|
Remember at all times that I am attempting
to have the class form a Learning Community in which people
interact and assist one another. I am also attempting to develop
the learner's critical thinking skills and the skills for
acquiring knowledge and evaluating information. This being
the case I shall often respond to questions with other questions intending
to have the student go further in the thought process. I shall not be
an information dispenser or the source of all official answers to be
memorized as the correct answer. I shall be a coach, an assistant, an
instructor. I am not a cheerleader. Sorry, that is not my
nature. I will seldom merely praise performance that is what is
expected. I may note very good performance and achievement and model
behavior.
My job is to make
the class think critically and comprehensively and to move beyond the
prattling and repetition of opinions and beliefs and move toward
educated and well reasoned positions and well founded beliefs.
Your job is to
think and think hard and think again. Thinking critically and
comprehensively about the basic issues with religion is what this is
about.
Answering questions and
addressing concerns:
I will check your Private E-mails (for private matters) and the Ask the
Professor postings (for course related questions) nearly every day
(sometimes twice a day!) and make it a point to get back to you immediately
with the answers to your questions. If I do not answer your question
promptly, let me know.
-
Monitoring and Evaluating the
Discussions: I attempt to
read every comment made by every student in the discussions. I enjoy the
interplay, and I jump in occasionally, but I cannot respond to each
comment, and indeed I have found that to be a hindrance to open
discussion among students.
-
Evaluating Written Assignments:
The written assignments in this
course will be read and graded after all papers have been submitted. I
will evaluate them promptly and provide you with feedback as soon as
possible following the due date.
-
Posting Progress Reports to the Web:
Beginning with Module 2, I will update your Progress Reports in the
GRADES web page after each module. The Progress Report will report your
grade and the 'perfect grade' for each graded component of the course.
You will always know where you stand in this course. My software allows
me to track the number of posts as well as the frequency of your logons.
You may examine your Progress Report n the GRADES web page and print it
out at any time. Starting
at the mid term I shall post projections of final grades based on your
performance in the first half. You may improve your performance in the
second half of the semester and thus earn a higher grade than
projected.
|