INTRODUCTION to PHILOSOPHY

DO NOT PANIC !!!   It may appear to you that all of this information and all the resources on this course site is quite overwhelming .  It may appear that with so much here, then the course must involve so much work, much more than other courses do.  DO NOT PANIC!   The impression of so much information should not lead you to the conclusion that the course has more work to it.  It does not.  Students who overcome the initial reaction of anxiety report very favorable assessments of this course.  It is just that there is so much given to support students as they enter the course and work their way through it.  So much is given to explain the course and its activities and to support students in their work.  So much is here because students have provided feedback and suggestions over the years this course has been offered that changes have been made to improve the course and student experience of the course.  Much is given to support student success.  Most students who complete the course do very, very well. Check the grades for yourself and see that while too many do not remain in the course , of those who do, there are many A's and B's. So, DO NOT PANIC!!!  Just look over everything and if you are registered and want to take this course and do well then begin by completing the first TEN STEPS and you will be on your way to a successful semester.

DO NOT PANIC!!  We have a module dedicated to having each student understand how the course is constructed (Course Instructional Design) and what the requirements are and what you need to do in order to do very well in this course.

If you have the time to put into this course and actually do the work the results will be quite good.  This course rewards effort.  There are no tricks involved and no quizzes or exams or surprise assignments.

What does it come down to after all the reading of the basic information? Just how much work is involved in this class to do well?

9-12hrs/week of work each week in Fall and Spring Semesters that run 14 to 15 weeks 

18-24 hrs/week in SUMMER semesters that run only 7 or 8 weeks !!! 

What is the work?  Three things!

(1)READINGS: reading the online textbook and the required readings marked by "READ" but supplied through internet links.

(2)ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT 

In a regular class attendance is taken directly. In an online class the Blackboard program is used for discussions and attendance taking by means of  Discussion Board participation.

The following are the minimums for postings MINIMUMS for attendance.

Students must be active in discussions in Discussion Board at least 3 different days each week. In the summer session when a module lasts only 3 days and not 7 days students must be active at least 2 days in each module so they can INTERACT with classmates.

Each student must post at least once in each and every Blackboard Discussion Forum in the current Module.

Participations in discussions involves doing something in each discussion forum. 

answer a question or ask one

you can reply to a classmate

you can ask a related question

ask for help or offer help

post resources related to discussion topic

post one student led discussion BEFORE THE LAST DAY each module and moderate the discussion that may follow. Give people some time to respond to you.  Allow for INTERACTION.

Post your own reflection on learning and relevance for the module topics to you

RESPOND to ALL questions and requests posted to you, particularly by the instructor.

You do NOT need to reply to each post unless it was made to you and asking for a reply

 (3) WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

Submit the written assignments at the end of the module period by date on calendar  11:59pm

TEN STEPS TO START OFF

OK, let's get started by having you explore the course site and learn about the requirements and what we will be doing here.  For this first module or learning unit in this course you are expected to do the following TEN things! Yes TEN (10):   For this first few days you are expected to do the following TEN things! Yes TEN (10). I repeated that. Why? It is very important. Why?  Well, by the time you are finished you should know all that you need to know about this class and what is required to do well in it.

STEP 1. Read all the documents that are part of COURSE OUTLINE using the link COURSE OUTLINE  Be sure to read How you will be evaluated!   There are a lot of items in the COURSE OUTLINE be sure to read ALL OF THEM. You have already begun!

STEP 2. enter the BLACKBOARD  class site. Check out what all the links and buttons on the left Navigation Bar or Column in the Blackboard Class Site have in them.  Check out each item in the course outline or syllabus. Most are the same info just accessed in a different manner.  Yes this is repeating what was stated above. WHY?  It is that important. If you are not in an online class then simply read the entire course outline and all of its parts.

STEP 3. Check and Print out the  COURSE CALENDAR - under COURSE OUTLINE or CALENDAR or SCHEDULE ! Many students have stated that the calendar is a very useful tool or guide as to what they need to do and when to do it.

STEP 4. INTRODUCE YOURSELF --enter the Blackboard (BB)  class site and Introduce yourself and your social network WEBSITE and/or ePortfolio  to your classmates under the DISCUSSION BOARD (DB) - STUDENT CAFE -CHAT ROOM   HOW? Go to the button marked DISCUSSION BOARD or  marked COMMUNICATION and then click on DISCUSSION BOARD. Click on it and enter the DB.  Click on STUDENT CAFE -CHAT ROOM .  This is an area for you to introduce yourself to the class and where you can go to meet the others that are in this course.  Post an item to start a discussion, or read other students' responses if there are any, and make a response.   Check this area to meet the others in this course. Since profiles will be posted as people join the course for the first time, you may have to return to this area several times to see the latest entries.

You will find my profile by clicking the Staff/Instructor Information button in the Opening of the Course.

With online courses that use various class sites and programs such as BlackBoard it is a good thing for students to have a Personal site and ePortfolio rather than a course specific site or HOMEPAGE.  So, there are now provisions for personal e-portfolio sites. These are your personal pages on social media or a wiki or blog for others to see- you determine who sees what via the Share options.  You can grant access directly to your site to anyone and everyone in the world.  You will have your own internet site.

 ******Let your classmates know the address of your personal ePortfolio/webpage/website/social media site****** 

Post it with your introduction in the BB site under STUDENT CAFE -CHAT ROOM  -INTRODUCTIONS  If you do not have an ePortfolio do not worry about it. You can do this course without one.

 STEP 5.  Communicating with the Professor:     One of the features of distance education is that you are never required to meet face to face with the professor. However, if you want to stop by for a visit my office is at Queensborough Community College in Bayside NY in the Medical Arts Building, Room 403 and my hours will be available through the course materials (see Course Information Documents) During the Pandemic you can reach me for a personal matter by:

1.      for a personal matter  Sending me an email to ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu

2.      for a personal matter  Calling my office phone:  Monday to Thursday 9am to 12 noon  1-718-281-5038

3.      for a class matter Post in the BB Discussion Forum titled “Questions and Suggestions for the Professor”

4.      for a class matter I shall also have VIDEO OFFICE HOURS for the class at times I shall announce.  They will be INSIDE the Class Site using Blackboard Collaborate.

STEP 6. SUBSCRIBE to the Discussion Forum Titled  SUGGESTIONS and QUESTIONS for the  PROFESSOR  by clicking on the word "subscribe" and then you will be notified whenever any one posts a question and when the professor responds to questions and suggestions.
If and when you have a question about the course, requirements or content then create a question in a word processor and copy and paste it into the DISCUSSION BOARD under  SUGGESTIONS and QUESTIONS for the  PROFESSOR   HOW? Go to the button marked DISCUSSION BOARD or  marked COMMUNICATION and then click on DISCUSSION BOARD. Select an item under  SUGGESTIONS and QUESTIONS for the  PROFESSOR to which you wish to reply. Then minimize the internet browser (IE) and open the word processor WORD or some other that you use. Keyboard your response or question for the discussion. Copy and paste all the material there into the space for discussion concerning the first discussion item that you selected and then submit it.  That's it.  Just want o make sure you know how to do this sort of thing as you may find it very useful skill throughout this course.   REMEMBER to SPELL CHECK FIRST!!

STEP 7. MANDATORY Email  PRACTICE re  Academic Integrity Statement and Policy  

****NO GRADES WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO DO NOT AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY of the COLLEGE. ***********

Read about Academic Integrity Statement and Policy  at your college and send your agreement to abide by it through Email  to your instructor.  You must use the CUNY email address supplied by this college!!!!!! 

1. Paraphrase of the Academic Integrity Statement and Policy

2. the statement:

I, ____________,have read and understand the Academic Integrity Policy for this course and agree to abide by it.

Save your word processed file (document) as a WORD or a  DOC or TXT file. Then copy and paste the text into the message space of an EMAIL you send to ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu   Do not send attachments!!!   Copy and paste your text from the word processor directly into the message window of the email. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMAIL

As a CUNY student You must use the CUNY email address supplied by this college or some other UNY unit.  It will have a cuny.edu address!!!!!!  Each and every registered student has an email account.   If you do not have an address acceptable to this instructor you will have 10 days to get and use the college supplied email address and notify the instructor from the new address.

EMAIL PROTOCOLS

When sending email ALWAYS In the subject line put: first name , last name, class number PHI 101, section, ASSIGNMENT# or QUESTION or HELP

After an assignment has been received, it will be graded and the feedback shared with you either by E-mail or by the use of an on-line grade book WebPages found by clicking on GRADES.

STEP 8. Read and then copy the course requirement information immediately below and send it to the instructor ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu

 <<<<<<<<<<<<BEGIN COPY AND PASTE HERE:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The basic course activities and requirements:

All class information including the assignments are available OUTSIDE OF BB at the class site/syllabus/outline

How much work is involved in this class to do well?

9-12hrs/week of work each week in Fall and Spring Semesters that run 14 to 15 weeks 

18-24 hrs/week in SUMMER semesters that run 7 or 8 weeks !!! 

What is the work?

(1)READINGS: reading the online textbook- required readings marked by "READ"

(2)ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT  Blackboard is used for discussions and attendance taking by means of  Discussion Board participation.

The following are the minimums for postings MINIMUMS for attendance.

Students must be active in discussions in Discussion Board at least 3 different days each week. In the summer session when a module lasts only 3 days and not 7 days students must be active at least 2 days in each module so they can INTERACT with classmates.

Each student must post at least once in each and every Blackboard Discussion Forum in the current Module.

Participations in discussions involves doing something in each discussion forum. 

answer a question or ask one

you can reply to a classmate

you can ask a related question

ask for help or offer help

post resources related to discussion topic

post one student led discussion BEFORE THE LAST DAY each module and moderate the discussion that may follow. Give people some time to respond to you.  Allow for INTERACTION.

Post your own reflection on learning and relvacne fo the module topics to you

RESPOND to ALL questions and requests posted to you, particularly by the instructor.

You do NOT need to reply to each post unless it was made to you and asking for a reply

 WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

Submit the written assignments at the end of the module period by date on calendar  11:59pm

<<<<<<END COPY AND PASTE HERE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

STEP 9. READ the Student Reviews and Comments about this class.

STEP 10.  RELAX It looks like it is a lot but it is no more than any other class only just made more accessible and convenient and more is explained in text at the start.

Oh and what it comes down to is this:  The following learning activities apply to each module:

1. Read the assigned textbook material.

2. Participate in the Discussions- post a minimum of 3 different days each week (Summer session 2 days of every 3)

3. Participate in the Learning Community with classmates--This means that you respond to discussion questions submitted by the instructor and your classmates.

4. Create and submit a discussion Student Led Discussion question about the material. At least one in each module.

5. Respond publicly to some or all of the questions submitted by other students and any responses from the instructor.

6. Reply to students who respond to your question and responses--be polite!!!!.

7. Submit the written assignment for each module by the due date by 11:59pm.

Have a great semester and your efforts will be rewarded with a well earned good grade.

REMEMBER above all >>>SPECIAL NOTE:   DO NOT PANIC !!!!!

If for some reason you can not get access to the Blackboard Program PLEASE understand that all materials for this course except for the DISCUSSION BOARD are located in in the class site outside of BlackBoard and you can access them directly at any time.  That means that the online textbook is available at the two sites as well.  There is no reason why you can not proceed with all work with this course should one course site not be available.  There will be a second discussion board site as well should the first program not be accessible for any significant length of time. Remember DO NOT PANIC  !!!   You will not be penalized for the failures of the university's system.

CUNY COURSE SITE:

QCC  HELP preparing for an online class

 return to outline topics index