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Welcome to BCST 103 – Mass Media & Society!
Please read EVERYTHING posted below. There is a hidden Easter Egg that you won’t want to miss! 😊
Our class will officially start on the first day of the term. You can log into Canvas (CCSF’s Online Course platform) now to test your browser and make sure your login/password work, but you won’t have access to the class until the first day. Be sure to claim your RAM ID as soon as possible - this will be your login/password for Canvas. If you need help, please contact the Help Desk (more info below). Instructors do not have access to student login/password info, so I won’t be able to assist you with any problems.
Please read through ALL information provided - most questions will be answered, and you are responsible for knowing the details and expectations.
We will do everything online - discussions, papers, quizzes and exams. When you first log into the course, you will see the Course Homepage, which includes a variety of links. Scroll down and click on START HERE to access the Course Overview and Administration module. Not all of the links will be active, as weekly modules will open when that week is assigned. The course is set up with modules that include pretty much everything you will need throughout the semester. The Overview module is always open, and you should start there – the info included in the Overview/Admin module will help you learn how to use Canvas and how to navigate the course. Cruise around the site and get familiar with the links and options, both within Canvas and the course itself.
Each new week will open up on Monday, with assignment completion deadlines the following Sunday. Work is assigned on a weekly basis, and you are expected to complete the work the week it is assigned. Pay particular attention to the weekly quizzes, discussions and short assignments - these have firm deadlines. You must complete all assigned work to release the weekly quiz, so plan your study time accordingly. If you have not taken the quiz before it closes, you will lose those points. Make ups will not be permitted. PLEASE NOTE – the deadlines for the first few weeks’ quizzes/assignments have been extended to accommodate everyone getting up to speed and any late adds. This only applies to the beginning of term– all other lessons will close after seven days.
Deadlines and expiration dates are listed within each lesson module, under the Assignments and Quizzes links, on the Upcoming Events list and on the Calendar. Once you have read through the basic course information, read the admin materials and course syllabus, reviewed the layout and design and completed the Overview module, please complete the STUDENT CONTRACT QUIZ. This is crucial– your completion of this contract tells me that you have read the required information and you are confirming your intent to complete this class. You must complete the STUDENT CONTRACT by the posted deadline. Failure to do so may result in your being dropped from the class.
Our primary means of communication will be via Course Announcements and the Discussion Forums. Be sure to update your personal Canvas account settings to add Notification options – instructions for this are included in the Overview module. You can contact me via Canvas email/messaging – access this via the “Inbox” link on the left menu. I teach multiple online classes, and cannot memorize which student is in which class. If you use Canvas mail, your details and course information are automatically included in your message, which makes it much faster for me to find your records. If you are unable to access Canvas and have to email me through your CCSF mail address, please include your course and section number in all correspondence. You should also make use of the Canvas Help Guides that are provided – these are very thorough and comprehensive. It’s how I learned the system!
Part of the weekly required work will include discussion forums - a discussion topic is assigned, and you are expected to participate in an ongoing dialogue with your fellow students. Your participation on the Discussion forums is a significant part of your grade. Each discussion forum is graded and those points add up! Discussions are generally worth 5 points, but some discussions are tied to assignments, and those are worth 10 points. I encourage you to login at least 2-3 times a week so you can stay up to date on the conversations. Posting a short note right before the forum closes is not acceptable. Timing and quality of your contributions is taken into consideration when grades are assigned. I expect you to engage in a DISCUSSION, which will mean logging in and posting regularly. In addition to the discussion forums, there are additional forums for open discussions, short assignments and class news, announcements and questions. The Virtual Watercooler forum – located in the Overview Block - is always open and available for general media discussions and questions about the class.
The textbook we will be using is Mass Communication: Living in a Media World by Ralph E. Hanson (8th Edition, 2021 Sage Publishing). If you have not yet purchased your book, do so as soon as possible. You must have the 8th edition of the textbook; prior editions will not correspond appropriately to the online materials, lesson plan or quizzes/exams. You may use either a hard copy or digital ebook edition of the text. Still with me? Then congratulations! You have found the Easter Egg which is the magic word – “Freebie.” This magic word is good for a perfect score on one chapter quiz during the semester. You may use it to override the score on a quiz in which you did poorly, or to get credit for one missed quiz. To take advantage of this, email me (via Canvas email) with “Freebie” as the subject line, and let me know which quiz to which you want to have the perfect score applied. This offer is good for the whole semester, so make a note of it and use at when you think it will serve you best. It cannot be used for the midterm or final exam.
This course is being hosted on the Canvas server – you must claim your CCSF RAM ID to log into Canvas. You can get your RAM ID here: https://ramid.ccsf.edu/self-service/ . If you have trouble claiming your RAM ID, contact the 24 hour help line at 415.239.3711
Log into Canvas - https://ccsf.instructure.com/
For help with Canvas, visit the Distance Learning Support Page for Students.
Let me know if you have any questions. Otherwise, I’ll see you online!
Karyn Beyer
CCSF – BEMA Dept.
kbeyer@ccsf.edu
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