Stress Wellness & Coping
CNSL 72 | Foothill College
Intructor: Alexis Donato, MA, LMFT
A 12-week fully online class
Welcome
Hello! I'm Alexis Donato and I will be your online instructor for Stress Wellness & Coping. Check out my welcome video to get to know a little about me. I invite you to explore this site to get your ready for week 1.
Alexis Donato, MA, LMFT
Pronouns: she/her/hers
You can call me Alexis or Professor Donato
How This Class Works
This is an 12-week, fully online course that begins on September 23, 2024.
This class does not meet in Zoom. Your learning will be conducted asynchronously (which means "not live") in Canvas.
The textbook is Resilient by Rick Hanson with additional required readings will be included in our course modules in Canvas.
You'll also need a lined journal and a folder if you print documents.
You will learn in a wellness community created with myself and your peers. This is not a self-paced course. You will interact with your peers throughout each of our weekly modules.
By Wednesday of Week 1, you will need to complete 2 official assignments to remain enrolled in our course. To do so, log-in to our course in Canvas and complete assignments. This will signal your intent to stay enrolled. Other assignments are due will be due Sundays.
We'll go through the modules together that will open every Monday morning, and work is due Sunday.
Each module contains readings, video lectures, wellness practices, reflections with journaling, and weekly check ins with your peers, please allow enough time (approximately 6 hours per week) to engage fully in these module requirements.
My Approach
I'm excited you're here! I'm passionate about this work and passing it along to you all. This course is a delicate dance and balance between being an opportunity to learn about yourself and how you respond to stress. It's meant to be challenging, engaging and useful. Learning and growing can feel uncomfortable at times. This is an experiential class, meaning you'll be practicing the skills we're discussing which can feel new.
Learning about wellness online is a unique experience and I'm dedicated to helping you move through this course in the most supported way possible.
I am committed to fostering a learning community that values and celebrates diversity and ensures inclusion for all. This class community is a space where there is safety, support, and respect where every student can thrive regardless of their background, identity or experiences.
Your cultural experiences and who you are in this moment is what makes this class a rich learning environment. Each of our cultural history, family history, and societal influence shapes our view of ourselves and the world. This brings about various view of mental health, stress, wellness and what it means to cope.
You belong here, and I'm right here with you every week practicing these skills and reflecting on what we're learning.
We're truly all in this together!
Our Agreement
What You Can Expect From Me
I will be active, engaged, and enthusiastic to facilitate student learning.
I will listen and respect student views, co-create an inclusive space free from judgement.
I will provide science backed tools to help regulate your nervous system which in turn gives a different relationship to stress and wellness.
I will welcome and actively listen to your feedback, concerns and questions and use this as an opportunity to grow based on our collaboration.
I will reach out to you when I sense you may need additional support.
What I Can Expect From You
You will be active, and engaged and strive to complete the coursework, practices and assignments by the due date.
You will co-create an inclusive wellness space free from judgement, meeting your classmates where they are.
You will have an open mind and heart to the exercises we'll practices and give them a try with 90-100% effort.
You will reach out to me when it's difficult so I know how I can support you.
You will have a growth mindset and give yourself grace when you make a mistake and use this as an opportunity to acknowledge learning comes from making mistakes and using grit to move forward.
Alexis' Tips For Success
Be proactive.
Make it a goal to log into our course every Monday to preview the new module.
Carefully read the Module Overview page, which includes the week's learning objectives and a list of your assignments.
Assess the workload and put the due dates on your calendar. Having a mental picture of what's ahead and a plan to achieve it is the best thing you can do to prepare each week.
Each time you log in, start on our course Home Page.
I will change the homepage after Week 2
It will also guide you to our current module and provide you with tips for success.
You'll also find the two most recent announcements from me at the top of the home page.
Plan to submit early.
Set a personal goal for yourself to have all of your assignments done by 24 hours before they are due. Why? Because life happens and when you wait until the last minute, you're more likely to have problems meeting a due date.
I am here to support you when things go awry but procrastination will always be your worst enemy... which we'll get to later in the quarter. ⏳
Communicate with me.
I use communication as a wellness tool. I'd like this course to be an opportunity to connect with me so I can support you.
If possible, try to communicate with me before a due date and ensure you don't get overwhelmed by unfinished work.
In your message, propose an alternative due date (within 48 hours is advised to ensure you don't fall too far behind).
It's okay to 'over' communicate, just to get in a good communication habit and develop relationships with your instructors in future courses.
Week 1 Suggested Plan
Online courses get going quickly, here's what you need to know for the first week:
Due Dates For Week 1
Wednesday by 11:59 PM
File Cards and Student Expectations: This is your course commitment ticket. This submission lets me know you'd like to stay in the course and not be dropped for non-partitcipation.
Living Name Tags and Introductions: Introduce yourself to the class! I look forward to meeting you! This is where we co-create our wellness community and allows us to connect as a group. This is due Wednesday so you have the rest of the week to meet your classmates
Sunday by 11:59 PM
Return to the Living Name Tags discussion to meet the remainder of your classmates and comment on their posts
Submit: Awareness of Breath Reflection
Submit: Self Care/Wellness Wheel Practice
Submit: Discussion Week 1 Check In
We're In This Together
I know that online courses can feel overwhelming sometimes--it's a lot of information. If you're ever feeling overwhelmed or stuck, please reach out to me anytime!
You've got this!