I will be active in your learning experience in this course. Each week, you will receive 1-2 announcements and emails from me. Please check the Announcements and your Canvas inbox regularly. You will receive assignment feedback from me in the Canvas Gradebook in the form of written comments. Feel free to comment back. We can have conversations about specific assignments in the Gradebook comments.
To contact me, please use the Canvas inbox. I will be notified via email and via a notification on my phone that you’ve contacted me. I will reply to your message within 24-48 hours during the week (usually much quicker). On holidays and weekends, I need a break too, so I may be slower or I may not respond until Monday.
Your success in this class comes down to staying on top of deadlines, so make sure you plan your schedule accordingly. If anything comes up, don't hesitate to reach out to me right away. You should strive to meet the assignment due dates. Getting behind is an overwhelming feeling and can easily cause you to not pass an online class. If facing challenges with deadlines, contact me as soon as possible. Here are the MEDIA 1 late submission policies:
Auto-Graded Assignments (AG):
Auto-graded assignments are low-stakes (or “formative”) assessments allowing practice with unlimited opportunities for full credit. AG assignment submission is accepted up to the last day of the Final Exam without penalty.
Writing Assignments (W):
Submit Writing Assignments 1 week late (1-7 days late) with no point deduction.
Submissions 2 weeks late (8-14 days late) incur a 50% deduction (e.g., a 14-point assignment can receive a maximum of 7 points).
Writing Assignments submitted more than two weeks late require prior communication and proof of extenuating circumstances (documentation, doctor’s note, etc.).
For late Writing Assignments, I will assess a grade, but feedback may not be provided if submitted after the two-week mark.
*Note: Any assignment that is both AG and W will adhere to the Writing Assignments (W) late policies above.
Peer Comments:
Peer Comments must be submitted by their due date. Late peer comments require prior communication and proof of extenuating circumstances (e.g., documentation, doctor's note). If you need to submit your response late, enter a period or any keyboard character in the response area and then click 'Reply.' This will allow you to view other students' responses and leave your peer comments on time.
The last day to submit any and all assignments is Sunday, June 15. I will not accept any assignments after this date.
It is ultimately your responsibility to drop the class, so you should monitor your grade and the college dates and deadlines. However, I will drop students who do not regularly submit assignments and do not regularly communicate with me. Here are my drop policies:
If you have zero activity hours (or very low user activity hours) for the first week and/or you do not turn in assignments or take the quizzes during the first week, you will be dropped from the class.
If you miss two weeks of online class--consecutive or non-consecutive--throughout the semester (e.g. do not submit assignments or have zero activity minutes online for those weeks), you may be dropped from the class.
If you miss any six assignments throughout the semester you may be dropped from the class.
Please keep track of your missed assignments in your Gradebook. If you miss two weeks or six assignments, I will drop you from the class to adhere to my syllabus drop policies. However, if this happens, please don't hesitate to reach out to me as soon as possible. There may still be an opportunity to reinstate your enrollment if you believe you can catch up on assignments and manage the workload. Ultimately, I want to keep you in the course and help you succeed.
Above are the drop policies, but let's not let that happen. Together let's figure out how to keep you on track and in the class. If there is something happening in your life that is interfering with this course, please contact me directly so we can develop a plan for you to succeed.
Please note, in compliance with college policies aimed at preventing fraud, including financial aid fraud, Admissions asks us to drop non-participating students to maintain the integrity of our class rosters. Fraud is particularly prevalent in online courses, and non-participation can raise concerns about your enrollment status, especially in relation to financial aid fraud. Also, per Title 5 Section 58004, I must drop all students who are inactive.
The SMC Honor statement, signed by each student upon enrollment, reads: “In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Santa Monica College Honor Code, Code of Academic Conduct, and Student Conduct Code. I will conduct myself honorably as a responsible member of the SMC community in all endeavors I pursue.” Please review and familiarize yourself with SMC’s policies on academic honesty, including the Rules for Student Conduct Code (AR4410), Code of Academic Conduct (AR4411), and Honor Code (AR4412). Any violations of these codes will be reported to Student Judicial Affairs.
I recognize the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic and professional environments and believe it is crucial to use it responsibly and ethically. I encourage you to explore AI as a tool for brainstorming, organizing ideas, and enhancing your learning while ensuring that your work remains authentic and reflective of your own thinking. While AI can be valuable in supporting your academic journey, it should be approached with care and integrity. Please use AI tools mindfully, ensuring that your work remains a genuine reflection of your own thoughts and ideas.
Use AI to support your learning rather than to complete assignments on your behalf. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work without attribution or citation is a violation of SMC's policies on academic honesty.
You might be surprised at how easily instructors can identify when a student has copied text from an article, website, or AI chatbot like ChatGPT. Don’t do it. Instead, take the time to learn the material, carefully review the assignment prompt and grading rubric, and respond independently.
Additionally, please review the full "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy" in the "Course Information" module on Canvas.
Any and all content that professors produce is intellectual property (protected under federal copyright laws) and may not be republished without the expressed consent of the professor.