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Participation Options
Participation Options
Participation is one of the most important elements of the class.
One of the fundamental foundations of Cerro Coso's online classes is that they are not "self-paced" -- everyone must work together through the course. In order for us to build meaning together and to learn from each other we need to be involved in conversations with each other. As part of a learner-centered approach, participation has 2 components: Required and Additional.
Your choice of participation level cannot be changed after you submit your Learning Contract in Module 2.
Required Participation
Required Participation
If this was an onground course, you would be expected to attend class at least twice a week. In the online environment, the discussion forum is where students interact with each other. You are required to post to the discussion forum each week on at least 2 different days of the week. One post needs to be an original response to the discussion forum questions that demonstrates an understanding of the assigned learning resources for the module (meaning in-text citations in APA are included). The second post must be a response to another student that extends the discussion. The original response to the discussion prompt is worth 6 points and the response to another student is worth 4 points for a total of 10 points per module, 160 points for the course.
If you choose this option, you will lose 5 points per week in participation. The highest grade you may earn in the course is a B if you only complete the Required Participation.
Additional Participation
Additional Participation
You may choose to participate more thoroughly in the discussion forum for additional points towards your final grade in the course. THIS OPTION CANNOT BE ADDED AS AN ASSIGNMENT OPTION AFTER THE END OF THE SECOND MODULE OF THE CLASS.
To earn additional points, posts must be recorded on at least 3 different days of the week and include an original response to the discussion forum questions that demonstrates an understanding of the assigned learning resources for the module. There also needs to be at least 5 responses to other students on at least 2 different days of the week that extend the discussion (for a total of 6 posts spread over at least 3 days throughout the module). The additional responses to other students add 5 extra points per module, 80 points for the course. This amounts to 6 points for the original response and 9 points for the responses to other students (up to 5 responses) for a total of 15 points that can be earned each module and a total of 240 participation points for the course. This is the most flexible option if you are having difficulty choosing between the two options.
Participation Reflection
Participation Reflection
Throughout the course there will be 3 opportunities to reflect on your participation:
Participation Analysis Paper - Installation One is a 10-point assignment due by the end of Module 1. This assignment is a 2-3 paragraph discussion of the participation policies and your goals for participation in the discussions throughout the course. You must clearly state whether you choose to complete the Required Participation or the Additional Participation and demonstrate an understanding of the differences between the two levels of participation.
Participation Analysis Paper - Installation Two is a 20-point assignment due by the end of Module 8. This assignment is a 3-5 paragraph midterm progress report that includes a discussion of your participation so far in the course. This assignment also asks for you to look ahead and reflect on what is needed for you to be successful in the remaining discussions for the course.
Participation Analysis Paper - Installation Three is the final 20-point assignment due by the end of Module 16. This assignment is a 3-5 paragraph final assessment of your participation in the discussions throughout the course, including how participation in the discussions has influenced your learning.
More detailed directions for each installment of the participation analysis paper are located with the submission guidelines in the appropriate modules when the installments are due. Each Participation Analysis Paper is graded with a rubric.
Posting Guidelines
Posting Guidelines
Write your original response to the discussion prompt in a collegial voice to the other students in the course. Canvas discussions do not support headings, double-spacing, indentations, or title pages. Write in paragraph format - do not include the discussion questions. Remember you are having a conversation with other students about the provided topic and learning resources.
Distribute posting evenly during the discussion (not concentrated all on one day or at the beginning and/or end of the period). A minimum of 2 days is expected.
Post a minimum of one short paragraph and a maximum of two paragraphs in each discussion section.
Avoid postings that are limited to 'I agree' or 'great idea', etc. If you agree (or disagree) with a post, then say why you agree by supporting your statement with concepts from the readings or by bringing in a related example or experience. You will not get credit for simple posts.
Address the questions as much as possible (don't let the discussion stray).
Quote from the learning resources to support the points you are making - using proper APA for the in-text citations. Use APA for outside sources as well and include a References list at the end of the post that includes the bibliographic information for all cited resources.
Build on other's responses to further develop discussion threads, responding to at least 1 other student in each discussion section for the Required Participation and at least 5 other students for the Additional Participation.
Bring in related prior knowledge (work experience, prior coursework, readings, etc.)
Use proper Netiquette (proper language, tone, mechanics, grammar, capitalization, etc.).
How to Post Successfully
How to Post Successfully
Think of the assignment in terms of a dialogue not a writing exercise; engage in a discussion about presented topic and related learning resources.
Elaborate on a single idea and try to keep your message to one to three paragraphs (150-600 words). Texts longer than 600 words are harder to follow on screen. Better-formulated, grammatically correct, clear posts attract more attention (from both instructor and colleagues).
Before you post, think about the assignment first and jot down notes as you read.
Develop your initial post in a word processing program where you can edit and save; then copy and paste into the discussion forum. This will help you to keep a record of your posts, especially if Canvas has any glitches and for some reason does not save your post.
Respond to one of your colleagues who supports your own thoughts or one that lacks supporting evidence or seems to fall short on an aspect that you think is important. You can pose questions, offer arguments (distinguish between opinion and argument), or play “devil's advocate.”
Avoid responding in a way that offers only right and wrong perspectives and ignores other possible answers; pose open-ended questions that invite dialogue.
Use APA to cite and provide References information to help your readers associate and/or find the source(s) you are quoting.
Title your post with a descriptive and/or interesting topic and start with a greeting to your classmates.
After you have posted, check back to see if anybody has responded to you and keep the dialogue going.
Grading
Grading
Discussions are set up in one-week modules and will be opened the Saturday before the module begins and will close on Sundays by 11:59 pm. Posts submitted after the module has closed will not be graded. Previous discussions will remain open for the duration of the class for your reference, not to continue the conversations. Participation points will be assigned as soon as possible following the close of each module's discussion, usually within one week of the due date and no later than two weeks after the due date.
In order to earn full points (6/6) on your original discussion post, remember to write in a collegial voice to your classmates and support the main points you are making with quotes and references from the learning resources. You will earn 5/6 points if you make mistakes in APA for either the in-text citations and/or the References list, 5/6 points if you include the discussion questions or write in a bulleted or numbered list, 4/6 points if you do not include a References list in APA, and 2/6 points if you do not include in-text citations connecting to the learning resources in your original response to the discussion prompt.
Your responses to other students are graded based on your chosen level of participation (either Required or Additional) in Participation Analysis Paper - Installation One. The discussions are scored with the rubric in the 3-point drop down menu in the upper right-hand corner.
If you have questions about your grade or the grading rubric, please contact me via Pronto, Canvas Inbox, or Cerro Coso email (LFULLER@cerrocoso.edu) so I can clarify and provide more specific feedback.
Late Posting Policy
Late Posting Policy
Participation in the discussions cannot be made up once the week has closed Sunday at 11:59 pm. Think of it as missing a day in an in-person class - you can't go back and "make up" a missed day. If you are unable to participate fully in a week's time, then you will lose participation points. Any postings after the modules have closed will not be graded. Since we are all working through the course information together, it is important you participate in the discussions in a timely manner following the participation policies.
Netiquette
Netiquette
Proper netiquette is important when taking an online class. There are many useful resources on the web to help guide you in this arena. Please remember that using the written word as we do in an online class can be difficult since we don't have facial expressions or body language to aid us in understanding what you are saying. For this reason, we all need to remember to be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Your Learning Log is a great place to discuss the feelings and experiences you are having before you write a hurtful or angry response. Please be careful with your responses, especially if you are new to this medium or to taking online classes.
Good online resources for you to check out are:
10 Netiquette Guidelines Online Students Need to Know
Or do your own search, just type netiquette into your favorite search engine.
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