AAS 345 OL - Contemporary Asian American Issues

Grading

... is based on a scale of 100 points as follows:    

Some say my classes are tough but I prefer to think of them as challenging. I'm not here to waste your time or mine. If I can't get you to learn something useful then what's the point?

With that said, I do want you to succeed. For that reason I am upfront about my teaching philosophy, my pet peeves as a teacher and what it will take to succeed in this course.

Teaching philosophy

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

I believe in the principle of 'active learning'. Only through the active process of applying new knowledge and information do we truly learn and grow.

The traditional approach to education tends to teach based on outcomes and a defined canon. I disagree with this and instead want to see you develop critical thinking skills as you also gain a critical understanding of the Asian American experience.

If you already have all the answers, don't take this class. If you intend on studying only for the test, don't take this class. I am not interested in your ability to memorize what I say and repeat it back to me only to have you purge it two seconds after the test is over.

How to be successful in this course

I am interested in your ability to take the data and concepts that we look at together as a class and how you are able to apply that knowledge to the world as you see and live it. I am interested in how well you are able to take what you learn and to apply it. I cannot stress this enough. If you plan on doing only the minimum and attempting to maintain a low profile, don’t take this class, it won’t be productive for you or me.

In essence you must be willing to actively engage the subject matter and to take your time in this course seriously in order to succeed. I invest a great deal of time trying to make the class and class time interesting and productive. However, this also depends upon your commitment to doing the work assigned outside of class and coming to class prepared both in terms of a positive attitude and having completed the assigned readings and tasks.

This class can be fun and challenging but learning is basically a two-way street. Your success will depend upon your willingness and commitment to being an active learner.

How not to succeed in this course

• Make the minimum effort
• Miss class on a regular basis
• Do not turn in assignments when they are due
• Turn assignments in late if at all
• Complain about how the assignment/class is too hard
• Wait till the very last minute before you do any of the assignments
• Don't bother with readings, your too busy!

A note on attendance

Because we meet once a week, your attendance and timeliness is crucial. I know that all of you lead busy lives, family members get sick, work is a drag, my dog ate my homework, etc, etc. However, my time and your time in this class is also of value and by enrolling in this class, you accept the responsibility of being in class and doing your part like everyone else.

I am not unreasonable and for this reason I am somewhat flexible. However, keep in mind that the third and each subsequent absence or no-show will result in a lowering of your grade, approximately half-a-grade for each absence. Verifiable and documented medical excuses are the only exception to this rule.

Being that this particular class is online, there is even less excuse, at least in terms of traffic, parking, etc. If you cannot make it to our online meetings and sessions on a regular and timely basis, especially since it is only once a week, don’t take it. As you might already be figuring out, turning in things late is also a bad idea. I am very flexible about receiving assignment by email, fax, in-person, messenger, or whatever, but I want it on time.