Important Messages
NOTE THAT ONLY THE ORIENTATION MODULE WILL BE AVAILABLE. MORE MODULES WILL BE RELEASED IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE COURSE.
Take a look at what is there and familiarize yourself with the layout of the website.
Check out the pacing and due dates for assignments. Put those in your personal calendar, write them down, put them on a post-it, set reminders, etc. to help you stay on pace with the course.
If you have any further questions after rummaging through this website, please feel free to email me.
This is an Open Educational Resource Textbook, meaning you have free access to it. It is only available electronically.
You can download the PDF here OR you can go directly to the publishers webpage and choose your preferred electronic format here
Our class will be held IN PERSON. That means you are expected to attend our regularly scheduled class sessions.
We will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please make sure to reference your MyCerritos account to determine what time your class meets.
If you need to miss class for whatever reason don't sweat it...too much. There are other ways you can ensure you stay up to date on learning.
When you know you will not be able to attend class you will need to let me know. You should send me an email (abracamontes@cerritos.edu) letting me know what class you will be missing. The earlier you are able to email me the better. With advance notice we can make a short term alternative learning plan.
Attend class via ZOOM. Participate in all class activities via video platform.
Attend one of my other class times covering that same topic (usually the same day but different class time)
Attend a make up presentation day
Submit assignments online
NOTE: we will come up with your short term alternative learning plan together. Do not assume you are doing a specific short term alternative learning plan unless we have discussed it. If you are unable to provide advanced notice (I get it, life happens) we may not be able to come up with a short term alternative learning plan. Then it will just be an absence.
This is an IN PERSON CLASS. The expectation is that you will attend class in person. I know that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we do a lot of things, including classes. This class will be like attending school pre-pandemic. You will be in class at your appropriate time. If you are unable to attend class for any reason please let me know.
Not a whole lot. I have built the points system for our class in such a way that you should be able to miss a class or two and still get an A in the course. That said, try to make it to class as much as possible. But if you are sick STAY HOME! We will come up with a short term alternative learning plan!
If you miss a class we will try to come up with a short term alternative learning plan so it is like you were never absent. Now if you miss a lot of class (more than 4 sessions) and you haven't done any short term alternative learning plans you may be dropped. But I will always try to contact you before I drop you.
No shows the first week of class may be dropped.
Interaction is the heart of humanizing online education! There are lots of opportunities to interact with me.
Make sure to check out our class communication plan
Student Hours
Tuesday 2:30-4:00pm PM Tuesdays and 8:30am-9:00am Thursdays SS228 (second floor of the Social Science Building in the Communication Studies/ESL suite) and via ZOOM
I hold weekly student hours IN PERSON and via ZOOM: You can come to my office to chat or if you aren't able to come to campus at that time I will open our Zoom so that you can meet with me that way. Keep in mind, if you are coming in on ZOOM you may have to wait if I have a student in office or before you via ZOOM.
I also accept appointments outside of student hours. I'm fine with after-hour appointments. So after you put the kids to sleep, or come out of work, or whatever adjustments you make we can come up with a solution. Using Canvas Inbox or Pronto, provide 3 options you can meet and I will select one. We can chat via PRONTO or video conference via ZOOM.
However, if you need to reach out directly for any reason, I am here for you! Please use the information below to select the best way to reach me.
Regular interactions: Please use the Canvas Inbox or Pronto.
Urgent needs: Use PRONTO
Most academic dishonesty occurs as a result of a lack of care in regard to reading, note taking, and citation practices, or from procrastination, and/or panic. Care, timeliness, and communication will eliminate most of the risk. If you have questions about whether or not you should give credit to a source in your work, you may clarify it with me. In general, though, I recommend always the citing sources you have consulted as well as those you borrow from directly
REMEMBER! While in college, you are also shaping the principles which will guide you throughout the rest of your life. Ethical behavior and integrity are a vital part of those principles. A reputation for honesty says more about you, and is more highly prized, than simply your academic skills.
CAMPUS ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY
No specific departmental, divisional or institutional procedures are established for academic dishonesty other than the normal process for review and appeal of an instructor’s grading procedures. However, plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are violations of the college’s official Standards of Conduct.
The faculty member may take options to the extent that the faculty member considers the cheating or plagiarism to manifest the student’s lack of scholarship or to reflect on the student’s lack of academic performance in the course. One or more of the following actions are available to the faculty member who suspects a student has been cheating or plagiarizing:
Review-no action.
An oral reprimand with emphasis on counseling toward prevention of further occurrences.
A requirement that work be repeated.
A reduction of the grade earned on the specific work in question, including the possibility of no credit for the work.
A reduction of the course grade as a result of item 4 above, including the possibility of a failing grade for the course.
Referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs for further administrative action, such as suspension or expulsion.
This course explores the basic history, assumptions, principles, processes, variables, methods, and specializations of human communication as an academic field of study. The student develops an understanding of the communication process, the basic elements of improving interpersonal communication, and how to reduce communication apprehension. Also included are leadership, small groups, intercultural communication, interviewing, and speech preparation. This course includes oral presentations, and recording is used as an instructional tool.
Students identify the elements of the communication model as they apply to a variety of communication contexts.
Students demonstrate an understanding of human communication theories and events related to culture, self-concept, perception, listening, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and small group communication.
Students prepare and deliver an effective oral presentation.
Students demonstrate an understanding of ethical communication behaviors and perspectives.
Students participate in small group activities to demonstrate an understanding of leadership communication, problem solving, role orientation, and conflict management strategies.
What are student learning outcomes (SLOs)?
Student learning outcomes (SLOs) are general statements that specify what students will know, be able to do, or value upon completing a particular course.
How are student learning outcomes used?
For students, SLOs indicate what they can expect to learn in a given course. Additionally, SLOs can be used as a guideline for understanding where various learning opportunities are available within the speech department.
For instructors, SLOs provide an understanding of how to better facilitate the student learning process. They also serve as amechanismto assess and improvestudent learning.