Unit 1 Introductory Seminar: Important Points About Our Course Richard Niebusch Richard Niebusch

Greetings Everyone! Welcome to Kaplan University’s School of Criminal Justice. Welcome to Kaplan University’s School of Criminal Justice. Please review my greeting to all of you, the course announcements, the Instructor Expectations document, and the course syllabus if you have not already. Please review my greeting to all of you, the course announcements, the Instructor Expectations document, and the course syllabus if you have not already. Next, Let’s review some important points about our course Next, Let’s review some important points about our course

Communication Is ESSENTIAL This involves discussion boards, seminars, quizzes, essays and ing me with any questions, concerns, problems or issues that may arise throughout the entire term. Please let me know ahead of time if you experience any difficulties, or have other extenuating circumstances. Also, contact your advisor and let he/she know as well.

Time Commitments This is not a self-paced class. You should plan on spending about hours or more per week on this class. A key to success in taking on-line classes is to keep up with the assignments. You are all busy people, the best advice that I can provide to you is to make every effort to stay current in your course work.

Phone Outreach Kaplan University now mandates that I must telephone you if you are failing the course after Unit 2 Kaplan University now mandates that I must telephone you if you are failing the course after Unit 2 If you do not desire telephone contact please me If you do not desire telephone contact please me

Academic Weeks Our academic weeks are from Wednesday to Tuesday, therefore Wednesday is the first day of the unit, and Tuesday is the last. Generally, all assignments will be due on the Tuesday of each unit. Please see the course due dates under the course announcements for further clarification of due dates. Just as a reminder, the course room “locks” on Tuesday evening at 11:59 PM EST. Following that time no other submissions will be accepted.

Office Hours My office hours are on Sundays between 10:00 and 12:00 pm, EST, in which you can log onto AIM, and send me an instant message with any course related topic. My aim sign-in is rniebusch.

s You can also me, or post a question in my virtual office. I will get back to you within a 24 hour period. Please be aware that your classmates can view what is posted in the virtual office, therefore, if you would prefer the matter to remain confidential, please me or drop by on AIM. I check my each morning. represents the best way to reach me:

Returning Your Work to You I will return all papers, projects, and other required submissions throughout the course to you within seven days of their original submission. That is, if you turn your paper in on the 7 th of the month, you will get it back no later than the 14 th of the month. If you do not receive your work within this allotted time frame, please me. I will return all papers, projects, and other required submissions throughout the course to you within seven days of their original submission. That is, if you turn your paper in on the 7 th of the month, you will get it back no later than the 14 th of the month. If you do not receive your work within this allotted time frame, please me.

Grading Unit Work I post grades for each unit on Sunday. I post grades for each unit on Sunday. You may see grades prior to that….. You may see grades prior to that…..

Accessing the Available Tools Access the tools available to you, such as the Library, Career Services, and Kaplan University’s Writing Center, where you can submit your assignments for review and have them returned to you in a timely manner.

Class Participation –Please participate at a minimum, three separate days per week, and post responses on these days. You must respond to each and every question asked in a respective unit to receive credit. –Responses must address the question, and should provide original thought, as well as possibly provoke additional commentary by your fellow classmates. You should respond to one another as often as possible, as to initiate further discussion and/or debate, etc. –Responses should be at a minimum! –ALWAYS BE COURTEOUS AND CONSCIENTIOUS!!! –QUANTITY is not as important as QUALITY!!!

Required Comments to Other Learners For every Unit there is a requirement to make substantive comments to other learners. This requirement is explained in the course syllabus. Substantive comments mean you will provide some combination of: initiating further discussion; promoting further thought; providing critical dialogue; providing integrative dialogue; providing affective support or encouragement; challenging by showing supporting literature or other documentation, providing meaningful Socratic dialogue, and/or self-reflecting regarding the topic. In general, words is expected. In general, words is expected.

Instructor Questions All questions posed by the instructor must be addressed by students. All questions posed by the instructor must be addressed by students. If you fail to address the question, points will be deducted from your point total for that week If you fail to address the question, points will be deducted from your point total for that week

Unit Quizzes There are quizzes for you to complete in this course. You are expected to complete each quiz prior to the expiration of that particular unit, or prior to Tuesday evening at 11:59 p.m., EST. There are no make-ups for missed quizzes

APA Format and Guidelines –Learn the American Psychological Association (APA) writing style, and use it to cite any outside references within your postings, papers and projects throughout the term. –There is information regarding APA under the course home, Doc Sharing and within Kaplan University’s Writing Center –You WILL be graded in this class for improper APA format and citations.

Spelling and Grammatical Errors For all papers and projects to be submitted, I will deduct points from any paper that has spelling and/or grammatical errors. For all papers and projects to be submitted, I will deduct points from any paper that has spelling and/or grammatical errors. These types of errors can be avoided by using any or all of the following: 1) submit your paper to Kaplan University’s Writing Center to ensure its accuracy; your paper will be returned to you within 24 hours, 2) use your spell check icon, as it is literally a click away, and 3) use your spelling and grammar icon available in almost all Microsoft Word Programs. These types of errors can be avoided by using any or all of the following: 1) submit your paper to Kaplan University’s Writing Center to ensure its accuracy; your paper will be returned to you within 24 hours, 2) use your spell check icon, as it is literally a click away, and 3) use your spelling and grammar icon available in almost all Microsoft Word Programs. As college level students, you are expected to have the fundamentals of both spelling and grammar, and if you do not, these essential tools are there to assist with the writing process. Your employer would expect no less from you, and as your Instructor, please provide me the same courtesy you would to them. As college level students, you are expected to have the fundamentals of both spelling and grammar, and if you do not, these essential tools are there to assist with the writing process. Your employer would expect no less from you, and as your Instructor, please provide me the same courtesy you would to them.

Posting Requirement Original discussion Response All discussion postings need to be comprised of at least words. All discussion postings need to be comprised of at least words. –Some where in the posting I should see evidence of course materials. –Mere opinion is nice but you are a student in this course and are here to learn Therefore, your postings should reflect APPLICATION of course materials Therefore, your postings should reflect APPLICATION of course materials –Initial discussion postings submitted on Tuesdays are adjusted to a 70% scale

Discussions What is required? What is required? A response to the instructor posted discussion questions A response to the instructor posted discussion questions –Must be words –Should evidence the readings –APA style authenticates the response Peer response(s) to other learners within the discussion thread Peer response(s) to other learners within the discussion thread –50-75 words –1 is the minimum (more postings improves your score)

Late Assignment Policies Late assignments are adjusted to as little as a 60% maximum scale. You have a full seven days to complete each unit and those turned in on the 8th day or later are considered late. Unit assignments are due on Tuesday at Midnight EST. Late assignments are adjusted to as little as a 60% maximum scale. You have a full seven days to complete each unit and those turned in on the 8th day or later are considered late. Unit assignments are due on Tuesday at Midnight EST. Please make note in the syllabus of the week five deadline. Once the midterm has past, I cannot accept work that was due prior to the midterm week ending (papers, projects, missed seminar assignments). Please make note in the syllabus of the week five deadline. Once the midterm has past, I cannot accept work that was due prior to the midterm week ending (papers, projects, missed seminar assignments). Past discussions are not subject to make-up as they are not timely and do not support the cohort interaction required. Past discussions are not subject to make-up as they are not timely and do not support the cohort interaction required. If you have extenuating circumstances and would like to turn work in late without penalty, you must contact me in writing prior to the due date. If you have extenuating circumstances and would like to turn work in late without penalty, you must contact me in writing prior to the due date. Note: I will not accept any assignment that is two weeks past due, unless a student has informed the Instructor of extenuating circumstances, etc. Note: I will not accept any assignment that is two weeks past due, unless a student has informed the Instructor of extenuating circumstances, etc.

Grading As an instructor I do not support the notion of “grade inflation.” As an instructor I do not support the notion of “grade inflation.” The grade the you earn will represent a direct reflection of the time and effort that you invest in this course. The grade the you earn will represent a direct reflection of the time and effort that you invest in this course. Kaplan University courses are based upon a 1,000 point grading scale Kaplan University courses are based upon a 1,000 point grading scale –All students have equal access to the points There is no “extra credit” at Kaplan University There is no “extra credit” at Kaplan University

Technical Problems You are responsible for having contingency plans for computer problems-- one suggestion is to be familiar with local community resources e.g., computer access through the public library, local University, and/or Community College; another suggestion is to ask friends or relatives in advance if you can use their equipment in an emergency.

Technical Problems This is an online course This is an online course –If your computer is not functional you must find an alternate way to resolve this issue –Develop a contingency plan now.

Software Requirements Microsoft Windows Operating System (Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP) Microsoft Windows Operating System (Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP) MS Word MS Word –Corel Word or MS Works are not acceptable substitutes Microsoft Office 2000 (or higher) (with PowerPoint) Microsoft Office 2000 (or higher) (with PowerPoint) Adobe Acrobat Reader (minimum Version 6.0) Adobe Acrobat Reader (minimum Version 6.0) –free download via the Internet at AOL Instant Messenger (free download via the Internet at AOL Instant Messenger (free download via the Internet at Windows Media Player (to view video clips) Windows Media Player (to view video clips) QuickTime (for Windows or Apple) (to view video clips) (free download via the Internet. The Apple site will recognize your computer and route you to the appropriate link). QuickTime (for Windows or Apple) (to view video clips) (free download via the Internet. The Apple site will recognize your computer and route you to the appropriate link). Real Media Player (to listen to audio summaries) (free download from Real Media) Real Media Player (to listen to audio summaries) (free download from Real Media) Adobe Flash Player (to view multimedia presentations) eFlash&promoid=BIOW Adobe Flash Player (to view multimedia presentations) eFlash&promoid=BIOW eFlash&promoid=BIOW eFlash&promoid=BIOW Adobe Shockwave Player (to view some multimedia presentations) Adobe Shockwave Player (to view some multimedia presentations)

Software Requirements I do not accept papers and other documents submitted in the following formats: I do not accept papers and other documents submitted in the following formats: –Corel Word –Word Perfect –MS Work –MS Open Office The requirement is MS Word in accordance with Kaplan University policy The requirement is MS Word in accordance with Kaplan University policy Paper submitted in alternate formats will be scored a zero (0) Paper submitted in alternate formats will be scored a zero (0)

Late Assignment Policies –My rule regarding late work is as follows: –The decision to pursue post secondary education is a voluntary one. Life happens in real time and attempting to complete college credit will require that you to manage work, family and personal time. –The criteria that I use in considering requests for extensions is that there must be an emergency (as opposed to an inconvenience) that was unanticipated and significantly impacted your ability to complete the required work.

Conclusions Ask questions when you do not understand something. I am here to assist you in your educational and professional goals. Ask questions when you do not understand something. I am here to assist you in your educational and professional goals. Enjoy the Term! Let’s work hard together! Enjoy the Term! Let’s work hard together!