With Spring 2009 semester fast approaching, Blackboard is being updated with the course content, I just received the welcome letter for PSYC 371 class, Theories in Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Dear 371 Students,
First, I want to welcome you once again to LU PSYCH 371. I highly recommend that you do your very best to stay on top of your course material. This course is demanding and if you allow yourself to fall behind it could become very difficult for you to catch up. So please do your very best to keep current with your assignments. I have noticed from previous classes that there seems to be some frequently asked questions about the class and how it works. Below, I have listed a few pieces of information that might help to clarify some of those things that seem to be questioned on a regular basis. Please read through this list and then save this information for future reference.
Getting Started:
I recommend you start by clicking the About Your Course button in the menu to the left, where you’ll find information critical to your success in this course. After completely reviewing that area, become familiar with the other menu options. Then begin your study by clicking Course Content.
EXAMS:
You have an 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete each exam. Once you open the exam, you must complete it. You may not stop, leave the exam, and then come back to it later. Going over the time limit for your exam will result in a half point penalty for each minute over. All exams are due by Saturday 11:59 PM (EST).
ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments/papers should be submitted as Microsoft Office Word file attachments. Please do not write in the comments box or use Word Perfect or any other word processing program.
It is your responsibility to keep a copy of all your assignments.
Please make sure that you keep a copy of all your assignments. Unfortunately, files sometimes get corrupted or lost in transfer. If this happens and you keep a copy…you will be fine.
Once you submit an assignment (exam or paper), you will see an exclamation point in the slot allotted for the grading of an assignment. This means I have received your assignment, but I have not yet graded it. Note: You will not see an exclamation point in your grade slot when you post an item on the discussion board. You can tell that it was successfully posted, just by going back into the discussion board and checking.
The Original Discussion Board Comment is always due on Wednesday at 11:59 PM, EST. All assignments (exams, 2nd discussion board comments, and research paper) for each weekly module are due Saturday at 11:59 PM, EST of the week that corresponds to the module.
GRADING:
Once I have posted your grade, you can access my comments and feedback by clicking on the grade in your grade book. Please click on your grade and read the comments I have provided before e-mailing me with more specific questions about why I graded a particular assignment in the way I did. Points will be deducted for late assignments and exams. For late assignments, 5 points will be deducted for every day after the due date it is submitted. For late exams, 5 points will be deducted for every day after the due date it is taken. After 1 week, a 0 will be given for any assignments or exams that have not been completed. If you have an emergency or special need, please send an e-mail to me with your request, explanation, or excuse, and we will discuss it. If there are valid reasons for which you need to submit an assignment or exam late, we can possibly work it out, but you need to contact me as soon as possible when you are not able to turn in an assignment or take an exam on time. Also, if you have trouble taking an exam, and/or something happens to your test to lock you out or cause an error message, just contact me as soon as possible so I can get you started again. If your internet service goes out, please make arrangements with someone else or go to a local library or some other public establishment with internet service in order to get your assignments in. Also, you can call me on my cell phone and let me know what the problem is.
APA FORMAT:
For those of you who are not familiar with APA format, you can either go to your local library and check out the APA Publication Manual, 5th ed. or purchase one for your reference. For those of you who prefer to get your information online, you can do a Google search for APA format or you can go to the following sites: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html and http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html. The above information and the Final Paper directions and guidelines sheet should give you sufficient guidelines for completion of your paper.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND E-MAILS:
Please regularly check and use your liberty.edu e-mail account!
Please check and read all announcements posted for the class on Blackboard every time you go into the course, just to make sure you are not missing any announcements or important postings. You are responsible for all information posted there. You are also responsible for all e-mails sent to your liberty e-mail account.
As new questions or pertinent reminders or relevant information arises, I will send new e-mails and/or post new announcements, so please be watching for them. If I don’t answer your questions in these e-mails or you need further clarification, please do not hesitate to send an e-mail to me. Just remember to put your section in the subject line so I can answer you as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Computer Related Problems:
If you have a computer related problem loading information, accessing a web site, or attaching files please contact the computer help desk. They are the experts and are best suited to help you work through any computer related problems.
I look forward to working with you over the next 8 weeks!
Professor Chuck Rodgers MA, LPC