Syllabus - The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Attendance:
Syllabus for EDUC 6305 8
Although it might seem strange to have a policy on attendance for an online course, consistent
engagement with the course materials and in group discussions/projects is mandatory. The expectation is
that students will log on a minimum of three times every week. There are 125-150 hours required over the
semester (contact + outside study) for any graduate level course, whether online or face-to-face. Therefore,
you must plan to spend 10-15 hours per week studying for this course.
Blackboard course platforms have a tracking feature which allows the instructor to measure how
often and when students are active in the course. It provides information regarding whether the student has
accessed different pages of the course. Obviously, “attendance” on a regular basis is essential for success
in the course.
Netiquette:
Netiquette is defined as “the rules of etiquette that apply when communicating over computer
networks, especially the Internet” (Dictionary, 2012, §1). The student is expected to adhere to the following
guidelines. Choosing not to observe the guidelines can result in loss of points for an assignment. The
instructor reserves the right to remove your post and to deny you any further posting privileges, resulting in
damage to your grade.
Anything you type in the discussion area is public – which means that every person in this class
(including your instructor) will see what you write. Please pay attention to the language you use and adhere
to the following guidelines:
1) Do not post anything too personal.
2) Do not use language that is inappropriate for a classroom setting or prejudicial in regard to gender, race,
sexual orientation, religion, political perspective, ethnicity, etc.
3) Do not use all caps in the message box unless you are emphasizing (it is considered shouting).
4) Be courteous and respectful to other people on the list.
5) Do not overuse acronyms like you would use in text messaging. Some of your classmates may not be
familiar with acronyms. BMARMUOTS (i.e., Besides, most acronyms are made up on the spot!)
6) If the post is long, use line breaks and paragraphs to organize your thoughts. Then edit until you have a
clear, concise post.
7) Fill in a meaningful Subject Line.
8) Write your full name at the end of the post.
9) Be careful with sarcasm and subtle humor; one person's joke is another person's insult.
10) Likewise, give others the benefit of the doubt before you take offense at someone’s post. If you feel
attacked or offended by someone, please contact me IMMEDIATELY instead of responding to that post.
Additional information on netiquette can be found at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html.
Class Discussion Participation:
Class Discussion POSTS: You should post an answer to the discussion question by the due date on
the course schedule. Each original answer posted should be a NEW THREAD. That way replies to your
post can be kept with the original post. Please use a meaningful subject line (not "Discussion Question 1")
and your last name. This post should demonstrate that you have read the text by incorporating
vocabulary, concepts and information from the chapter. You should strive to go beyond the first response
that pops into your mind and really think about your answer. Bringing in outside information and/or tying in