The Student in the
University
EDCP 108-0 * Section 6001 * Fall 1996
Woods Hall, Room 1130, Thursdays 2:00-4:00
Instructor:
Dr. David B. Sicilia
Instructor's email: DS190@umail.umd.edu
Class reflector: Sicilia-1@umail.umd.edu
Office: Key Hall 2101 J
Office Phone: 405-7778
Office Hours: T 2-3; Th 4-5; and by appointment
Syllabus Content:
This one-credit course is designed to enhance the academic, personal, and interpersonal success of incoming UM students by:
Requirements and Expectations:
Students are expected to attend every class, or to contact the instructor if unable to attend any meeting for a legitimate reason. It is also essential that each student participate regularly in class discussions and exercises. This is not the kind of class in which one can sit back and receive information passively; rather, the course is a co-creation of class members and instructors that demands ongoing engagement. Finally, since we will be discussing some sensitive and controversial topics, it is important that we remain respectful and tolerant of those with differing viewpoints.
There will be four letter-grade assignments, described below under the heading Graded Assignment. You must complete all assignments to earn credit for the course. The journal will count toward 40 percent of your total grade; the other three assignments each will count for 20 percent.
Readings will include Alan Lightman, Einstein's Dreams (this year's core book distributed to all freshment; and materials distributed in class.
Getting on-line. The University of Maryland offers every registered student a free computer network account, known as a WAM account. We will be using these accounts throughout the term -- beginning next week -- for assignments, announcements, and discussions. So your first order of business is to sign up for an account and begin using it. To apply for a WAM account, bring your valid student ID and fall registration card to room 1400 of the Computer Science Building (Building 224 on the north side of campus). As soon as you obtain a WAM account name, send a message to the instructor at his personal e-mail address listed at the top of the syllabus. He will then enroll you in the class reflector account. You must apply for a WAM account during the first week of class.
It is important to note the difference between the two e-mail
addresses listed on the syllabus. Messages sent to the instructor's
e-mail address go only to him. Therefore, you should use that address
for individual and confidential communications, as well as for submitting
class assignments (such as journal entries). Messages sent to the
reflector address are broadcast immediately to all members of the class.
Thus, use that address for general and open discussions related to the
course.
1) attendance and participation. In addition to attendance and participation during class meetings, this includes participation in the course reflector account throughout the term.
2) electronic journal. Five times in the semester you will be expected to submit a journal entry to the instructor (not to the class) via e-mail. Each entry will have two sections. In the first section you will discuss the questions assigned on the last page of this syllabus. The second section is reserved for you to discuss the important issues currently on your mind about college life in general or this course in particular.
3) on-call team. Each week in the semester, a team of two students (to be assigned the first class meeting) will work together as an on-call resource team. It will be their task to answer all questions that come up during their week -- both in class and over the class reflector. For each question, the team will 1) restate the question for the class; 2) give the answer; and 3) describe how they found the answer.
4) campus agency reports Working on a different two-person team (to be assigned the first day of class), each student will research and report on one key student-oriented campus agency. Each team will: 1) visit the agency and meet with at least one administrator to discuss its functions; 2) bring literature about the agency (if available) for distribution in class; 3) write a five-page (double-spaced) report about the nature and functions of the agency and distribute copies to class members; and 4) give a five-minute oral report on your findings the day the written report is due.
Here is a list of candidates. Only one team can report on each agency. Students can suggest others, but must have their choice approved by the instructor.
SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND TOPICS
Note: Most weeks we will be visited by campus specialists and peer instructors, and some weeks we will visit campus facilities; these will be announced in class.
Week 1: 9/5 .......................Course Introduction
Week 2: 9/12 ......................Time Management and Study Skills
Week 3: 9/19 ......................Self-knowledge
Week 4: 9/26 ......................Computer Literacy
Week 5: 10/3 ......................Library Resources
Week 6: 10/10 .....................Lifestyle and Coping
Week 7: 10/17 .....................Sexuality
Week 8: 10/24 .....................Diversity: Gay and Lesbian Perspectives
Week 9: 10/31 .....................Diversity: Race and Ethnicity
Week 10: 11/7 .....................Academic Integrity and Success
Week 11: 11/14 ....................Looking Backward and Looking Ahead
Week 12: 11/21 ....................Discussion of Einstein's Dreams