UGS101: Learning in the Digital Age: Academic, Personal, and Professional Considerations

Course Description

At one point in time, distance learning in higher education included sets of cassette tapes with recorded lectures, assignments submitted and returned through the postal service, and exams proctored by a local librarian. Learning outside of the physical classroom takes shape very differently in the age of the internet and amidst new sets of challenges, a pandemic included. The transition from a physical classroom to learning in an online environment is not just a matter of sitting in front of a computer instead of sitting at a desk in a classroom. This course will address the complex academic, personal, and professional components of learning to equip students with resources and strategies that support their academic success in higher education. This section is designed for and restricted to students with a major or minor in Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSE).

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Navigate and participate independently using MSU online tools (D2L, Zoom, google, etc).
Develop a network of peers and mentors to help build relationships within the new department.
Identify and use best practices for successful time management and learning.
Use University resources to support success in courses.

Course Activities

This single credit Pass/Fail seminar course is taught as a live online course with asynchronous options available based on student need. Students are given short weekly assignments (ex. videos, reading and workshops) designed to help them learn effectively and build relationships with their fellow students. In class students will work individually and in groups in activities designed to engage students and let them take control of their own education. If you are unable to complete assignments due to illness or self-isolation (as per the CDC recommended guidelines), your instructor will work to provide the necessary accommodations to ensure that your performance in class is not significantly impacted.

Course Schedule

The course schedule will be maintained on the course website. Students enrolled in the course will be given a weekly email with assignments that can be completed each week.

Assessment Information

This course is graded Pass/Fail based on an accumulation of points as follows:

Point Range	Grade
250 or higher	Pass
249 or below	Fail

Points may be accumulated based on individual activities. These activities are designed such that students have multiple ways to pass the course given their own interests and personal situations. The following are some example activities (additional activities will be found on the course website and added throughout the semester):

Attending and participating in weekly seminar class: 5 points for attending and participating in the weekly online seminar session. (75 points for 15 weeks of class) Extra 20 points for participating in 10 or more classes).
Weekly 3x3 Reflections email: 5 points. 1 report maximum for each 7 day period.. (75 points maximum for 15 weeks of class).
Discussion Forums: up to 5 points per week for posting in discussion activities with options for up to 5 additional points if you comment on your peers posts.

Self Reflection Assignments: points for completing each of the following writing assignments (maximum of 50 points):

168 Hour Time log (50 points if completed before Due Date)
1-hour planning meeting with your instructor (25 points if completed in first half of semester)
Building relationship with your Student Mentor (50 points)

Logistical Information

Course Website

This course uses a course website and Desire2Learn page for course organization, which can be found at using the following links:

Accompanying course information, including the official course calendar, can be found at the course website.

Course Meeting Time and Location

UGS 101 Section 731 (Dr. Dirk Colbry) will meet on multiple times throughout the semester. Times will be picked based on student and instructor availability

All live course instruction will happen inside the course zoom classroom via the following link:

https://msu.zoom.us/j/95211297248

Instructor Contact Information

Dr. Dirk Colbry (he/him/his)
Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering
Email: colbrydi@msu.edu
Web: http://www.dirk.colbry.com
Office Hours:

When	Online Locaiton	In-person Location
Thursdays 1-3pm or by appointment	Dirk’s Zoom Office	EB 1516

NOTE Although I would prefer that everyone come to my scheduled office hours you can also schedule an appointment in my calendar using the following website: http://bookdirk.colbry.com. Please also note that ALL scheduled appointments will be zoom calls unless worked out ahead of time with Dirk.

Required materials for class

This course will be meeting on-line this semester. To that end, you will need to ensure that you have the following: A computer with a reliable internet connection and functional webcam, microphone, and speakers.

The ability to run the Zoom video conferencing software, which you can download here: https://msu.zoom.us/support/download The details regarding the software needed for this course are provided in the “Software Setup Guide” which will be provided at the end of this document.

You are also encouraged to have a Slack account (https://slack.com/) and sign up for the CMSE Courses Slack workspace (https://cmse-courses.slack.com/). Details for doing so are outlined in later sections.

Required Reading Materials: This class has no required book or course pack. From time to time we will direct you toward online resources, but the main materials will be lecture notes and software. Additional Course Policies and Expectations

Class attendance

There will be a scheduled time each week for students to attend class. Points can be earned for attending and participating but live attendance is not required. Portions of the in-class instruction may be recorded and provided on the website. These videos are provided as a reference for students to review asynchronously.

Email

At times, we will send out important course information via email. This email is sent to your MSU email address (the one that ends in “@msu.edu”). You are responsible for all information sent to your university email and for checking this account daily.

Inclusive classroom behavior

Respectful and responsible behavior is expected at all times, which includes not interrupting other students, refraining from non-course-related use of electronic devices or additional software during class sessions, and not using offensive or demeaning language in our discussions. Flagrant or repeated violations of this expectation may result in ejection from the classroom, grade-related penalties, and/or involvement of the university Ombudsperson. In particular, behaviors that could be considered discriminatory or harassing, or unwanted sexual attention, will not be tolerated and will be immediately reported to the appropriate MSU office (which may include the MSU Police Department).

In addition, MSU welcomes a full spectrum of experiences, viewpoints, and intellectual approaches because they enrich the conversation, even as they challenge us to think differently and grow. However, we believe that expressions and actions that demean individuals or groups comprise the environment for intellectual growth and undermine the social fabric on which the community is based. These demeaning behaviors are not welcome in this classroom.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

(from the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD): Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at http://rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a Verified Individual Services Accommodation (“VISA”) form. Please present this form to the instructor at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc.). Requests received after this date may not be honored. Academic honesty

Intellectual integrity is the foundation of the scientific enterprise. In all instances, you must do your own work and give proper credit to all sources that you use in your papers and oral presentations – any instance of submitting another person’s work, ideas, or wording as your own counts as plagiarism. This includes failing to cite any direct quotations in your essays, research paper, class debate, or written presentation. The MSU College of Engineering adheres to the policies of academic honesty as specified in the General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades, and in the all-University statement on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades, which are included in Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide. Students who plagiarize will receive a 0.0 in the course. In addition, University policy requires that any cheating offense, regardless of the magnitude of the infraction or punishment decided upon by the professor, be reported immediately to the dean of the student’s college. (See also the Academic Integrity webpage.)

It is important to note that plagiarism in the context of this course includes, but is not limited to, directly copying another student’s solutions to assignments; copying materials from online sources, textbooks, or other reference materials without citing those references in your source code or documentation, or having somebody else do your in-class work or homework on your behalf. Any work that is done in collaboration with other students should state this explicitly, and have their names as well as yours listed clearly.

More broadly, we ask that students adhere to the Spartan Code of Honor academic pledge, as written by the Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU):

“As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do.”

Limits to confidentiality

Essays, journals, and other materials submitted for this class are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University’s student record policies. However, students should be aware that University employees, including instructors, may not be able to maintain confidentiality when it conflicts with their responsibility to report certain issues to protect the health and safety of MSU community members and others. As the instructor, I must report the following information to other University offices (including the Department of Police and Public Safety) if you share it with me: suspected child abuse/neglect, even if this maltreatment happened when you were a child, allegations of sexual assault or sexual harassment when they involve MSU students, faculty, or staff, and credible threats of harm to oneself or to others. These reports may trigger contact from a campus official who will want to talk with you about the incident that you have shared. In almost all cases, it will be your decision whether you wish to speak with that individual. If you would like to talk about these events in a more confidential setting you are encouraged to make an appointment with the MSU Counseling Center.

Drops and Adds

The MSU policy for dropping this course can be found here:

MSU Drop policy

Please notify the instructor if you are thinking about dropping the course

Changes to Syllabus

The syllabus may also be adjusted if needed. These types of changes will be announced during class, by email and/or in the course’s Desire2Learn page.

Commercialized Lecture Notes

All lectures, videos and notes provided in this course are copyrighted by the university. Recording of lectures and/or commercialization of other university-provided course materials is not permitted in this course.

Disruptive Behavior

Article 2.III.B.4 of the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) for students at Michigan State University states: “The student’s behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the teaching and learning process for all concerned.” Article 2.III.B.10 of the SRR states that “The student and the faculty share the responsibility for maintaining professional relationships based on mutual trust and civility.” General Student Regulation 5.02 states: “No student shall . . . interfere with the functions and services of the University (for example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is obstructed or disrupted. Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning environment in this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action through the Student Judicial Affairs office.

Grief Absence Policy

Michigan State University is committed to ensuring that the bereavement process of a student who loses a family member during a semester does not put the student at an academic disadvantage in their classes. If you require a grief absence, you should complete the “Grief Absence Request” web form no later than one week after knowledge of the circumstance. I will work with you to make appropriate accommodations so that you are not penalized due to a verified grief absence.

MSU Community Compact for COVID-19

During the Fall 2021 semester a set of requirements have been put in place to maximize the health and safety of all members of the MSU community. More details can be found on the MSU Community Compact website.

Student illness and Exposure to COVID-19

If a student is exposed to someone who is ill or has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, they will stay home, contact a health care provider and follow all public health recommendations. There are multiple policies available to complete course work. Please talk to your instructors and review the university policies. Instructor illness

In the event that the instructor gets ill, the course will continue. Backup instructors have been identified and will step in.

Written by Dr. Dirk Colbry, Michigan State University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.