Course Format & Grading
Course Format
To help you plan your time, each week will follow the same basic format.
Sunday: a new module becomes available
Sunday - Sunday: work through the new module materials and get started on assessments.
Following Monday: deadline to submit all Module assessments
By making the Module assignments due on Monday night (instead of the usual Sunday night), I hope to accommodate a variety of schedules. Some of you work Monday through Friday, and some of you work on the weekends. Some of you have family responsibilities on top of work.
Important note about the first week of class:
The first week of class does not follow the format described above. To provide time for waitlisted students to be added without falling behind, all enrolled students must complete the Week 1: Orientation module and its assessments by Friday, January 19th. Find more information about the first-week participation requirements on the Policies page of this site.
How your assessments will be graded:
For each assessment that includes a rubric, I recommend that you review the rubric before starting and then again before submitting it to ensure you've addressed all the required criteria. If there is no rubric, review the "what to submit" and "expectations" sections to ensure you're meeting the required elements.
Assessments should be submitted by the due date. If you can't make a due date, there is some wiggle room.
Late assessments will be accepted within 1 week of the original deadline.
If you need more than a week to submit a late assessment, contact me in advance so we can agree upon an extension.
Try to keep to the original due dates whenever possible. Some group assignments will build upon prior knowledge, and if you are perpetually behind it will affect your participation in the group work.
I will review your assessment submission against the assignment requirements and provide feedback within the Rubric and the Comments section of the Grades area. Most assignments are graded using complete/incomplete rather than a letter grade.
Assignments meeting most of the required elements will be marked as "complete" and no further action is required.
Assignments missing key elements are marked as "incomplete" and are "reassigned".
This isn't the final score though - everyone has the opportunity to apply my feedback, make changes, and resubmit. This is a great opportunity to get additional practice and to improve your score.
You have one week from reassignment to resubmit for a "complete" score.
If your assessment is submitted on time, I'll make every effort to review and comment on the assessment within one week of the deadline (usually faster!)
Quizzes are automatically graded and include automated feedback. You will be able to view the automated feedback immediately upon submission. Use this feedback to help you complete a second (or third) attempt for a higher score.
I encourage you to schedule a Zoom meeting with me to address any questions you have about your grades or assessment feedback. It is so much easier to go through "in person" :)
Course Grading Scheme
Your grade in this course will be determined by your scores on the class assessments. Below is a general description of the assessments in this course.
Weekly Quizzes: these quizzes are open notes and you may take them multiple times. Question types include multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, matching, etc. Approximately 40% of course grade.
Labeling homework: these assignments are intended to assess your ability to locate and name various body parts (anatomical regions and structures). Images will be provided for you to label using the Canvas annotation tool (no printing necessary). If listed in your accommodations letter from DSPS, an alternative format will be provided. Approximately 20% of course grade.
Journals: an opportunity for you to reflect on your expectations and progress in the course, and an opportunity for you to get your questions answered by me. Approximately 10% of course grade.
Discussions: small-group discussions about the weekly content or related concepts. Usually, three posts are required (one answer to the topic prompt, and two peer responses). Approximately 10% of course grade.
Group Project: working with a small group of peers, you will develop a report about a common multi-system disease or disorder. The format of the report depends on the interest and skills of your group, but could be a video, a narrated slide show, an infographic, a poster, etc. Approximately 20% of course grade.
Tips for success!
As a lifelong student, I know learning is hard work and can be stressful. To help reduce that stress and improve the likelihood of completing the modules in our course successfully:
Allow yourself the time and space you need to do your best work.
Don't procrastinate.
If you get stuck on an assessment, reach out to me or one of your peers. I welcome your questions and we are happy to help you think through your ideas so you can successfully complete an assessment.
