The essential information, skills, tools, and techniques necessary for academic success and personal effectiveness at University of Phoenix are introduced in this course. The course develops and applies practical knowledge and skills immediately relevant to first-year university students. Course topics include goal setting and working with personal motivation, understanding and using university resources, developing efficient study habits, making the most of personal learning styles, and how best to manage time and reduce personal stress levels.
Policies
Faculty and students will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents:
• University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.
University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.
Course Materials
Gardner, J. N., Jewler, A. J., & Barefoot, B. O. (2011). Your college experience: Strategies for success (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
All electronic materials are available on the student website.
|Week One: The University of Phoenix Experience |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives |Describe University of Phoenix classroom expectations. | | |
| |Identify classroom resources required for student success. | | |
| |Describe the University Learning Goals. | | |
| |Describe academic skills and their application to professional development. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 1 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday Day 3 | |
|Reading |Read the following sections in Ch. 15 of Your College Experience: |Wednesday Day 3 | |
| | | | |
| |"Confessions of a College Student" | | |
| |"Understanding Diversity and the Source of our Beliefs" | | |
| |"Forms of Diversity" | | |
| |"Discrimination, Prejudice and Insensitivity on College Campuses" | | |
| |"Challenging Yourself to Experience Diversity" | | |
|Audio |Listen to the “University Goals and Collaborative Learning” audio lecture located on the |Wednesday Day 3 | |
|University Goals & |student website. | | |
|Collaborative Learning | | | |
|Tutorial |Get acquainted with MyFoundationsLab®, a website resource you will use throughout the |Thursday Day 4 | |
|MyFoundationsLab® Tour and |course. | | |
|Path Builder | | | |
| |Click the MyFoundationsLab® link on the student website. | | |
| | | | |
| |Click the Browser Check link to ensure you can access materials. | | |
| | | | |
| |Click the Take a Tour link for an orientation to MyFoundationsLab®. | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the Writing Path Builder in MyFoundationsLab®. | | |
| | | | |
| |Note. You must finish the Path Builder in order to complete future assignments. | | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Review your Writing Learning Path in MyFoundationsLab® and what you have learned about |Sunday |50 |
|Connecting the Dots |online education this week. |Day 7 | |
| | | | |
| |Respond to the following questions in 50 to 100 words each: | | |
| | | | |
| |What were the suggested next steps in your MyFoundationsLab® Learning Path? | | |
| |How do the skills apply to your academic life? | | |
| |How do the skills apply to your professional life? | | |
| |Were you surprised by the results? Why or why not? | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Week Two: Effective Goal Setting |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Evaluate goals using SMART criteria. | | |
| |Identify personal and career goals using learned strategies. | | |
| |Identify strategies for time and stress management. | | |
| |Identify strategies for balancing academic expectations and personal or professional | | |
| |responsibilities. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 2 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday Day 3 | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 6 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday Day 3 | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 16 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday Day 3 | |
|Tutorial |Watch the “Reasonable (SMART) Goal Setting” tutorial on the Pearson website. |Thursday | |
|Reasonable (SMART) Goal | |Day 4 | |
|Setting | | | |
|Video |Watch the “Effective Time Management” video on the student website. |Thursday | |
|Effective Time | |Day 4 | |
|Management | | | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Onging |30 |
|Individual |By completing the Career Plan activities in this course, you are creating a career plan that |Sunday |50 |
|Career Goals |can help you focus on your career goals and relate those goals to your work in this course and|Day 7 | |
| |throughout your academic program. | | |
| | | | |
| |You must complete each activity to proceed with building My Career Plan in the following | | |
| |weeks. | | |
| | | | |
| |For additional information, review the My Career Plan Student Guide on the Career Plan | | |
| |website. | | |
| | | | |
| |Access My Career Plan in Phoenix Career Services located on the student website. | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the Career Interest Profiler if you have not done so in a previous course. | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the Career Plan Building Activity: Competencies. | | |
| | | | |
| |Obtain a screenshot of your results from the Career Plan Building Activity: Competencies. To | | |
| |obtain a screenshot: | | |
| | | | |
| |Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot. | | |
| |Open a blank Microsoft® Word document. | | |
| |Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screen shot into the document. | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Goal Setting Worksheet located on the student | | |
| |website. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit both a screen shot of your Career Plan Building Activity: Competencies results and the | | |
| |University of Phoenix Material: Goal Setting Worksheet as directed by your instructor. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Week Three: Effective Study Habits |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Identify effective study strategies and techniques. | | |
| |Describe how various learning styles might affect study habits, and vice versa. | | |
| |Identify your personal learning style. | | |
| |Describe effective learning strategies for an online learning environment. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 3 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday | |
| | |Day 3 | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 4 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday | |
| | |Day 3 | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 8 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday | |
| | |Day 3 | |
|Review |Review “Performance of College Students: Impact of Study Time and Study Habits” located in |Thursday | |
| |this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. |Day 4 | |
|Tutorial |Watch the “Using Multiple Intelligences to Enhance Studying and Learning” tutorial located on |Thursday | |
|Using Multiple |the Pearson website. |Day 4 | |
|Intelligences | | | |
|Nongraded Activity |Access the following components in MyFoundationsLab®: |Thursday | |
|My Foundations Lab®: | |Day 4 | |
|Study Strategies |Study Skills | | |
| | | | |
| |Rehearsal Strategies | | |
| |Effective Note Taking | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the following activities for each unit: | | |
| | | | |
| |Overview | | |
| |Interactive Activity | | |
| |Self-Check | | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Access My Career Plan in Phoenix Career Services located on the student website. |Sunday |70 |
|Your Ideal Workplace | |Day 7 | |
| |Complete the Career Plan Building Activity: Work Culture Preferences. | | |
| | | | |
| |Obtain a screenshot of your results: | | |
| | | | |
| |Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot. | | |
| |Open a blank Microsoft® Word document. | | |
| |Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screen shot into the document. | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the Effective Study Habits Worksheet. (The Week Three readings, Career Plan sections | | |
| |completed in Weeks Two and Three, and MyFoundationsLab® activities may be helpful resources | | |
| |for completing the worksheet.) | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit the screenshot of your Career Plan Building Activity: Work Culture Preferences results | | |
| |and the University of Phoenix Material: Effective Study Habits Worksheet to your instructor. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Week Four: Reading and Comprehension Strategies |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Explain effective textbook reading. | | |
| |Describe the purpose of primary source material. | | |
| |Recognize strategies for improving reading comprehension. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 7 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday | |
| | |Day 3 | |
|Nongraded Activity |Resource: MyFoundationsLab® Student Help Weeks 4 & 5 |Thursday | |
|MyFoundationsLab®: Reading | |Day 4 | |
| |Access the following components in MyFoundationsLab®: | | |
| | | | |
| |Study Skills | | |
| | | | |
| |Concentrating When You Read and Study | | |
| |Getting the Most from Your Reading | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the following activities for each unit: | | |
| | | | |
| |Overview | | |
| |Interactive Activity | | |
| |Self-Check | | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Review the MyFoundationsLab® activities from this week and what you have learned about |Sunday |60 |
|Reading Comprehension Worksheet|reading comprehension. |Day 7 | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the Reading Comprehension Worksheet. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Week Five: Introduction to Academic Writing |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Demonstrate the key elements of the writing process. | | |
| |Differentiate between academic and casual communication. | | |
|Reading |Read the following sections in Ch. 10 of Your College Experience: |Wednesday | |
| | |Day 3 | |
| |“Writing” | | |
| |“Using Freewriting to Discover What You Want to Say” | | |
| |“The Writing Process” | | |
|Nongraded Activities and|Access the Grammar Mechanics resource listed on your student website. |Wednesday | |
|Preparation |Click on Overview. |Day 3 | |
|Grammar Mechanics |Complete Mastery Test I, Mastery Test II, and Mastery III | | |
| | | | |
| |OR | | |
| | | | |
| |Click Library. | | |
| |Go to the Center for Writing Excellence. | | |
| |Click Tutorials & Guides. | | |
| |Click the Grammar and Writing Guides under Grammar Tutorials. | | |
| |Click on Grammar Mechanics. | | |
| |Click on Overview. | | |
| |Complete Mastery Test I, Mastery Test II, and Mastery III | | |
| |Review any other sections within Grammar Mechanics where you feel you may need additional | | |
| |practice. | | |
| | | | |
| |Additional Resources from the Center for Writing Excellence: | | |
| |Grammar Girl Podcasts: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing located on the student website.| | |
|Video |Watch “Academic vs. Casual Written Communication” located on the student website. |Thursday | |
|Academic vs. Casual | |Day 4 | |
|Written Communication | | | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Resource: MyFoundationsLab® Student Help Weeks 4 & 5 |Sunday |50 |
|My Foundations Lab®: | |Day 7 | |
|Sentence Skills |Complete the Skills Check for Sentence Skills. | | |
| | | | |
| |Access the following components in MyFoundationsLab®: | | |
| | | | |
| |W2 - Writing: Sentence Skills | | |
| | | | |
| |Sentence Structure (W2.1) | | |
| |Fragments (W2.2) | | |
| |Run-ons (W2.3) | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the following activities for each unit: | | |
| | | | |
| |Overview | | |
| |Animation | | |
| |Practice the Skills 1 | | |
| |Post-Test | | |
| | | | |
| |Note. If you achieved the Mastery Score on the Skills Check, you do not need to complete the | | |
| |activities. | | |
|Individual |Resource: MyFoundationsLab® Student Help Weeks 4 & 5 |Sunday |50 |
|My Foundations Lab®: | |Day 7 | |
|Punctuation |Complete the Skills Check for Punctuation, Mechanics, and Spelling. | | |
| | | | |
| |Access the following components in MyFoundationsLab®: | | |
| | | | |
| |W3 - Writing: Punctuation, Mechanics, and Spelling | | |
| | | | |
| |Commas (W3.1) | | |
| |Final Punctuation (W3.2) | | |
| |Quotation Marks (W3.3) | | |
| |Other Punctuation (W3.4) | | |
| |Apostrophes (W3.5) | | |
| |Abbreviations and Numbers (W3.6) | | |
| |Capitalization (W3.7) | | |
| |Spelling (W3.8) | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the following activities for each unit: | | |
| | | | |
| |Overview | | |
| |Animation | | |
| |Practice the Skills 1 | | |
| |Post-Test | | |
| | | | |
| |Note. If you achieved the Mastery Score on the Skills Check, you do not need to complete the | | |
| |activities. | | |
|Week Six: University Library and Resources |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Explain effective use of the library and other University resources. | | |
| |Identify support options offered by the University. | | |
| |Evaluate sources of information for reliability and credibility. | | |
|Video |Watch the “Center for Writing Excellence” video located on the student website. |Wednesday | |
|Center for Writing | |Day 3 | |
|Excellence | | | |
|(CWE) | | | |
|Video |Watch the Center for Mathematics Excellence” video located on the student website. |Wednesday | |
|Center for Mathematics | |Day 3 | |
|Excellence (CME) | | | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Access My Career Plan in Phoenix Career Services located on the student website. |Friday |10 |
|Discovering Your | |Day 5 | |
|Aptitude |Complete the Career Plan Building Activity: Reasoning Abilities. (You will use these results | | |
| |in Week Eight assignment “Ethical Lens Reflection” and Week Nine assignment “Student Course | | |
| |Reflection.”) | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit a screenshot of your results to your instructor. | | |
| | | | |
| |Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot. | | |
| |Open a blank Microsoft® Word document. | | |
| |Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screen shot into the document. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Individual |Complete the University Library research tutorial. |Sunday |25 |
|University Library | |Day 7 | |
|Tutorial |To access the tutorial: | | |
| | | | |
| |In the Library Tab, select University Library | | |
| |In the Library Services menu to the right of the page, select View the Research Tutorial. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit a screen shot of the “Your Area of Study” screen as proof of completion, as directed by| | |
| |your instructor. | | |
| | | | |
| |Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot. | | |
| |Open a blank Microsoft® Word document. | | |
| |Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screen shot into the document. | | |
|Individual |Locate three sources in the University Library on a topic of your choice. Refer to the |Sunday |50 |
|Reliable Sources |University Library tutorial for information about finding sources. |Day 7 | |
|Worksheet | | | |
| |Complete Reliable Sources Worksheet. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Week Seven: Academic Integrity |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Recognize the importance of personal and professional responsibility. | | |
| |Demonstrate familiarity with Student Code of Conduct, Certificate of Originality, and Code of | | |
| |Academic Integrity. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 11 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday | |
| | |Day 3 | |
|Reading |Review “Reasons Not to Cheat, Academic-Integrity Responsibility, and Frequency of Cheating” |Wednesday | |
| |located in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. |Day 3 | |
|Reading |Read the Student Code of Conduct and the Student Code of Academic Integrity located in |Wednesday | |
| |“Students’ Rights and Responsibilities” on the student website. |Day 3 | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Complete the Ethical Lens Inventory, located on the student website. |Sunday |50 |
|Ethical Lens Inventory | |Day 7 | |
| |Submit a screen shot as directed by your instructor: | | |
| | | | |
| |Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot. | | |
| |Open a blank Microsoft® Word document. | | |
| |Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screen shot into the document. | | |
| | | | |
| |Note: You will use the Ethical Lens Inventory in the Week Eight assignment. You can print a | | |
| |copy of your results for reference or return to the Ethical Lens Inventory site to view your | | |
| |results. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Individual |Complete the CWE Plagiarism Mastery Test located on the student website. |Sunday |20 |
|CWE Plagiarism Mastery | |Day 7 | |
|Test |OR | | |
| | | | |
| |Navigate to the Plagiarism Mastery Test in the Center for Writing Excellence. | | |
| | | | |
| |Click the Library tab. | | |
| |Click Center for Writing Excellence. | | |
| |Click Tutorials & Guides. | | |
| |Scroll down to Plagiarism Tutorial. | | |
| |Click Plagiarism Guide. | | |
| |Click Avoiding Plagiarism Mastery Test at the bottom of the page. | | |
| | | | |
| |Copy your results to a Microsoft® Word document and post the assignment as a Word attachment | | |
| |by Week Seven Day 7 (Sunday). | | |
| | | | |
| |When you finish the test, click Copy to Clipboard. | | |
| |Paste the results by opening a blank Word document and pressing Ctrl + V. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your assignment to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Week Eight: Critical Thinking |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Identify the process of critical thinking. | | |
| |Identify personal bias and emotion. | | |
| |Describe the role of ethics in critical thinking. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 5 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday | |
| | |Day 3 | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Resource: MyFoundationsLab® Student Help Week 8 |Sunday |25 |
|My Foundations Lab®: | |Day 7 | |
|Writing Skills |Complete the Skills Check for The Craft of Writing. | | |
| | | | |
| |Access the following components in MyFoundationsLab®: | | |
| | | | |
| |W5 - Writing: The Craft of Writing | | |
| | | | |
| |Getting Started (W5.1) | | |
| |The Writing Process (W5.2) | | |
| |Prewriting (W5.3) | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the following activities for each unit: | | |
| | | | |
| |Overview | | |
| |Animation | | |
| |Practice the Skills 1 | | |
| |Post-Test | | |
| | | | |
| |Note. If you achieved the Mastery Score on the Skills Check, you do not need to complete the | | |
| |activities. | | |
|Individual |Resource: MyFoundationsLab® Student Help Week 8 |Sunday |25 |
|My Foundations Lab®: | |Day 7 | |
|Writing Paragraphs |Access the following components in MyFoundationsLab®: | | |
| | | | |
| |W5 - Writing: The Craft of Writing | | |
| | | | |
| |Recognizing a Paragraph (W5.4) | | |
| |The Topic Sentence (W5.5) | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the following activities for each unit: | | |
| | | | |
| |Overview | | |
| |Animation | | |
| |Practice the Skills 1 | | |
| |Post-Test | | |
| | | | |
| |Note. If you achieved the Mastery Score on the Skills Check, you do not need to complete the | | |
| |activities. | | |
|Individual |Review the results of your Ethical Lens Inventory and Career Plan Building Activity: Reasoning|Sunday |75 |
|Ethical Lens Inventory |Abilities. |Day 7 | |
|Reflection | | | |
| |You may also wish to review the University of Phoenix Writing & Style Guidelines and Grammar | | |
| |and Writing Guides: Guidelines for Writing Academic essays located on your student website. | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word paper reflecting on the results of the Ethical Lens Inventory. | | |
| |Answer the following in your paper: | | |
| | | | |
| |Describe the results of your Ethical Lens Inventory | | |
| | | | |
| |How might your personal ethical lens direct your academic behavior? | | |
| | | | |
| |How does your ethical lens influence critical thinking? | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| |What were the results of your Career Plan Building Activity: Reasoning Abilities? | | |
| | | | |
| |How might you use your My Career Plan results and competencies and your personal ethical lens | | |
| |to help you in the classroom and the workplace? | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your paper to the Assignments Link. | | |
|Week Nine: Academic and Career Planning |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Explain the long term results and value of higher education. | | |
| |Develop a personal plan that outlines your academic and career future. | | |
|Reading |Review Ch. 1–11 of Your College Experience. |Wednesday Day 3 | |
|Participation |Respond to weekly discussion questions and Participate in class discussion |Ongoing |30 |
|Individual |Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper describing how your academic experience over the last 9 weeks|Sunday |120 |
|Student Course |has prepared you for college and pursuing your career goals. |Day 7 | |
|Reflection | | | |
| |You may also wish to review the University of Phoenix Writing & Style Guidelines and Grammar | | |
| |and Writing Guides: Guidelines for Writing Academic essays located on your student website. | | |
| | | | |
| |Include the following: | | |
| | | | |
| |What do you believe to be the long-term results and the value of completing a degree in higher| | |
| |education? | | |
| | | | |
| |How can you use the tools and assessments in this course to help you in your future courses | | |
| |and your career plans? | | |
| | | | |
| |Reflect on at least three of the topics covered in this class. For example: | | |
| | | | |
| |Collaborative learning environments | | |
| |Goal setting | | |
| |Time and stress management | | |
| |Effective study habits and personal learning styles | | |
| |Academic writing | | |
| |University resources | | |
| |Career planning | | |
| |Integrity and ethics | | |
| |Critical thinking | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your paper to the Assignments Link. | | |
Copyright
University of Phoenix® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
MyFoundationsLab® is a registered trademark of Pearson Education, Inc.
Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix® editorial standards and practices.
