Grading Policy

Course Assessments

Your grade will be calculated based on the following assessments (see specific guidelines, directions, rubrics, and due dates on AsULearn):

Daily Community of Practice (50%)

It is expected that you come to class prepared, having read/viewed the materials assigned carefully and critically, with notes and questions to further our conversations and learning, and with the materials that you need to learn (i.e. bring the readings to class with you either printed out or on your computer if we are not using a text). You will be expected to contribute to our class discussions, whether in whole or small groups, in a thoughtful and critical manner. About once per week, you will write and submit a Dialectical Journal based on our readings/videos and participate in an accompanying Spider Web Discussion (Wiggins, 2017).

I firmly believe that each educational experience is most successful when all participants (students and teachers) engage in evaluating, challenging, and critiquing course material, as well as the discussion and presentation of that material. I hope that we will engage in substantive dialogue with one another throughout the semester about the direction of our learning. If you encounter an article or video that you think we should read or view please share these resources! Your input is highly valued. I aim to listen for your suggestions on how we can make this a meaningful learning experience for you as an individual student, as well as for our class as an integrated and engaged learning community.

Book Club on "Troublemakers" (15%)

The class will be put into small groups, where students will read and discuss "Troublemakers" in a book club format. Each member of the group will have a role to prepare for before the in-class discussions.

Community Building Plan Website (35%)

The purpose of the Community Building Plan (CBP) is to craft a plan that details the process of developing a classroom climate and management style that works for you and your future students. Through your work in this course, you will discover models and ideas about how to best manage your classroom. Most teachers develop their own styles of classroom management over time. You will create your personal CBP as a website -- it will be a continuous work-in-progress as you develop your own beliefs and style with respect to classroom management.

Grading Scale

Each assignment you complete will be worth a certain number of points. Upon completion of the course, your final grade will be assigned based on the following percentages:

A 95-100 A- 90-94

B+ 88-89 B 84-87 B- 80-83

C+ 78-79 C 74-77 C- 70-73

D+ 68-69 D 64-67 D- 60-63

F 0-59

Please let me know if you have any questions about grades -- believe me, I want you to succeed and will support your efforts in any way that I can.

Tips for academic success

As an experienced university professor, I know that college-level work is challenging and can be stressful. To help reduce that stress and improve the likelihood of completing the modules in our course successfully:

Allow yourself uninterrupted time and a quiet space to do your best work. Create a weekly schedule that contains ample time to complete your course assignments. And always get a good night's sleep!
Don't procrastinate. Even if you only have a few minutes, keep chipping away at your studies. Remember that old but relevant adage: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!
While I always want you to get your assignments in on time, I understand that life happens and there may be instances when you will need extra time. If at all possible, please let me know in advance if you need extra time on an assignment. I will never give a zero if you are willing to complete or revise an assignment, no matter how late it may be. It is much more important to me that you learn from this course rather than worry about points or grades. Put forth an honest effort and good grades will follow.
If you have a question or get stuck on an assignment, reach out to me (or one of your peers). I always welcome your questions and am happy to help you think through your ideas and provide feedback so you can successfully complete an assignment.
Finally – have some fun! Teaching is a vocation that comes from the heart, so take some time to reflect on your experiences and enjoy your semester. You have the opportunity to read about, reflect on, and discuss many different issues related to your future career as an educator. Use this semester as a time of personal growth and confidence building.