Welcome to Lisa M. Lane's History 111 OnLine Syllabus

#1526 and 1527 Online

Website: http://miracosta.mrooms.net

This course is in MiraCosta's Moodle system. Log in with SURF username and password. The real syllabus is the website, which contains all due dates, readings, assignments, and exams.

Textbook: none, but you should print the History 111 Documents Workbook, 12 edition.

Work Pattern: 3 x week

There is a quiz each Monday on the lecture and documents reading, due by 5 pm.

A primary source must be posted in each week's forum by Wednesday midnight each week.

Your thesis and writing work must be posted in response to my guidance post by Sunday midnight each week.  These will be graded at random, like a pop quiz.

There are two assessments due, one near mid-term and one near the end of the class.

Grading:

Attendance and Pacing

You are expected to log in a minimum of twice a week to work. The class is not self-paced, and requires work due before each Monday, Wednesday and Sunday. This class cannot be completed successfully if you only log in once a week!

Pedagogy

Historical facts are presented through context readings, which are expected as part of participation but are not graded. Highlighted facts and my interpretation is in the lecture and documents book, which are quizzed. Students' interpretations are created in the forums. In constructing these interpretations, students must learn from each other and from the instructor's comments on all the work, not just their own.  Student work is used for examples – individual feedback is not given on each assignment for each student. Students are expected to learn through their own efforts and energy dedicated to the class.

Disability accommodations

If you have a disability, you are encouraged to contact Disabled Students Programs & Services at the Oceanside campus (Building 300) or 760.795.6658 to ask about assistance. There are no timed tests in this class, only due dates. All assignments are available at least a week in advance.

How do I get into these classes?

• Register at MiraCosta College. Online courses fill quickly!
• Please make sure SURF has your correct email address.
• When the class fills, students will be waitlisted in SURF. Until the first day of class, SURF adds students automatically and faculty cannot interfere. After the first day of class, spaces left by students who drop may be filled by the instructor at the instructor's discretion.
• When adding students after the first day of class, those who were on the wait list AND have contacted me by email will be given priority.

Where is the class?

• The class will be open on or before Thursday, January 10. At that time, enrolled students will be contacted according to the email they have in SURF. If you don't get an email, let me know!
• The class is located in the Moodle course management system at http://miracosta.mrooms.net/course/view.php?id=448. You will be automatically added to the roster if you are enrolled, so just use your SURF password. Moodle should place you in the correct group for the class, by section number.
• Do the Tech Check by Wednesday, January 16 to make sure your computer is set up properly and protect your spot in the class.

How much of my time will it take?

• About 9 hours per week (standard for a 3-unit university transfer class)
• If you have basic computer skills, read well, and work well independently, the time may be less.
• If you have weak computer skills, poor study habits, and require much guidance, the time may be more. In this case, you may want to consider whether you are a good candidate for online classes.

Will there be any real-time or on-campus meetings?

No. For Spring the class is completely asynchronous, and no on-campus meetings ever take place.

Is it a hard class?

• As required by law, the class is taught at the freshman/sophomore university level.
• This class goes beyond the facts of history, into interpretation and analysis. This may be quite different from what you are used to.

What computer stuff do I need?

• Firefox browser (Internet Explorer won't work properly for Moodle)
• QuickTime
• Reliable access to a good computer (there are also labs on campus)

This course is on-line. Can't I just cheat?

• I'm very tough on plagiarism and academic dishonesty (see the college catalog). I give F's for work that is similar to that of your colleagues, past or present, and check all written passages. Quotation marks should be used when citing your sources.
• Quizzes and exams are designed to be taken as open book, open note.
• The process of developing and practicing historical themes is designed to ensure that you develop your own interpretations and analysis.

Can I take the class at my own pace? Can I turn in late quizzes?

• This class is not self-paced because participation is on a minimum twice weekly basis. Late quizzes and exams may be submitted for reduced credit.

What books do I need?

Required: Download and print the Documents Workbook Lane, History 111 Documents Workbook (12th edition) It's a 135-page PDF file; if you can't open it, download FoxIt. Optional: There is no set textbook for this class. Students who would like a textbook should purchase Faragher's Out of Many, Volume II, 6th edition ($85-110)

What's this course cover? What's it count toward?

• This course covers the history of the United States from 1865 to the present
• You need not have taken History 110
• General Education: Social Science and/or American Institutions

How do I ask questions?

• Chat with Lisa (a green P means I'm available)
• Once inside the class, for private matters use Messages to contact me. I will respond within two working days.
• For class issues, use the "Help, I have a question!" discussion forum.
• Join the Facebook group and communicate with colleagues
• E-mail me with any private questions.