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May courage never be extinguished, or light diminished nor spirits bound in pursuit of personal excellence.
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| Painting above by Susan Seddon Boulet |
MESSAGE FOR ONLINE STUDENTS
• This online class does not required any on-campus meetings. All instruction occurs online.
• All course materials are on reserve at the WVC Library.
• Because this course is using the CourseCompass instructional site, it is not taught inside ANGEL and will not be listed there.
• The supplementary reading (but not the text) is included when you purchase a subscription to the CourseCompass Website ($15).
• Hard copies of the text are availabe in the WVC bookstore and are also on reserve at the WVC library.
- • Scroll down to the end of this syllabus for ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS (how to log-on to the CourseCompass, the Course ID).
• To see the schedule of assignments for the Summer Session, click on the last link at the end of this Syllabus.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Instructor: Sandy Ladd
Units: 3
Acceptable for Credit:
- University of California
- California State University
- Fulfills Cultural Diversity Requirement for AA degree
Credit/No Credit Option
The course introduces the student to the gender-role development of women in terms of the biosocial and cultural factors involved in intellectual and personal-emotional functions. Examination of psychological research and theory will focus on multicultural factors; that is gender as it relates to race, class, culture & ethnicity in the United States society. This course will satisfy the 3-unit Cultural Diversity requirement for an Associate degree.
WVC APPLICATION FORM
In order to take an online course, you must apply to be a student at WVC and pay your registration fees. Go to the WVC website at www.westvalley.edu Click on apply.
If you are a high school student, there may be additional paper work that needs to be submitted between WVC and your institution to enable you to be registered for this class. Please check with your counselor.
OBJECTIVES
(1) To introduce the student to a cross-section of the literature related to gender roles in different cultural settings; (2) To help the student develop critical thinking skills through the evaluation of current research findings in this area; (3) To provide the student with a framework for self-exploration and self-understanding. These objectives will be accomplished through assignments involving listening, discussing, reading, and writing.
METHODOLOGY
Critical thinking and application of concepts will be practiced and assessed through writing assignments (homework, projects/papers). Assessment will use a distributed learning format. Distributed learning, quizzes rather than midterms and/or a comprehensive final exam, will be one of the assessment methods used in this course. Quizzes consist of multiple choice questions. In other words, this course uses a quiz format only (no midterms; no final exam).
Psychologists have known for a long time that distributed learning is more effective, that is results in better comprehension and retention, than massed learning. Distributed learning means that new information is acquired in small pieces over time and assessed accordingly (for example, one quiz per chapter and one quiz per lecture). Massed learning means that large quantities of information are processed in the same compressed time span and assessed accordingly (for example, one midterm over 5 to 7 chapters or a comprehensive final exam over the entire course).
Even though an instructor might tell you to read a chapter a week, if you are tested once a month by a midterm that covers 5 to 7 chapters, it is most likely that you will wait until shortly before the exam and study those chapters together (massed) over a short period of time (a few days prior to the exam). This study pattern constitutes massed learning and reduces both your comprehension and retention of the material.
CRITICAL THINKING
Students will be asked to explain, analyze, synthesize, apply and evaluate basic concepts in this course in all written assignments. This includes homework, individual and team writing assignments using application of concepts to videos. Students will also be asked to apply selected psychological concepts to their own behavior in the discussion forum for Modern Sexism and in an essay assignment called Personal Reflection.
REQUIRED READING - On Reserve at the WVC Library
- Lips, H. M. (2006). A New Psychology of Women: Gender, Culture, and Ethnicity. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
- ISBN# 0-07-299785-0
- Benokraitis, N.V. & Feagin, J.R. (1995). Modern Sexism: Blatant, Subtle, and Covert Discrimination. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
- ISBN# 0-13-588617-1
SUPPLEMENTARY READING - Selected Chapters Available Online (no purchase necessary) and On Reserve at the WVC Library
- Goldberg, E. (2005). The Wisdom Paradox. New York, New York: Botham Books.
- ISBN# 1-592-40110-4
- Maines, R. P. (1999). The Technology of Orgasm. London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
- ISBN# 0-8018-6646-4
Peplau, L.A., et al. (2003). Gender, Culture, and Ethnicity. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co.
REQUIRED VIDEOS (rent or view at WVC library)
Required DVD
Courage Under Fire (video 2001-74)
Choose ONE DVD:
The Joy Luck Club (video 9907)
The Color Purple (video 89-114)
Choose ONE DVD:
Selena (video 2001-47)
Lakota Women : Siege at Wounded Knee from Turner Pictures (video 2001-68) or The New World.
DVD available online:
Einstein's Wife
LINKED WEBSITES
Women's Repository of Course Syllabi, University of New York, Buffalo, national selection
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS
- Office hours will be held from 5:00 to 7:15 PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or by appointment. Students will be given my personal California cell phone number inside the Course Compass and asked to only use it to speak with me during my office hours and to the use the WVC on-campus number at other times (408-741-2548). The other form of communication, however, is emailing the instructor at any time.
- Video conferencing during my office hours will be available upon request.
- Like you, I am also a student. I am a graduate student in Behavioral Neuroscience, Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine. This is why we are using the virtual office hour method. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me and we can discuss them.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COURSE INSIDE THE COURSE COMPASS
Once you are inside the Course Compass, you will see that I have organized the course using a week-to-week format (or a day-to-day format for the Summer and Winter Sessions). For example, you will click on Week 1 (or Day 1) and you will see the files for that Week (or Day) ordered in the way I think you should access them.
This format is very well-organized and most students find it easy to understand. However, in Psych of Women: A Multicultural Perspective, the organization of content is complex and alinear. This is due to the multifaceted nature of this course, which includes a multicultural perspective within a biopsychological context. If you have only taken linear courses, then you will find this format both challenging and exciting.
If this is your first online class, you will need to tell yourself to relax and reassure yourself that you will be able to do this! It is normal to feel slightly anxious around any new activity. Be kind to yourself and use positive self-talk!
QUIZ FORMAT
- On the weeks (or days for the Summer and Winter sessions) where you are assigned a chapter in the text and a lecture, you will be required to take a quiz. Each quiz has 25 multiple choice questions from the chapter and 5 from the lecture. Each question is worth 8 points (200 points possible) with a time limit of 25 minutes. There will not be quizzes on the supplementary reading material, which will only be assessed through homework assignments.
- Each time a student takes a quiz the questions will be presented in a different random order.
The grading curve for all your quizzes on the text is as follows:
- A = 200 - 180
- B = 179 - 160
- C = 159 - 140
- D = 139 - 120
- F = 119 and below
The Homework - Quiz Sequencing Rule
You must submit your chapter homework prior to taking your quiz for each chapter. You will only receive credit for a quiz, if your chapter homework for that quiz is emailed to me prior to taking the quiz.
HOMEWORK
For each chapter of the text, students will be required to define the key concepts (20 points), complete the short-answer essay questions (30 points), give three new ideas you learned from the websites (25 points) and write a brief summary to an article related to women's health (25 points).
If you do not want to define terms, there is another option for this portion of the homework. Within the discussion board, you can write a brief paragraph making creative connections between the chapter in the text, the supplementary reading and/or some key terms included under terminology part of the homework. You will also be required to positively respond and elaborate on one other student's ideas presented in the discussion board.
Because health care options for women are changing at such a rapid pace, current information on health care for women will be a constant portion of all chapter homework. The homework (worth 100 points) will be available under assignments in Course Compass.
Answers to the essay questions should be brief, but cannot be dualistic (yes-no, right-wrong, agree-disagree) and must demonstrate comprehension of concepts and current research findings. Use complete sentences. "Yes-no" answers will not be acceptable.
For each week, all assignments are due by midnight on Sunday. The homework must be complete in order to receive a grade for the course. If you miss the homework deadline, you may turn in one late homework assignment and complete the corresponding quiz (without a penalty) during a Magic Week (or Day for Summer and Winter Sessions). The desciption of this concept is given "in pink" below). There are three grace periods during the course.
With the exception of this "grace period" during a Magic Week (or Day), all other late homework and quizzes will receive a 30% reduction in points.
Homework must be TOTALLY complete in order to be graded. There will be no partial credit. So, if you are missing one term or do not attempt to answer one of the questions, you will receive zero points.
There will be a 5 point reduction for each error on any section of the homework. If you "try" but make a comprehension error, I will correct it and allow you to resubmit your homework and retrieve the missing points.
HOMEWORK COPIES TO SELF
When you email your homework to me or your papers ALWAYS send a copy to yourself so you will have "proof" that you sent it on time.
This is not necessary for threaded discussion papers (described below) because they are not emailed to me, but are completed inside the Course Compass.
SAVE ALL HOMEWORK ON YOUR HARD DRIVE OR ON A ZIP DISK
Save the copy of your homework, your Courage Under Fire paper, and Personal Reflection on your hard drive.
THREADED DISCUSSION PAPERS
- After watching the assigned video (alone) students will complete a series of essay questions in a format called "threaded discussion." For this assignment, students will input their answers inside the Course Compass, rather than emailing them to me.
- You will be assigned to a team of three to five students. Although you will answer each question individually, you will be able to see the answers given by the other members of your team. You will also be able to react to each other's answers (elaborate, agree/disagree, etc.)
- Topics will involve the application of gender related concepts to culture and ethnicity.
- Asian, Hispanic, African American, American Indian, and Euro-American women will be the focus.
- All students must complete the threaded discussion papers in order to receive a grade in the course.
- Examples of threaded discussion papers will be provided.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
- There is a personal component to this course. There will be a discussion forum for Modern Sexism where students can relate concepts to their own personal experiences.
- Following the text readings and video assignments, you will be asked to relate what you've learned in Psychology of Women to your own personal experience by answering four short essay questions in an assignment called Personal Reflections. These questions will relate to both gender and ethnicity.
- Because this assignment is personal, a point distribution is not applicable. To receive full credit, you only need to complete the assignment by answering each question.
EXTRA CREDIT
For 50 extra credit points you have the option to view the video and answer the questions for either the October Sky or Good Will Hunting. All you need to do is watch the video and answer the essay questions under homework for extra credit. Apply information you have learned from the course when answering the questions so that you demonstrate comprehension of those psychological concepts associated with the psychology of women that are appropriate to the questions. Both these videos focus on male behavior, the latter uses four letter words and should be avoided if you don't want to be subjected to this sort of language.
LEAP FROGS
I realize that some of you may want to go faster than the pace I have set-up. You can always read the chapters and do the homework ahead of time. Assignments that are completed early may be turned in prior to the due date. However, the quizzes are only available for the week specified in the Assignment Folder.
There are some limitations for leap frogs. I revise my lectures and change the lecture questions as the course progresses. So, you may notice there are, at times, lectures that are missing the link and will not open. This is because I am working on that aspect of the course.
DUE DATES AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS
All assignments are due by midnight on Sunday for my Semester classes or by midnight on the same day it is assigned (one-day assignment) or by midnight on the last day of an assignment with a duration of more than one day for my Summer and Winter Session classes.
The specific due dates for assignments are specified in the schedule for the class. Click on the link for Schedule at the end of this Syllabus.
If an assignment or quiz is late and is beyond the limit allowed during Magic Weeks (or Days), that assignment or quiz will receive a 30% reduction.
MAGIC WEEK (or Day for Summer and Winter Sessions)
What if you don't have the time to finish your homework? There are three Magic Weeks (or Days), grace periods, that will allow you some flexibility.
During a Magic Week (or Day), I will allow you to submit one chapter homework assignment and take one chapter quiz (for any chapter required in the course). These "late submissions" will be considered "on time" or just as if you completed it by the scheduled due date.
However, the same "homework - quiz sequencing rule" applies. You must submit your homework before you take your quiz. You will not receive credit for a quiz unless your homework is received prior to taking the quiz.
The concept of a Magic Week (or Day) is my way of recognizing that "unplanned things just happen! (even to good students)" and one of the "benefits" of an online class is the opportunity for "flexibility." However, it is best to complete the chapters in the order they are assigned. I want you to only use the Magic Week (or Day) concept when you have an emergency which interferes with completing an assignment on time OR if you feel that you need extra time to do well on the more challenging chapters or assignments and prefer to "save" a few of the easier ones for the Magic Week (or Day).
GRADING POLICY
5,700 Points Possible
Task Points Total Points 12 Quizzes (Text/Lecture) 200 2400 Homework Assignments 100 2000 Individual (1) 400 400 Team Papers (2) 350 700 Personal Reflection (1) 200 200
Grades will be calculated on a class curve based on your total points. An approximate scale derived from last semester's curve is posted below.
Since I will provide each student with feedback on incorrect answers given on homework assignments and give each student the opportunity to correct their mistakes and retrieve lost points, it is expected that students will receive full credit for their homework. Also, the Magic Week (or Day) option reduces the possibility of being penalized for late homework or quizzes.
As a consequence of these procedures, at the end of the course you CANNOT assume that the percent derived by comparing your total points to the total points possible for the course predicts your grade for the course.
In other words, you could receive 92% correct at the end of the course and still receive a grade of B. This is because your homework points act as a constant, and make a total point percentage inaccurate.
In other words, the variance in a student's final points for the class is derived primarily from their quizzes and papers.
Given the above, here is how you can estimate your grade at any time during the course.
However, a comparison of the curve below to a standard percent grading method can be made by doing the following calculation: [(your total points obtained for quizzes/2600) * (100) + (your total points obtained for papers (excluding the personal reflection paper) /1100)*(100)]/5 = total percentage score on quizzes and papers]. The percentage you compute using this method will approximate your grade in the course (again, given that your homework should operate as a constant). The extra credit option (a paper) allows for some additional variance in the point distribution. However, again, I am using a class curve to derive the final grade.
Here is last semester's curve.
A 5700 5000 B 4999 3800 C 3799 2200 D 2199 2000 F 1999 0
- ADA STATEMENT
- The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a
- federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil
- rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this
- legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a
- learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their
- disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
- accommodation, please contact DESP in the Learning Services Building
- (408.741.2010 or 408.741.2658 TTY).
ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS
We will be using a website called CourseCompass in this course. Once you are inside CourseCompass you will see all the assignments for each week of the semester, including the homework, learning tools, and quizzes.
Make sure you are using only Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher as your browser.
To purchase an online subscription for CourseCompass, go to
http://coursecompass.com/
During the registration process, you create a login name and password. The cost of the CourseCompass is about $35, and much less than the combined total of purchasing the supplementary books in hard copy, which are available online inside the CourseCompass. You will find out how much the exact subscription will be this semester before you enter any personal information, so you can end the process at that time if you wish. All you have to do is complete the first step, submit a valid Course ID, and the cost is presented to you. (Course Compass is no longer using access codes like they did last semester.)
- The Course ID for the 6-Week Summer Session, starting on June 15th, 2009, is ladd33405
In the future when you want to enter the course you have registered for, go to
Once you are there you can log into my course using the login name and password you just created.
- Also, there is online help for students 24 hours a day every day of the week by going to
http://247.pearsoned.com
If you have a problem during the registration process, you can call the Course Compass help line at 800-677-6337 (M-F 8AM - 5 PM EST .
The following link is optional, but you should use it if you think you need further technical information.
Click here to access the How to Succeed in an Online Course WebPages.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR AOL OR HOTMAIL USERS
If you are using aol or hotmail as your server, you may need to
• Click on the underscore when the welcome window appears (PC users) or click on the small box inside the larger box that is located on the upper right of the window (Mac users).
• This will minimize the browser for your server.
• In order to see all the files at the Course Compass site, you need to minimize your browser every time you log-on to Course Compass.
BROWSER PROBLEMS?
If you are having problems with your Internet browser or Java etc. when using Course Compass, please check the following link for possible solutions.
Click here to learn about browser preferences and troubleshooting.
If you are having still having problems after you have reviewed the links above, then either call the Course Compass Technical Help line or try the following:
In Internet Explorer 6
- 1. Open your Internet Explorer.
- 2. Go to "Tools," "Internet Options."
- 3. Click "Delete Files", click OK
- 4. Click the "delete cookies" button. Confirm the deletion.
- 5. Click the "delete files" button. Confirm the deletion.
- 6. Click the "settings" button. Where it states "check for newer versions of stored pages" check the "Every visit to the page."
- 7. Locate "Amount of disk space to use:" and change this amount to 50 MB. The box to change this amount is located to the right of this category. It may take a few moments to change this setting.
For Netscape Navigator or Mozilla
- 1. On your browser's Edit menu, click Preferences.
- 2. In the Preferences dialog box, expand the Advanced category on the left by clicking the plus sign (+) next to it.
- 3. Click Cache.
- 4. Click Clear Memory Cache.
- 5. In the Confirmation dialog box, click OK to verify that you want to clear your memory cache.
- 6. Click Clear Disk Cache.
- 7. In the Confirmation dialog box, click OK to verify that you want to clear your disk cache.
- 8. In the Preferences dialog box, click OK.
- 9. Now under Privacy & Security click on Cookies then the Manage Stored Cookies button.
- 10. Click the Remove all Cookies button, click the Close and then OK buttons.
- 11. Close all browser
After you have completed these changes close out all browser windows. Then re-open your browser and log into the site
Please remember to use the Log Out button in the top right corner of the window each time you leave the site.
BEHAVIOR RESTRICTIONS
Going Over the Time Limit on a Quiz
When you are taking the chapter quizzes, please pay attention to the time.
If you go over the time limit by a few seconds, you will not see your score at the end of the quiz when you hit the submit bottom. When you click on my grades, you will see "!" or what looks like a locked box.
You don't need to email me. If this happens, I am informed by the software and I can usually fix it. Check your grades in a few days and you should see your score.
You need to stay within the time limit as it is not fair to other student to go over the time limit.
I will keep track of the times you go over the time limit.
One reason students go over the time limit is it they are trying to refer to the text or to the lecture notes.
Remember the quizzes are not designed to be open book or open notes.
Attempting to Print a Quiz or a Quiz Question
- If you attempt to print, copy or download a quiz or a quiz question, I will see a mark that looks like this "!!" in my grade book.
- You are not allowed to print, copy or download a quiz or a quiz question,
- You will be dropped from the course if you try to do so.
Attempting to "Stop the Clock" or Access the Test Item Pool Through the HTML Code
If you attempt to "stop the clock" or to access the html code for the course compass and break into a quiz or a test item pool, a security alarm lock box will appear by your name. You will be immediately removed from the course and there will be other disciplinary consequences to this action as required by the District and the educational code of the state of California.
Network Errors
If you have a network error due to technical problems, you will what looks like a small lock box. I will understand and clear your first two quizzes as the result of network errors. After the second network error, I suggest that you take your quizzes in the Technology Center (or equivalent such as a public library) where there is a fast connection to the Internet, updated Browsers and technical assistance. In the event of a third network error, I will only clear your quiz and allow you to take it again after you seek assistance from an employee and obtain their name and work telephone number. Then, email that information to me so that I can verify the problem and try to help you.
Late Quizzes
Any quiz taken after the due date and not during Magic Week will receive a 30% reduction in points. You can only submit late assignments during Magic Week (or Day).
Individual Testing
Quizzes must be taken individually. I will receive a record of the time each student takes a quiz. If I see any consistent time patterns between students, I will ask you to come to my office and provide an explanation.
Time and Network Error Tracking
If necessary in order to increase your awareness or these behaviors, a column may appear that will give you the total number of times you exceeded the time limit or had a network error.
This page was revised on June 15, 2009.
This page was designed and produced by Sandra Ladd.
408-741-2548
Email: sandra_ladd@westvalley.edu
