Class Information and Policies - Fall 2009
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Class Information and Policies - Fall 2009 |
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Instructor: Andrew Baird
Class
Hours:
Mondays: 1:00 - 1:50 PM in Haley Center 2370 Introduction to the Course: This is the first in a two-semester course sequence designed to survey the role of technology in world history. History 1210 will study the development of technology from the earliest humans to the growth of civilizations throughout the world, on through the Middle Ages, beyond the Renaissance and Age of Discovery, into the era of the Scientific Revolution and the development of Capitalism. The purpose of the course sequence is to expose students to a variety of perspectives regarding the role of technology in the development of human culture on a global basis. Requirements: You will be expected to attend all lectures, read all assignments carefully, and think critically about all the material presented. You will be expected to discuss, both verbally and in writing, significant issues raised in lecture and reading assignments. The careful and timely reading of the following book, prior to the date of the class for which essays are assigned, is essential to a successful performance in this course:
Guy Beckwith and Lindy
Biggs, eds., Readings in Technology and
Civilization:
Because this course has a strong DISCUSSION component, I am depending on you to keep up with the readings and share your ideas in class. Also, because discussions are inherently unpredictable, we may not always cover all of the readings in class each week. However, you will still be responsible for all assigned readings and will be tested on their contents. Course Grade: Your grade will be based on an overall total of 450 points. The grading scale out of 450 is as follows:
405 – 450 = A Your grades are available through WebCT and are assigned in the following manner:
First midterm exam ------------------------ 100
points Testing Schedule:
Lecture quizzes
following every Monday lecture, on Blackboard from
3:00-11:30 PM The midterms will be 50-minute exams. They will consist of multiple choice and objective identification questions and will not be comprehensive. Assigned readings, Monday lectures, and in-class discussions will be included on these tests. The final exam will use the same format. There will be fourteen short-answer lecture quizzes that will test the knowledge acquired from each of the Monday lectures. All quizzes are given online through Blackboard and will be available for you to take on Monday afternoons and evenings between 3:00 and 11:30 PM. The quizzes are ten minutes in length and the questions are randomized by Blackboard to ensure that no two students receive the same quiz questions. It will be your responsibility to log in to Blackboard and take your quiz. Since you will be able to take these quizzes at your own convenience, no make-up quizzes will be given. Makeup Policy: If you miss a midterm exam, there must be an acceptable, university-approved, written excuse in order for that exam to be made up (for information regarding acceptable written excuses, please consult the Tiger Cub Student Planner under the section "Faculty Responsibilities in the Instructional Program: No. 10.5" [page 105] or at http://www.auburn.edu/tigercub/files/section6_2008.pdf). You must present your written excuse to me within one week after you return to class. Make up exams will be scheduled within two weeks from the time your excuse is received. Since the final exam is scheduled by the University for a specific time, it may not be possible to make up the final exam before the end of the semester. This could result in either an incomplete for the semester or a grade assignment based on a zero score for the final exam. Every effort should be made to take each exam and the final at the times they are scheduled. No early finals will be administered for any reason. Extra Credit: Opportunities to earn extra credit points towards your final grade will be available on each exam. NO other extra credit offers will be extended for any reason.
E-Mail
Communication:
The official university medium of communication is
through your university Tiger Mail account. I may
periodically send out messages and reminders via
e-mail and you may contact me in the same manner.
However, e-mail communication is limited by the
following three conditions: Policy on Attendance: This class does not have mandatory attendance. You will not receive a grade based on whether you attend the class. However, it should be noted that a direct correlation exists between good attendance and good grades. If you do not attend class, you are still responsible for the material covered during lectures and discussions. Since a portion of your grade comes from participation in the class discussion, it is necessary for you to attend regularly. A legitimate written excuse for any absence will be taken into account toward your participation grade. The excuse must be presented to me within one week of your return to class. Since you must actually participate to receive this part of your grade, students observed sleeping, listening to their iPods, playing on their laptops, studying other subjects, talking unnecessarily, or in any other way disrupting the classroom experience will be counted off. Students who are excessively late to class will also be counted off. This policy will also apply to students who demonstrate that they have come to class without having made a reasonable effort to complete and understand the reading assignment. Your participation grade is assigned based on your efforts at discussion as well as from in-class pop quizzes that I may assign from time to time. While your attendance is not graded, I do take attendance in order to help justify your grade. Attendance at the Monday lecture is gauged by your attendance slip. These slips will be available at the beginning of Monday lectures and you should fill it out and hand it in to me at the end of the lecture. Withdrawing from the Course: Students have until the 15th day of classes (September 4) to withdraw from the class with a tuition refund and without a notation on your transcript. Students have until October 7 to withdraw with a "W" on your transcript. Withdrawing after this date requires a visit to your advisor and the permission of the instructor and the dean of your college. Grade penalties may apply. Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty is an offense that will be reported to the university's Academic Honesty Committee. For university policies on cheating and plagiarism, check the Tiger Cub Student Planner under under the section "Faculty Responsibilities in the Instructional Program: No. 8 - Cheating" [page 104] or at http://www.auburn.edu/tigercub/files/section6_2008.pdf). Electronic Device Policy: All cell phones, pagers, and other noise-making devices must rendered inaudible before coming to class. These types of distractions are extremely annoying and if such a device causes a continuing annoyance, the offending student will be asked to leave. In addition, due to the potential for cheating or disruptions through the use of camera phones, text messaging, or other devices, all cell phones, cameras, PDAs, laptop computers, recorders, or other electronic devices are prohibited in all lectures and discussion sections unless previously approved by the instructor. Any student who wishes to use a laptop for note-taking is required to sit in the front rows of the lecture hall and the classroom. Students with Disabilities: Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting during office hours the first week of classes, or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately. If you have a conflict with my office hours, an alternate time can be arranged. To set up this meeting, please contact me by e-mail. Bring a copy of your Accommodation Memo and an Instructor Verification Form to the meeting. If you do not have an Accommodation Memo but need accommodations, make an appointment with The Program for Students with Disabilities, 1244 Haley Center, 844-2096 (V/TT). You may also check the program website at http://www.auburn.edu/academic/disabilities/index.html.
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