Intro: Getting Started
Welcome!
Hi friends! I'm Dr. William (Dennis) Lynn and I am honored to be your instructor this term. Below are some important introductory items to be aware of:
1. For some students (and faculty, too), online courses can feel a bit daunting and challenging. I recommend that you take time immediately to review the "Student Support" and "Canvas Student Training" links on the home page of this course. (Perhaps one of the first things to do is simply look at each of the six tabs on the top of the home page so you can get an overall sense of the course and all of the help that is available to you.) Please note that this course is exclusively online. We will not meet together at any time on the Skyline College campus.
2. Another important tab on the homepage is the link to the Syllabus. In addition to course requirements, dates, grading scales, etc., the Syllabus will also indicate the required textbook we are using:
Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective By Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French (2017)
VERY IMPORTANT: ONLY USE THE 2017 EDITION; DO NOT USE THE 2019 EDITION
Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective
By Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French (Published 2017)
This Open Education Resource (OER) textbook was funded by a grant from the
College of Lake County Foundation and supported by the Business and Social
Sciences Division.
This textbook can be found at: LifespanDevelopment.pdf (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site.
Please note, the following link has been updated to reflect Lifespan Development, version 2 (2019) http://dept.clcillinois.edu/psy/LifespanDevelopment.pdf Link (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site.; we will continue using Lifespan Development, 2017 (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. for the semester.
Here is the link to this Open Education Resource (free) textbook: Link Links to an external site.
In my Chapter Notes, I refer to specific pages, charts, etc., so please be diligent in reading this online textbook. We will use it in every module beginning with the first week.
3. Once the course begins, all Assignments, Discussions and Tests will be submitted through the course webpage. Please do not send emails with your work attached. The only way to accurately document your points is to submit your work online through the course webpage. We will take the first two modules of the semester to "practice" with no points assigned. I will begin assigning points beginning with the third module of class. In the summer session, the work for the modules are due are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday by 5:00 PM. In the regular length Fall and Spring semesters, a module=one week. (Please do participate during the first two modules of class, so you are not dropped from the class at enrollment census verification.)
4. A few pointers: Be sure to read the "Chapter Notes" each module. After you have read the "Assignment", submit your response. Your response must be at least 100 words in length or points will be deducted. Typically, Assignment responses average between 150 and 300 words. Similarly, after you have read the "Discussion" topic, be sure to respond. (Discussion entries do not have to be at least 100 words.) This is a great opportunity to interact with each other online. You do not have to start a new discussion thread each time. You may (or may not) prefer to respond to other student's comments: agree, disagree, etc. It's great to get lively, thoughtful, and respectful discussions going! Again, you receive 10 points each module for participating in the module whether you start a new discussion thread OR you simply respond to another student's submission.
5. In the Fall and Spring semesters, work is due by 5:00 PM (PST) each Monday. You will always have a full week in Fall and Spring semester to submit your work (including tests) at your convenience. (In summer sessions, work is due by 5 PM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.) Each module's work must be submitted by 5:00 PM. Please don't wait too long to submit your work (too close to the deadline). The course website will not accept your work past 5:00. As stated in the Syllabus, I do not accept late work or offer extra credit. Please do not email me and ask if you can turn in your work after the deadline.
6. This course typically has a large enrollment. Though I will be engaged and participating in the Discussions, I will not be able to personally reply to each entry. I will always respond to your Assignment submission each week. If you keep up with your work and do well on the Tests, you will likely get a high grade in this course--and more importantly, you will have hopefully gained knowledge that has personal and professional application. Because the course is not difficult and because I emphasize consistent participation, the grading scale is very rigid. Though the majority of students excel in this class, if you fall behind in your work your final grade will reflect your lack of participation.
7. I hope you will notice that most of the Assignments and Discussions are designed to encourage critical thinking and thoughtful reflections. My philosophy of teaching and the positive feedback from students leads me to emphasize opportunities to practice good thinking and personal reflection. As has been noted by others, learning how to think is much more important than being told what to think.
8. Finally, I want you to know that, even though this is an online course, I am with you and I am for you! I really do consider it an honor to serve as a facilitator and guide for our learning together. Everybody brings their own lived experiences and insights to practical courses like this one that are filled with every day application and implications. I hope we will all be able to teach, encourage and support each other as we travel together on this academic path. Again, welcome!
Dr. Lynn
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