World Civilization I

Course of Study

HIS 111--World Civilization I, Fall, 2011 John Barnes
9:30-10:45 TT, Room 649 & Elluminate

HIS 111 & 112 (3CR) (3CR) Surveys Asian, African, Latin American, and European civilizations from the ancient period to the present. History 111 covers from the ancient period to the Renaissaince. History 112 covers from the Renaissance to the present.

Developmental Prerequisites: ENG 01 & 04 Developmental Corequisites: ENG 03 & 05

This course is taught using Elluminate and Blackboard classroom management tools. Although students must be involved in classroom activities via computer during the meeting time each week, they do not have to be physically on the DSLCC campus. They can participate from any internet-connected computer. Students will also have the option to attend live class presentations if they prefer that to computer participation. While this class will meet as a group (in person or virtually) only in our morning sessions, students are expected to participate in an additional course activity via Elluminate recordings, pod casts, and Blackboard activities between morning meetings.

Hybrid courses use the world wide web, Blackboard course management system, video and audio pod casts, and Elluminate web conferencing software to provide lectures, group discussion, interactive links, email communication, testing, homework assignments, study sessions, virtual office hours, and discussion board as well as assignments and other course information. Class attendance (in person or virtually) is required because much of the course content is still provided in classroom activities and some of the Bb and computer activities occur in a monitored classroom setting.

To take this class you will need:
      1.) a college email address to receive course communications and access Bb (This detail will be taken care of the first day of class if you don't already have one.);
          2.) access to the internet (Not necessarily from your personal home computer--you may use computers available at the college) so you can use Bb, Elluminate, Podcasts, and web pages;
          3.) the textbook;
          4.) a set of headphones with microphone attached to participate in course activities;
          5.) Lockdown browser installed on your computer in order to take tests.

To take advantage of the distance or eLearning components of this class you must have reliable equipment and internet connection. You should have a plan B in place in case of equipment failure. Often, you will have the option of participating in class, using college equipment, in Room 649. Non-proctored tests require that you use Lockdown browser. Mid-term and Final Exams must be taken in a proctored location.

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS:

This course will introduce you to the study of history as a professional social science discipline. Lessons and generalizations will be drawn from history and whenever possible applied to others eras. The course will present an outline of the nature of "historical-mindedness"--of the historian’s perspective on human behavior.

For many of you, this survey of World History will likely be the start of a fundamental reshaping of historical insights and attitudes. To accomplish this, critical and imaginative thinking is far more important than even total recall of every name and date in the textbook. History treated as rote memory can be deceptive; inherent patterns of reasoning may escape the uninitiated completely. They may see only facts that must be learned. You are expected to mature to the point where you will read between the lines and see social forces in action, the complexity of causation in an event, the strands of continuity, and the relevance of the past to the present. You will be encouraged to acquire the critical perspective and other skills of the historian through classroom activities, reading assignments, and research and writing projects.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGIES:

The course instructional procedures include reading, writing, discussion, lecture, audio-visual presentations, research, testing, homework, group projects and individual conferences with me. To a great extent, classroom activities will be independent of the text and other readings. I will not attempt to "cover" or duplicate reading assignments in class. You are expected to complete all reading and related homework assignments before we cover a topic in class so you can better understand classroom activities and participate meaningfully in them. It is important that you take good notes of classroom activities to use as you prepare for quizzes and exams. You should make arrangements for someone to tape class and/or provide you a copy of their notes for any classes you must miss since you will be responsible for all material covered.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

EXAMINATIONS--There will be two examinations, a mid-term and a final exam. The mid-term will cover material for the first half of the term and the final will cover material for the second half of the term. Each of these exams will count for twenty percent (20%) of your course grade. The exams will consist of questions taking from the tests for each half of the course plus essay questions which will be provided in advance on a study sheet, which will contain all the possible essay questions. The exams and tests will be taken in a proctored environment.

TESTS-- The remaining sixty percent (60%) of your course grade will be the average of your test scores. There will be about six tests during the term. Each test will consist of multiple choice, true-false, and short answer questions. They will be based on the reading assignments plus notes from classroom material. After the tests are graded, a score for the test will be entered in the Bb grade book. We will go over each test in class or via a recording and it is important that you take good notes on this review because some of the test questions will also be on the exams.

No make-up tests are permitted. If you have a compelling reason for missing a test, you must communicate it to me before the test is scheduled, unless that is manifestly impossible to do. If I agree to excuse the test, you will take a special mid-term or final exam that will count as both an exam grade and for the missed test, or some other assignment that I determine will substitute.

Two Test Grades will be entered for class participation (therefore, you will have approximately eight test grades). Class participation includes attendance for the entire class session and participating in all activities (counts as one test grade), and all other assignments and projects (counts as another test grade). Projects and assignments must be completed in full and turned in by the due date and time to receive credit. I assume you registered for this course intending to master the content and earn credit for the class. To accomplish this will require a significant investment of time and effort on your part. If your personal circumstances won’t allow this level of effort, perhaps you should reconsider your decision to enroll at this time.

The Attendance Test Grade is determined as follows: If you miss no classes = 100%. Missed classes are not excused and will negatively affect your attendance grade. A week of accumulated absences results in a grade of 90%; more than a week = 80%; two weeks = 70%; more than two weeks = 60%; three weeks is 50%; and so on.

The key to success is to attend every class session (much of the information you will need for quizzes, homework and examinations will come only from classroom activities), take good notes, study all assigned readings, thoroughly prepare for each test and examination, and successfully complete all writing assignments, projects, and homework on time. Take advantage of my office hours and study sessions, as well as the services of the Achievement Center, to get all the individual help you need.

Classroom Conduct--Students must assume a great deal of the responsibility for maintaining a good teaching/learning environment in the classroom. Your contribution needs to include:

1. Arrive on time and don’t leave until class ends;

2. Remain awake, alert, participate, and arrive prepared;

3. Don’t carry on side conversations, pass notes, or induce other distractions including beepers, cell phones, irrelevant computer activities, and text messaging;

4. Don’t bring children to class.

The grading scale is: Below 60%=F; 60-69%=D; 70-79%=C; 80-89%=B; 90%+=A.

OFFICE HOURS:

My office is located in Room 650, ACC. A copy of my class schedule with office hours, including virtual office hours via Elluminate, marked is posted there and one my Social Sciences Home Page. Please feel free to call or email me if that’s more convenient.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

Withdrawal from the class with no penalty may be made up to the end of the eighth week of regular class, Monday, October 31, 2011. You will be allowed to withdraw from the course with a grade of W after this date only if you have a documented mitigating circumstance. Initiating a withdrawal is your responsibility. I will not initiate the Administrative Withdrawal procedure.

Warning! VCCS policy prohibits enrolling in a class more than twice unless mitigating circumstances exist. A W grade counts as an enrollment.

The textbook for the course is World Civilizations by Phillip J. Adler and Randall L. Pouwels, 6th edition by Thomas/Wadsorth publishers. The chapters are assigned from this book.