The following two selections from an online course syllabus are designed to support a collaborative learning environment with clear expectations and communication channels.

Discussion Participation

Discussion boards are a foundation for engaging with others in this course. While online courses provide great flexibility, this is not a self-paced course. To meet participation requirements, participate in all graded discussions each week. The typical weekly schedule will have an initial post due by Sunday evening and a second post due by Friday, five days after initial post due date. Please be sure to refer to the schedule - there will be different requirements during certain weeks.

The discussions are designed to foster a collaborative learning environment where we can explore, question, and critically engage with information together. I encourage each of you to bring your unique experiences and perspectives to our discussions. Please engage respectfully, challenge each other and yourselves thoughtfully, and acknowledge common ground. I ask that you approach each discussion with curiosity and an interest in learning together.

Instructor Communication

The Q&A Discussion Forum is the main hub for all course-related questions in this class.  Please post questions here to make best use of our time together and enable everyone to benefit from shared questions and answers. For personal matters, please contact me directly at [email] or through the Canvas Inbox. You can expect a reply to your questions within 48 hours. Feedback and grading on assignments may take up to five days.

Your success in this course is important to me. If you’re experiencing circumstances that could impact your success in this class, please reach out early so we can work together to meet your needs and the course requirements.