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| syllabus | Readings | GRADING | notes |
Palomar College Online
AIS 105
North American Indian Art History
This is the homepage for all hybrid and online sections.
Special note to hybrid/online students. If you are a struggling student think twice about what it will take to succeed in an online class. Read this editorial from the New York Times. Answer the questions highlighted in yellow that are interspersed in the editorial. Respond to the items and total up the numbers of your answers. For example, the number for the answer, "The only help I need is for my teacher to stay out of my way." is one (1). See the notes about the scoring at the end.
| New York Times - editorial Published: February 18, 2013 |
|
"The Trouble With Online College |
"...College administrators...would be irresponsible not to consider two serious issues. |
| "First, student attrition rates —
around 90 percent for some huge online courses — appear to be a problem
even in small-scale online courses when compared with traditional
face-to-face classes. Second, courses delivered solely online may be
fine for highly skilled, highly motivated people, but they are
inappropriate for struggling students who make up a significant portion
of college enrollment and who need close contact with instructors to
succeed. Which type of student are you? Pick the one that matches what you know about yourself. 1. The only help I need is for my teacher to stay out of my way. 2. I need help once in a while, but I get along very well on my own. 3. I need help fairly often and I am not hesitant to ask for it. 4. I do noticeably better when I have lots of help. 5. I don't have a recent history of asking for help when I need it. |
| "Online classes are already common in
colleges, and, on the whole, the record is not encouraging. According to
Columbia University’s Community College Research Center, for example,
about seven million students — about a third of all those enrolled in
college — are enrolled in what the center describes as traditional
online courses. These typically have about 25 students and are run by
professors who often have little interaction with students. Over all,
the center has produced nine studies covering hundreds of thousands of
classes in two states, Washington and Virginia. The picture the studies
offer of the online revolution is distressing. |
| The research has shown over and over again
that community college students who enroll in online courses are
significantly more likely to fail or withdraw than those in traditional
classes, which means that they spend hard-earned tuition dollars and get
nothing in return. Worse still, low-performing students who may be just
barely hanging on in traditional classes tend to fall even further
behind in online courses." Will you be wasting your money in an online class? Pick the one that best matches what you know about your situation. 1. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, money is never a problem. 2. I am going to finish this class, so there is no chance I am wasting my money. 3. I struggle financially all of the time, but I am looking for a better future. I hope I can complete this class. 4. I have financial obligations and no time to earn more money. It stresses me when I should be sleeping. |
| "A five-year study, issued in 2011, tracked 51,000 students enrolled
in Washington State community and technical colleges. It found that
those who took higher proportions of online courses were less likely to
earn degrees or transfer to four-year colleges. The reasons for such
failures are well known. Many students, for example, show up at college
(or junior college) unprepared to learn, unable to manage time and
having failed to master basics like math and English. How well prepared are you to be an independent learner? 1. My skills are absolutely top-notch. My grammar and syntax are nearly perfect. 2. My research and expressive and receptive language are better than average. 3. My skills are average. I will struggle, but I will get it. 4. Honestly, I struggle. |
| "Lacking confidence as well as competence, these students need
engagement with their teachers to feel comfortable and to succeed. What
they often get online is estrangement from the instructor who rarely can
get to know them directly. Colleges need to improve online courses
before they deploy them widely. Moreover, schools with high numbers of
students needing remedial education should consider requiring at least
some students to demonstrate success in traditional classes before
allowing them to take online courses. How confident do you feel? How competent do you feel? 1. I feel competent and confident that I will succeed with a grade of "A." 2. I feel competent and confident that I will succeed with at least a grade of "B." 3. I feel confident that I can make a "C" or better in this class. 4. I am going to struggle to earn a grade of "C" in this class. |
| "Interestingly, the center found that students in hybrid classes —
those that blended online instruction with a face-to-face component —
performed as well academically as those in traditional classes. But
hybrid courses are rare, and teaching professors how to manage them is
costly and time-consuming. Is there a hybrid available to you? 1. No. 2. Yes or I don't know. |
|
"The online revolution offers intriguing opportunities for broadening
access to education. But, so far, the evidence shows that poorly
designed courses can seriously shortchange the most vulnerable students." Do you think this course is designed and presented in a way that you can understand and follow? 1. Yes. 2. No or don't know. Are you a "vulnerable" student as described in this article? 1. No I am not. 2. No, not exactly, but I could use some extra help and I will come and get it 3. Yes, I see my situation reflected in this article and I won't have the time/resources/motivation to get the help I will need. If you scored a 14 or higher you may be a vulnerable student and in my opinion are at great risk of getting a poor grade. It doesn't have to be that way, but you will have to take some action, now, to avoid becoming an online statistic. Please, contact me so we can make an appointment to figure out what you will need to succeed. "One should not be embarrassed for needing help, one should be embarrassed for not seeking it." - Ellie Greenwood |
| notes |