussion.
4. Apply effective strategies for building new knowledge and skills through reflection on learning preferences, challenges, and goals.
5. Identify possible career goals and educational pathways.
6. Examine social issues through the lens of the individual and society.
7. Examine personal assumptions and biases, and ethical impacts of decision making and participation in society.
8. Consider issues from multiple perspectives and discuss, debate, and defend ideas with clarity and reason as part of a respectful learning community.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

Classroom Community

• Inclusive
• Cohesive
• Contemplative

Methodology:

• Project Driven
• Scaffold Structure
• Strength-based Learning
• Collaborative Community Building
• Development of Metacognition
• Development of Self-advocacy
• "Way of Council"-inspired agreements and intentions for classroom Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
• SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
• Respect for Diversity in Learning Styles
• Open Minds, Open Hearts
• Experiential Learning

Fostering:

• Self Awareness
• Self Management
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision Making

In addition to the above, I provide:

In-class work/study time

Individual instruction

Incremental project development guidance and support

Evaluation Criteria

• Grading rubrics pertaining to specific criteria.
• Letter grading scale A-F

Students should approach grading as a way to understand their own particular style of learning, i.e., individual strengths and weaknesses as learners. Working toward good grades can be personally motivating, but should never take the place of being inspired to learn. Grading is a tool, not a system of punishment/reward. Fixation on high grades as a singular goal can be detrimental to learning.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Participation builds strong habits of learning. All students are expected to participate fully in all aspects of this class through application of known skills and develpment of new ones. Participation accounts for 40% of the total final grade for the semester.

Weekly in-class participation--exercises, writings, readings and discussion--is mandatory and graded weekly as part of your final Participation grade. When you miss a class, you are required to meet with me to go over what you missed by not participating.

Other components of the Participation Grade include daily checking and responding to announcements, email and text as directed. You will be graded based on the value you place on developing a habit of communication. Lack of communication will seriously affect your grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

The following REQUIREMENTS contribute to your success in this course and are not optional. You are expected to:

• Read all communications from me thoroughly and respond to me if requested to do so. Participation is 40% of your grade. Communication counts toward your Participation grade.
• Come to class on time and prepared.
• NO CELL PHONE USAGE IN CLASS; NO LEAVING CLASS TO MAKE OR TAKE CALLS--it will count as an interruption and affect your grade--if you need your phone for translation, speak to me privately so that we can work out an accommodation system. If you have someone you need to check on during class time, you'll have plenty of opportunity to do so during breaks.
• No cross talking when I or one of your fellow students is speaking.
• Check your CCV email daily
• Check Announcements daily
• Use ONLY the following email address to communicate with me

cxd05080@ccv.vsc.edu

• I check email daily at random times and am not always able to respond quickly.
• TEXT IS BEST--I accept text msgs anytime, and will generally respond within the hour unless I'm out of range (or asleep!)

TEXT enter my # into your contacts (802) 379-4726

• Include your advisor in any matters pertaining to missed assignments and/or classes.
• Technology issues and problems are not mine to solve although I'll do what I can during class.

ADDRESS any and all PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY RE: THIS COURSE BEFORE THEY GET OUT OF HAND. Don't assume problems will go away on their own.

CANCELLED CLASSES

Winter road conditions and unexpected instructor illness or emergency can lead to unavoidable cancellations. If I have to cancel a class for either of these reasons, I'll work with you to make up the time.

HOMEWORK AND CLASS PARTICIPATION

This is a community-driven class that relies on participation. You will be expected to do your homework and come to class prepared.

All students are expected to take part in exercises and discussions that require asking and answering questions, expressing ideas and voicing opinions (both in writing and aloud).

Speaking up in class comes easier to some people than others. If it's not a strong suit for you, you will be expected to develop it; your grade will reflect your sincere effort to do so.

My approach to DIMENSIONS IN SELF AND SOCIETY relies on a strengths-based curriculum. Translation? You will come to understand your own strengths as a learner and use them to address your deficits.

Recognizing and respecting diversity of skills and learning style in yourself and others is a key component of self examination, supportive community building and this class; expect to do the work necessary to discover your own strengths and weaknesses in a nonjudgmental way, allowing you to take part fully.

You are expected to learn and apply strategies for success in this course. Assignments are intended to ensure that students effectively access the experience of each class to develop short presentations and final (long) projects.

MISSED CLASSES

DON'T MISS CLASS--PRIORITIZE YOUR EDUCATION--MAKE IT A HABIT

I'm kindhearted, I love to laugh and am generally really easy to get along with. Don't mistake that for loose, inattentive or casual about expectations.

• There's a difference between "not feeling well" and actually being sick. If you don't know the difference, ask.
• CCV has an attendance policy. Don't fail this course by missing class without valid cause.
• Do not make appointments that conflict with class time.
• Do not schedule work during class hours.
• Do not let home life to get in the way of attending class.
• Emergencies are just that--emergencies. If you don't know what qualifies as a true emergency, ask.
• Contact me directly via text if you are unable to attend class. Telling another student to let me know doesn't count as an excused absence.

Late and Missed Assignments

• Assignments are due by the deadline date and are graded accordingly.
• Come to class prepared.YOUR choices affect YOUR grades and YOUR experience.
• Technical difficulties are not an excuse to not do your homework
• Missed classes and late assignments are dealt with on an individual basis.Communication is vital.
• Being absent is not an excuse for not completing any homework dueon the day that you are absent and/or for the next class you attend.
• If you miss a class, you areresponsible for getting the information you need to make up the work.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity