UoPeople Online Syllabus Repository (OSR)
General Studies
UNIV 1001 Online Education Strategies
UNIV 1001: Online Education Strategies
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course will serve as preparation for students to make a successful journey into the University's online learning environment. It will introduce students to the University of the People's resources available to them, to the academic methods, and to the policies and expectations for student performance. Further, it will provide an overview of strategies for student success including time and stress management, effective study skills, and personal ownership of the learning process.
Required Textbook and Materials
UoPeople courses use open educational resources (OER) and other materials specifically donated to the University with free permissions for educational use. Therefore, students are not required to purchase any textbooks or sign up for any websites that have a cost associated with them. The main required textbooks for this course are listed below, and can be readily accessed using the provided links. There may be additional required/recommended readings, supplemental materials, or other resources and websites necessary for lessons; these will be provided for you in the course's General Information and Forums area, and throughout the term via the weekly course Unit areas and the Learning Guides.
Textbook
College Success [PDF]. (2015). Retrieved from http://open.lib.umn.edu/collegesuccess/
Software Requirements/Installation
No special requirements.Learning Objectives and Outcomes
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Discover career options based on resources and programs at UoPeople
- Discover how to make peer connections in an online community
- Explain what academic integrity means, including how to avoid plagiarism
- Identify reliable sources for writing and research purposes.
- Apply proper techniques in note-taking, reading, and study strategies for improvement of academic performance.
- Examine the benefits of and methods for conducting peer assessments.
Course Schedule and Topics
This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).
| Week | Unit | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Welcome and Introduction to the University of the People |
| 2 | 2 | Resources and Communities |
| 3 | 3 | Time Management, Graduation, and Career Planning |
| 4 | 4 | Writing Basics and Academic Integrity |
| 5 | 5 | Self-Directed Learning and Growth Mindset |
| 6 | 6 | Studying and Note-Taking Tips |
| 7 | 7 | Stress Management and Holistic Wellness |
| 8 | 8 | Test-Taking Strategies |
| 9 | 9 | Course Review and Final Exam |
Learning Guide
The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.
Unit 1: Welcome and Introduction to the University of the People
- Read through the Course Syllabus
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post and comment in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete the Scavenger Hunt Activity
- Complete an entry to the Learning Journal
Unit 2: Resources and Communities
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate on Yammer/Viva Engage, an online community (contribute to group conversation)
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post and comment rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
Unit 3: Time Management, Graduation, and Career Planning
- Read the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post and comment in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
- Take the Graded Quiz
Unit 4: Writing Basics and Academic Integrity
- Read the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post and comment in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
Unit 5: Self-Directed Learning and Growth Mindset
- Read the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
Unit 6: Studying and Note-Taking Tips
- Read the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
- Take the Graded Quiz
Unit 7: Stress Management and Holistic Wellness
- Read the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
Unit 8: Test-Taking Strategies
- Read the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
- Read the Unit 9 Learning Guide carefully for instructions on the Final Exam
- Take the Practice Final Exam
Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam
- Say goodbye to your classmates in the Course Forum and share one significant learning point that you will apply to your ongoing studies with University of the People and beyond
- Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven't already done so.
- Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
- The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor.
Course Requirements
Discussion Assignments & Response Posts/Ratings
Some units in this course require that you complete a Discussion Assignment. You are required to develop and post a substantive response to the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum. A substantive response is one that fully answers the question that has been posted by the instructor. In addition, you must extend the discussion by responding to at least three (3) of your peers’ postings in the Discussion Forum. In Unit 1 through Unit 4, your discussion posts will be assessed by your instructor. In Unit 5, you will assess three of your peers' discussion posts. Instructions for proper posting and rating (out of a 10-point scale) are provided inside the Discussion Forum for each week. Discussion Forums are only active for each current and relevant learning week, so it is not possible to contribute to the forum once the learning week has come to an end. Failure to participate in the Discussion Assignment by posting in the Discussion Forum and responding to peers as required may result in failure of the course.
Learning Journals
Your instructor may choose to assign specific topics and/or relevant questions as a weekly Learning Journal entry for you to complete, but you are still encouraged to also use it to document your activities, record questions/problems you may have encountered, reflect on the learning process, and draft answers for other course assignments. The Learning Journal must be updated on a weekly basis, because its entries will be assessed by your instructor directly as a part of your final grade. The Learning Journal will only be seen by your instructor.
Quizzes
This course will contain three types of quizzes – the Self-Quiz, the Graded Quiz, and the Review Quiz. These quizzes may contain multiple choice, true/false, or short answer questions. The results of the Self-Quiz will not count toward your final grade. However, it is highly recommended that you complete the Self-Quiz to ensure that you have adequately understood the course materials. Along with the Reading Assignments, the results of the Self-Quiz should be used as part of an iterative learning process, to thoroughly cover and test your understanding of course material. You should use the results of your Self-Quiz as a guide to go back and review relevant sections of the Reading Assignments. Likewise, the Review Quiz will not count towards your final grade but should also be used to assist you in a comprehensive review and full understanding of all course material, in preparation for your Final Exam. Lastly, the results of the Graded Quiz will count towards your final grade.
Final Exam
The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9, following the completion of eight units of work. The format of the Final Exam is similar to that of the quizzes and may contain a combination of different question types. You will have one attempt to take the exam, and it will be graded electronically. Specific instructions on how to prepare for and take the exam will be provided during Week/Unit 8.
Course Forum
The Course Forum is the place to raise issues and questions relating to the course. It is regularly monitored by the instructors and is a good place to meet fellow students taking the same course. While it is not required to participate in the Course Forum, it is highly recommended.
Course Policies
Grading Components and Weights
Each graded component of the course will contribute some percentage to the final grading scale, as indicated here:
| Course Requirements | Number of Items | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion Forum Unit 1 to 4 | 4 | 20% |
| Discussion Forum Unit 5 to 8 | 4 | 10% |
| Learning Journals |
8 | 30% |
| Scavenger Hunt Activity | 1 | 5% |
| Graded Quizzes | 2 | 20% |
| Final Exam | 1 | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Scale
This course will follow the standard 100-point grading scale defined by the University of the People, as indicated below:
| Letter Grade | Grade Scale | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 98 - 100 |
4.00 |
| A | 93 - 97 |
4.00 |
| A- | 90 - 92 |
3.67 |
| B+ | 88 - 89 |
3.33 |
| B | 83 - 87 |
3.00 |
| B- | 80 - 82 |
2.67 |
| C+ | 78 - 79 |
2.33 |
| C |
73 - 77 |
2.00 |
| C- |
70 - 72 |
1.67 |
| D+ |
68 - 69 |
1.33 |
| D |
63 - 67 |
1.00 |
| D- |
60 - 62 |
0.67 |
| F |
Under 60 |
0.00 |
Grade Appeal
If you believe that the final grade you received for a course is erroneous, unjust, or unfair, please contact your course instructor. This must be done within seven days of the posted final grade. For more information on this topic, please review the Grade Appeal Procedure in the University Catalog.
Participation
Non-participation is characterized by lack of any assignment submissions, inadequate contributions to the Discussion Forums, and/or lack of peer feedback to Discussion/Written Assignments. Also, please note the following important points about course participation:
- Assignments must be submitted on or before the specified deadline. A course timeline is provided in the course schedule, and the instructor will specify deadlines for each assignment.
- Any student showing non-participation for two weeks (consecutive or non-consecutive) is likely to automatically fail the course.
- Occasionally there may be a legitimate reason for submitting an assignment late. Most of the time, late assignments will not be accepted and there will be no make-up assignments.
- All students are obligated to inform their instructor in advance of any known absences which may result in their non-participation.
Academic Honesty and Integrity
When you submit any work that requires research and writing, it is essential to cite and reference all source material. Failure to properly acknowledge your sources is known as “plagiarism” – which is effectively passing off an individual’s words or ideas as your own. University of the People adheres to a strict policy of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in sanctions by the University, including dismissal from the University or course failure. For more information on this topic, please review the Academic Integrity Policy in the University Catalog.
Any materials cited in this course should be referenced using the style guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA format is widely used in colleges and universities across the world and is one of several style and
citation formats required for publication in professional and academic journals. Refer to the UoPeople's APA Tutorials in the LRC for help with APA citations.
Code of Conduct
University of the People expects that students conduct themselves in a respectful, collaborative, and honest manner at all times. Harassment, threatening behavior, or deliberate embarrassment of others will not be permitted. Any conduct that interferes with the quality of the educational experience is not allowed and may result in disciplinary action, such as course failure, probation, suspension, or dismissal. For more information on this topic, please review the Code of Conduct Policy in the University Catalog.