Assessment Information Final course grades can be viewed by going to www.ntc.edu, clicking on "my>NTC" and following the instructions listed. For more information on grading and academic procedures please review the NTC Policies and Guidelines on this syllabus.
This course is a performance-based course, designed for your success. Learning plans will be studied over the course of the semester. Each learning plan will have assessment activities or tasks, called PATs, which will evaluate your performance of the course competencies. Your grade will be based on you being able to demonstrate all course competencies.
In this course your performance will be assessed in the following methods:
Assessment Type Quantity Required to Pass* Points Weight Lab Activities 15 80% 225 22% Discussion Boards 4 80% 100 10% Tests 2 100% 250 24% Total 21 575 56%
* Note: Even if your raw score would otherwise yield a grade of "C" or better, you must complete the listed percentages of assessment activities in each category to receive a passing grade in this course.
NTC Information Technology Program Goals and Expectations The IT programs at NTC are designed to supply IT professionals to Northcentral Wisconsin businesses and are guided by local employers to ensure relevance.
IT courses in your chosen program will both give a general overview of the IT industry and a deeper coverage of your program area, to provide foundational knowledge upon which to build an IT career. General education courses enhance the program by developing essential “soft skills” which will improve employability.
Employability and Success in the IT Field If enrolling in an IT program, you should consider the requirements and expectations required to be successful in the industry. You will be challenged to meet academic and technical standards throughout your program, and are expected to dedicate the time, effort, and resources required to be successful in your learning.
While not all of the following personality traits are essential, you will have a greater chance of a rewarding IT career if you:
Have an interest in computers and current technology Want to creatively use your technical skills Enjoy troubleshooting and solving technical problems Have an attention to detail Are driven to pursue continuous learning Possess good communication skills Are comfortable working in a team environment Can follow instructions and procedures Are reliable and can meet deadlines The Commitment I Require from You Attendance This is a face-to-face course, and attendance is required – either from one of the NTC campuses, or a remote location via Adobe Connect. Please notify me in advance of any absence or anticipated late arrival. Lectures are recorded using Camtasia Relay. If you need to miss a class, you will be expected to watch the lecture and complete all related lab activities before the next class period.
If you are absent for any sessions during the first two weeks of class without advance communication to me, you will be given a grade of “F”. If you have unexcused absences for 25% of the overall course (four weeks) or more, you will receive a grade of “F” unless you withdraw from the course before it is 80% complete. Please refer to the NTC Student Guidelines and Procedures below for information on how to withdraw from the course.
Late Work A critical component of success in the IT is the ability to meet deadlines. Therefore, we will model this component in this course. Missing/late work will incur the following penalties:
Failure to submit all required work on time during the first two weeks of the course will result in your removal from the course with a grade of “NS” no-show. 20% will be deducted if work is submitted up to two weeks late. 50% may be deducted if work is submitted up to two weeks late and Work submitted more than two weeks late will not receive any credit. Late work during the last two weeks of class will not receive any credit. No late quizzes will be accepted. No late tests will be accepted except in extreme circumstances or having made prior arrangements. Tests which do not initially receive a passing grade must be retaken until a passing grade is achieved. Retake scores are multiplied by 0.7, yielding a maximum score of 70%. Dedication It is expected that you have both the willingness and the time available to study and complete required assignments. Completing IT courses requires dedication and commitment. Be prepared to spend at least 2-3 hours per credit, per week – in addition to class time – on learning and assessment activities for this course.
Quality Being successful in IT requires great deal of attention to detail and care in completing tasks. Points may be taken off of assignment grades for sloppy/careless work.
Professionalism It is the goal of this class to emulate – as far as possible – a workplace environment and one that is conducive to learning and teamwork. It is my expectation that you will comport yourself in a professional and respectful manner, both toward me and your fellow students.
Any obscene language, rudeness, talking over me or other students, computer/mobile phone use other than that relating to the material being covered, etc. will not be accepted in the classroom. Repeat violations of this policy may negatively impact your final course grade by up to one grade letter e.g. A to B; B+ to C+, etc.
My Commitment to You It is my goal to be responsive and supportive to aid you in your learning. Throughout the course, I will attempt to clearly define my expectations of you, respond in a timely manner with all communications (generally within 24 hours) and grade assignments turned in on time within one week of their due date.
Attendance and Participation Consistent attendance and participation in this course is essential for your success. Demonstrating these behaviors will help you meet NTC's Soft Skills and will help prepare you for future employment. As your instructor, I will make reasonable allowances for personal illness, legitimate absences which accommodate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and absences for sincerely held religious beliefs. Whenever possible, please contact me prior to an absence to make arrangements for missed course work. Unexcused or excessive absences, however, will have a negative impact on your success in this course.
*Online - Learner Role and Responsibilities
**Virtual College - In order to succeed in a Virtual College course, you need to have the required level of computer skills, motivation and a commitment to learn and work on your own. This means that it is very important that you are independently organized, responsible, have the ability to troubleshoot and understand how to ask for help when needed. While this course has flexible assignment deadlines, you are strongly encouraged to begin the course as soon as possible and complete assignments each week. This will help you stay on track and be successful in this course. If you run into issues during the semester, please contact me or Susan Ryman, your advisor, as soon as possible to help you work out a plan to ensure course completion.
Soft Skills Soft Skills are broad outcomes or skills that every graduate of an NTC program is expected to achieve. These skills go beyond the context of a specific course or program and are the skills employers tell us they expect employees to have. For you to meet these demands, NTC has identified seven Soft Skills that are important to every area of learning. These Soft Skills are: Communicate Effectively, Act Responsibly, Work Productively, Work Cooperatively, Demonstrate Integrity, Think Critically and Creatively and Develop Global Awareness.
NTC Student Guidelines and Procedures Please review all of the NTC student guidelines and procedures found at this website: www.ntc.edu/current-students/guidelines-procedures
Student Behavior Guidelines (Including)
Academic Honesty Safety and Security Children on Campus Student Code of Conduct Computer Use Policy Student Due Process Discrimination and Harassment Tobacco-Free Campus Drugs and Alcohol Student Academic Procedures (Including)
Academic Appeal Grades and Grading System Academic Retake Refunds Add/Drop a Class Transcripts General Information (Including)
Academic Calendar Religious Accommodations for Students Emergency School Closing Student Catalog and Handbook Equal Opportunity Student Bill of Rights Privacy Policies Student Printing Procedure Academic Support: Please visit the following sites to learn more about these services.Tutoring: www.ntc.edu/current-students/tutoring Learning Center: www.ntc.edu/current-students/learning-center.html
Academic Accommodations NTC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations that allow students with disabilities to fully participate in the technical college environment. If you are a student with a documented disability and believe you could benefit from academic accommodations, please contact Disability Services at 715.803.1469 or visit our website www.ntc.edu/disability-services
NTC Student E-Mail Email is NTC’s official communication tool with students. Please check your NTC email often. All college and course communication will be through NTC student email and Blackboard. Please use professional communication at all times.
Help Desk Information NTC has a Help Desk to provide technical support. Requests for help may include login and password problems, course software use, software technical problems, and browser questions. If you have questions or need assistance when you are working on your course, you can contact the NTC Student Help Desk by calling 715-803-1160, press option #2, or 1-888-682-7144, Ext. 1160, press option #2. You can also submit a help ticket online at www.ntc.edu/helpdesk . Please provide the following information: name of course, your student ID number, what you were trying to do, any error messages you may have received, and how to contact you.
Course Revisions In this syllabus, I have provided course information and a tentative schedule to guide your learning. I do, however, reserve the right to revise this information so that I may offer you the most current content and effective educational experiences. I will communicate any syllabus or schedule changes to you in a timely manner to support your success in this course.
Technical Skills Attainment In addition to assessing each course competency, your instructors will assess your ability to demonstrate each program outcome. This assessment, called Technical Skill Attainment (TSA), is important because it objectively measures your ability to meet industry-recognized skills. When you complete the TSA for your program, you will demonstrate what you know and can do. You can then share this information with prospective employers. Your instructors will tell you how and when your program TSA will be done.
Note: Technical Skills Attainment does not apply to General Education/ABE/ESL courses.
