Course Syllabus
General Course Description
This course is designed to help in the development and application of skills and attitudes required for success at the college level. While the bulk of the course surrounds the adventure leadership experience, there is a deliberate effort set forth to tie activities that build resilience, establishment of personal strengths & limits, mindful approaches to academic success and an applied opportunity to build a long-term learning community. It is an introduction to college expectations of approaches to learning, research, critical thinking, and analysis of text. The course is designed to emphasize the academic nature of college and the necessity for students to take ownership of their own educational experience. This syllabus is a guide for both the Instructor and the Student and will change as needed to meet the purposes and goals of the Division of General Studies and the course.
Using methodologies and activities from the outdoor leadership profession, we be making deliberate steps to integrate what is traditionally a classroom course with an intensive week of hands on, experiential learning in a demanding reality context. This is NOT a hardcore survival course or college boot camp but rather a cooperative adventure experience. It will have an element of being physically demanding, but proper preparation and planning will dramatically increase the learning experience and success for the student.
Outcomes
Attendance
Attendance is required at all class periods. Missing class will effect your grade significantly since no late assignments will be accepted. While there are occasional, extenuating circumstances it is your responsibility to contact the instructor if an absence will occur. Additionally, due to the short nature of each class, it is expected that students are punctual to class. The instructor will make every effort to start class on time. Missed information is the responsibility of the student. Please do not contact the instructor about missed materials. If you choose to come to class late, and we have finished taking attendance, you will be marked absent. If you have extenuating circumstances that require you to miss class or be late, please contact the instructor prior to the class. If you cannot make the class requirements, please sign up for another section that will work.
Arranged Activities
This course requires that students participate in arranged activities outside normal class times. The instructor recognizes that arranged activities are often difficult to schedule and that student schedules often conflict. The instructor will make adjustments in the class schedule to maximize the student experience and maintain the integrity of the course.
Participation
Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss assigned material. Each class period is worth 5 points. This course will use a roundtable discussions, hands on activities and lecture format. The instructor will moderate the class meetings with a specific outcome and ground rules for dialogue and outcomes. Please use this course to ask questions, engage in dialogue and develop an accurate sense of your ability, success and vision of what the college experience will look like.
Assignments
Assignments are due when indicated. No late assignments will be accepted unless there are verifiable, extenuating circumstances.
Grading Scale
90-100% A
80-89.9% B
70-79.9% C All DGS students must earn at least a
60-69.9% D C- in this course and RDNG (COLL) 110
< 59.9% F to maintain their contract agreement.
Communication
HuskyNet email is the official form of communication for faculty & students. We will be communicating by email on a regular basis since the course does not meet in the classroom weekly. We will make every attempt to simplify communication and consolidate information to benefit the students & instructors.
This course is designed to help in the development and application of skills and attitudes required for success at the college level. While the bulk of the course surrounds the adventure leadership experience, there is a deliberate effort set forth to tie activities that build resilience, establishment of personal strengths & limits, mindful approaches to academic success and an applied opportunity to build a long-term learning community. It is an introduction to college expectations of approaches to learning, research, critical thinking, and analysis of text. The course is designed to emphasize the academic nature of college and the necessity for students to take ownership of their own educational experience. This syllabus is a guide for both the Instructor and the Student and will change as needed to meet the purposes and goals of the Division of General Studies and the course.
Using methodologies and activities from the outdoor leadership profession, we be making deliberate steps to integrate what is traditionally a classroom course with an intensive week of hands on, experiential learning in a demanding reality context. This is NOT a hardcore survival course or college boot camp but rather a cooperative adventure experience. It will have an element of being physically demanding, but proper preparation and planning will dramatically increase the learning experience and success for the student.
Outcomes
- Students will be prepared for and supported in the transition to the University’s institutional mission and goals through the general education requirements that “provides for the development of transferable skills which apply to all career choices.”
- Participate in a multi-day backcountry experience that students will use to create and participate in the learning community.
- Demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills that will relate to the process of creating and negotiating strategies for achieving academic goals.
- Share in an experience that will create social connections with other incoming students, upperclassmen and faculty that will will model and demonstrate effective, engaged, non-discriminatory, participatory, democratic, discursive, and supportive teaching and learning.
- Understand and identify some of the challenges of transitioning to college life, and develop strategies for coping with them.
- Develop interpersonal skills and transfer to an appreciation of expectations, accountability and responsible choices to college.
- Investigate theories of survival from a psychological and physiological perspective and relate it to academic & non academic settings.
- Discuss the concept of “place,” and become familiar with the the development of personal academic goals and options.
- Explore the concept of sustainability from various perspectives including college culture, responsibility to self and personal lifestyle choices.
- Explore the concept of expedition behavior to better understand the concepts of group dynamics.
- Understand the importance of judgment and decision making as it pertains to making healthy choices that can translate to success in college.
Attendance
Attendance is required at all class periods. Missing class will effect your grade significantly since no late assignments will be accepted. While there are occasional, extenuating circumstances it is your responsibility to contact the instructor if an absence will occur. Additionally, due to the short nature of each class, it is expected that students are punctual to class. The instructor will make every effort to start class on time. Missed information is the responsibility of the student. Please do not contact the instructor about missed materials. If you choose to come to class late, and we have finished taking attendance, you will be marked absent. If you have extenuating circumstances that require you to miss class or be late, please contact the instructor prior to the class. If you cannot make the class requirements, please sign up for another section that will work.
Arranged Activities
This course requires that students participate in arranged activities outside normal class times. The instructor recognizes that arranged activities are often difficult to schedule and that student schedules often conflict. The instructor will make adjustments in the class schedule to maximize the student experience and maintain the integrity of the course.
Participation
Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss assigned material. Each class period is worth 5 points. This course will use a roundtable discussions, hands on activities and lecture format. The instructor will moderate the class meetings with a specific outcome and ground rules for dialogue and outcomes. Please use this course to ask questions, engage in dialogue and develop an accurate sense of your ability, success and vision of what the college experience will look like.
Assignments
Assignments are due when indicated. No late assignments will be accepted unless there are verifiable, extenuating circumstances.
- Course Paperwork 30 points
- Teaching Assignment Outline 30 points
- MapWorks Assessment 50 points
- Small Group Meetings 50 points
- Teaching Assignment Presentation 50 points
- Trip Assessment & Evaluation 100 points
- Resilience Reflection Paper 50 points
- Individual Meetings 50 points
- Attendance 90 points
Grading Scale
90-100% A
80-89.9% B
70-79.9% C All DGS students must earn at least a
60-69.9% D C- in this course and RDNG (COLL) 110
< 59.9% F to maintain their contract agreement.
Communication
HuskyNet email is the official form of communication for faculty & students. We will be communicating by email on a regular basis since the course does not meet in the classroom weekly. We will make every attempt to simplify communication and consolidate information to benefit the students & instructors.