Syllabus

Fall Quarter 2014

I-BEST Office Assistant Certificate Program

Academic Skills Class

ABE 063 (Item Number 7656) and ABE 064 (Item Number 7665)

Instructor Information

Name: Eric Nacke

Office: R130Y

Phone: (425) 564-2145

Email:

CANVAS Inbox:When in CANVAS, click Inbox at the top right. This is an easy way to reach me.

Office Hours: Tuesday andFriday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or by appointment.

I love questions, and I love talking with you and getting to know you better. So please come visit meduring my office hours. I am waiting for you!

Course Schedule

Dates:September 22 – December 10
(No class: October 22 and November 27)
Time:10:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on Monday, Wednesady, and Thursday
Room:A132

School Closure Information: (425) 401- 6680 or BC homepage at

Course Description

I-BEST stands for Integrated Basic Education Skills Training. It is aprogram designed to help you improve language and academic skills while completing college-credit classes and earning a college certificate. The program combinesan academic skills class with college-credit classes. The purpose of this class, and the I-BEST program as a whole, is to support you in your efforts to complete the Office Assistant Certificate Program and to help you become successful, independent learners. As your teacher, I will provide instruction, guidance, and assistance in your efforts to complete the program. Butwhat you learn in your classes will depend on how much effort you put into them. The more effort you put into your studies, the more you will learn.

In the Academic Skills Class, we will:

•Develop a personal study plan

•Practice ways to keep our work organized

•Preview and review material from the content classes

•Practice reading strategies

•Study specialized vocabulary related to the content material

•Work in groups and as a class to understand and complete assignments

•Write regularly about what we are learning and how we are learning

In addition to the Academic Skills Class, I will co-teach in the BTS 161, BTS 144, BTS 101/104, and BTS 173/174 content classes. I will be teaching in those classes for at least 50 percent of the class time.I will be teaching with BTS instructor Keith Rowley. We will work together to make the lessons as clear and understandable as possible. We will be writing key ideas and vocabulary on the whiteboard, answering and asking questions, guiding individual students, and doing what we can to make the classes informative and engaging. Our goal is to help you learn and to keep up with the pace of the class while having a good time. We like to have fun, and we hope you will, too.

Learning Objectives and Course Outcomes

Through theOffice Assistant program, we will learn and practice organization, time management, study skills, communication skills, computer skills, and critical-thinking skills. At the end of this I-BEST program, successful students should be able to:

  • Apply time-management strategies to complete assignments consistently and on time
  • Organize and manage electronic folders and files
  • Read and comprehend a variety of texts, including textbooks, email messages, business communications, Web pages, and spreadsheets
  • Listen to and follow complex instructions, lectures, presentations, and explanations
  • Use online resources to research a topic
  • Interpret icons and onscreen computer commands
  • Use Microsoft Office software to complete a variety of tasks, including designing, creating, and editing documents and spreadsheets
  • Apply critical-thinking skills to overcome obstacles and correct mistakes
  • Assess information and select appropriate software applications to solve real-world problems and complete projects and tasks

Course Outcomes – Washington State Adult Learning Standards

At the end of Fall Quarter, successfulstudents should be able to:

Read with Understanding

  • Recognize unfamiliar and specialized words, computer terminology and abbreviations
  • Demonstrate familiarity with common computing instructions and vocabulary
  • Locate important information, read for detail, and determine missing information using a wide range of strategies
  • Monitor and enhance comprehension using a wide range of strategies, such as posing and answering questions, trial and error, and adjusting reading pace
  • Actively apply prior knowledge to assist in understanding information in texts
  • Organize information using strategies, such as sequencing and categorization

Convey (Share) Ideas in Writing

  • Determine the purpose and audience for communicating
  • Appropriately use both everyday and specialized vocabulary and a variety of sentence structures to convey ideas
  • Make edits of grammar, spelling, sentence structure, language usage and text structure, often with the help of software editing and proofing tools

Listen Actively

  • Understand English conversations, lectures, and instructions that are at or near normal speed
  • Listen to and follow complex instructions that include specialized computer vocabulary
  • Identify and take notes on key points in class lectures and instructions

Speak So Others Can Understand

  • Use appropriate vocabulary and grammar to express ideas and needs
  • Ask relevant questions to clarify key points in lectures and instructions
  • Discuss projects and assignments in small groups
  • Contribute ideas and suggestions toward completing projects and activities

Class Materials

  1. Pens, pencils, notebook
  2. A computer with Windows 7 or 8 and Office 2013
  3. Computer flash drive for saving your work (having an extra as a backup is a good idea)
  4. English-English dictionary (recommended) - Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English is a good one.
  5. Textbooksand Access Codes for BTS classes

Classroom Expectations

  1. Come to class on time.
  2. Turn the ringer off on your cell phone during class hours.
  3. Be polite and respectful of everyone in class.
  4. Bring your books, flash drive, paper, pens to every class.
  5. Complete assigned classwork and homework on time.
  6. Work individually and in groups, and help each other when appropriate.

Professional Standards

Professionalism is defined as “the skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.” This is a professional program, so we will use professional business standards for our class. Here are some expectations for professional behavior:

  • Treat each other with courtesy and respect. Rude or disruptive behavior stifles learning. Examples of unacceptable behavior include talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones to ring, and using computers or phones for purposes not related to the course.
  • Inappropriate or disruptive classroom behavior is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College. The Student Code of Conduct is located at:
  • Helping others. You are strongly encouraged to help each other (except on quizzes and individual projects).
  • Be Patient.We all learn at different rates and in different ways. Please respect each student’s right to ask questions or seek clarification.
  • Punctuality. As a business professional, you are expected to arrive on time andmeet coursework deadlines. You will need to plan your time carefully and ensure that you have a backup plan in place for when you encounter problems.
  • Communication. For this class, professional communication includes the following:
  • Using kind and respectfullanguage
  • Checking spelling and grammar and using correct punctuation and capitalization
  • Being positive and handling frustration and complaints with respect and discretion.
  • Leave food outside the classroom. Eating in the classroom can be disruptive and harmful to the computers. Please make time to finish your food before entering the classroom.

Attendance and Participation

Your grade in this class will be based on attendance and participation. Attendance includes coming to class and being on time. Participation includes completing coursework, such as discussions, vocabulary practice, and other assignments.

Attendance

Come to class on time every day. If you miss 20% (7 days) of classes you may not make progress in the program. Attendance is important to move forward in the I-BEST program.

You will receive 5 points for each class you attend. To earn the 5 points, you will need to come to class on time and sign the sign-in sheet. Tardiness up to 30 minutes will earn 2 points. After 30 minutes, you will earn 0 points (unless you contact me ahead of time).

When you cannot come to class or you are going to be late, call me or send an email or Inbox message before class. If you have a good reason and notify me in a timely way, you may not lose points. Timely notification means calling or sending a message at least one hour before class.

If you are going to miss more than one class, please talk to me about this. If you need to stop coming to class for any reason, talk to me about this, too. This is very important! I (and others) can help you plan your next school step and make sure your grades are not negatively affected.

Participation

Throughout the quarter, you will be asked to complete some assignments, such as discussions, vocabulary reviews, and others. The assignments are designed to support your learning. They will be an important part of your grade.

Grading

You will receive points for the work you do. The number of points you earn and the effort you put into your work will determine your grade. Your grade is a way for you and me to check in on how you are doing in the course. You will be able to see your grades on theclass CANVAS website.

Here are how grades are calculated:

Percent of Total / Letter Grade
95% – 100% / A
91% – 94% / A-
87% – 90% / B+
83% – 86% / B+
80% – 82% / B-
77% – 79% / C+
73% – 76% / C
70% – 72% / C-
65% – 69% / D+
60% – 64% / D
0% – 59% / F

CASAS Testing

We will have CASAS testing at the end of the quarter. All I-BEST students are required to take this test.

Conferencing

I will schedule a time to meet individually with each of youduring the quarter. Conferences are an opportunity to check in with you about how everything is going, to discuss academic and career plans, and talk about any other issues related to your learning. We will have conferences twice, once midway through the quarter and again at the end of the quarter.

In addition to conferencing, I am available to talk during office hours. Please do not hesitate to stop by my office at those times, or make an appointment to see me at another time. No topic is too small. I love conversation, and I’m a good listener.

Advising

  • Elaine Nutter, Student Pathway Specialist – Elaine is an excellent resource for discussing and planning next steps in your education and career. Her office is room R130V. She can be reached at (425) 564-2349 or by email at .

Computer Labs

Open computer labs are available around campus. Here are some lab schedules.

N250 Open Lab Schedule:
  • Mon-Thur: 7:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Fri.: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Sat.: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Sun.: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

BTS open labs are available for your use according to the schedule below. Lab tutors will answer questions to the best of their ability. Lab assistants are not allowed to help with quizzes or tests.

BTS Open Lab Schedule:
  • Tuesday, Thursday: 3:00 – 5:10 p.m., Room A132
  • Friday, Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Room A132

Tutoring

If you would like extra help with homework and/or tests, please speak with me or Keith Rowley. We will be happy to arrange a tutor for you.

Tips for Success

  • Read the syllabus. The syllabus outlines the class. Take the time to read it for all of your classes so there will not be any surprises!
  • Ask questions. It is likely that if you are stuck or confused on an assignment, someone else is also having similar trouble.Asking questions helps everyone in the class learn better.
  • Plan ahead. There is a lot of homework in this program. Expect to spend about2 hours on homework for every hour you spend in class.
  • Get familiar with the computer lab hours and resources.
  • Start your assignments early.
  • Choose a study buddy: someone you can exchange e-mail addresses and phone numbers with and whom you can contact for help or as a study partner.
  • Keep up on assignments.Submit allassignmentson time, even if they are not finished.
  • Proofread all documents you turn in. Write carefully, and read your work before you turn it in. In college classes, points are often deducted for errors.
  • 2-Minute Rule: When you work at the computer, don’t struggle with a task for more than 2 minutes before you take a break or ask for help. Call your study buddy or email your instructor.
  • Have fun! This program will challenge you, but we will have a good time learning. Enjoy this opportunity to learn, and remember that we can’t learn unless we make mistakes.

Important Information
Student Concerns with the Class
If a student has a concern or problem with their class they should talk to the instructor. If the student is not comfortable talking to the instructor they should talk with the following people:
  1. ABE Program chair, TonyaEstes
  2. Arts and Humanities Division Dean, Maggie Harada
  3. Assistant Dean, Scott Bessho
  4. More information is available at the Ombuds Office at
Bellevue College E-mail Account
All students registered for classes at Bellevue College can get an email account. See The teachers will communicate with you through your Bellevue College e-mail account.
Public Safety
The Bellevue College Public Safety Department’s staff provides personal safety, security, crime prevention, and other services to the campus community, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Their phone number is 425.564.2400. Public Safety is located in K100 and on the web at:
Disability Resource Center
Some people may have a special medical problem. If you have information to tell me about a medical problem, please see me after class or come to see me in my office. Then, we can plan for an emergency.
If you have a disability and need special help in class, you can contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in B132 or call 425-564-2498 or TTY 425-564-4110. Information is also on their website at
Privacy
We do not wish other people (parents, spouses, and friends of students) to speak for students about school performance because this can slow student growth and progress. We do this because we would like students to speak for themselves and be independent. We also do it because federal law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) says that we must protect the privacy of student education records. It is Bellevue College policy to keep school performance between the school and the student.
You can see all of this policy at

BC Student Code

“Cheating, stealing and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension from Bellevue College. Specific student rights, responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student Services.” The Student Code is located at:

Gifts

The students in this program sometimes like to do nice things for their teachers. A card with words from all the students, flowers, or small food items are good ways to thank your teacher. You do not need to buy your teacher a gift or give money. In the interests of fairness, please wait until the end of the quarter to give anything special to your teachers. Thank you for your understanding!

Syllabus-I-BEST Academic Skills Class-Fall 20141