As you can see from the Lesson Schedule, this course is divided into 4 general topics. We will spend from 1 week to 1 month on each topic. Each Lesson is divided into several modules. In each Module you will find the following information:

1. A list of learning objectives for the module to let you know where you should be headed.
2. Reading assignments.
3. In most cases, a PowerPoint presentation with Audio.
4. Homework assignments covering material from the readings and/or the PowerPoint presentation.
5. Quizzes covering material from the above sources.
6. Occasional threaded discussion sessions, which you must participate in.

You will have from one to three short homework assignments due each week. The homework will be downloadable from the web, and the due dates will be posted on the website. The solutions to each homework will be posted on the web on the day after the due date. Therefore, NO LATE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS CAN BE ACCEPTED. THIS MEANS YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST STAY ON THIS SCHEDULE. You should plan to get ahead of schedule if you know you will have other obligations during a given week. If you review the homework problems before you do your readings and/or audio presentations, it should not take you long to do the homework. The homework is intended to require you to write down ideas, which is one way of learning.

PowerPoint / Audio Presentations

The PowerPoint and Audio presentations are designed to be viewed simultaneously. First open the PowerPoint presentation, and minimize it. You may want to print it out (with as many as 6 slides per page – see PowerPoint printing options) in order to take notes. Then open the Audio presentation, maximize the PowerPoint Presentation, and start listening, taking notes as you go. You will be prompted by the audio recording as to what slide you should be on.

Assessment Quizzes

There will be a few assessment quizzes at the beginning of the semester, right after the introduction overview. These grades will not count toward your total course grade. The purpose of the assessment quizzes is to let me assess your incoming skills in order to give you personal counsel in case you need to review certain concepts as you begin the course. The quizzes will be open book, open notes.

Quizzes

All the standard quizzes in the course are open book, open notes, but not "open neighbor"! Even if you live in the same location as a classmate, you must do these alone. The quizzes have a multiple choice format, to get you used to taking the certification exam, in the event you go forward to get an operator's license. Therefore you would be cheating yourself as well as others if you complete a quiz as a team effort. You will only be given one chance to take each quiz – just as would be the case during a certification exam. If you are working over a modem, be sure to complete any quiz within 20 minutes or so, otherwise your modem hookup may dump you before you are done. The quizzes are graded according to the total number of questions, not out of a total score of 100.

Threaded Discussion

Threaded discussions are part of this web-based course in order to take the place of classroom discussions. They require you to discuss various topics with your teammates, within a certain window of time. You will be graded on the basis of your input. One part of your grade will be based upon quantity, but 2/3 of your grade will be based upon quality – both clarity of ideas, and critical thinking. A grading table is available so that you can see what is meant by clarity and critical thinking.

Exams

There will be one midterm and one final. If you are here on the Moscow campus, I, or my representative, will administer your exam at a time and place that we agree upon – probably the EP 4^th Floor conference room. All Moscow people must take the exam at the same time. If you are distant, you must find a proctor to administer your exam. The selection of an independent, non-biased proctor protects you from potential allegations of academic dishonesty. Students must recruit and select a proctor who has the following qualifications:

1. the proctor must be willing to certify that they will follow the exam instructions, and must meet one of the following qualifications
   1. a faculty or staff member at a local educational institution
   2. a work supervisor
   3. a US military education officer
   4. a public librarian
2. the proctor must not be a personal friend, work subordinate, family member, or other student.