Class 1 - First Day of Class
Monday January 11
Class 2 - Brainstorming Project Ideas
Wednesday January 13
MLK Day - NO CLASS
Monday January 18
Class 3 - How to Make Toast / Wiki Work
Wednesday January 20
Class 4 - Wiki Open Lab (Wiki due at midnight tonight!)
Monday January 25
Class 5 - Logos, Colors, & Fonts, Oh! My! assign readings
Wednesday January 27
Class 6 - Logo Open Lab
Monday February 1
Class 7 - Logo PDF presentations, photos intro
Wednesday February 3
Class 8 - Photo open lab
Monday February 8
Class 9 - Photo assignments due; first discussion leaders reading
Wednesday February 10
Class 10 - lab
Monday February 15
Class 11 - DL 2
Wednesday February 17
Class 12 - lab
Monday February 22
Class 13 - DL 3
Wednesday February 24
Class 14 - DL 4
Monday February 29
Class 15 - lab
Wednesday March 2
SPRING BREAK
Class 16 -
Monday March 14
Class 17 - DL 5
Wednesday March 16
Class 18 - lab
Monday March 21
Class 19 - DL 6
Wednesday March 23
STATE HOLIDAY BREAK
Class 20 - DL 7
Wednesday March 30
Class 21 - lab
Monday April 4
Class 22- DL 8
Wednesday April 6
Class 23 - lab
Monday April 11
Class 24 - DL 9
Wednesday April 13
Class 25 - lab
Monday April 18
Class 26 - DL 10
Wednesday April 20
Class 27 - final project presentations
Monday April 25
Class 28 - final project presentations, merlefest?
Wednesday April 27
Class 29 - final project presentations
Monday May 2
Class 30 - final project presentations, last day of class
Wednesday May 4
Final Exam
Friday, May 6, noon to 2:30 p.m.
Welcome!
I am excited to join with you in our academic pursuits this semester as we create an interactive, supportive, and fun learning-community together. I not only want to build connections and support networks between students, but also to become a resource for you now and into your future. I have high expectations for each of you, of myself, and of this course. If there is anything I can do to make your experience in this class more meaningful, please let me know.
This class is designed for serious students willing to read, write, think, share, discuss, study, work, and interact with the issues at hand. To do well in this class, you must attend regularly, participate, write, speak up in class, and do all the reading. If you want an “easy” class, please look elsewhere because you will not be happy here.
William Purcell • Senior Lecturer
Department of Communication • Appalachian State University
Office: 134 Walker Hall
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Call/text: 828.964.2355 (between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.)
purcellwh@appstate.edu
Cover Syllabus
Technology Policy Reminder
silence and stow
out of sight
no appearance
a letter grade deduction from final grade if a violation occurs
New Students?
pass out copy of syllabus to them
meet with them after class to catch them up
have them read syllabus and come by and meet with me if needed to get up to speed
Check Homework Completion
If a student did not finish homework, send them down the hall to the computer lab to finish before returning to class
Lecture: Final Project - what makes a great final project idea?
Share Past Project Ideas
Highlander Music - a Boone-based small business that is like a guitar center, but in Boone catering to college students
Take Paws - an indoor pet-walking facility for Boone
Diversify - an advocacy club at App to promote policies to make ASU a more diverse and diverse-friendly campus
Trails to Tranquility - a yoga in the wild program
Faith for Tatas - a nonprofit with a Christian focus to raise money for breast cancer research, and provide Christian support groups for those battling breast cancer and their families
Muddy Trails - a video production company focusing on weddings in the high country
The Brew Crew - a beer delivery service for Boone
HCSOA - High Country Soccer Officials Association
Wiki Slide Activity
Have everyone pull up their homework wiki
Maximize screen, pull on bottom corner to stretch
Everyone slide to the right
Read, look at wiki
Type your name at bottom, then add project ideas this person could do
Don’t stress about spelling or grammar
List as many ideas as possible, even funny, wild ideas
Use timer to allow about 1 minute for each rotation
Rotate through entire class
Print wikis
Pair up with person across from you
Exchange wikis
Decide which are the three best ideas, circle
Report out the best idea to class
Take up printed wikis, award bonus points to the best
Homework
Read syllabus
Keep thinking about your project idea, will have to decide soon
Technology Policy Reminder
silence and stow
out of sight
no appearance
a letter grade deduction from final grade if a violation occurs
How to Make Toast
Pass out paper, markers
SILENCE must be maintained for this exercise throughout
Draw instructions for making toast, you can’t use words
After everyone has a chance, discuss next step
Areas on board with markers, index card area, post it note area, paper area
Still no talking, the group should construct a larger, better model for how to make toast
Divide into wiki groups
Once groups finish, take up individual sheets
Have groups present out
Lecture: the point, how do you convey a simple message to an audience: nodes and connections
how do we do this for something as complex as The History of the Internet?
break it down, just like instructions for toast
create a model for the audience to follow
simplify first then add complexity
Wiki Lecture
a wiki starts with a blank page
unlimited pages
tools: text, media, linking
demo helpful buttons: toggle full screen
how to add a page
Group Wiki Assignment
Overview of assignment
Communication issues - how to
Rubric
Homework
Facebook Group: if you going to join, join within the next hour, I will change group setting to secret this afternoon
Group Wiki: This is your first graded assignment. It is worth 100 points. There are 20 bonus points available for the members of the best group.
You will also have a chance to grade your peers in your group, so if someone is a slacker you can take care of that in the grade you give them. Don’t be that guy! Right!
Monday is a lab night: take advantage of being here to work on the wiki, work together in groups, and the ability to get personal help from me!
The deadline is midnight on Monday.
Open Lab
Group Wiki: This is your first graded assignment. It is worth 100 points. There are 20 bonus points available for the members of the best group.
Hopefully, you’ve spent 2-3 hours working on this assignment over the past 5-6 days…if so, you are most likely in great shape, if not, you should clear your calendar for tonight.
Lab time can be used to work in your groups or individually. Take advantage of being here to work on the wiki, work together in groups, and the ability to get personal help from me!
The deadline is midnight on Monday - TONIGHT!
Quiz on discussion readings
Anyone who didn’t present logos last week, will present today
Photo presentations to class
Discussion Leaders - lead discussion on first set of articles
William Purcell • Senior Lecturer
Department of Communication • Appalachian State University
Office: 134 Walker Hall
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Call/text: 828.964.2355 (between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.)
purcellwh@appstate.edu
Universal access: the syllabus and other class materials are available in any format for the reader (large/variable font size, etc.) by request and working with the Office of Disability Services at Appalachian, please let me know how I can help meet your learning needs.
Welcome!
I am excited to join with you in our academic pursuits this semester as we create an interactive, supportive, and fun learning-community together. I not only want to build connections and support networks between students, but also to become a resource for you now and into your future. I have high expectations for each of you, of myself, and of this course. If there is anything I can do to make your experience in this class more meaningful, please let me know.
This class is designed for serious students willing to read, write, think, share, discuss, study, work, and interact with the issues at hand. To do well in this class, you must attend regularly, participate, write, speak up in class, and do all the reading. If you want an “easy” class, please look elsewhere because you will not be happy here.
COM 3200 Internet Communication • Spring 2016
Course Description: Practical and theoretical introduction to the Internet as a communication medium. Training in effective online communication, including human-computer interaction and web production. Discussion of social, political, and personal impact of online interactions via networks from a variety of theoretical, historical, and critical perspectives.
Course Goals: to develop a robust portfolio of creative, relevant, and market-centered materials that will prepare students for future courses, internships, and jobs within the industry; to better understand the social and global impact of the Internet; to develop a critical understanding of the Internet and new media; to understand the ways new media shape an information society and its economy; to develop skills for basic and effective online communication.
Textbook: none…readings will be provided in-class or posted on AsULearn.
Materials required: minimum of $10 for printing, could be more according to your needs; $10 for homework/final project supplies, could be more according to your needs; I highly recommend cloud storage or USB drive; you will need access to a variety of online platforms and/or Apps, though there are free versions of all platforms/Apps we need for class, you might find paying for additional services/Apps, etc. might be worthwhile to the work you are creating: for example, purchasing a stock photo or subscribing to a premium web site builder
Earning Grades
You determine your grade through participation…
Students will earn points throughout the semester based on the quality and quantity of work you produce. Students begin the semester with zero points and hopefully earn 2,000 points by the end of the semester in order to earn an “A”. Points are simply earned and added up for a grand total. No fancy math needed. Simply add up your point total and find your grade in the chart below.
Points are not guaranteed by your body being in the room; points are reflective of the level of engagement a student demonstrates by coming to class prepared, completing assignments, speaking up, being active, performing activities, etc. Students who are not engaged in course content or spend time on topics not related to class will not earn points: speaking up is more than just speaking, it is having something to say connected to the course content. An engaged student who is fully prepared, intently listening, responsive, speaking up, and connecting course material to the conversation should earn a high level of points. Points are also available for specific assignments and projects.
There are more points available than needed for an “A” in the course. This means a certain number of missed points (for absences or poor performance, etc.) are built into the system. Thus, late work or make-up work is not needed or accepted (unless it is a major assignment that a student missed during extreme, documented circumstances).
Assignments:
100 points: wiki assignments
200 points: discussion leader
200 points: email assignments
200 points: Facebook page
500 points: blog
200 points: video
600 points: final project - web site
300 points: final exam
2,300 points total
Grading Scale:
A = 2,000 - 2,300 points
A minus = 1,900 - 1,999 points
B plus = 1,800 - 1,899 points
B = 1,700 - 1,799 points
B minus = 1,600 - 1,699 points
C plus = 1,500 - 1,599 points
C = 1,400 - 1,499 points
C minus = 1,300 - 1,399 points
D plus = 1,200 - 1,299 points
D = 1,100 - 1,199 points
D minus = 1,000 - 1,099 points
F = 999 - 0 points
Bonus Points: I rarely offer extra credit. However, I do reward outstanding work with “bonus” points for student work that goes beyond what is expected. This is particularly important reason to attend class and participate well. These points may be very helpful at the end of the semester.
NEVER email/text about grades: Instead, make an appointment or drop by during office hours to chat in person. I will not respond to emails concerning grades. DO NOT ask me about grades before, during, or after class, or in front of other students. Your grades are private and protected information that federal law prevents me from discussing anywhere except my office where the integrity of the privacy of the information can be maintained.
24/7 Rule: If you have a concern about a grade, I ask that you first take 24 hours to review the comments and to think about the assignment. After 24 hours, you have seven days to schedule an office appointment to discuss any concerns. The obvious exception is during exam week.
Late Work/Makeup Work: Only accepted/given in extreme circumstances with documented reasons. If you can’t get your assignment to class on time, get someone else to bring it. Make an office appointment for a decision. All late work penalized at the instructor’s discretion. DO NOT EMAIL LATE ASSIGNMENTS w/o permission.
NEVER email assignments: unless you are specifically asked to do so.
Attendance
You should attend all classes…
If you do not plan on attending class, you should drop immediately. That said, there is no attendance policy. I don’t keep track of attendance. If you want to learn, come to class. If you don’t, don’t come to class.
If you miss a class: It is your responsibility to discover what you missed from being absent. Make a friend in class and ask that friend for notes and assignments. Make an appointment or drop by during my office hours. I don’t need to know why you were not in class. I assume students missing class have a good reason. If you have a unique situation that involves you requesting any type of make-up work, please set up a meeting during my office hours. Bring the appropriate documentation to the meeting. I will create an additional assignment/s for valid, documented, excusable reasons.
NEVER email me to ask what you missed in class: Instead, make an appointment or drop by during office hours to chat in person.
Late or have to leave early? Come on in! I’d rather you get part of the class rather than none at all. My philosophy is to learn by doing and you have to be here to learn. However, don’t make it a habit.
Policy on Personal Electronic Devices
Personal Electronic Devices (PED) includes laptops, smart watches, tablets, mobile phones, or any web enabled communication device. PEDs are ubiquitous both in and outside the classroom. Research and my own experience finds that when someone is using a PED they are, for all practical purposes, “absent” from class as completely as if they are physically gone. Of course, for the individual student, being physically absent is a personal choice.
However, in-class use of PEDs ceases to be a personal choice when it has negative impacts on peers and the course. Experience has shown that:
• PED use is annoying and distracting to those around you and interferes with your peer’s classroom experience. Students complain about it regularly.
• PED users are much more likely to ask questions on information that has already been discussed in class. This wastes class time and is annoying to both your peers and myself. This is effectively stealing others time – time, which they and taxpayers have paid for.
• PED users are much more likely to be confused on class assignments and expectations or miss critical information with three results:
1. Contacting the instructor with requests for repeating information disseminated in class, which is disrespectful of
my time.
2. Being much more likely to misinterpret assignment directions and miss important deadlines and instructions and
thus receive lower grades or no points for missed assignments/deadlines.
3. Habitual in class PED users earn poorer final grades.
Rules on use of Policy on Personal Electronic Devices
PEDs are to be silenced and stowed out of sight for the duration of class (ear phones should be removed and stored).
Checking PEDs for messages, texting, or any other activity is prohibited.
Students who violate this policy will receive one letter grade deduction for each infraction. For example, at the end of the semester an “A” grade becomes a “B”, if there is a violation of this policy.
PED use is allowed when:
• It is explicitly authorized by the instructor. Laptops and smart phones may be used for some activities or during breaks.
• If students have an ongoing need to be available via mobile phone such as communication with young children, family medical issues, or other similar serious and compelling reasons they need to contact me to work out an arrangement immediately.
• If students have a serious and compelling reason on a particular day such as an emergency situation involving family or work they need to contact me at the start of class and exit the classroom to answer calls or text replies. Note that abuse of this privilege will not be tolerated.
• If you have an official accommodation from the Office of Disability Services, please speak with me after our first class to arrange the appropriate accommodation.
Other
Privacy: This class requires students to engage in creation of content for the Internet. We will discuss privacy issues in class, however it is the responsibility of each student to control the personal privacy settings of the tools the student chooses to use to complete assignments in class. For example, although we will be creating a Facebook page associated with a project in this class, the student can and should maintain privacy by choosing the correct Facebook settings. Another example is the web site the student develops for class: the student is responsible for decisions on what content to make public or not. The entire class can be completed with anonymity. Please, ask the professor if you have any concerns or questions.
Student Engagement (homework): Be prepared to spend six hours each week (outside of class time) on work for this course. This is consistent with Appalachian’s Statement on Student Engagement with Courses.
Assignment Formats: I will only accept assignments in the appropriate form as indicated by the assignment instructions. DO NOT EMAIL assignments, unless specifically asked to by the instructor.
E-mail: I will use your official appstate.edu email to communicate with you. I didn’t get the email is not an excuse. Check your email daily.
ASULEARN: We will use ASULEARN for our course web site. Check it daily.
Etiquette: Be respectful. Be mindful of others. The classroom should be a sacred place of learning regarded with the respect deserving of the opportunity you have been given to study here and the investment society has put into your potential. Any etiquette violations will result in a one letter grade deduction from your final grade. This includes, but is not limited to: speaking while professor is speaking or while a peer is speaking, side-conversations, distractions during lecture or presentations, packing up before class is over, being chronically late to class or leaving early, not being prepared for class, etc. As young adults who are training to be professionals and productive leaders in society, your behavior in this class should exhibit respect for others, respect for yourself and a willingness to take responsibility for your actions. Be mindful of informal language that may offend others. Here we work to create a space where ALL people are accepted and appreciated.
Recording: No recording of class without my permission: this includes audio, video, photography, or any other means of capturing course content. This also includes screenshots, video, audio, etc. of our AsUlearn site or any other resource used for class.
Inclement Weather: DO NOT call the Communication Department main office. Call me. Check your e-mail. It is very rare that I cancel class because of weather. Because of the potential for extreme weather, the following will be the inclement weather policy for this class: should this class be cancelled for inclement weather more than two times, additional required classes will be taught. They may be in the evening or even on the weekend. Classes will meet on a one-for-one basis (one extra class for each class cancelled). The professor reserves the right to alter this policy as needed. Please make sure you let your employer know this policy.
Academic Policies of the University: Please become familiar with the information on this website: https://academicaffairs.appstate.edu/resources/syllabi-policy-and-statement-information . It contains information about Academic Integrity, Disability Services, Attendance Policy (including religious observances), and Student Engagement with Courses.
Course Calendar
Posted on our class web site…AsULearn: www.asulearn.appstate.edu
For Further Exploration
Why drawing toast helps one think about solving problems?
By now you surely know how to access AsULearn…just in case, here is the link
Exam Question?
What’s the point to drawing how to make toast?