Rick DollieslagerThomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Virginia

For Cengage Learning

“Soft Skills” = Success in Life Developing responsibility through course activities and graded assignments:Syllabus buildingBase Group establishmentThe late paper case studyProfessional behaviors work sheetNQAs

Copied from ENF 003 course syllabus (English Fundamentals 3, integrated reading and writing instruction)

Expectations of Students(Compiled and agreed to by Mr. D. and the members of the class)

In order to be successful in ENF 3 and ENG 111, we agree to do the following:

Show up on time every dayBe prepared with all homework that is due. . . Following group discussion of student success behaviors, finish this section of the syllabus in class

Expectations of Mr. Dollieslager(Compiled and agreed to by Mr. D. and the members of the class)

In order to facilitate your success and support your academic achievements .I agree to do the following:Be prepared for classMaintain my office hours, f2f and virtual, at the agreed upon times of _______________. . . Following group discussion, finish this section of the syllabus in class

Classroom Deportment(Compiled and agreed to by Mr. D. and the members of the class)

In order to foster success, it is my responsibility to maintain a safe, learning-centered environment in which every student can participate and develop the skills necessary to be successful in ENF 3 and ENG 111. I take this responsibility very seriously, and we will all agree to the following classroom behaviors in order to respect everyone’s right to learn the course objectives and to support each other in achieving them.Turn off your cell phone during classListen actively when your class colleagues are speaking . . . Following group discussion, finish this section of the syllabus in class

Establishes students’ responsibility for their own learning outcomes

Requires and initiates active involvement of the students in their desired outcomes

Connects the students to their colleagues and professor through common goals and agreed-upon behaviors

Posits a de facto course conduct contract between student, teacher, and class colleagues

http://www.creatingcreativeclasses.com/blog-the-creative-classroom.html

COOPERATIVE BASE GROUPS:MEMBERS MONITOR EACH OTHER’S ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND MAKE SURE ALL ARE ACHIEVING.

Long term (an entire semester) heterogeneous (in terms of academic achievement and motivation) study and support groups with stable membership that meets on a biweekly basis.

Members encourage each other to master course content and complete assignments

Members check to see what assignments each member has and what help they need to complete them

Group discusses assignments, provides information about what a member missed or misunderstood

Help each other with test prep. Go over missed questions after

tests and/or quizzes Help with proofreading and

editing essays and covering math homework

Call and email absent members

DID I MISS THE BOAT?THE LATE PAPER CASE STUDY

Who is responsible for Kim’s failing grade: Kim? Prof. Freud? Kim’s husband? Her classmate? Freud’s secretary?

Discussing the case study, students see responsibility means making wise choices.

THEY CHOOSE WHEN TO USE IT

ONE CHANCE/ONE CHOICE: NQAS

NQA: No Questions Asked

This coupon entitles the bearer to turn in ONE assignment up to one week late, with no questions asked and no reduction in grade.

Assignment: _______________________Date: ________ Signature: ___________

One-time use of No Questions Asked coupon

Makes up one late assignment

Understand that this is their single late submission; no others can be accepted.

Add your on stipulations to the coupon (time-out date, extra credit for not using it, etc.)

PREPARING FOR A PROFESSION

BY ACTING PROFESSIONALLY IN CLASS

USING MODELS AND RUBRICS

Continuous improvement model

Self-assessing Assessing peers Teacher assessment Mid-term End-of-term Assessing growth and

progress A professionalism

rubric

TEACH GOOD NOTE TAKING

INTEGRATE STUDY SKILLS INTO COURSES

Teach Cornell notes format

Collect and grade notes

Allow open notes tests Teach SQ3R reading Use math journals Use grammar journals Use Chunking