FYE 1220  - First-Year Seminar  ---  Fall 2009
Theme:  Computer Connections RIG
Section JU, CRN 86909
Thursday, 12:30-1:45pm
Newton 1103

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Instructor Contact Information

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Course Information

Catalog Description: Thematic seminar designed to promote information literacy skills and support students' cognitive and affective integration into the University community.  Required during the first semester for all students new to the University (except for transfer students with 30 hours or more); students may NOT withdraw.

This section focuses on the information literacy skills required in a digital age.  Students will be encouraged to consider differences (and similarities) between written and visual communication; how computer games encourage us to think in certain ways; and/or how peer-to-peer (p2p) technologies, social networking (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter), and issues of intellectual property and plagiarism affect our academic, professional, and personal lives.

Course Objectives:  Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate print and electronic information for its currency, relevancy, authority, accuracy, and purpose.
2. Apply documentation guidelines for print and electronic information used in assignments.
3. Articulate what constitutes plagiarism and avoid representing the work of others as their own. 

Recommended Texts:

• Any good college dictionary.
• A good handbook of grammar and usage, such as The Longman Handbook or the Harbrace Handbook.
• A style guide such as The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MLA), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Columbia Guide to Online Style (COS) - also available in the reference section of the Henderson Library, or other style guide appropriate for your major (check with the reference librarians to locate a suitable style manual).

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Honesty

All members of the academic community recognize the necessity of being honest with themselves and with others.  The integrity of the educational experience is diminished by cheating in class, plagiarizing, lying, and employing other methods of deceit or dishonesty.  (See Student Conduct Code for definitions of Academic Dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarizing.)  The need for honest relations among all members of the community is essential.  Students will be held responsible for academic integrity and honesty in all work done in this course.  The instructor retains the right to set the minimum academic penalty for dishonesty in the course.

Special Needs

If you have a special need (a physical or learning disability) that reequires special assistance, please let the instructor know during the first week of class.  We will work with the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) to meet your needs, if possible.  For more information on academic accomodations, see the SDRC Web site or contact them by phone at 912-478-1566.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory.  My attendance policy is firm: no excuses are allowed.  Please make arrangements with another student early in the semester to ensure that, should you need to be absent, you will still have access to  information discussed in class.  Since assignments are available online in GeorgiaView, late assignments will NOT be accepted.

Grades

Note: Grades for this seminar section will make up 75% of your final grade; the remaining 25% of your final grade will come from the First-Year Orientation section.

Distribution of final grade:  Attendance and Class Participation  Quizzes Assignments First-Year Orientation 25% 25% 25% 25%

90-100  A 80-89  B 70-79  C 60-69  D Below  F

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Course Calendar

Note: Unless otherwise specified, ALL assignments/readings are due by the beginning of class on the date shown  Late assignments will not be accepted.

Date	Topic/Assignment*
8/20	Course Introduction
8/27	Evaluating Information: Units 2, 3, and 4
9/3	Evaluating Information: Units 5, 6, and 7
9/10	Evaluating Information: Units 8 & 9
9/17	Evaluating Information: Quiz
9/24	Academic Research: Unit 2.1 and 2.2
10/1	Academic Research: Assignment
10/8	Academic Research: Assignment (Cont'd.)
10/15	Using Information Ethically: Units 2.1 and 2.2
10/22	Using Information Ethically: Units 2.3 and 2.4
10/29	Using Information Ethically: Units 3.1 and 4
11/5	Using Information Ethically: Citation Quiz
11/12	Using Information Ethically: Assignment
11/19	Using Information Ethically: Assignment (Cont'd.); Course evaluations; Discussion of Final Exam projects
11/26	No Class - Thanksgiving Break
12/3	Last Day of Classes - Attendance optional
12/8	Final Exam: 12:30-2:30 p.m.  Newton 2210

*Unfortunately, Georgia View does not "play well" with either Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 or Microsoft Office 2007.  You will need to use either an earlier version of IE or an alternative browser, such as Firefox.  Make sure that you run the browser check and enable JAVA and pop-up's!  For Microsoft Office documents, to access versions in 2007 (.docx), you will need to save the files to your local hard drive or disk and THEN open the document(s).  For additional information, please access the online tutorials for Georgia View available for students, or contact the GeorgiaVIEW Online Support Center - 24/7 Help  at 866-588-5293.

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