History 17A Online Course

Note: This is a fully online class, with no on-campus meetings. The class is also fully asynchronous, with no required "live" meetings and no scheduled exams. 

History 17A (The U.S. to 1877) is a 3 unit survey course covering colonial North America through the period of reconstruction after the Civil War. This course is a history the United States from the indigenous civilizations to the present. It provides a survey of the more important political, economic, social, artistic, and cultural aspects of American life, as well as the role of the United States in world affairs. 

Are you ready to take an online class? 

If you're considering taking History 1 as an online course, it's important to decide if an online course is right for you. Please note that this class is entirely online and asynchronous, and unlike some "remote" (ie, online because of covid) classes you have have taken, has NO required scheduled meetings. I will host a live Zoom meet-and-greet to answer any questions you have the first week, and have weekly Zoom office hours. But there will not be Zoom lectures in this class, so if you find you need weekly class meetings to keep yourself accountable, this may not be the best option for you. However, this class will work well for students who need a lot of flexibility in when they can complete work during the week (although there are weekly deadlines that need to be met), or need to complete classwork outside of traditional class times!

• Need help with online classes? The CCSF Canvas Student Support Center has lots of useful resources and ways to find help!

• More information about the CityOnline Program

Your Responsibilities in this Course

This course will require an average time commitment of 9 hours per week for the 16 weeks of the semester. Online classes are NOT self-paced, and you will need to manage your time effectively to stay on top of weekly deadlines. There will be two weekly deadlines for assignments.

You will need to make sure to set aside sufficient time to engage with course content on Canvas (2-3 hours per week), read the textbook (1-2 hours per week), complete assignments (2-4 hours per week), engage in class discussions (1 hour per week), and other activities like communicating with the instructor and other students (variable). 

I highly recommend logging on to Canvas every day or two, and avoid trying to complete all course work in one single session right before due dates. One advantage of online classes is a more flexible schedule that allows you to fit class work around other responsibilities, but you still need to plan just as much time to dedicate to this course as you would an on campus class. 

Required Books

There are 2 required  books for this course, but both are available online for free, or you can choose to buy hard copies of either or both of the books.

• We will be using a free, online textbook, called American Yawp. Relevant chapters will be linked into each week's module, so there is nothing to purchase. However, if you wish to have a hard copy of the textbook to read, a print copy of the textbook is also available for purchase through the campus bookstore or Amazon (purchase Volume 1).

• We will also be reading Solomon Northup’s 12 Years a Slave, any edition. There is a free version of 12 Years a Slave available online, as well as a free audiobook version on YouTube. You may also buy the book (at the campus bookstore), Amazon, etc. It is widely available for around $5 or even less), borrow it from a public library, or read it as an ebook.

Technology Requirements

Since this is an online class, you will need reliable access to the following technology. However, the good news is there are free or low-cost options available. So if you don't have access to any of all the required tools below, contact me for a list of resources.

-Access to a laptop or desktop computer

While you can use the Canvas app on your phone or tablet for many aspects of this course, not all elements of Canvas work on phones/tablets (see more information on the next page). So you will need to ensure reliable access to a computer at least some time each week. 

-A reliable internet connection

It is your responsibility to ensure all assignments are submitted on time, so it is best practice to submit before the last minute, in case you experience technical difficulties or an assignment fails to upload correctly the first time. 

-A CCSF email account

Every CCSF student automatically receives a CCSF Gmail email address and account. 

-Software

• a current browser (preferably Chrome)

• Adobe Reader

• Word processing software, such a Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Google Docs, or Open Office

-Basic computer skills

We won't be doing anything super high-tech in this class, but all online classes require the ability to comfortably navigate through Canvas, use word processing software, use Google applications, etc.

-A willingness to ask questions!

We will be using a few applications that may be new to some students, so a willingness to learn new skills and ask questions when necessarily is also important!

Accessing the Online Course

The online course will use a learning management system called Canvas. 

To log in to your online course on Canvas, go to https://ccsf.instructure.com.

• Log-in instructions for students: 

Username: CCSF ID, examples: W12345678 or @12345678

Password:  your RAM ID password

RAM ID instructions for students (Google Doc)

Adding, Dropping, Waitlist

Adding the Class & Waitlist Information

In the event that there is a waitlist for this course, students will be added based on their position on the waitlist. 

• During the pre-registration period, once the class is full, students will have the choice of adding to the waitlist for the class. If a space becomes available during this pre-registration period, the next student on the waitlist will be sent an email to his/her CCSF mail account, and will need to act within 48 hours to move from the waitlist into the class. If the student fails to act in that time, the next student on the waitlist will be offered the seat. 

• Once classes start, the course instructors will add students from the waitlist if space is available. Students should submit a Class Add request (available on the first day of a class). To submit a Class Add request, Login to your myRAM Student Portal, click on Student Portal Tab, and select Class Add Request. If I approve the request, the student will receive an email that they can register for the class using myRAM. 

Requirements to remain enrolled during the First Week

All students are required to complete assignments and participate in discussion forums during the first week of class. Failure to complete these assignments on time will result in being dropped from the course.

Dropping Class

Students will be dropped from the course after 2 weeks of non-activity on Canvas. I will make an effort to accommodate serious illness, family emergencies, etc, but you MUST contact me ASAP in those situations to make arrangements and avoid being dropped from the class.  However, students who no longer wish to be enrolled in the class are responsible for dropping themselves from the class by the appropriate CCSF deadlines (listed in the syllabus and calendar).

Course Syllabus

Click here for the course syllabus and course policies. (Note: This syllabus is from the current or most recent semester, so dates will be different in the semester you enroll. But the policies will remain similar).

Need special accommodations? 

Both I and CCSF are happy to help. Please contact the Disabled Student Services and Programs (DSPS):

• phone: 415-452-5481

• TDD: 415-452-5451 or use California Relay Service 

Emergency Plan

If an emergency (a flood, earthquake, or other disaster) interrupts your access to our online class, I will utilize this website to communicate with you.  If you plan to enroll in one of my online classes, please bookmark this website so you may return to it in the future, if necessary.