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Syllabus Part II: The GC-170A
FAQ
COURSE POLICIES & GUIDELINES
YOU NEED TO KNOW AND MUST FOLLOW [Add this page to the Navigation view to display hyperlinks here] 1. What's this course all about and what will it be like? Here's a brief OVERVIEW of what this course will address. More detailed information is available in the SYLLABUS and in the FAQ's below. 2. Why is this course set up the way it is (e.g., collaborative working groups, readiness quizzes, etc.)? What's the philosophy behind it? Please read about the LEARNING PHILOSOPHY this course is based on to find out! 3. What outcomes do you hope students will achieve in this class? Here are the COURSE GOALS. We really hope students will achieve them! Contacting Dr. H and the Teaching Team 4. I need to ask Dr. H a question or discuss something with her. What's the best way to do this? If you have business to discuss with Dr. H about a grade, absence, late assignment, etc., etc. please contact her via email (preferred), by phone, in person during her office hours, or in person after setting up an appointment via email. If you need to talk to her in the classroom, please wait until AFTER class is over. Dr. H is not available to answer questions in the classroom prior to class time when she is busy setting up teaching materials and technical equipment. 5. When and where are the Teaching Team Office Hours? This information is posted on the GC-170A webpage under Teaching Team. Office hours will begin the 2nd week of classes -- If you have a question prior to that, please set up an appointment by email. 6. Why should I take advantage of office hours? Your Teaching Team wants to get to know you better! Please take advantage of our office hours to obtain extra help understanding the material or to discuss questions that may arise from the reading material, assignments, or class activities. Please see Dr H as soon as possible if you have a serious illness or life situation that is impacting your progress in the class. If you cannot come during our posted office hour time slots, you can set up a separate appointment via email. 7. How do I find Dr. H's office?? Dr. H's office is on the third floor of the Bannister Tree-Ring Building, room 319. CLICK HERE for directions on how to find her office. Directions are also found on the last page of CLASS NOTES. See the TEACHING TEAM link on the webpage for office hours and locations. ABSENCE POLICY / Missing Class 8. What's the Absence Policy? Do I have to show up for every class? The Absence Policy is: (1) you are expected to be at every class, and (2) you are responsible for knowing what goes on at every class, even if for any reason you were not in attendance.
But let's look at this issue another
way: Hey, this is college and you are an adult, so ultimately
it's up to you
to get your "money's worth of learning" out of this course in
the way you see fit. As you ponder this, you may want to consider the following:
9. What should I
do if I miss a class?
If you are absent from a class, find out what you missed by checking the "Class Follow Up" link in D2L for the date you missed. Then get caught up by following the directions posted there as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to find out what happened in class and follow up on it on your own. Usually specific directions about assignments and/or announcements that took place in class will be posted under here later that same evening. You should just go ahead and follow the directions on the CLASS FOLLOW UP page for the class you missed that are posted under "IF YOU MISSED CLASS TODAY."
The Class Follow Up link in also on the main GC-170A Webpage, so you don' t even need to log into D2L to get to it. If you missed a DUE DATE for turning in an assignment because of your absence, see the FAQ on Due Dates below). If for some reason you know in advance that you are going to have to miss a class, the same procedure applies. Just check Class Follow Up for that date afterwards to find out what was covered, if there were any announcements, and what you can do about missing any in-class activities -- that's why the Class Follow Up link is there! If you miss an in-class test or exam, see the FAQ on In-Class Tests and Exams / Make-Up Policy. Reading and Writing Assignments 10. Why do we have so much reading and writing to do in a Gen Ed science class? Learning how to read critically and to think deeply about what you read is the primary way you will learn the material in this class. The Self Checks and Readiness Quizzes are aids to give you immediate feedback on how well you understand what you read. Writing in different formats is an important part of the GC-170A course. Why? "Writing in general education courses places students in an active relationship with the body of facts, ideas, and theories presented in courses and helps them develop a critical appreciation of the ways knowledge is acquired and used. Writing also develops the attitudes of mind essential to the wise and humane use of knowledge and intellectual skills: respect for evidence, reason, and the contingent nature of truth, open-mindedness; motivation, involving personal characteristics such as initiative, curiosity, and an appetite for learning; and the willingness to pursue a line of inquiry to its logical conclusion." (The U of A General Catalog, 1995-97, p. 63.) In addition, reading and writing about scientific material helps you to fine-tune the skills of: describing observations precisely, articulating concepts clearly, evaluating evidence logically, and drawing sound conclusions. These are "life-long" skills you will need in the future, no matter who you are or what field you go into! 11. I don't understand the readings. What should I do? First of all, do the best you can to get the main points out of the reading assignment, then go to the corresponding Self Check and see if you can answer the questions. The Self Check questions are designed to guide you to the most important concepts in that reading. By reading the feedback box under each question (both right and wrong answers), you will be able to correct any misunderstandings or confusions you might have and fine-tune your comprehension of the concepts. Also, remember that your Teaching Team is always there to help you understand the readings and explain things that you may find confusing. 12. When I turn in a writing assignment, what form should it be in? Naturally we expect college-level writing in this class. What do we mean by this? It should be legible and typed (for assignments prepared outside of the classroom). It should be in proper grammatical form, spelled correctly, expressed in complete sentences, clear, and "to-the-point" (translation = no B.S.) Always proofread what you've written before you turn it in and beware of automated "spell check" selections. Most importantly, do not plagiarize. (Don't know what it is? See the FAQ on Plagiarism). 13. Ok, so it looks like this course is going to cover a lot of material! How much time will I have to put in to do well? First of all, did you know that there is an official university policy on how much student work is required for each unit of credit? Here is a summary of the key points in the policy in the UA's Policy on Work Required for a Unit of Credit: At least 15 contact hours of recitation, lecture, discussion, seminar, or colloquium, as well as a minimum of 30 hours of student homework are required for each unit of student credit.
GC-170A is a 3 unit course
and hence requires a minimum of 90 hours of student homework in
addition to the 45 "contact" hours you spend in the classroom. Because
GC-170A is a
science class, the estimated minimum hours of homework needed is a
bit higher (~101). So plan on
putting in at least this many hours -- and more if you want a grade
of A or B! To help you plan your time, here's a table outlining a strategy for the estimated hours of work needed to fulfill the course requirements in order to receive an average grade of C. To receive a higher grade (or if you know that you need to work harder to obtain even an average grade) you should plan on spending more time than the hours suggested below:
The table suggests that a large proportion of your effort should be spent in keeping up with your Reading, Self Checks, and Readiness Quizzes (RQ's) each week. While the online RQ's account for only a fraction your final grade, this does not mean that keeping up with them is unimportant! Doing the reading, Self Checks, and RQ's each week is THE best way to prepare for the In-Class Tests and Exams (which constitute ~ 60 % of your final grade). Because the Self Checks are ungraded and the RQ's are worth only 10 points each, you won't have the stress of "high stakes" testing each week, but cumulatively they will help your grades a great deal on the other tests and in all other aspects of the course. 15. I think I might need some better time management skills. I have a job / am a student athlete / am active in a student organization / etc., etc. and sometimes I let my coursework slide a bit. Any suggestions? For some additional practical hints to help you manage your time, read your texts, and prepare for tests, visit the UA "Think Tank" at the Student Academic Learning Center and check out their resources -- many of them FREE! According to their website, the Think Tank has "all of the UA�s tutoring and academic support programs under one roof!" Working Together, Copying, Plagiarism & the Code of Academic Integrity 16. A classmate and I did our individual assignment homework together. Can we turn in similar papers since we worked the assignment out in the same way? No. Papers with identical or similar wording are not acceptable and are a form of plagiarism. Use your own words to express your ideas and do not paraphrase another's writing and represent it as your own -- especially a fellow student's! This class encourages collaborative learning and group work, but this does not include copying from one another on individual assignments. Students who study together or discuss an assignment together must take special care to develop their own individual understanding of the assignment and express their own answers in their own words. Do not lend your completed work to someone else to "help them out" with an assignment. Identical wording is often the result and any papers with identical wording will be rejected, even if you are not the one who copied. (Also, beware of students who secretly "borrow" your paper and copy from it without you knowing about it -- you will both be held responsible until the plagiarist fesses up!) 17. What exactly is plagiarism? Plagiarism is representing another's work or ideas as your own. DO NOT DO IT -- EVER! In your written work, do not copy anything word-for-word from any source (including another student!) without putting it in quotes and referencing it. Do not copy any idea without referencing it. Every sentence or paragraph in your writing assignments will fall into one of three categories: 1) Direct
quote from something you read or heard; In the case of 1 or 2, it is NECESSARY to reference the source from which the quote or idea came. If it is a quote, it must appear in quotation marks. This includes material found on the World Wide Web and any other electronic source. Always use your own words to express your ideas and do not paraphrase another person's writing and represent it as your own. In short, all direct quotes as well as paraphrased material must be referenced. Only information that is original, such as your opinion, conclusions or argument, or information that is considered to be 'general knowledge' does not need to be referenced. (An example of 'general knowledge' would be stating that the earth is round.)
18. What's this "Code of Academic Integrity" that the professors keep mentioning and does it apply to me? It's the University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity and yes, it applies to you and is operative in this class. According to the Code: "Integrity and ethical behavior are expected of every student in all academic work. This Academic Integrity principle stands for honesty in all class work, and ethical conduct in all labs and clinical assignments." In other words, every student is expected to do his or her own work, and cheating, fabrication, and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Following are 6 main areas of PROHIBITED CONDUCT --- know them! (The first 4 listed below are the ones most directly related to a course like ours) Source: http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity |
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Conduct prohibited by this Code
consists of all forms of academic dishonesty, including, but not
limited to: 1. Cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism as set out and defined in the Student Code of Conduct: .http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/studentcodeofconduct 2. Submitting an item of academic work that has previously been submitted without fair citation of the original work or authorization by the faculty member supervising the work. 3. Failing to observe rules of academic integrity established by a faculty member for a particular course. Attempting to commit an act prohibited by this Code. Any attempt to commit an act prohibited by these rules shall be subject to sanctions to the same extent as completed acts. 4. Assisting or attempting to assist another to violate this Code. 5. Violating required professional ethics rules contained or referenced in the student handbooks (hard copy or online) of undergraduate or graduate programs, or professional colleges 6. Violating health, safety or ethical requirements to gain any unfair advantage in lab(s) or clinical assignments. |
The format of our GC-170A class encourages you to discuss the course material and share ideas in your groups. However, in all INDIVIDUAL work, i.e., readiness quizzes, homework assignments, in-class tests and exams, written papers, etc., you are expected to do your own work and not beg, borrow, or steal words or answers from your classmates. READ and KNOW the University of Arizona's Code of Academic Integrity. You are responsible for knowing it, understanding it, and adhering to it. 'Nuff said!
==> The University
also has a
Policy on
Threatening Behavior by Students:
In addition to
defining and prohibiting such conduct, the policy includes procedures
for mandatory reporting of such behavior if you observe it!
19. What's the policy on due dates?
All assignments and Readiness Quizzes are due on the date announced in class and/or on the class website. Late assignments will not be accepted for full credit. Online D2L Readiness Quizzes should be completed by the day the topic will be discussed in class and -- at the very latest -- must be completed and submitted for grading by the D2L cutoff due date and time.
20. What should I do if I miss a due date, forget my assignment, am absent on the due date, or can't complete an assignment on time?
Full credit for a late assignment is NOT allowed after the due date -- except in the case of illness or other extenuating circumstances about which you have contacted Dr H. Partial credit may be given, depending on the circumstances. If you are late or miss an assignment, you are still responsible for knowing the material associated with every assignment. (In rare cases special consideration will be given if severe illness or personal tragedy impacts your ability to complete more than one assignment on time. Contact Dr. H immediately by phone or email if this is the case for you.)
If
you miss a due date or cutoff time for a
legitimate reason.
CLICK HERE for information about your
options for getting your assignment in and still getting some credit.
If you are absent due to illness and can't get your assignment in, see the note above about missing class for legitimate reasons and follow the directions under CLASS FOLLOW UP
21. I turned in everything on time and got good grades on every assignment -- shouldn't I get rewarded for that?
Your good grade will be the best reward, since you are probably a very conscientious student!
ONLINE Readiness Quizzes / D2L Problems
22. What should I do if I forgot to take an online Readiness Quiz before the cutoff time? D2L won't let me access it any longer!
The Readiness Quizzes (RQ's) should be completed before we discuss that quiz's topic in class and the absolute cutoff time is always posted with the quiz itself in D2L (it is 30 minutes before class begins on the Cutoff Date). Hence you should plan them into your weekly schedules so you won't forget about them. You have two free "practice quizzes" (RQ-A & RQ-B) to learn how to complete and submit the D2L Readiness Quizzes (RQ's) on time. What if you forget to do the RQ in time or if D2L technical ills befall you while you are trying to get it done at the last minute? We'll assume this will happen only rarely, and to help you recover, you will be allowed to take one (1) RQ after the cutoff (after that you are out of luck if you mess up on another RQ.) To request a cutoff extension, see the following and click on the link to get to the form:
Dr. H has provided an online
"RQ
ABSOLUTION FORM" which you may submit ONCE during the semester to request that she re-set the cutoff time
for you. Then look for an
email response from Dr H telling
you that your extension has been granted
and giving you a new cutoff date and time.
(You will usually get a response the same day or the next morning if you
submit the form late at night.) Then be sure you complete
the extended RQ right away -- and don't wait until the last
minute or you might miss the new cutoff time!
CLICK HERE
to get to the online Absolution Form.
If the problems are out of your control and not related to technical issues that are your responsibility (e.g., using the wrong browser; waiting until the last minute and being cutoff in mid-quiz, not following the D2L directions while taking or submitting the quiz, etc.) you should let Dr H know about the problems you are having by direct email in addition to submitting the RQ Absolution Form so that Dr. H can troubleshoot the issue with the D2L support team.
23. My computer froze up and I couldn't get my online Readiness Quiz submitted in time! What do I do?
See answer to previous FAQ. Do not wait until the last minute (e.g. one minute before the cutoff time!) to try to complete your RQ's! If you then run into technical computer problems then, you will be in deep trouble. Give yourself plenty of time each week to finish the RQ well ahead of the cutoff time and prior to that topic's discussion in class. Their purpose is to prepare you for understanding and participating in class.
24. Why do I keep having problems with D2L and what should I do about them?
Our experience has shown that problems with D2L online quizzes occur primarily because: (1) the student hasn't done a "browser check" to be sure his/her computer works properly with D2L or (2) the student hasn't carefully followed the directions and completed the quiz properly right through the submission-for-grading process. In other words, the problems come from human error, not the computer or D2L. To avoid problems, be sure you complete a Browser Check before you attempt to take a quiz in D2L. You have two practice quizzes to learn how to complete a quiz properly. Get help from someone on the Teaching Team if you are having problems taking your quizzes during the practice period so you will not have problems later when the grade counts. Also, review the D2L Student Tool Guides. If you do not find an answer or solution on your own, please fill out a D2L ONLINE HELP REQUEST FORM which is the best way to get help with problems specific to D2L. For general internet connection and computer problems you may seek help via OSCR, or at a UITS computer lab location or contact the 24/7 IT SUPPORT CENTER where you can submit a UAssist Support Request online.
24a. How do I go back and review an RQ I've taken previously for studying purposes?
Instructions on how to review one of your previous graded RQ attempts can be found HERE
In-Class Tests and Exams / Make-up PolicY / FINAL EXAM
25. I missed an In-Class Test / I missed the Midterm Exam. What do I do?
Make-ups of individual In-Class Tests or the Midterm Exam are not generally allowed. However, under special or extreme circumstances, individual requests for a make-up test will be considered if they are for a legitimate reasons and accompanied by official documentation as appropriate (e.g., doctor's note, police report) describing the reason for the absence. If you miss a test, phone or email Dr. H before the test (or immediately after the test was administered) to discuss the situation and see if a make-up will be possible.
If you know ahead of time that you will be out of town on an In-Class Test or Midterm Exam day for a legitimate and/or documented purpose, contact Dr H to see about the possibilities of arranging a make-up. This must be done well in advance of the test via email.
Students who are
observing "non-work" religious holy days that happen to coincide with a test
or exam day should contact Dr. H to arrange a make-up.
We will accommodate you in whatever way possible under these
circumstances.
26. May I take the Final Exam early?
All students must take the Final Exam during its regularly scheduled time during the official exam period. No early final exams will be given. Exceptions may be made if you have four or more exams scheduled on the same day as discussed under the Final Exam Regulations.
Checking Your Grades / Grade Reports / Extra Credit
27. How are my grades recorded in this class and how can I check them?
D2L
includes a gradebook link titled "Grades." Your grades on
individual and group assignments will be entered in the D2L gradebook in a
timely manner throughout the semester by Dr H or one of the GTA's.
Contact the GTA in charge of grading a specific assignment if you have any
issues related to a grade, or if you don't see it entered properly in your gradebook.
Your online Readiness Quizzes are graded and entered in your gradebook automatically by D2L .
28. How do I find out my letter grade in this class?
A final letter grade won't be assigned until the end of the semester, but you can compute your grade progress yourself by adding up the total points possible at a given point in the semester and finding out what percentage you've earned of those total points. For example, if in Week 6 we've completed activities worth a total of 210 points and your own gradebook total is 179 points, then you currently have a grade of 85.2%, which would fall somewhere in the middle of the "B" range. Periodically Dr H will compute the current point totals in D2L for you so you can have a general idea of what letter grade you have -- especially as you go into the Final Exam. Note that the Final Exam carries more points than the midterm exam, so if you do especially well on it you'll be able to bring your grade up at the end; but if you do not do well on these, your grade may not be all you hoped for.
29. I need you to sign a grade report form for my coach / tutor / sorority / fraternity -- When can I get your signature?
Student athletes, members of sororities or fraternities, or any other students who need a form signed about your grade status in the class must email Dr. H at least a day in advance to inform her that you are going to be requesting a signature or grade report from her so she can check your grade status. Then see her in her office or AFTER class is over to get the signature.
30. I'm not doing too well in the course. Is there any extra credit I can do to make up for missed assignments or some of my poor grades?
We feel it is more important for you to spend your time learning the course material itself than for you to be doing extra credit work. That's why it's so important not to fall behind in your weekly reading, quizzes, and assignments. Extra credit / make-up work is never possible at the end of the semester after weeks of coursework neglect and absences by a student. However, off and on during the semester a few bonus point opportunities are offered to help you out a little. These are usually announced in class (and will also be posted on the Class Follow Up for that class).
Special Needs/ DRC/ SALT / Testing CENTER / Probation / Dropping the Course
31. I have a disability / I'm in the SALT Program / I'm signed up with DRC / I have special needs / I am authorized to take my tests in the Testing Accommodations Center. What do I need to do?
First of all, please be aware that students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements must register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). If you qualify for services through DRC you must meet with Dr H in her office during her office hour or a separate appointment time arranged via email in order to discuss your accommodation needs. This should be done as soon as possible, ideally during the first week 1-3 weeks of classes, and definitely several days before our first In-Class Test (Test #1) .
Also, if you are signed up withthe Disability Resource Center (DRC). or the SALT Center, please contact Dr. H and make an appointment to come in and discuss your needs. We will try to do everything we can to accommodate your learning needs in this course.
If you will be requesting special testing accommodations for the Midterm and Final Exam with the Testing Center, you must inform Dr. H well in advance of the exam so we can provide the necessary test material and send someone over to answer any questions. IMPORTANT: The In-Class Tests must be taken in our classroom (not the Testing Center) because they involve a group component, but we can make some accommodations for you on the individual portion of the In-Class Test if necessary. See Dr. H about this well in advance of the first In-Class Test.
32. I'm on probation and worried about my grade for this course. What should I do?
If you are on probation, please make an appointment with Dr. H as soon as possible to discuss your goals for the course. If you are willing to work, we will try to do everything we can to help you do well enough so that your academic record improves. Remember, however, that you are the one who has to do the work and earn the grade! When final grades are assigned at the end of the semester, special consideration will not be given just because you have been on probation and could be in danger of being kicked out of school. You must earn the grade you receive.
33. I want to drop this course! What do I do?
Drop? Oh noooooooooooo! The last day to drop the course online via UAccess without a grade of W or E on your transcript is generally the Sunday after the 4th week of classes -- but check the current Academic Calendar to be sure. If you want to withdraw later, the last day for any registrations changes without a Dean's signature is generally the Friday of the 8th week of classes. (For the actual dates, check the current Academic Calendar or see the Semester-on-a-Page.) To receive a W, you must have a passing grade at the time you drop the course and obtain the instructor's signature on a paper Change of Schedule(Drop/Add) form that you provide and have already filled out. (Your passing status will be determined by the % of the total possible points you have earned at the time you drop.) We hope you don't drop, but if you need to withdraw after the first 4 weeks of the semester, make an appointment to discuss this with Dr. H and get the necessary signature.
After the eighth week of classes, the only way to withdraw from a course is to file a General Petition. You must be able to document circumstances beyond your control for the petition to be considered.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE / POLICY ON ELECTRONIC DEVICES, FOOD & DRINK / FIRE DRILLS
34. Is it OK to talk to my classmates while class is going on? After all, we talk to each other while we are doing group work, right?
Be aware that the UA has a Policy on Disruptive Behavior in an Instructional Setting (i.e., our classroom)! Yes, ANOTHER policy!
The following are quotes from this policy:
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"Instructional Rules and Decorum Rules and expectations for the instructional setting . . . . may contain reasonable restrictions in light of the instructional setting, teaching method and learning objectives; and may vary depending upon the educational context. Instructional rules may include, but not be limited to, prohibitions on cell phone use, refusing to be seated, talking during lectures, sleeping, eating, newspaper reading, entering the classroom late or leaving early without authorization, etc." " Disruptive behavior includes conduct that distracts or intimidates others in a manner that interferes with instructional activities, fails to adhere to an instructor's appropriate classroom rules or instructions, or interferes with the normal operations of the University." |
Having conversations with others while the professor is lecturing is considered disruptive behavior for our class. You'd be surprised at how disturbing a whispered conversation can be to other students in the class who are trying to hear the professor -- and how disturbing it is to Dr. H, while she is lecturing! Talking to your classmates is fine (and necessary!) during group activities, but while the professor or another speaker is lecturing or presenting, please give them your complete attention and do not engage in conversations. When moving from group activities back to lecture activities (and vice versa) it is important that the classroom quiets down quickly because the sooner we move onto the next activity, the more likely that Dr. H will be able to dismiss class early that day!
35. We have a really neat high-tech classroom! But why does it look messed up sometime?
Because another (less environmentally enlightened?) class didn't clean up after themselves! Let's give the GC-170A class a good reputation! Help us keep this state-of-the-art classroom clean and uncluttered. Don't leave a disorganized chair arrangement, trash, student newspapers, handouts, notes, or other materials in the classroom when you leave.
36. What's the policy on electronic devices in the classroom?
Laptops, tablets, cell phones, smartphones, music players, and all other electronic and communication devices should be turned off when you are in the classroom. You may not listen to music, etc. via earbuds during class or tests. The one EXCEPTION on texting is when we are having an interactive CLICKER REPONSE session. Those of you with ResponseWare, MAY use your phone, tablet or laptop during a clicker session to submit your clicker responses.
Exception: Although there are no exceptions on TEXTING (other than for responseware users during Clicker time) students with special needs may contact Dr. H in writing (via email) for ADVANCE permission to tape lectures or use another type of electronic device as a learning aid during class time.
Students who wish to use their laptops to take notes must also request permission to do so IN ADVANCE in writing (via email). If permission is granted, you must sit in a designated area of the classroom. If it is observed that you are using your laptop for something other than note taking during class, you will lose your laptop privilege.
37. This is at time when I really get hungry.. May I eat / drink in the classroom?
Sorry. Unfortunately food and drink (except for bottled water or liquids in CLOSED containers) are not permitted in our classroom, so please refrain from bringing them in. The "Classroom Police" request that any food or drinks brought in be removed from the classroom. After
38. Is it OK to get up and leave the classroom in the middle of class if I need to?tclass should gather WEST of
It is very disruptive to the class when a student gets up and leaves in the middle of classtime, especially if she or he goes out for short time and then comes back in again.. Our class policy is that if you leave in the middle of the class period, you leave for the day! Please visit the restroom before class if you need to use it. Students should not be leaving -- and then re-entering -- the classroom for any reason during the official class period. This is especially true during tests, but also applies during group work time. The only exception is illness or a personal emergency (although in such cases it is unlikely that the student would be returning to the classroom anyway.)
At times an occasion might arise that requires a student to leave class early or arrive late. In those instances the student should do so discreetly so as not to distract other students or the professor.
Getting AlonG / SURVIVING THE SEMESTER / RESPECTING EACH OTHER / PERSONAL CRISES
40. The university is so big and impersonal, plus this class is large! How can I counteract this feeling of being just a number?
Please come in and talk to Dr. H or any of us on the Teaching Team so we can get to know you better! Or just send Dr. H an email to let her know how the class is going for you. We are truly interested in each and every one of you.
One reason this class includes "Groups" is so students in this large class will get to know each other and (hopefully) have fun working together. Becoming a Preceptor is another way to make a big class more personal and you will really get to know your professor and GTA's well by working together with them on the Teaching Team.
41. I'm not getting along with my Group! What do I do?
Studies have shown that collaborative learning Groups function the best when the same students stay together all semester. Gradually over time they work out any differences, form a bond, support each other, and help one another learn by sharing their individual strengths. For this reason, if you can, we'd like you to hang in there with your team and see if things improve. However, please let Dr. H know about your situation and come in and discuss it with her -- she may be able to help with the group dynamics. If you still want to switch to a different team after trying to work out your issues, see Dr H to find out if a change can be made.
42. One member of our Group is a real loser / is never there / is ruining the group morale / etc. etc. What should we do about it?
See the answer to the previous FAQ. Probably your problem member is unhappy in the team too! In the case of a problem team member, the best thing to do after you've tried working things out within the group without success, is to discuss the situation tactfully with Dr H, a GTA, or a Preceptor. We will see if we can help with your group dynamics. If things still aren't working out, it may be possible to move the problem member to another group where he/she will be more happy, or find an alternate solution.
43. What should I do when: students are rude / someone is harassing me / someone is being unethical or making derogatory remarks in or out of the classroom / etc. ?
First, see the Policy on Threatening Behavior by Students and the Policy on Disruptive Behavior in an Instructional Setting for guidelines.
Respectful consideration should be given to your fellow classmates and to the members of your Teaching Team (preceptors, GTAs, professor) at all times (and vice versa!). This is also true for all electronic communications associated with this class (i.e., emailing, online discussion board postings, chat room, etc.)
If you are aware of activity going on that is creating problems for another student or yourself, or that violates a university policy, please inform Dr. H or someone else on the Teaching Team. Note that the University has policies in place covering many student life issues (e.g. sexual harassment, student conduct, etc.) These are posted at The Dean of Students' Policies and Codes http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/policiesandcodes and / or those at http://catalog.arizona.edu/allcats.html
44. I'm having some / health / personal / relationship / family / problems that are impacting my ability to do well in this class. What should I do?
Please see or contact Dr H as soon as possible if you have a serious illness or life situation that is severely impacting your progress in the class. If an illness is causing you to fall behind in your coursework (e.g., miss several quizzes, tests, assignments, etc.), please inform Dr. H as soon as possible so that she is aware of the problem and can discuss your situation with you before things get out of hand. If you need special help, counseling or support to deal with a challenging life situation (e.g., death of a family member) or a personal problem (e.g., break-up of a relationship) find out what resources are available to you at the UA under Health Services & CAPS. You may also want to inform Dr. H of your situation if it is interfering in any way with your coursework so she can be aware of it.
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