AAS 345 OL - Contemporary Asian American Issues

About the course

Just to reiterate a few points from the entry quiz,

• What type of learner are you? The online format is different, obviously, from the normal classroom. This is particularly important in relation to the type of learner that you are. Of the three types - visual, audio, and kinesthetic - I find that audio learners struggle the most because they need to hear everything directly from the professor. I'm not saying that you can't still succeed in this course but it's something to keep in mind. Everything runs through the website and in many ways, the online class is primarily a visual format. Also, I have found that students who are more self-motivated and independent learners have an easier time because it's really up to you to show up and do the work each week. I am not there to remind you each week like in a regular classroom format.
• Technical problems are inevitable. It's Murphy's Law x10 for the online format. If anything can go wrong, it will. This is one of the real challenges with the online format, especially for those who aren't particularly comfortable with the Internet or with computers in general. But, the most important thing is to be patient, be flexible, and be persistant. I try to do all those things and believe me, there will be weeks when I have the same problems as well. There are times when I feel like smashing my laptop against the wall as well, like when it crashes before I can save a huge update to the website, but just try and be patient. If there was some technical issue, you will not be marked off for turning something in late. Bottomline is to communicate with me, let me know what is going on and I will do my best to work with you and find a solution or a work-around for the inevitable technical challenges.
• This class does require weekly effort. Some of you have probably taken other online courses. A lot of teachers are using this format to do independent studies type courses where you just basically have one or two major assignments and you don't necessarily have to show up on a weekly basis or really interact much with the professor or fellow students. As you might imagine, every teacher has a different philosophy and every online course is going to be different. What I try to do is to ensure that you learn as much as you would if you were taking this course with me in a classroom. I think that the workload is reasonable but I think that it is more demanding or involved than most online courses. I think that you learn more but of course it does require more effort on your part.
• The website is always a work in progress. I've never had to say this before but after a certain amount of complaining and bad-mouthing, after the fact, in course evaluations, I have to state the obvious, the course website will never be 100% finished or perfect. I am working on it from semester to semester, trying to update readings, assignments, and of course to address the numerous technical issues, all in the hope of keeping the course as up-to-date as possible and as interesting and educational as possible. This is actually a completely new website and set-up so when you find something that doesn't make sense, send me an email or post on the course blog and let me know so that I can fix it.

Student responsibilities

I do everything that I can to make the class work but a great deal of whether or not you learn or gain anything will depend upon your effort. Please read the following carefully. Registration for this website implies that you have read, understood and agree to comply with the stated terms and conditions in their entirety.  I reserve the right to change and modify the Terms and Conditions without notice, and you agree by continuing to use the site to be bound by any such modification.

• Read the website and announcements! - Literally, I can't tell you how many times that a student has emailed me out of the blue during week ten and said, gee, I couldn't find the website or how many times I get an email asking about the midterm and the student says, it's on the website? So, BOOKMARK the course website and make sure that you check them on a regular basis. I use the blog feature and the front page of the website to post announcements, updates and to respond to general questions so make sure to read it on a regular basis. Better yet, you can subscribe to the RSS feed or via email and that way, whenever anything new is posted on the website, you'll receive a notice.
• If it says something on the website, that's what it is - In other words, there is no way that I can individually email every student, every week, with a personalized explanation of what is due that week. My email volume varies between 30 to 150 emails a day and there is just not enough time in the day to respond to each individual student. In general, please check the website first and then if you still can't find the answer to your question, email me or better yet, post on the course website. It makes much more sense for me to answer the question once on the website instead of ten individual responses to the same question. It will make my life a lot easier!
• Be an engaged and honest learner - In other words, meet me half way. Do your best, keep up with the class, make an effort, and be open to both sharing as well as listening and learning from others. I almost never have problems with personal attacks or flame-wars but it goes without saying that such behavior will not be tolerated and a student who cannot be respectful of others will not be allowed to participate.
• Emoticons are your friends : ) - Keep in mind that things said in an online format can sound a lot harsher or be taken the wrong way. Believe me, I make a constant effort to not sound so harsh in emails or in online discussion because I'm usually trying to be short and to the point. In any respect, emoticons : ) are your friends and just keep in mind that a joke might not be taken as such.

By registering on this website, you agree to the following:

I have read the Student Responsibilities and I understand that this course is 100% online and that I have certain responsibilities as a student such as checking the course website on a regular basis and that my success in the course, as reflected in the final grade, will depend upon the effort that I make to participate and contribute this semester.

If you do not agree, you can request to cancel your registration on this website and you should then make sure to drop this course before the end of week three.
 

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