You will need the Textbook.

Our Sexuality, 10th Edition Robert L. Crooks,  Karla Baur

Paperbound Version  ISBN-10: 0495103268

You can get them at the campus bookstore, or online. You can also Rent the book through the publisher at http://www.cengagebrain.com

WARNING: Much of this course talks about material that is adult in nature.  I am not shy and will talk about everything. Everything. 

Behavior required for this course:

1. You will need a computer (or about 1 hour a day to spend in a facility with a computer)

2. You need to know how to use a computer and be able to perform the following skills:

• Connect to the internet with a reliable connection (do not take exams on dialup!!!)

• Send and read e-mail. (Make sure you change your e-mail to something that you will check every day, it is how I will be contacting you!)

• Navigate Blackboard educational systems

• Adapt your computer to work with the online course format.  I can help you... I cannot help your computer (I have tested the course with Mac (there are some issues), Windows (7, Vista and XP) and my Linux system...it all works).

• Some Mac users were having trouble with online videos and uploading papers.. but after some work it will did get them to work. Ask a Genius?

• One student Last summer did the online class with her iPhone... Cool... but she had trouble with some of the media.

• Know how to deal with the following file types from the web.

  •  Video clips from famous neuroscientists.

  •  TV commercials form You Tube.

  •  PDF documents that will bore you to tears.

  •  MP3's of radio programs.

  •  SWF (flash) files of classroom behavior.

  •  Streaming video from the web. 

  • Compressed Files (zip files)

• Contribute to discussion board and read other posts. If any the question has already been answered or you have nothing new to contribute, then move to another thread.

• Navigate the web using search engines.

• Know the difference between using sources and plagiarism. (ANY PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN 0's)

• Know how to site your sources, all of your sources including the text!!

• Know that Wikipedia is not a legitimate source of solid information (you can edit it).

• Know that your instructor hates a document with the words "Webster's dictionary defines...."  at any time.

• Write a document in a word processor and then submit it electronically via e-mail or drop box.

• Know when to contact the instructor with content and grading problems.  

• Know when to contact the help desk at 660-4395 for computer, Blackboard or network issues.

• Know how to save a file as an RTF if you are using WordPerfect or Microsoft works (get http://www.openoffice.org/)

3. You will need to me self motivated - I will not be telling you to work. 

   • If you are not sure what you should be doing e-mail the instructor

   • If you feel that the course is way to easy, and that there is not much to do... you are missing something.

4. Your computer must be able to handle the course, or you will have to go to computer than can finish each assignment.  If you cannot watch the video, or the link does not work, figure it out.

5. If you do not work, you do not pass. It is that simple.

6. You will have to read the book on your own.

7. You will have to do the work without direct supervision.

8. You will have to resist the temptation to put things off until the last possible minute. 

9. Computers crash.

10. No matter how good you are Computers will Crash.

11. You will have to finish the first Section before you can start the next Section.

    • The parts of this course are sequential, and not work at your own pace.

    • You have flexibility of when you complete assignments, but they must be completed by the date indicated.  

    • Late work does not help the other students learn

12. Do not take the course with a partner / significant other / boyfriend  / girlfriend / parent / child / spouse / sibling or conjoined twin on the same computer... you are just asking for conflict!! (Dell outlet has great prices on refurbished computers (I am working on a $400 laptop from that site) and the net-books work great and start at $210).

13. Your will need to set up your e-mail the first day. Select one that you check often.. I will be sending group e-mails once a week with important information. Make sure you change it with web advisor as well.

14. Here are some short clips to help you get started... The videos only seem to work in internet  Explorer... I am not sure why...

• Basic introduction to login.  (images)

• How to take an online test 

• How to post a discussion 

• How to get feedback  

• How to get caught plagiarizing  

Assignments, Assessments and Grades

1. I have divided the course into 6 parts.

   • Section 1:  Welcome to Sexuality

   • Section 2:  Biological Basis of Sexuality

   • Section 3:  Sexual Behavior

   • Section 4:  Sexuality and the Life Cycle

   • Section 5:  Sexual Problems

   • Section 6:  Social issues

2.  Pay attention to this document!

3. In each part, you will be required to complete the necessary assignments to get the points for completion of the course. 

4. Only the the assignments listed on the chart below will contribute to your course total.

5. You may do any of the assignments that you wish, but only the ones on the chart below are added to your point totals.

6. Each written assignment (short answers, discussion posts and essays) will be assessed with a points value listed on the syllabus.  You instructor will be grading based on a simple rubric.

   Make sure that your read your instructors comments after you submit assignments so that you can learn from mistakes.

   • Full credit = the information is correct with a valid source listed (page numbers are great)

   • 2/3 credit = the information is correct without source listed

   • 1/3 credit = the information is correct at a common sense level (nice answer but not demonstrating course content)

   • No credit = you did not get the question correct.

7. Each part may have slightly different points values for each task based on the number of tasks per part.  

8. Once you have finished the part, you can still see the material, but once you have turned it in, you cannot edit it for a better grade. 

9. Use the Grade Book link to see your progress after each assignment.

   • Your grade is based on the percentage to total points

   •  There are a total of 1000 points earned throughout the semester. 

   • There will be a lot of points on your grade book.

   • 90% of the points (900) you will receive an A

   • 80 % of the points (800) you will receive a B

   • 70% of the points (700) you will receive a C

   • 60% of the points (600) you will receive a D

   • Below 60% you will receive a failing grade for the semester

   • There will be opportunities for extra credit during the semester.. check your e-mail every day.

10. Make sure you are finished with your assignment when you turn it in.

11. You may take the exams on campus or in Weiner's office if you are having trouble with your computer.

12. At the close of the grading unit, I will grade any incomplete assignments as complete. Save your work often.

13. Make sure you pay attention to the deadlines of each grading unit.

14. Your instructor will be grading assignments almost every day. Some days might be early morning other times later at night. (http://www.cuyamaca.edu/steve.weinert/DSC06461.jpg)

15. Summer session your instructor graded for over 300 miles.

16. You instructor goes to bed at 9:00 pm so any work submitted after 9:00 pm will not be checked until the next morning.  Please note this if you are working close to deadlines!!! 

17. If assignments are turned in prior to deadlines, then will have the ability to get full credit (pending the quality of your work). 

18. You instructor will not be on the computer 24 hours a day. Sometimes problems will have to be dealt with later.  You instructor will take into account the timestamp of the e-mail.

19. There are some activities in the course that are not required and do not add to your grade. 

    • You will not get any points for completing anything beyond the assignments in each section

    • Extra actives will increase you understanding of the material, and help determine if you are ready for assessments.

20. In the Chat area of the communication link, feel free to ask questions to whoever is online. Beware of bad answers!

21. You instructor will answer any questions that you have about the course.. but you instructor cannot give personal advice.

PLEASE NOTE:  You must complete the parts in the sequence provided.  When a new part becomes available, you still must finish the previous unit before the deadlines!!!!   If you are going to be gone (away from your computer) for any length of time, make sure you plan ahead and have enough time to complete the unit before it is removed from the server. If you get behind.. making up time becomes very difficult.

Here is a brief description of the types of assignments that you will have this semester

Quiz: This is like a multiple choice test. There are different points values based on the number of chapters or number of questions on the quiz. These are book generated, and scored by the computer with limited feedback. A quiz can be taken twice with your highest grade recorded.

Short answers: These are short essay questions which you must find the correct answer in the text book or the web. To get full credit for the answer, you must also put the page number or web site as a reference.

Essay: This is an open ended question with no specific answer to be found in the text. You job is to take the course material and apply it to the topic question. To get full credit you must prove (use sources) that you understand the material.

Discussion: This will be a dialog between students and the teacher, where questions will be asked and student responses will guide the discussion. (look for essay questions to be generated from discussion). The points value will be determined based on the number of posts, and the content of the posts that you provide.

Exam: This is a test at the end of the unit, in which you will be asked to answer multiple choice, true false, and matching questions. The points are based on the number of chapters covered during the unit and the amount of questions on the exam.  You will be asked 30 questions and only have 30 minutes to finish the test.  Make sure you study before you take the test!  There will not be time to look up the answers...

Diagrams: You will be given some diagrams which you will have to fill in the labels.

Cause/effect: These assignment will be when there are alternatives in theories, and you must take information about both theories and then list Pro-and Con- arguments.

Web Search: This assignment you will search the web to find information about specific questions beyond the scope of the textbook.

Survey: Here is where I collect data about you and your behavior. They are given during different times during the semester, and the points values (most often bonus points) will be determined by the amount of time to fill out the survey.

Video: You will be required to watch a few videos on the web.  You will write a reaction to them and answer some specific questions based on viewing the videos.

Pod cast: I will put 10 to 30 minute clips from radio programs onto the web. You should listen to them and then write your reaction to what was being said, and how it relates to the course material.

At the conclusion of this course you will be expected to

a)       Critically analyze scientific methods and apply these methods when evaluating sexual information and concepts

b)       Differentiate between biological differences and social/cultural influences on gender formation and role expectation

c)       Distinguish between the various definitions and theories of attraction and love

d)       Utilize communication concepts in resolving relationship issues

e)       Compare and contrast the pros and cons of various sexual behaviors

f)         Delineate the various components of sexual orientation and contrast the social issues involved

g)       Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of birth control methods

h)       Delineate the stages of pregnancy and childbirth, the causes of infertility, and issues regarding abortion

i)         List and distinguish between the various sexual issues and concerns during childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and aging

j)         Identify and evaluate sexual problems and their treatment options

k)       Distinguish fact from opinion regarding the definition of abnormality and atypical sexual behavior

l)         Use STD factual information to make informed decisions regarding sexual health

m)     Differentiate choice from coercion in issues of rape, prostitution, and pornography

Here is a list of assignments and the approximate dates by which they should be completed. Most people work at their own pace.

Remember: the units are due on the dates specified.  

Behavior not allowed during class...

Here are some things that have happened in my online classes.  All could warrant a 0 on the assignment, or even removal from the course or expulsion from the college (pending academic review).  It is amazing what people will try to get away with.

• Someone else taking the class for you... buy your certificate elsewhere!

• Plagiarizing from any source.

• Using an online dictionary as your academic source.

• Use racial slurs, derogatory language, profanity, or abusive language on posts or assignments.

• General harassment, or singling out of any one individual in the course as a focus of your attention (please do not use this course to try and "pick up ___(fill in sexual preference)"

• Site the Wikipedia for anything

• Having two exams turned in from the same computer (IP Address) 5 minutes apart from each other with the same answers. 

• Not doing any work, and then contacting the instructor AFTER the deadline saying your computer was not functional.

• Not completing assignments then requesting more time, or just a higher grade.

• Posting of your personal businesses opportunities, overseas family who need an American bank account to transfer money into, chain letters, or any other web junk that interferes with the course content.

• TXT SPCH!  pls dnt wrk L8. LOL OMG Use real words... and college level language :)

• Please do not attempt to convert any member of the class to your religious affiliation.  Let them contact you if they are interested.

• Posting naked photos, or links to offensive material photos,  of yourself (or others) in the discussion board or other areas of course content.

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