Leanne Healy's Portfolio
Action Plan - Part II
Hello and welcome to Western!
My name is Leanne Healy and I will be your virtual instructor for the online course, Child and Adolescent Behavior.
I hope you enjoyed a restful and fun summer. Welcome to all the new students who are just joining us! I hope you are all as excited about the upcoming semester as I am. If you are a little nervous taking your first online class, relax, that’s normal. I’m here to help you with any questions you have. I’m confident that you’ll feel more at ease after the first week or so.
You will have access to the course starting the first day of the semester which is August 27th. I will send you more information the week prior about how to log into your course and what to do to get started.
In the meantime there are two items I’d like you to take care of prior to the first week of class. The first item is to be sure you have an anti virus softwareprotecting your computer. Take a look to be sure it is updating itself and scanning your computer on a regular basis. This will help protect your computer as well as your classmates’ computers. If you need any help with this task, be sure to let me know.
The second item you can do is to be sure you have your textbooks. There are two of them required for this course.
A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer
Children and Their Development (4th edition) by Robert V Kail
Both books can be purchased at the Western Campus Shop, but you may find it easier (and possibly cheaper) online. “Cheap” is always good in my book! J
Early in the course you will be asked to read, A Child Called “It.”. If you would like to get started reading the book before the semester begins, you are welcome to do so. As troubling as this book is to read, it has a good message about a boy’s strength in overcoming a terrible situation. I’m sure it will be a good discussion starter for us.
“See” you online soon!
“See” you online soon!
Sincerely,
Leanne Healy
515-965-5402
Child and Adolescent Development - 10522106
Syllabus
Instructor - Leanne Healy
Syllabus
Instructor - Leanne Healy
Belief Statement: It is my belief that optimal learning takes place when students are active participants in the process.
Contact Information:
· Email - healyl@westerntc.edu
· Phone - 515-965-5402
Course Information:
· Credits - 3
· Section number – 0025
· Class number - 34072
Course description: This course provides an overview of the growth and development, birth through adolescence. It acquaints the learner with the fundamental tasks of physical, motor, perceptual, cognitive, social/emotional and language development.
Prerequisites: None
Course Competencies:
· Analyze social, cultural, and economic influences on child development
· Summarize the brain development of young children
· Describe the physical, fine and gross motor changes that occur during ages 0-18
· Determine the nutritional needs of pre-school and school age children
· Describe the cognitive development of pre-school and school age children
· Describe the language development of pre-school and school age children
· Describe the factors that affect the social development of pre-school and school age children
· Review the characteristics of pre-school and school age children with special needs
· Apply affective behaviors when observing children
Western’s Learner Outcomes: http://www.westerntc.edu/student_handbook/06_07PlannerHandbook.pdf page 123
Required Textbooks:
· Kail, Robert V. 2007. Children and their Development (Fourth Edition). Prentice Hall.
· Pelzer, Dave. A Child Called “It.” Health Communications, Inc. (You may purchase this book online or in a book store or check it out from a library.)
Computer/Software Requirements:
· Recommended PC Platform: http://learn.westerntc.edu/techhelp/PCPlatform.asp
· To be successful in this course, it is important to have a basic understanding of how the Internet works. You must have Internet access and a basic ability to browse the World Wide Web.
· Western online courses are delivered through the Internet using a program called Blackboard. Microsoft Internet Explorer is the recommended browser. The latest version of Internet Explorer is a free download available at this link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp
· The preferred software for this course is Microsoft Office. Many documents and presentations provided in this course use Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint. If you do not have access to a computer with Microsoft software, you may wish to purchase this software using the available student discount. This discount is available to students at http://wiscsoftware.wisc.edu/wisc/. If you will be using something other than Microsoft Word, all files to be submitted must be saved as a rich text file (rtf).
Required Supplemental Materials:
· Access to a digital camera
· Students will be required to do some observations in a day care or school setting.
Student Support Services:
· Technical Support - Western Help Desk (608)789-6266 http://learn.westerntc.edu/techhelp/ComputerServices.asp
· Accommodations: If you are in need of support services or reasonable accommodations for a disability, please see me or the staff in Disability Services, located in ARC 154. Disability Services phone number is 608-785-9875 (Page 131 in the Western Student Handbook)
· Computer Lab: http://www.westerntc.edu/acl/
· Academic Success Center: The Academic Success Center, C-227, provides free academic support to students currently enrolled in at least six credit hours. Instructors in math, science, written/oral communication, reading, and study skills provide individualized: http://www.westerntc.edu/asc/
Course Policies:
· Time Commitment: Each week you should plan on spending 9-12 hours on this course. Manage your time carefully; I know how easy it is for life to waylay the best educational intentions. If you run into a problem, please let me know immediately.
· Submitting Assignments: Microsoft Word is the preferred software for all assignments. If a different word-processing program is used, such as Microsoft Works or Word Perfect, the file must be saved as a rich text file (.rtf). Assignments (unless otherwise indicated) are to be submitted through Blackboard. Please do not send assignments through email. If you have any questions about submitting your work, feel free to contact me or view the video under Student Resources in Blackboard.
o Successfully submitted assignments will appear in the Blackboard grade book as an exclamation mark (!) until the instructor has graded the work.
o File Naming: All assignments should be named and saved electronically in the following format: YourLastName_YourFirstInitial_AssignmentName.
For example, if your name was Erin Smith and you were submitting your work for an assignment named Performance Assessment Task 1, you would name and save your file as Smith_E_LP1_Assignment 1
· Instructor Response Time: The instructor will make every attempt to respond to course email within 24 hours during the work week. If you do not get a response within 2 days, please email me again. Assignments will be graded within a week of the due date.
· Evaluation:
Points are earned in the following areas:
· Completion of assigned readings.
· Participation in discussions – Discussion is an important and significant part of this online course. The criteria found on the discussion rubric will be used to assess the quality of your initial postings and responses to the postings of others in this class. Students’ original response to the discussion prompt is due by Tuesday at midnight. Students are then required to respond to other students on two additional days of the week. Students will not be able to pass this class without participating in the online discussion. (The discussion rubric can be found under the syllabus button in Blackboard.)
· Assignments and projects – Assignments range from writing papers to participating in case studies. Some projects will be performed in small groups. Assignments need to be submitted by midnight on the due date.
· Self reflection – Self reflection is an important way to strengthen your learning. For many course activities, you will be asked to evaluate your performance. These scores will be used by the instructor to aid in grading. (I don’t know yet if I want to do this. I’m wondering if other anyone else plans on using this approach with college students.)
It is your responsibility to check your scores in the electronic grade book often and contact me if you have questions.
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Grade Scale
· 96-100 A
· 92-95 AB
· 87-91 B
· 82-86 BC
· 76-81 C
· 70-75 D
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Grading Criteria:
Incomplete – Assignment not meeting 2 or more requirements
Partially Proficient – Assignment not meeting 1 of the requirements
Proficient – Assignment meets the requirements
Exemplary – Assignment exceeds the requirements in some way
Partially Proficient – Assignment not meeting 1 of the requirements
Proficient – Assignment meets the requirements
Exemplary – Assignment exceeds the requirements in some way
Late Work Policy: This course relies on collaboration between members of the group. Therefore there are stringent participation requirements. To earn full credit for discussion participation, postings must be made on more than 2 separate days during the week. Discussions open on the first day of the module, and your original response to the discussion prompt is due by Tuesday.
There are specific due dates for all assignments. Each day an assignment is overdue, a decrease of one point will occur unless special arrangements have been made in advance due to special circumstances (at the discretion of the instructor). Let’s make sure we communicate to avoid missing these deadlines.
You may redo assignments within two weeks time to receive a better grade.
Citing Sources: In this course, students will be expected to cite sources and to give credit to the resources used.
Learner Responsibilities:
You are an adult learner and as such you are responsible for your own learning. No one else can be a "stand in" for you in the learning process. You will have an opportunity to share your unique ideas and experiences with your student peers and instructor. The form and content of your participation will determine the level of achievement, satisfaction and enjoyment that you experience.
· Learn the material and ask questions.
· Meet deadlines for assignments and discussions. (Remember, others depend on you for their learning as well!)
· Contribute to class discussions according to the criteria on the discussion rubric.
· Address technical problems immediately.
· Contact instructor if you encounter a link that does not work within the course.
· Participate in a professional manner.
Students are afforded the right to a quality learning experience. Western’s policies and procedures regarding a variety of issues are addressed in an easy-to-use handbook. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Handbook at www.westerntc.edu.
Note: If the learner cannot complete the course by the end of the semester, the learner will need to withdraw from the course in order to receive a W for the course instead of an F. To withdraw from a course, the learner must contact the registration department to formally withdraw from the course. Students who fall behind may be dropped by the instructor after discussing the issue with the student.
Instructor Responsibilities:
· Provide an environment in which an opportunity for learning exists.
· Work with and assist students in their quest for understanding.
· Organize course.
· Schedule learning activities.
· Evaluate student work in a timely manner.
· Communicate with students on a regular basis.
· Provide encouragement and support.
Netiquette: Netiquette is network etiquette, the do's and don'ts of online communication. Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal "rules of the road" of cyberspace. Documents discussing email and discussion netiquette have been included under Student Resources in Blackboard.
Academic Integrity:
Academic honesty is a core principle of learning and scholarship. When you violate this principle, you cheat yourself of the confidence that comes from knowing you have mastered the targeted skills and knowledge. You also hurt all members of the learning community by falsely presenting yourself as having command of competencies with which you are credited, thus degrading the credibility of the college, the program, and your fellow learners who hold the same credential. All members of the learning community share an interest in protecting the value, integrity, and credibility of the outcomes of this learning experience. We also have the responsibility to censor behaviors that interfere with this effort. The following behaviors will be subject to disciplinary action.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to follow the Academic Integrity policies of the college. http://www.westerntc.edu/student_handbook/06_07PlannerHandbook.pdf page 124.
Disclaimer:” This syllabus is representative of materials that will be covered in this class; it is not a contract between the student and the institution. It is subject to change. These changes will be communicated via email or posted as announcements. If you have any problems related to this class, please feel free to discuss them with me.”
Kay and Lisa, below is what I intend on putting on the front page of my online course. This would be considered the “Course Geography” as was shown in the example syllabus for this lesson. I though it would be more appropriate within the course and not the syllabus.
Announcements: Be sure to frequently check Announcements. I'll post reminders and updates here.
Getting Started: This is where you will want to begin this course. Within this area, you will find a variety of information and activities designed to help you become familiar with this course.
Syllabus: Under this button, you will find three documents. The first is the syllabus which contains important information about the policies and procedures of this course. The second document is a list of all the assignments and due dates. The third document is called the Discussion Evaluation Rubric. This document explains how you are graded when doing discussions.
Syllabus: Under this button, you will find three documents. The first is the syllabus which contains important information about the policies and procedures of this course. The second document is a list of all the assignments and due dates. The third document is called the Discussion Evaluation Rubric. This document explains how you are graded when doing discussions.
Resources: Carefully review all information located in each of the four folders in this area. This information will be extremely helpful as you complete this class.
Staff Information: This section contains my phone number, and email.
Learning Plans: This course is broken into different units called learning plans. This section contains a folder for each learning plan. Each learning plan contains activities and assessments.
Communication: This option provides you with access to the Discussion Board, class roster and email. The Discussion Board is used frequently in this course as this is the way in which we’ll have discussions about topics related to the course. You'll also notice two discussions called "Help" and "Java City." Use the help discussion to ask questions you have about the class or the content. Either the instructor or another student will hopefully be able to help you. Use the "Java City" discussion to talk about miscellaneous topics you wish to discuss with your classmates.
Learning Plans: This course is broken into different units called learning plans. This section contains a folder for each learning plan. Each learning plan contains activities and assessments.
Communication: This option provides you with access to the Discussion Board, class roster and email. The Discussion Board is used frequently in this course as this is the way in which we’ll have discussions about topics related to the course. You'll also notice two discussions called "Help" and "Java City." Use the help discussion to ask questions you have about the class or the content. Either the instructor or another student will hopefully be able to help you. Use the "Java City" discussion to talk about miscellaneous topics you wish to discuss with your classmates.
Student Tools: Here you will find a Student Manual that contains information about Blackboard. This is also where you will go to obtain information about your grade.
Kay and Lisa, I’ve come up with two introductory prompts. If the students are new to the program and to each other, I will probably go with the first one. If students have had classes together previously, I’ll probably go with the second one.
Prompt One:
Knowing your classmates is important in both an online and a face to face class. In a regular classroom this happens through discussions before, during and after class. In an online course this happens on the discussion board.
Please take a moment to tell the class about yourself. You may share information about your major, your hobbies and interests, your family, your goals, your pet peeves, or any school or workplace appropriate information. Of course, share only what you are comfortable letting us all know!
Next, read about your fellow classmates in their postings. Respond to at least one other student with questions or comments. Write your response in paragraph form using complete sentences. We’ll talk more about discussion netiquette in the first unit.
(To begin your initial post, click on reply.)
My Post to Prompt One:
Hi.
It's great to have you in class. I'm looking forward to a successful semester and hope this class is a learning experience for everyone!
Here is my self-introduction. I grew up in Cashton just 30 miles East of La Crosse. I currently live in Des Moines, Iowa with my fiancé, Ward. Ward has two children, Meghan and Josh, ages 13 and 9 respectively.
I have two brothers, my mom and dad, and Charlie (my dog.) One brother lives in Minneapolis and the other brother lives in Rhinelander. Both are married, but as of yet have no children. Mom and Dad live outside of Cashton.
I've attached a picture of the kids, Ward, Charlie and myself. I always find that it is much more fun knowing what everyone in an online class looks like. I hope you too choose to add a picture to your bio. If you want to add more than one picture, create a second message by replying to your original message. I don’t think there is a way to attach more than one picture per message. You will see I’ve done this and have added a picture of my mom, brother and me in Colorado in my second message. We just recently returned from Colorado after successfully summiting four mountains over 14,000 feet. We enjoy climbing a new “Fourteener(s)” each August.
Other hobbies I enjoy are camping, boating, reading, and gardening. Ward and I have recently begun riding motorcycles as well. We used to ride our bicycles a lot, but have found it much easier to use a gas-powered engine to get from one place to another!
I look forward to reading about all of you.
Prompt 2
Think of one word that describes your life. By the end of the fist week of class, enter your word and your name in the subject line of a discussion board entry. Then explain why you chose that word in the body of the posting. You may find it helpful to give examples along with your description.
By the end of week two, review the entries of others and find someone else whose word resonates with you. Reply to their message and try to find at least two additional nouns that the two of you have in common.
(To begin your initial post, click on reply.)
My Post to Prompt Two:
Leanne Healy – Organized
I’m afraid that the first word that comes to mind to describe my life is “organized.” I wish the fun terms that I see being used in this discussion were more important in my life than organization, but without organization, I feel lost. When everything is neat and tidy in my world, then I can begin to venture out and have some fun. For example, I enjoy mountain climbing. However, I need to begin packing for each climb weeks in advance. I need to know the exact route we will be taking, how many miles it will be, and how many vertical feet we will be gaining. My brothers think that such detailed planning takes the fun out of it. :-)
n98
