You must use a user name and password after the first week of class. Without these words you will not be able to access the course materials. The format of your username and password are clearly posted on the main page of your course. If you still need assistance with your username and password, please go to this page and read the instructions: http://www.bcconline.com/orient/password.htm .

Student Statement:

In the box below please explain your understanding of user names and passwords, including how you expect to receive your user name and password for this class:

Course Description:

Medical Terminology AHLT 52

A. 3 credit hours

B. Lecture: 54 hours

C. Prerequisite: None

D. Catalog Description: Study of medical terminology which describes the body's anatomical systems. Emphasis on medical terms and their use, English translation, pronunciation, and spelling.

Grades: Option (A-F), P/NP. Degree Applicable Credit. Major Applicable. CSU

This course covers terms related to the 13 body systems, plus a brief introduction to anatomy and physiology. The student shall be able to:

1. Define, spell, pronounce, and write correctly singular and plural medical word forms.

2. Relate terms to body systems.

3. Analyze and identify basic anatomy and physiology of the human body.

4. Analyze and interpret medical reports and literature.

Activities to Achieve Objectives

1. Relating terms to body systems (anatomy), pathology, surgery and medical procedures through independent study of textbook, supplemental readings, and lectures.

2. Analysis and interpretation of medical reports and literature.

3. Problem solving activities or exercises to include quizzes, exams, and discussion board questions.

4. Written work (essays/compositions/reports/analysis/research).

In the box below type the one objective and SLO that interests you the most from the list above and one reason why you took this class.

Required:

Medical Language:  Immerse Yourself, 2nd Edition, Susan Turley, ISBN:  9780135055786

Recommended:

Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (Thumb-indexed plus DVD), 21st Edition, ISBN:  978-0-8036-1559-5

I have the textbook for this course or I will have it by the end of the first week of class.

One of the primary methods of contact in an online course is email. Your college is capable of extracting student names and email addresses from our registration system. The purpose of extracting this information is twofold. The information will be used by the instructor to remain in contact with the class in order to provide information necessary for the students' academic success. The information will also be used to send emails to the students from the college administration. The emails sent by the college administration will consist of links to course surveys which will be used to improve our online courses, important announcements for students, and links to college surveys, which will be used to satisfy requirements placed on the college by the California Community College Chancellor's Office. The college will not use this information to advertise any products and will not share student email addresses with any other organization.

When sending me emails (especially those that contain assignments to be graded), please consider the following:

1) Your 'from' name (first and last) should be the same name you used to register for the course. Even if you don't change your email address, you should be able to update your 'display name' to reflect your registered name. If you change your legal name during the course of the term, make sure you let the office of the registrar know so your records can be updated.

2) If you use a nickname to send correspondence, please make sure you indicate your real name in your subject line. In an age of 'spam,' 'viruses,' and "phishing" scams, screen names like "SuperSexyMojo" are inherently suspicious.

3) Many families share email accounts. Again, I am responsible for safeguarding your privacy, so please avoid sending emails from an account belonging to someone else. Even if the account holder is your spouse, it still puts me in an awkward position. Just as I could not discuss your private health information without your permission, I cannot discuss your grades without your consent. Sending me an email from a family member's account is a very gray area for me.

4)  ALWAYS include a subject line AND include the name of the course (AHLT 52)!  Emails without a subject line will be deleted and unread!  Many of my students have their email accounts "hacked" or "stolen."  I receive dozens of "scam" emails every term offering me everything from herbal supplements to fast and easy ways to make money.

My goal is to provide responsive, thoughtful feedback within 24-48 hours from the date of your inquiries. Please consider the above when sending me correspondence. It will improve communications for everyone!

In the box below type the following information:

As a student I understand it is my responsibility to ensure my email address is up to date in the registration system, and that failure to do so can seriously impact my ability to successfully complete my courses. Further, I consent to receive email communication from my instructor and from the college administration. This consent will remain in force until it is revoked in writing or I am no longer taking classes with the college. Upon submitting the syllabus, I agree to enter the registration system, check my email address and change it if necessary. I understand a tutorial is available to assist me with this procedure. I also understand I can contact 760-252-2411 x7236 to receive additional assistance if I encounter any difficulties when attempting to change my email address.

How Your Grades Are Calculated:

Your assignments and exams in this course are graded using weighted averages. In simple terms, some assignments are "harder" than others and require more effort on your part, so, they count for "more" of your final grade in order to reflect the hard work you’ve done during the term.

In this course, the highest grade possible is an A or a score of 90-100. This score can be considered a percentage of the amount of work you have completed. If you complete all of the work and make perfect scores on each exam or quiz, you will have a grade of 100 percent.

Your assignments in this course are weighted percentages that look like this:

Evaluations and Percentage of Total Grade:

Discussion Board Postings 15

Transcription Assignments 15

Quizzes (4) 40

Exams (2) 10

Comprehensive Final 20

Using a simple mathematical formula, you can calculate how each assignment contributes to your final grade. For example, you will have two (2) exams in this course that will equal 10 percent of your final grade. Let’s say that Student A makes an 85 on the first exam and a 92 on the second exam.

First, calculate the average of the exam grades: 85 + 92 = 177. 177 / 2 = 88.5 or 89 points (decimal points greater than 0.5 are rounded up, less than 0.5 are rounded down to the nearest whole number).

Now you have an average score of 89 on the exams. Multiply 89 by 10 percent to get the total weighted value of your exam grades. 89 x .10 = 8.9 or 9 points. Out of the 100 points possible, the student in this example, has 9 points towards his final grade.

Here is a second example. Each discussion point is worth 5 points. There are 8 discussion board postings for a total of 40 points. Let’s say that Student B has made 36 out of 40 points. Discussion board points equal 15 percent of the total grade. 36/40 = .90 or a score of 90 percent on the discussion questions. 90 x .15 (the weight of discussion questions towards the final grade) is 13.5 or 14 points. So, Student B has earned 14 points towards the final course grade.

This may sound confusing, but do not worry. I will be happy to help you calculate your grades as we work through the term. Remember, this scale gives you more credit for the "tough" assignments and thus rewards you for hard work! Since the decimals round up, it is even possible to score above 100!

Critical thinking shall be demonstrated by one or more of the following:

1. Participation in online group discussions and exercises.

1. Weekly attendance at all classes as shown by participation in discussion groups and by submitting quizzes.
2. Reading: All reading assignments will be read prior to completing discussions/ quizzes except as noted.

1. Discussion board postings and responses to students and to instructor. The goal of the discussion board is to explore various concepts in Allied Health and share ideas and experiences to enhance the overall learning experience. Students will have until 11:55 p.m. on Wednesdays to answer the weekly discussion board question posted by the instructor and until noon on Sundays to respond to at least two posts by their fellow students.

Discussion questions will be short answer or essay type and demonstrate substantive thought, research and thoroughness for full credit (maximum five points). References should be properly cited using APA format with the understanding that format may be affected by the message board software. However, it is still very important to credit sources of information and the student shall make every reasonable attempt to avoid plagiarism.

Students must take care to use proper grammar and punctuation and avoid jargon or slang in their postings. Fellow students should be treated with respect. Insults or derogatory postings will be removed without credit. If a student continues to be a disruptive presence in the "online classroom" he or she may be failed for the course and recommended for expulsion from the program.

Use the following as a reference guide when writing and posting to the discussion board:

There are 8 discussion board questions that you will be responsible for during the term. The last posting (9) is optional, but you are asked to participate. Each discussion posting is worth 5 points (for a total of 40 possible) and count towards 15 percent of your overall course grade.

Posts will be graded using the following rubric:

5 -- Post is well-written with substantial thought and effort. There are few (if any) grammatical or spelling errors. References when needed are credited using APA style. In addition to the original post, there are at least two responses to fellow students. Note: Responses should be thoughtful replies. Saying "I agree," or "yes" or "no" are not acceptable.

4 -- Student has written a thorough posting, but there are spelling or grammatical errors and/or errors in referencing. Student has written at least two responses.

3 -- Student has written a posting that may or may not have errors in grammar, spelling, but lacks referencing when required. The posting contains a preponderance of "cut and pasted" information and lacks original thought and effort. There are at least two responses to fellow students.

2 -- Student has written a post according to classroom guidelines but has not written responses to fellow students. There may be errors in grammar, spelling, and referencing.

1 -- Student has written at least two responses, but lacks an original post.
 

2.  Homework.  Each lesson has review exercises included in each chapter of your textbook.  These assignments are not graded and are not required to be submitted.  The purpose of the homework assignments is to help you prepare for your course exams and to reinforce your learning and retention of medical terminology.  Complete as much or as little of the work as you feel you need to in order to develop your understanding of the course materials.  Generally speaking, students who complete the homework assignments achieve higher grades on their quizzes and exams.

3. Examinations. There will be two timed, multiple-choice exams. You may use your book and or notes on the exams. Links for the exams are on the home page.  Due dates for the exams are on the home page.

4. Quizzes. Timed quizzes will be given as scheduled in the course outline/syllabus. Questions will be multiple-choice. You may NOT use your book or your notes on the quizzes.  Links for the quizzes are at the end of the lesson for that week's quiz and on the home page.  Dates for the quizzes are on the home page.　

5. Written Assignments. Students will correctly transcribe a medical report using appropriate terminology, grammar, and punctuation. There will be a total of three reports to be submitted via email.  Assignments must be submitted in RTF format.  Students unable to use RTF files may submit their work in the body of an email.  Assignments NOT submitted as RTF files will NOT be graded. Due dates are scheduled according to the course outline on the home page. 

6. Comprehensive Final Exam. On campus or proctored (by an authorized representative) off-campus comprehensive final exam will be scheduled at the end of the course.  The final exam is a multiple-choice, timed, open book/open note exam that covers materials from Chapters 1 through 16.　

I understand the above grading policy and will abide by its terms.

It is your responsibility to make sure the instructor has the all the contact information stated at the top of this syllabus by the start of classes!! It is your responsibility to email the instructor if you have any problems or do not understand this syllabus.

It is your responsibility to confirm your enrollment either via the Internet at http://bcregweb.barstow.edu/  or by calling (760)252-2411 x7236 if you are having problems accessing the course material. After you have confirmed your enrollment go to http://www.bcconline.com/orient/  and read the password link. Following this procedure will ensure you are helped in the fastest manner possible.

By enrolling for this class, the assumption is that you possess the necessary skills to read at the college level, to enter and perform research on the internet, to email using proper email etiquette and to post to the discussions.

Attendance Policy: Online classes provide a unique opportunity for learning due to their asynchronous format. Students are able to log in to class at their convenience and to self-schedule attendance based on their individual needs such as family and work. However, online courses require as much time as those taken in the traditional classroom environment so students must plan accordingly. Like any course, you will benefit from the effort you put into your studies. Time management skills and self-discipline are crucial to your success. Online assignments are required to be submitted in a timely fashion. 

Quizzes and exams must be taken and submitted on time for full credit. The due dates and times for your work are based on what one might experience in the traditional classroom.  Timing for submissions is based on the difficulty level of each assignment and the work is spread through out the term.  I do not believe in a "weekly" due date as it tends to lead to procrastination and last minute cramming which hinders the learning process.  As a general rule, late work will not be accepted or may not receive full credit. Emergencies and extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis, so it is important to contact the instructor if you have any problems that may prevent you from completing your work on time.

The course contains two instructor posting areas.  Messages from the instructor, updates or changes to the course schedule, and answers to frequently asked questions will be posted on a regular basis.  It is very important to check the messages boards in order to keep up with the course!

The deadlines for assignments are based on Pacific Standard Time (PST) to coincide with the geographical location of our main campus.  Please make a note of this is you are logging in from out of the state or the country!

Instructor: Amy C. Gallagher, MSN, RN

Office Hours: Please contact me via email to arrange a meeting (online or via telephone) if you need particular assistance.

Email: My email address is: agallagher@bcconline.com.  Please add this address to your contact list. I will reply to any emails within 24-48 hours. If you do not receive a reply, it is possible that your account blocked the message, so be sure to check your filter/SPAM folder. When sending email, please include your full name (the one you used to register for classes) and the name of the course in your subject line. Email that does not contain the proper subject line will be deleted and unread. I do not routinely answer emails on the weekend, so you may experience a slightly longer response time than during the week. Please keep in mind that this email address is for professional communication between student(s) and the instructor, so please do not add it to a "friends" list that you may use to forward mass emails such as jokes, news stories, or links to interesting websites. 

At the conclusion of the class students may find out their grades by going on the Internet at http://bcregweb.barstow.edu/. I do not email or post student grades and will not respond to inquiries about grades at the conclusion of the course.

In the box below type, I understand and agree to abide by the online instructions written above.

You will not officially start this course until after you have completed the orientation sessions at http://www.bcconline.com/orient/. No work should be completed until AFTER you have reviewed the orientation area. The orientation area will answer many frequently asked questions about online instruction and also provides tutorials on common problems students encounter while doing online courses. If you are experiencing technical difficulties and/or need to learn how to use our courseware, you should first check the orientation area to see if it answers your technical question. If your technical question is not answered on the website, you may then email techhelp@bcconline.com with your question. If your question pertains to class materials you should email me at agallagher@bcconline.com.  The webmaster cannot answer course related questions, and I cannot answer technical questions.

In the box below type, I understand there is one meeting for this course (the final). If I am unable to take the final on the main campus, or at Barstow College's Ft. Irwin site. I understand it is my responsibility to find a proctor and completely fill out the proctor from. I understand I must fill out the syllabus in order to complete this course and that completing the online orientation before beginning my course work is mandatory. I realize that I should email the instructor with any class related questions. I also understand that I should first check the orientation area for answers to my technical questions and can email techhelp@bcconline.com for assistance.

I understand the policy on plagiarism and agree to abide by it.

A syllabus is not a contract between the instructor and student but rather a guide to course procedures on attendance, requirements, grading, and objectives. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when circumstances dictate. Students will be duly notified. 

Please retype the following in the box below:

I understand that the syllabus is not a contract between instructor and student but rather a guide to course procedures on attendance, requirements, grading, and objectives. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when circumstances dictate. Students will be duly notified.

If you have a disability which may impact your success in this course, you may contact the Office of Student Support to arrange any reasonable accommodations and supports to which you are entitled. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate these procedures. The OSS department can be contacted by calling 760-252-2411 x7225 or 760-252-6759 TTY/TDD or emailing oss@bcconline.com.

In the box below type:

I understand and agree to abide by the course schedule listed above.