Dr. Jeff Stringer

Professor of Speech

Office Location: NRG 4101.B

Office Phone: (512) 223.4866

E-mail: stringer@austincc.edu

SPCH 1318 Online Summer 2012

Interpersonal Communication

NOTICE: You will not be able to log on to the Blackboard site for this course until Friday, May 25th. At that time, you should complete the orientation below. If you have any questions, please contact me via e-mail.

Welcome to Interpersonal Communication, a Distance Learning Online (ONL) course. This course utilizes Internet-based instruction to create a convenient alternative to traditional college course formats. I hope you find this experience to be both enjoyable and rewarding.

Before beginning this course, you must complete the online orientation and pass the orientation quiz with a score of 18 out of 18. You must submit the orientation quiz between 5/25 and 5/31 or you may not continue with the course! To begin the orientation, carefully read all information below. Once you are familiar with the course policies and assignments and understand how to navigate through Blackboard, you should take the orientation quiz located on the Blackboard Web site. Instructions for accessing Blackboard can be found in Part II of this orientation.

CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT

Your acceptance of these conditions, as well as the policies outlined in this document, is implied by your continuance in this course.

Part I: Course Overview

The structure of this online course will require you to read the text and take short interactive quizzes covering the readings and vocabulary terms. There is also a series of short writing assignments called Case Studies that you will submit through Blackboard. In addition, you will take three multiple-choice exams at an ACC Testing Center. The exams are difficult and require careful reading and understanding of the concepts presented in the text. Therefore, good reading comprehension skills are required. If you do not generally do well on multiple-choice type exams, or you do not have strong reading comprehension skills, you should not take this course. Many students do not pass this course as a result of poor performance on the exams.

While the format of this course is designed to allow students to work at times convenient for them, there are deadlines by which assignments must be submitted. These deadlines are strictly enforced! This is to discourage students from getting too far behind. Falling behind and becoming frustrated is the number one reason cited when students don't complete this course.

Textbook

McCornack, S. (2010). Reflect & Relate: An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (Second Edition). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

• ISBN-10: 0-312-48934-X
• ISBN-13: 978-0-312-48934-2

You should try to order the textbook before the start of the semester. You may purchase textbooks at the Rio Grande ACC Bookstore location at 817 W. 12th St. or purchase online from most online booksellers. You can purchase textbooks online directly from the ACC Bookstore. This is probably the quickest and most reliable option for purchasing textbooks.

e-Book

Another option is to purchase an e-Book that you can directly access on your computer. To purchase the e-Book, go to the following link and click Purchase in the middle box. (You will want to purchase the standard version. You will also be asked to enter the zip code for your college. The zip code is 78758).

• Purchase the e-Book

Course Assignments and Grading

Your grade in SPCH 1318 will be based upon a series of online quizzes, written assignments, and exams. Specific guidelines for each assignment can be found on the Blackboard Web site. The distribution of each assignment is listed below:

Incompletes and Withdrawals

Incompletes will not be given for this course. If for any reason you are unable to complete the required work, you should withdraw. You are responsible for withdrawing yourself. If you do not drop by the final withdrawal date, you will receive an F.

Final Withdrawal Date:

First 6-week summer session: Thursday, June 28

Part II: Introduction to Blackboard

Blackboard is the Internet interface through which you will access materials for this online course. You will need your ACCeID and password to log in to Blackboard.

• For instructions on logging in to Blackboard using your ACCeID and password, go to the Blackboard Login page and click the link Student Support in the Support Websites box. Otherwise, log in with your username and password.
• Once you have logged on to Blackboard, click Interpersonal Communication in the box that says My Courses. This should take you to the main course page. You will find a link called "Introduction to Blackboard" in the left-hand column. This link contains a printable guide for navigating through this course and accessing the orientation quiz. Read and follow these instructions carefully before proceeding with the online orientation quiz.

Page created and maintained by Jeff Stringer, Ph.D.
Updated: 5/06/2012

E-mail me