Housekeeping Hints
Whitlock: Spring 2006

The following are a few preferences, procedures, routines, and personal policies for my classes.

1. Attendance: KSU has no official attendance policy, so each professor sets his or her own. I have stated my class attendance guidelines in my syllabus. Because discussion and collaboration is vital to a meaningful classroom experience, I expect students to attend class. I check attendance at each class meeting. If you are unable to attend, please email me at rwhitlo3@kennesaw.edu prior to the class.

2. PowerPoints and Text: You will be exposed to course content through a variety of media, particularly from our texts and PowerPoint presentations. These presentations, class discussions, and lectures do not replace your reading assignments. I expect you to read assigned material and consider it a component of your professionalism.

3. Professional Courtesy: KSU has issued a professional courtesy statement in its Undergraduate Catalog (p. 241), which includes a statement regarding disruptive behavior. I expect exemplary professional behavior from each of my students. Please silence your cell phones during class.

4. Discussions and Group Collaboration: Much of this course consists of your collaborating with classmates to problem solve or develop presentations. I have made every effort to provide some class time for group collaboration. However, groups may need to meet outside of class and/or via email or WebCT. Through discussion and collaboration, students will develop the content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and professionalism expected of KSU’s education graduates.

5. Course Assignments: There are approximately 8 assignments for this 16-week course. It is your responsibility to submit all assignments accurately and on time. During the semester, I may modify the assignments as they are described in the syllabus by revising due dates, requirements, or other aspects of the activity. Should such adjustments be necessary, I will announce the changes in advance and post the revisions on WebCT. Due dates for the assignments will never be earlier than the dates stated on the syllabus.

6. Graded Assignments: I will attempt to have assignments graded and returned one week after they are submitted. Timely and meaningful feedback is central to the learning process. It has been my experience that students are quite conscientious about completing assignments; therefore, I will return your graded work regularly.

7. Assignment Formatting: All written assignments should be typed, double spaced, and be in 12 point font, and either Arial, Times New Roman, or another of the standard professional fonts. Staple in the upper left corner: please, no binders or folders. In the top right corner of your paper the following information should be typed in SINGLE SPACE:

Your first and last name
EDUC xxxx/Section #
Month day, Year
Assignment name

8. Email Correspondence: Please communicate with me outside of class through my KSU email address and/or WebCT email. Feel free to make an appointment to meet with me during office hours. Please do not approach me as class is about to begin (when I am organizing my materials, etc.) to let me know why you were absent and ask what you might have missed. This is the least effective way to communicate with me as your teacher, and you will know what I mean when you have students of your own.

9. A Final Word...There are always several sections of 2202 and 3308 courses offered every semester. While I hope you look forward to enjoying a fulfilling course with me as your professor, if you believe that your particular learning style and my particular teaching style do not particularly suit each other, you have the option of enrolling in another section. A certain element of my courses involves the disruption of the student’s comfort zone concerning educational practice and philosophical, social, cultural, and political beliefs. We may question and challenge long-held beliefs with the intention of growing professionally so that we might meet the needs of our students. Disruption and discomfort may not be feelings that you as a student welcome, so I am letting you know ahead of time.