Table of Contents
- Dialogues
- Where can I find the instructor?
- Who is the instructor?
- Why not use chat on Blackboard?
- When are assignments due?
- Will this course help me to be smarter?
- How do I get an A in the course?
- What happens if my email gets lost?
- How do I know if you got my email?
- How do I get in touch if I do not have email?
- Do I have to read everything the syllabus on line links to?
- Can I trust everything I read on the Internet?
- The course is full, can you sign me in?
- Incomplete Course Grade
Dialogues
Think of the dialogue as your way of discussing things with the others in the class. Since you do not have the chance to meet with one another in class or after, this electronic tool gives everyone the chance to do that. What would you say to one another about those topics or other things the topics do not mention?
Keep in mind that this dialogue will be open to everyone in the class. So you would not want to say something you would say privately to just one person. If you want to send me a message that you do not intend to be shared with the whole class make sure you do that via email instead of posting it on Blackboard. I am not sure if it would be bad to say something like “It would be fun for those that can meet at the (insert name of establishment) at (insert time and date) to discuss this!” just keep in mind there are some in the class not even in Alaska, and many not in Anchorage, so some people would not be able to make it. Even among those in Anchorage, having incredibly busy schedules is why some like Distance Courses. The only free time they might have is 2 AM in between jobs! (Ah! Boy am I glad I am retired!)
As far as my place in the dialogues is concerned: the instructor is supposed to have an occasional presence but make sure not to dominate. Hmmm. In other words, this is your forum to dialogue with one another and I should only pop in to correct a serious mistake or remind folks to be civil. I have to admit, there will probably be occasions when I won’t be able to help myself! But for the most part I will just be recording everyone’s level of participation for your course grade.
What happens if my email gets lost?
You should always keep copies of your work in case your email gets lost in cyberspace. Keep a copy of your work on your own disk or machine in case the e-mail system doesn't work right. If you are saving your work on a floppy disk you should periodically copy the disk to another disk as a back up. If something happens to your work you will have to resend it. I occasionally will receive incomplete attachments or no attachments at all when there is supposed to be an attachment. I do not give waivers for work I do not receive. Your grade depends on me getting the work required.
How do I know if you get my email?
Generally, if an email does not go through to the recipient you will receive a message that says it could not be delivered. I reply to all email I receive as soon as I can though this may often be as much as a few days. When tests are due and email is heavy I try to grade the work and reply with comments as I go. If I get too behind I may reply with a quick note that I have received it and will grade it later. Sometimes the server is down for one reason or another and when that happens email will not go through.
How do I get in touch if I do not have email?
In general, this should not be the case since virtually everything is done via email or Blackboard and e-mail is the best way to send me a message but if you have an emergency and do not have email at home and you do not have access to one of the computer labs on campus you can call me at the office at 786-7649 in Eagle River or 786-4458 where you can also leave a message. You can also call me at home when you have questions, 694-1023. I would prefer no calls after 8:00PM unless it is an emergency. I do not have a fax machine on my office phone so please do not try to fax materials to me!
Do I have to read everything the syllabus on the web links to?
There is no way anyone can read everything these links lead to. Many of the links I use are to complete texts. Usually, a linked text includes links and the texts on those links have links as well. I have heard that in 15 links you can go to anything there is on the Internet. Reading texts with hypertext markup language (html) is not linear reading but network reading that allows you to use the web-like connections to explore the Internet as you choose. An author can use this to replace end note and foot notes by linking items directly to the source of the item or idea. The advantage of this is tremendous in making the network of all persons past and present available on the web. The disadvantage of this is the added distraction that makes it difficult to get a simple answer to a simple question.
Can I trust everything I read on the Internet?
Yes, I know, this is certainly a silly question but what if the site of the web page is controlled by an authority you feel trustworthy? Have a look at this page for a wonderful description of some problems you might face.
Where can I find the instructor?
I have office hours in the Eagle River UAA building (CERC) Room 211 but during the summer they are by appointment only, so email me a time you would like to meet. I also have an office in the Philosophy Department in the Administration Building, 2nd floor. The Philosophy Department Office is Admin 252 and my office is 277. If you would like to arrange a meeting we can do that. You can check my schedule here. You can call me at my office phone 786-7649 or message phone 786-4458. My home phone is 694-1023. (Please no calls after 8PM.) The best way to get in touch is by email: wsjamison@alaska.edu
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Who is the instructor?
If you are curious about me I have a "brief" description of my history at http://wsjamison.uaa.alaska.edu/myhist.htm
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Why not use chat on Blackboard?
I have used chat and found it can only by used by some of the people some of the time, never by all of the people some of the time and certainly not by all of the people all of the time! The dialogue on the other hand waits for each student to have the time to read it and gives each of them a chance to send their comments if they want to say something. it is also possible for me to log each students comments in their own files and keep track of their participation. I also think chat has a tendency to become more like routine conversation about things not part of the course and so, is a waste of time. Actually, I am not even sure there is a chat there anymore. Perhaps video chat, but the same things apply.
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When are assignments due?
Follow the deadlines posted on the syllabus in order to avoid losing points for your work. Part of taking the course successfully is doing the work on time.
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Will this course help me to be smarter?
This is a very good question! I have been studying philosophy for many years and I still do dumb things. My wife, on the other hand, only took one Logic class together with me when we were both in college and the only thing that she did that might have been dumb was agreeing to marry me! I hope it was, at least, her favorite mistake!
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How do I get an A in the course?
This is a very good question! Avoid plagiarism!
Here is the Grade Key for the 201 Web course only:
Total things for a grade:
1. Weekly Papers: 50 % (each 150 word essay is worth 2 points) A = 2, B = 1, C = .5, D = .25, F = 0
An overall A = 50 -52, a B = 40 - 49, a C = 30 - 39, and a D = 20 - 29. (F = 0 )
| 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 |
| 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 |
| 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 |
| 116 | 117 | 118 | 119 | 120 |
| 121 | 122 | 123 | 124 | 125 |
| 126 |
Current overall points for papers: ___
2. Project : 25 % of the grade. A = 25 - 20, B = 15 -19, C = 10 - 14, D = 5 - 9, 4- = F.
3. Dialogues: 25 % of the grade each dialogue can be 2 points
| D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 |
| D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 | D10 |
| D11 | D12 | D13 |
Total of 1, 2, and 3, = Final Grade: A = 100 – 90, B = 89 – 80, C = 79 – 70, D = 69 – 60, F = 59 and below.
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What happens if my email gets lost?
You should always keep copies of your work in case your email gets lost in cyberspace. Keep a copy of your work on your own machine in case the e-mail system doesn't work right. If you are saving your work on a flash drive you should periodically copy the drive to another disk as a back up. If something happens to your work you will have to resend it. I occasionally will receive incomplete attachments or no attachments at all when there is supposed to be an attachment. I do not give waivers for work I do not receive. Your grade depends on your work getting to me as required.
Also, one of the silliest questions I have been asked by students in an email message was the following: "I hope that you get this...please email me back if you don't get it." In general I will only reply to an email message I get, not those I do not get.
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How do I know if you get my email?
Generally, if an email does not go through to the recipient you will receive a message that says it could not be delivered. I reply to all essays and term papers as soon as I can though this may often be as much as a few days. When tests are due and email is heavy I try to grade the work and reply with comments as I go. If I get too behind I may reply with a quick note that I have received it and will grade it later. Sometimes the server is down for one reason or another and when that happens email will not go through.
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How do I get in touch if I do not have email?
E-mail is the best way to send me a message but if you do not have email at home and you do not have access to one of the computer labs on campus you can call me at the office at 786-7649 or 786-4458 or at home at 694-1023. I would prefer no calls after 8:00 PM at home unless it is an emergency. Remember that this is a Web based course. You should not be taking it if you do not have access to the Web some way or another. Students pay a technology fee that entitles them to an email account and use of the computer labs. If you are not sure about any of this please visit a lab at your campus and ask the assistant that works there for more information. It is very difficult and time consuming to try to reply to computer questions over the computer.
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Do I have to read everything the syllabus on the web links to?
There is no way anyone can read everything these links lead to. Most of the links I use are to complete texts. Usually, a linked text includes links and the texts on those links have links as well. I have heard that in 15 links you can go to anything there is on the Internet. Reading texts with hypertext markup language (html) is not linear reading but network reading that allows you to use the web-like connections to explore the Internet as you choose. An author can use this to replace end note and foot notes by linking items directly to the source of the item or idea. The advantage of this is tremendous in making the network of all persons past and present available on the web. The disadvantage of this is the added distraction that makes it difficult to get a simple answer to a simple question.
Back to Top
Can I trust everything I read on the Internet?
Yes, I know, this is certainly a silly question but what if the site of the web page is controlled by an authority you feel trustworthy? Have a look at this page for a wonderful description of some problems you might face.
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The course is full, can you sign me in?
This course fills up quickly but there are usually openings before the semester starts or even right as the semester starts as some students that register for it decide to drop it and take something else for one reason or another. I will not know who is actually in the class until I get a hardcopy roster and that will be the first week of the semester. When I look on Blackboard it includes everyone that signed up even if they dropped again right away. Try to register on-line occasionally even up to the first week of the semester and there is a good chance wolf-line will let you in.
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Incomplete Course (See terms and definitions:
http://curric.uaa.alaska.edu/schedule/200401/intro/terms.html )
An “I” (Incomplete) is a temporary grade. It is used to
indicate that a student has made satisfactory progress in the majority of the
work in a course, but for unavoidable absences or other conditions beyond the
control of the student, has not been able to complete the course. The Incomplete
Grade Contract, a signed contract form between the student and the faculty
member that stipulates the assignment(s) required to finish the course, is
required and must be completed for each ³I² grade assigned and is to be
maintained in the department or dean¹s office. Course work must be completed by
a date specified in the contract, not to exceed one year. Upon completion of the
required course work, the faculty member must submit a change of grade form to
Enrollment Services. If course work is not completed within one year or if the
terms specified on the Incomplete Contract are not met, the student may be
assigned a failing grade (F or NP, depending on the grading basis of the
course). If course work is not completed within one year and the faculty member
does not submit a change of grade at that time, the ³I² will become a permanent
grade and it will be necessary for the student to re-register to obtain credit
for the course.We also have the grade NB for No Basis which we can use for someone that has stopped participating but not dropped the course and we have no basis for grading their work.
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