URI 101 FALL 2017 SYLLABUS

PLANNING FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

SECTION XX - XXXXday / XX:00-XX:00 – BUILDING & ROOM #

Instructor: Mentor:

Office Phone: Cell Phone:

E-Mail: Email:

Office:

COURSE DESCRIPTION & RATIONALE:

URI 101 will focus on academic planning and the transition to college. When you complete this course you should have a better understanding of the University of Rhode Island, its academic requirements, resources, and opportunities available to you. Mindset, academic major and career exploration will be central themes of the class, as well as working collaboratively with others while developing essential skills for your academic success.

COURSE GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

●Practice collaborative learning skills in the learning community

●Explore academic, co-curricular, and career options and resources

●Examine decision making as it relates to choice of academic major

●Develop yourself as a learner and an active member of the URI campus community

●Provide a safe and engaging environment to ask questions about University life

COURSE CREDIT:

URI 101 is a one-credit course and work will be assigned accordingly. You will get credit for the work you do in class, as well as the preparation and meeting times out of class. Therefore attendance, participation, and completing assignments on time are critically important to successfully completing this course. The attendance policy is detailed below. All assignments are due on time. Post-deadline penalties will be assessed on late submissions.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES:

Most students in this class are also enrolled inadd your LC classes here. Consider forming study groups, discussing course materials, and getting to know your faculty and peers on a personal level.

COURSE TEXTS:

  1. Online readings and class assignments can be found at
  2. Doyle, T. and Zakrajsek, T. (2013). The New Science of Learning: How to learn in harmony with your brain. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING:

REQUIREMENTS

1)Attendance & Participation:25%

2)One-on-One Meeting:10%

3)Starfish Profile Setup: 5%

4)New Science of Learning

Readings and Homework: 20%

5)Major and Career Exploration Assignments: 30%

6)Healthy Relationships: 5%

7)Campus Involvement: 5%

FINAL GRADES

A = 94-100%A- = 90-93%B+ = 87-89%B = 84-86%B- = 80-83%C+ = 77-79%

C = 74-76%C- = 70-73%D+ = 67-69%D = 60-66%F = Below 60

ASSIGNMENTS:

1) Attendance & Participation (25% total): Attendance is critical to your success in this class. To earn full credit, you must attend and participate in each and every class. You are expected to contact your instructor WELL BEFORE CLASS TIME if you have an emergency and cannot attend class. Unexcused absences will result in a lower course grade.

2) One-on-One Meeting (10%):Everyone should sign up for a meeting with me during the week of October 30thto review your transition to college.

3) Starfish Profile Setup (5%): Log-in to Starfish using your Sakai username and password to make an appointment with your UCAS advisor. Click on your name in the top right corner of Starfish and complete your profile by adding a photo and your cell phone number. You can find the Starfish link here:

4) New Science of Learning Reading and Homework (20%): Learning successfully in college requires an entire new set of academic skills and strategies beyond those you used in high school. The readings and short exercises, which will be completed both in and out of class, will help you better understand how to apply these new skills and strategies to improve your study habits and life while in college.

5) Major Exploration Assignments (30%): Choosing a major is important but it is only one step toward exploring a number of career paths. Almost every career includes people who majored in diverse academic fields. It is not uncommon for students to change majors during college as interests develop and you are exposed to new areas. We will explore your own unique personality, interests, talents and abilities, values, and of course, limitations. This is a CRITICAL first step in making realistic academic and career decisions. The goal of these two assignments is to help you align your unique personality with the requirements and expectations of your chosen major and career goals.These assignments are suited for all students, whether you have a major or not and are located at this site:

Assignment #1(15%): Begin by completing Type Focus Module and applying what you learn about yourself to what you are learning about major and career options. Print your worksheet results and bring them to class Oct 2nd.

Assignment #2(15%): Complete the Exploring Majors and Careers Module to help you understand the major decision making process. Print your worksheet results and bring them to classOctober 16th.

Professional Development Week: Professional Development Week (November 6-10) provides you with opportunities to put into practice what you have been working on with the above assignments. Attend any event to expand your network, develop your resume and connect with professionals in a variety of industries. A detailed schedule of Professional Development week activities can be found at uri.edu/career/events.

6) Healthy Relationships (5%): The purpose of this presentation is to promote dialogue ondiversity, alcohol and other drugs, and interpersonal violence prevention. It will include definitions, protocols, and resources to promote increased safety and inclusion at the University of Rhode Island. IMPORTANT: CLASS WILL MEET IN THE WOMEN’S CENTER. DO NOT GO TO OUR USUAL CLASSROOM FIRST. (SEE DATE WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET IN THE WOMEN’S CENTER)

7) Campus Involvement (5%): Becoming involved in a campus organization is a great way to meet other people on campus who share similar interests, strengthen your resume, and help you learn time management skills. It also is a great opportunity for you to make a short presentation on what you learned by attending a campus organization event or meeting and then presenting this to the class. Go to the involvement fair to find an organization that meets your interests. Provide a flyer with information that is essential to know (what, when, where, why). Due Nov 6.

COURSE SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

DATE / TOPIC(S) OF CLASS / ASSIGNMENT(S) DUE BY THE START OF CLASS
Week 1: / Instructor, mentor and student introductions:
Review of Syllabus
New Science of Learning - “Mindset” Overview & Assign Homework / - Student contact card (in class)
Week 2: / Introducing Mindset
New Science of Learning - “Mindset and Prior Knowledge” Discussion
New Science of Learning - “Distributed Practice” Overview & Assign Homework / New Science of Learning - “Mindset and Prior Knowledge” Homework Due
Readings:
P. 11-12 Connections With What Has Already Been Learned
P. 56-70 Patterns and Learning
P. 85-98 Mindsets Towards Learning
Video:EduardoBriceno: The Power of belief - mindset and success:
Attend Student Activities Fair
Week 3: / Distributed Practice
New Science of Learning - “Distributed Practice” Discussion / -New Science of Learning - “Distributed Practice” Homework Due
P. 10-11 Cramming: “Learning” without Remembering & Transference of Learning
P. 45-55 Using all your senses to learn
P. 71-84 Memory
Read Study Cycle handout (see link below)
Video:Study Better in College: The Study Cycle:
Thursday Sept. 28 / SAUNDRA MCGUIRE 7PM Edwards Hall
Week 4: / Knowing Yourself
Type Focus On-line Module
Students should be prepared to discuss results from assignment #1 Type Focus Module Worksheet / -Complete Type Focus Instrument within the Self-Assessment Module
-Complete Type Focus Module Worksheet
Week 5: / Determining an Academic and Career Plan
Exploring Majors and Careers On-line Module
/ -Bring list of majors
-Exploring Majors and Careers Module Worksheet
Week 6: / Academic Advising Presentations
- Curriculum sheets
- General Education Courses
- Starfish Connect
- eCampus: holds, course search and selection
- Reflect on fall classes (group activity) / -Meeting with me and your advisor and complete your Starfish profile
Week 7: / INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH ME
Review academic advising
Week 8: / Healthy Relationships Presentation
Meet at Women’s Center (Do NOT go to your classroom)
Week 9: / Involvement short presentations:
- Finding leadership/involvement opportunities to
complement your strengths
- How do you spend your time? How to get involved?
- Know what’s happening? Use the Event Calendar!
-Network within your URI community
New Science of Learning - “Prepare to Learn” Overview and Assign Homework / -Provide a brief 3 minute presentation and flyer on your involvement experience
Week 10: / Prepare to Learn: Sleep, Naps, Breaks, and Exercise
New Science of Learning - “Prepare to Learn” Discussion / -New Science of Learning - “Prepare to Learn” Homework Due
Readings:
P. 5-14 A New Look at Learning
P. 15-34 Sleep, Naps, and Breaks
P. 35-44 Exercise and Learning
Video:
Jeff Iliff (TED talk): One more reason to get a good night’s sleep:
Week 11: / Closing and Reflection

ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES:

●ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES: Any student with a documented disability is encouraged to contact their professor early in the semester to work out reasonable accommodations to support your success in your courses. Students should also contact Disability Services for Students, Office of Student Life, 330 Memorial Union, 401-874-2098.

●CLASS ATTENDANCE: The course catalogue (8.33.13) states “Students who are absent from the first and second class meetings of a course and who do not notify the course instructor of their intention to attend future class meetings may be dropped from the class.” Furthermore, attendance in every class is very important in this course. Attendance will be taken throughout the semester and absences will result in a lower grade. Please contact us if there is an emergency and you cannot attend class.

●ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT CENTER: To do the best you can in your classes, visit the Academic Enhancement Center (AEC) in Roosevelt Hall. The AEC staff of professionals and students can help with practically anything academic: improving your time management, making studying more efficient, taking tests better, curbing procrastination, paying attention -- you name it. The tutors and Supplemental Instruction leaders will help you in your calculus, chemistry, biology or physics work, and the WRITING CENTER will help with any stage of a writing assignment, from planning to final draft. You can stop by in person or call (401 874-2367) during the academic year to get information or set up a session, visit their website for complete program and schedule info, ( and see announcements, photos, and study tips on FB (

●ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: All submitted work must be your own. If you consult other sources (class readings, articles or books from the library, articles available through internet databases, or websites) these MUST be properly documented, or you will be charged with plagiarism and will receive a 0 for the paper. In some cases, this may result in a failure of the course as well. In addition, the charge of academic dishonesty will go on your record in the Office of Student Life. If you have any doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, visit the following website: the URI Student Handbook, and UNIVERSITY MANUAL sections on Plagiarism and Cheating at - cheating.

●ANTI-BIAS: Each member of the University community has the responsibility to foster an environment of acceptance, mutual respect and understanding. If you are a target or a witness of a bias incident, you are encouraged to contact the URI Bias Response Team where you will find people and resources to help.

FALL 2017 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

9/6Classes begin

9/6-9/12 Open add period

9/13-9/19Permission number late add period

9/19Last Day to ADD

9/27 Last day to DROP without transcript notation

10/9 Columbus Day- no classes

10/18 Last day to DROP

10/24Mid-semester grades available in e-campus

11/13Veteran’s Day- no classes (meet Wednesday Nov. 15 instead)

11/23-11/26Thanksgiving Recess

12/11 Last day of classes

12/12 Reading (study) day

12/13-12/15 Final exams

12/18-12/21 Final exams

12/28 All grades available in e-Campus

1/22Spring Semester classes begin

EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES:

Date/Time / Event/Opportunity
Wednesday, September 13 (11am-2pm) / Study Abroad Fair (MU Ballroom)
Monday, September 18 (11am-3pm) / Volunteer Fair (Quad)
Monday November 6-Friday November 10 / Professional Development Week (uri.edu/career/events)
Monday November 13-Friday November 17 / International Education Week