IS 198 Kupu A‘e^* (College Success)
FALL 2004

RECOMMENDED PREPARATION: Qualification for English 22 or ESOL 94

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course serves as an orientation to the college experience for Native Hawaiian, Holomua, and other students. It seeks to connect students to their historical, contemporary and future communities. Students identify tentative short and long-range personal, college and career goals, while experiencing the process of writing and revising an educational plan. Students also develop their learning skills. In addition, this course contains a cultural component to address the needs of the Native Hawaiian and Holomua student population. This course also has a Service Learning option for those students who want to incorporate community service into their course work.

GENERAL EDUCATION ACADEMIC SKILL STANDARDS (KCC Catalog 2002-2003, pg. 40)

• Critical Thinking (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
  
• Information Retrieval & Technology (1, 2, 3, 4)
  
• Oral Communication (1-6)
  
• Written Communication (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
  
• Understanding Self & Community (1-5)
  

• Identify short and long-range personal and college goals, and prepare an educational plan to meet those goals.
  
• Re-evaluate and revise short and long-range personal and college goals and their educational plan to meet those goals.
  
• List college facilities, policies, programs and services that can assist in achieving educational goals.
  
• Use college level note-taking, critical reading, test taking, memory and concentration techniques.
  
• Use time management, personal organization, stress management and study skills.
  
• Identify and use academic support areas of the college.
  
• Become actively involved in campus and/or community activities.
  
• Use appropriate technology for conducting research and conveying ideas.
  
• Communicate effectively in writing and speaking.
  
• Find information from library, Internet, and other sources.
  
• Research occupations and use decision-making processes in selecting a career goal.
  
• Use strategies to complete out-of-class work efficiently and effectively.
  
  
• _________________________________________________________________________________
  
  
• _________________________________________________________________________________
  

• Skip Downing’s On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life (4th edition)
  
  

• One three-ring binder (1 inch) specifically for IS 198
  
  

EVALUATION

To encourage class participation, there will be class assignments that will include small group activities, large class discussions, and short free-writes. These assignments vary in points (10 or 20 points) depending on the level of difficulty and the time needed to complete each assignment. In general, class assignments will be completed during class, but if time doesn’t permit completion in class, students will be asked to complete the task as homework and specific due dates will be given at that time. Because these assignments are based on activities done in class, there will be no make-up.

To measure knowledge and understanding of course content, there will be eight quizzes. A variety of question formats will be used (i.e. true/false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short essay). Exam questions will be based on reading assignments and the material presented in class. Absolutely no make-up on quizzes (see Class Schedule).

To help students explore their thoughts and develop self-awareness, fifteen journals will be collected during the semester (10 at 10 points each, 5 at 20 points each). In these journals I want you to share your experiences and points-of-view regarding the various issues raised in class. Students must write the journal number and the exact question at the start of each entry to stay focused and to allow for quicker grading. These journals may be handwritten (please write neatly), or computer generated (preferred). Journals will be collected five times during the semester (see Class Schedule).

To help students discover where they’ve come from to determine where they’re going, a genealogy project will be due around mid-semester (see Class Schedule). This project consists of four parts: interviewing relatives, completing a pedigree chart, writing an essay, and sharing what they’ve learned with their classmates. Late projects will be accepted, but will be assessed a penalty of ten points for each class day a project is late.

To identify short-range college goals and long-range career goals students will develop an educational plan. This plan will be submitted toward the end of the semester (see Class Schedule) in a portfolio and will consist of two main parts: a collection of self-assessment exercises and a specific plan of action. Certain class assignments and journals will be incorporated into the educational plan portfolio so students should save all graded work when it’s returned to them. Late plans will be accepted, but will be assessed a penalty of ten points for each class day a plan is late.

To demonstrate overall self-awareness and personal growth a final exam will be given during finals week (see Class Schedule). It will consist of take-home essay questions and in-class objective questions that will measure a student’s understanding of course content in relation to himself/herself.

To build a learning community it is pertinent that you attend class. Roll will be taken at the start of each class period. If you are in class when roll is taken, you will earn two attendance points for that day. If you are late to class (i.e. tardy), you are responsible for notifying the instructor at the end of that class so you can earn one point for that day. Our class will meet 30 times in the course of the semester (not 25 times as indicated by the evaluation scale). Thus, I have built-in 10 extra points to help cover any unexpected absences or tardies. Those with perfect attendance will acquire those extra points. If your pager or cell phone rings during class, you will forfeit your two attendance points for that day.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READINGS

In addition to your On Course textbook, there are other required readings which can be found at the KCC Library on reserve under “C. Higgins.” The books on reserve cannot be checked out, but copies of each of these readings are also on reserve in folders which can be borrowed on a 2 day loan. You may also want to check the Hawaii Public Library System, since these are well known titles. Here's a list of the books where these readings can be found (with required readings in parenthesis).

Harden, M.J. Voices of Wisdom: Hawaiian Elders Speak. Kula, Hawaii: Aka Press, 1999 (pp. 23-31, 187-193, 205-211, 215-223).

Knaefler, Tomi Kaizawa. Our House Divided: Seven Japanese American Families in World War II. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1991 (pp. 31-45).

Kodama-Nishimoto, Michi, Warren S. Nishimoto and Cynthia A. Oshiro. Hanahana: An Oral History of Hawaii’s Working People. Honolulu: Ethnic Studies Oral History Project, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1984 (pp. 3-15).

EXTRA CREDIT OPTION

(maximum of 25 points)

Students are encouraged to watch for articles in newspapers & magazines, programs on television, and events around town for reaction paper topics. If you find anything relating to this college success course and would like to write an extra credit reaction paper on it, you should consult with the instructor first to verify its relevancy. Late journals can also count toward extra credit. A typical extra credit assignment is worth 5 points and usually consists of a reaction paper (250-500 words in length). Handwritten extra credit papers will be accepted only if they are written legibly. You may submit these throughout the semester. See Class Schedule for the final extra credit deadline.

Various workshops are offered here at Kapi‘olani Community College to assist students with their study skills. The Secrets of Success (SOS) series of workshops are strongly recommended to all college students, especially first year students who find it difficult to cope with the many challenges of college life. Attending and writing a reaction paper can earn you five extra credit points per workshop. However, you can not do an extra credit reaction paper on a workshop that is presented to you in class (i.e. Learning Styles, Time Management, Communitcation Skills) because these will have required homework assignments. If you choose to attend SOS and other workshops you will need to write a reaction paper (at least 250 words) explaining: what you learned, how you implemented the strategy, and your personal reactions to the workshop.

SOS schedule for Fall 2004 can be found at <http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/SOS>

SERVICE LEARNING OPTION (SL)
Understanding Self & Community
Written Communication
Critical Thinking

Kapi‘olani Community College's Service Learning Program encourages students to serve in the community as a way to integrate "real life" experiences with classroom learning. It can be a very rewarding experience as you "learn to serve and serve to learn." If you choose this option you will need to complete a minimum of 20 hours of service during the semester at an approved site. If you are already doing Service Learning, and you think that it could apply to this course, you should meet with the instructor to discuss the possibility of continuing that service for this class.

*If you want to serve at a site that is not listed here, I am open to the possibility if we can
determine its relevance to this class.

Requirements

• Inform the instructor (by Sept. 9th) of your intent to participate in SL.
  

• Complete the SL Registration form and submit directly to the SL office (Olonä 118) by their deadline.
  
  
• Use these substitute questions for the appropriate Journals (see Class Schedule for due dates):
  

  Journal # 1 (worth 10 points) Why did you choose the SL option? How do you think your SL experience will help you meet the course objectives?
  

  Journal # 5 (worth 10 points) Discuss the new information you’re learning and/or the skills you’re acquiring from this SL experience.
  

  Journal # 8 (worth 10 points) Share specific instances that stand-out in your mind. Why do you think they made such an impression on you?
  

  Journal # 11 (worth 10 points) How has this SL experience impacted you as a person and your educational or career plans?
  

  Journal # 15 (worth 20 points) a.k.a. “Final Reflection Paper” Summarize what you learned and explain how the SL experience helped meet at least one of the course objectives/competencies listed on page one of this syllabus. Please submit one copy to the instructor & one copy to the SL office.

ADVICE FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEMESTER

Don't miss class. It is not possible to pass this college course by merely showing up for the quizzes and final exam. To pass this course you must make every effort to attend all the classes. As an instructor, I have frequently observed the direct correlation between class attendance and a student's final grade in this course. To successfully pass this class you need to attend regularly.

Be mindful of deadlines. Do not procrastinate! Students are responsible for knowing when assignments are due. Failure, on the teacher's part, to remind students of due dates, does not constitute a valid excuse for students. It is your job to know. It is not the instructor's job to remind you. A Class Schedule has been provided to assist you in your time management. Do not miss deadlines. Only 25 extra credit points are allowed in this course, therefore it is not practical to think that you can make up the missed points with extra credit. As your instructor, I can tell you that this strategy rarely works.

Read the textbook assignments before class. This will help you understand the content presented in class and will enable you to fully participate in class activities. You may want to attend the Secrets of Success Textbook Reading Strategies workshop to learn how to be an active reader (a video of this workshop is available for viewing at ‘Iliahi 231).

Take good notes. While the instructor may write on the board or use transparencies when presenting new material, students should be taking additional notes based on what the teacher says. The key to easy studying is good note taking. You may want to watch the video of the Secrets of Success Improve Your Lecture Notes workshop to learn how to take better notes (available for viewing at ‘Iliahi 231).

Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. All inquires will be welcomed by the instructor. Please ask for clarification on information and assignments at the moment of confusion. It is the student's responsibility to let the instructor know when (s)he is confused. If you say nothing, I assume you understand.

Talk to the instructor. I am here to assist you. Feel free to talk to me if you are having any difficulties in class. Even if you are not having difficulties, you are invited to visit with me in my office. Let's get to know each other.

Be considerate. It is pertinent that you listen to what is being said in class. Be considerate of the instructor and your peers by refraining from any unnecessary talking. When in class, please turn off your pagers and cellular phones to avoid any distractions (you will forfeit two points if it rings during class). Please make every attempt to be in class by the starting time. If you are late, try to be as inconspicuous as possible when entering the classroom. You are expected to stay in class for the duration of the class period. If, for some unavoidable reason, you need to leave class early, please inform the instructor at the start of class and sit near the door to make for an easier exit.

Don't cheat or plagiarize. "Academic dishonesty cannot be condoned by the University. Dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism; it is a violation of the Student Conduct Code and may result in expulsion from the University." (KCC Catalog 2002-2003, pg. 29). Students should consult the Student Conduct Code, which can be found in the college catalog and the schedule of classes, for specific examples of cheating and plagiarism.

Extended time for quizzes and the final exam in a distraction-free environment is an appropriate accommodation based on a student's disability. If you have a disability, but have not voluntarily disclosed the nature of your disability and the support you need, you are invited to contact the Special Student Services Office at 'Ilima 103, or call them at 734-9552.

If the instructor is not in class within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, then class is considered canceled.

This sheet has been provided for your convenience. Recording your points as you get the results can be very useful in determining your grade for this course. You may ask the instructor about your grade at any time during the semester. For individualized grade advising, please make an appointment. Last day to withdraw from class with a "W" is Monday, November 1, 2004.

JOURNALS (10 @10 pts, 5 @ 20 pts)

GENEALOGY PROJECT (100 points) _______

EDUCATIONAL PLAN (100 points) _______

GRADE SCALE