NSM 21: Freshman Seminar: “Becoming an Educated Person”

GE Area E

Part of Learning Community 27 with Chem 4 (Dr. Jeff Paradis)

 

Instructor:  Dr. Melanie Loo, Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences

Office:  Seq 414          Phone:  278-6573        E-mail:  mwloo@csus.edu

Office Hours:  Friday 9:00-9:50 and by appointment

Website URL:  www.csus.edu/indiv/l/loom

Peer Mentor:  Michelle Bruce                         E-mail:  Michelle_bruce4@yahoo.com

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

NSM 21 is a freshman seminar intended to provide students with an introduction to the nature and possible meanings of higher education, and the functions and resources of the University. This course is designed to help students develop and exercise fundamental academic success strategies and to improve their basic learning skills. The seminar will also provide students with the opportunity to interact with fellow students and the seminar leader and to build a community of academic and personal support.

 

 

COURSE GOALS/LEARNING OUTCOMES:

I.  Enlarging the understanding of the ideas and values related to education, which will include:

 

  • The philosophy and history of higher education and the CSUS mission
  • The relationship of education to personal development
  • The significance of the teaching and learning process

 

II. Demonstration of active learning and improvement of intellectual skills:

 

  • Academic skills (speaking, writing, note-taking, study skills, time management)
  • Evidence that student is taking responsibility for his/her own education and development
  • Recognizing and avoiding academic dishonesty

 

III. Developing information competence and computer literacy

 

IV. Demonstration and understanding of “self” as an integrated biological, psychological, and social being:

  • Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the multicultural nature of society and this University

 

V. Acquisition of organized knowledge:

  • Reading about, writing on, and discussion of course topics

 

 

My plan is to address surviving in the university, exploring the many great experiences a university education offers, and developing a plan for focusing on particular educational goals.

TEXT/MATERIALS:

  • Textbook :  Tashiro, Lynn (editor).  First Year Seminar:  Perspective and Empowerment
  • Occasional supplemental reading specific to the section
  • Weekly calendar (required for all students)

·         CSUS catalog (on-line version sufficient)

 

EVALUATION:

Written Assignments                                                                                                       155 pts

ú         Weekly responses to questions on assigned readings                                      (23 x 4 pts)

ú         Weekly journal entries (see guidelines sheet)                                                  (13 x 3 pts)

ú         Career Exploration Report                                                                            (14 pts)

ú         Report on Attendance at an Extracurricular Event      (see guidelines sheet)    (10 pts) 

e.g. Presentation by One Book author Julie Otsuka, Monday, October 5, 7:00 pm;

       Other Events on the Campus Calendar

                    

Participation                                                                                                                       25 pts

Attending Class, Contributing to Discussions, and Engaging in Activities

Oral Presentations                                                                                                             20 pts

ú  Oral Presentation on Campus Resources                                                           (1 x 5)

ú  Panel Discussion on Social/Ethical Issue                                                            (1 x 10)

ú  Panel Discussion on Career Options                                                                  (1 x 5)

Midterm exam (multiple choice and essay questions)                                                   100 pts

Final exam (multiple choice and essay questions)                                                         100 pts

TOTAL                                                                                                                             400 pts

 

LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BUT WILL BE PENALIZED BY HAVING ONE POINT DEDUCTED FOR EACH DAY THE ASSIGNMENT IS LATE.  MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL ONLY BE GIVEN IF I AM CONTACTED ON OR BEFORE THE DAY OF THE EXAM AND YOU PROVIDE A SERIOUS AND COMPELLING REASON FOR MISSING THE EXAM (e.g. serious illness in yourself or a close family member)

 

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

      Up to 10 points of extra credit will be available for

ü      Meeting with your Peer Mentor at agreed upon times (2 points per meeting)

ü      Attending more than one extracurricular event and writing a reflective summary of each event (4 pts)

ü      Participating in a service project and writing a reflective summary (4 pts)

ü      Completing other additional assignments to be announced

 

GRADING

     Final grades will be awarded for the  following levels of performance

A=95%-100%,  A- = 90%-94%                B+=86%-89%,  B  = 83%-85%,  B- = 80%-82%

C+=76%-79%,  C = 73%-75%,   C- =  70%-72%           D+=66%-69%,  D = 63%-65%,  

D- = 60%-62%                  F=59% and below

 

FURLOUGH INFORMATION:  For the past 10 years the CSU system has suffered chronic under-funding.  This year, because of the state economic crisis, the budget cuts are draconian, $584 million, the worst ever in decades.  The CSU administration is attempting to manage these cuts by dramatically increasing student fees and by furloughing almost all University employees, including faculty, staff, and administrators.   A furlough means mandatory un-paid days off for employees; there are 18 of these this year for faculty.

 

For students this means that on some days the campus will be closed.  The library will have shorter hours and many campus support services will be decreased or eliminated. It will, for example, be more difficult to get signatures to meet deadlines. Some classes you need may have been cut from the class schedule or are full.

 

The days when I’m forced to cancel class because of the furloughs are marked on your syllabus below.  Some of these days may be instructional days, and, as the CSU administration and the faculty labor union said, “cuts of this magnitude will naturally have consequences for the quality of education.”  Some of these furlough days, listed below, will be taken when class would normally have met. Alternative assignments may be given to make up for the lost classes. 

 

If you would like to take action, or simply learn more, I strongly recommend you contact the Students for Quality Education at CSU Sacramento:

        e-mail: csus.sqe@gmail.com                          web: http://www.allianceforthecsu.org/signup.html

 

Tentative Class Schedule

 

Week of

Topics

Readings

 

Aug. 31

 

Introductions

Becoming Familiar with Expectations and Resources

 

 

“The Difference between High School and College,” pp. 63-66;

Standing Up for Yourself…,” pp. 20-30

 

Sept. 7

 

Sept. 7:  Labor Day Holiday

Goals,

Syllabi, Time Management

 

"Tips on Becoming Personally Effective," pp. 31-36;  “Why I Don’t Let Students Cut ...,” pp.76-78; "Student Expectations...," pp. 10-12; "Decoding Your Professors," pp. 67-75

 

Sept. 14

 

Learning Styles and Teaching Styles;

 Preparing for Exams

9/16:  Team Building on the Ropes Course

“Active Learning,” pp. 37-44;  "Freshmen Can Be Taught to think..., " pp.13-16; "Understanding Who is Smart,"  pp. 3-9

 

Sept. 21

 

9/21:  Campus Tour (Student Presentations)

Student and Faculty Roles and Responsibilities

Academic Honesty

 

“Ideas as Property,”  pp. 79-84; “On Academic Freedom,” pp. 58-62;  CSUS Website; "Malcolm X;  A Homemade Education,"  pp. 112-115;  "The Educated Person,"  pp. 102-104

 

Sept. 28

 

History of Colleges and Universities,

The Mission of our University

9/30:  Library Tour (Library 2024)

“American Higher Education,” pp. 47-53; "It's More than Just the Trees," pp. 54-57; "What Does Society Need from Higher Ed.?" pp. 105-111

 

Oct. 5

 

Different ways of reading and writing;

Developing as an individual and as a member of your university,  profession,  community, society

 

When the Emperor Was Divine (our One Book); "Defining a Global Perspective," pp. 116-118; “Two Essential Goals,” pp. 166-168; “The Developing College Student,” pp. 152-157

 

 

 

Oct. 12

 

 

 

Diversity and Intercultural Competence

10/14:  Study Abroad Presentation

"Fitting In," pp. 161-165; "The Face of Racism,"  pp. 193-196; "Mother Tongue," pp. 197-203; "How Does It Feel ...," pp. 204-208; "Growing Up With Two Moms,"  pp. 218-220; "What Could I Know of Racism?" pp. 224-228

 

Oct. 19

 

Lifelong Learning, Values in a Democracy, and Developing a Philosophy of Life

Panel Discussions on Social Issues

“Developing a Personal System of Values,” pp. 308-317 ; “Ethics and Moral Decision Making,” pp.277-286; "Outlooks and Insights..." pp. 321-324

 

Oct. 26

 

Preparing Your Own Study Guide

Oct. 28:  Midterm

 

 

 

Nov. 2

 

11/2:  Wellness Presentation

The Meaning and Value of a University Education

Having a Degree and Being Educated,” pp.121-125; "The Baccalaureate Degree..." pp. 126-130;  "A New Debate..." pp. 131-134

 

Nov. 9

The Role of General Education in the University Curriculum (Michelle Bruce)

Veteran's Day Holiday Nov. 11

 “14 Ways of Looking at Electives,” pp244-259; Catalog Search

 

 

Nov. 16

Choosing a Major and Planning a Curriculum

11/18:  Student Financial Services Presentation

 

“Major Decisions,” pp. 233-240; “College Major Doesn’t Mean All That Much,” pp. 241-243

 

Nov. 23

 

Nov 25:  Furlough Day

Nov. 27-28: Thanksgiving Day Holiday

"The College Dropout Boom," pp. 255-264;  "Rigor Redefined," pp. 266-271

 

Nov. 30

 

The Relationship between Education and Work

Resources at the Career Center

"Juan and Sasha...," pp. 272-276; :"Using the Decision-Making Process...," pp. 277-281; "Jobsearch: Chance or Plan?," pp.282-288; Websearch

 

Dec. 7

Panel Discussions on Career Options

Tying Up Loose Ends

Evaluating What We Have Learned

"Job Outlook for College Grads.," pp. 291-301; "Work and Personal Satisfaction," pp. 302-310

 

December 18

 

Final Examination

 Friday 8-10