Interpersonal Communication is a course centered upon the study of human communication. Specific emphasis is given to the analysis of the process of verbal and non-verbal exchanges in relationships. This is a three credit hour course.

Students and faculty of New Mexico Junior College constitute a special community engaged in the process of education. The college assumes its students and faculty will demonstrate a code of personal honor that is based upon courtesy, integrity, common sense, and respect for others both within and outside the classroom.

This course is designed for the student to gain knowledge of communication. Everyone communicates. The basis for the establishment of this course is the assumption that all individuals communicate by skilled and unskilled means.

This course is a general education course with transferability to New Mexico schools, but it is always advisable to check with the receiving four-year school.

Required:

Required:
The Interpersonal Communication Book

DeVito, Joseph A.
13th Edition

Suggested:
None.

You can buy your books online at the NMJC Bookstore.

GRADING POLICY

This course IS NOT self-paced. All assignments will be scheduled and expected to be turned in according to that schedule. Students attending New Mexico Junior College will be evaluated according to the following grading scale:

90 - 100% = A

80 - 89% = B

70 - 79% = C

60 - 69% = D

0 - 59% = F

Your performance on the following activities will determine your final grade in this course:
Activity

Points

Three Unit Exams (100 Pts. each)
300

Three Application Papers (100 Pts. each)
300

Response Paper (100 Pts.) Final Exam (100 Pts.)
200

Participation (discussion on the message board)/Weekly assignments (8 @ 20Pts, 1 @ 10pts)
170

Total Points Available 970

Your final grade will be determined by the average of your grades (rounded to the nearest whole number).

Exams:


Exams will be multiple choice and true/false format. They will be taken on-line and timed. Make sure you know the dates the exams will be available and how much time you have to take the exam. If you go beyond the time limit, the computer will not allow you to submit any more answers. You cannot stop an exam once you have started it… so make sure you are ready before you start. If need be, lock yourself in a room by yourself so you are sure there will be no interruptions, have something close by to drink, and maybe even a snack. If you are using the families phone line for the internet connection, you may want to let your family members know that you are taking an exam on-line. Research has shown that your environment has an impact on learning, so get comfy, get some snacks, and do well. You will find your exams under the “Assessments” icons.



Participation:


Because this is an on-line course, your participation in the discussion area is very important. Each week I will assign a few questions that relate to the chapters you are reading. The class discussion of these questions will take place on the discussion board. You are required to respond to the questions I pose, and required to respond to the postings of other students. I will not set a maximum or minimum number of postings required. We are adults taking a college level course and I expect to see a level of discussion that reflects this. Your discussion posting should enhance the current, or promote further discussion. Respect the views of others; I will not tolerate online arguing. After discussing the questions with the other students on the message board, you will submit your answer to me for a weekly grade, check the individual assignment to see how many questions you should submit. Remember, I read the message board, so don't send me a copy of what you posted. Your assignment should reflect what you have learned from the text, and from other students. Each assignment will give you different options as to what you will submit. I will be looking at spelling, grammar, content, and format when I grade your weekly assignments. Again, this is a college level course, and I will grade accordingly. Using the message board to discuss the questions is an excellent way to get other opinions/ideas, and to share yours before you prepare your answer and submit it for a grade. Again, when you are writing your assignments, take into consideration what you have learned from the discussion board, what you have learned from the text, and your own opinions. But make sure you back-up what you submit. What I mean here is base your assignment in fact (studies and research discussed in the text, not just an opinion. I should be able to see an understanding of the material from the text through references to theories, concepts, models, studies, and research. These assignments will open and close automatically. Do not fall behind in this area. If you miss the closing date, it’s gone, and your chance of receiving any credit for the assignment is gone with it. Do not take this area lightly!! You will find these assignments under the “Learning Modules” icon.



Application Papers:


Near the end of each unit you will be required to turn in an application paper. I will pose a question, a quote, or a situation that you will respond to using any material that we have covered during that unit. I will be looking for how you are applying the material from the text to back-up your answer. I don’t want to see just opinions in your paper. I want to see how you are interpreting and using what you have learned. The application papers are to be no less than 500 word in length (double-spaced, one-inch margins, New Times Roman, 10 or 12 pt. font, .doc, .docx, or .rtf file format) I will take grammar and spelling into consideration in awarding a grade. The discussion board is optional for the application papers. In other words, if you want to discuss the assignment with other students before you submit it for a grade, feel free to do so (but do not post your paper on the Discussion Board!). Again, the computer will open and close the assignments, so make sure you know the dates and times they are available. You will find the application paper assignments under the “Assessments” icon.



Response Paper:


Near the end of the course you will be required to turn in a response paper. This will be very similar to the application papers, but with the response paper, you may use any material from the text. Again, I want to see what you have learned in this class. The format requirements will be the same; however, this will be a minimum of 1500 words. This is a very important assignment as it, and the final exam is worth 20% of your grade.



Make-up and Late Work


All assignments will be “open” for a number of days; therefore, late work will not be accepted. If there is any reason that you will not be able to complete an assignment on time, contact me immediately, before the assignment is due. I reserve the right to make the final decision whether a late assignment will be accepted or not, based on the circumstances. Also, keep in mind that a difficulty with your equipment (computer) is not a valid reason for a request to turn in an assignment late. A problem with Blackboard must be verified with the helpdesk before I will allow a make-up or exam re-set.

Retrieving Grades from T-BirdWeb Portal
Go to the New Mexico Junior College T-BirdWeb Portal login page. Please enter your User Identification Number (ID), which is your Banner ID, and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). When finished, click Login.

Tips for Success in Online Courses:
1. Log in to class regularly.
2. Pay attention.
3. Take notes.
4. Keep up with readings and assignments.
5. Ask questions when you do not understand something.
6. Utilize your professor’s office hours and e-mail.
7. Read the text.
8. Adhere to the deadlines posted in the course outline.

New Mexico Junior College’s Social Sciences/Communication Department contributes to the growth and development of students through its various disciplines by providing a solid foundation for further educational or vocational training and preparing them to become more productive members of their community.

The Social Sciences/Communication Department has identified four student-learning outcomes:

1. Explain the relationship between the individual and society as it affects the personal behavior, social development and quality of life of the individual, the family, and the community.

2. Think critically about how individuals are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural, and family institutions in their own and diverse cultures and explain how one’s own belief system may differ from others.

3. Possess and use the vocabulary associated with social sciences/communications disciplines.

4. Merge creative, critical thinking skills with social science/communication disciplines.

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

Define the nature, elements, and axioms of interpersonal communication including the interaction between culture and interpersonal communication.

Explain how the concept of self, the process of perception, the act of listening, and the use of verbal and nonverbal messages determine the quality of interpersonal communication.

Demonstrate an understanding of the universals of interpersonal relationships, including knowledge of the growth and deterioration processes of relationships.

Discuss the major types of interpersonal relationships, including those of friendship, love, family and workplace, and how conflict and power issues can be handled effectively in each.

Student Requirements
If you have not already received login information for Canvas/T-BirdWeb Portal/E-mail, you will need to contact the Enrollment Management office at (575) 492-2546.

Check first-time login page for instructions at www.nmjc.edu/distancelearning/coursescourseschedules/canvasinstructions.aspx.

Canvas Assistance

• Review the Canvas Student Orientation.
• Call the Canvas helpdesk at (575) 399-2199 to gain an understanding of the software environment for your class.

You must have access, on a regular basis, to a computer that supports the Canvas minimum specifications and has an active connection to the Internet. See the minimum computer specification requirements at www.nmjc.edu/distancelearning/coursescourseschedules/Canvasinstructions.aspx.

Ten "Handy Hints" for this course:

1. Use and read the message board often. Students from previous semesters told me this helped them quite a bit when submitting their assignments. You get the chance to discuss what you are thinking about the assignment before you submit it for a grade. Nice advantage!! It is also required that you interact with the other students on each assignment and is part of your final grade. Each time you post a message on the message board that relates to an assignment it should promote further discussion. I will not only be looking for quantity, but quality. When you submit an assignment, do not send me a “cut and paste” copy of what you posted on the message board, this will not be considered as a completed assignment. Use the message board to express your opinions, consider other opinions, and learn from others. Use what you have learned and apply that to your assignments. I will cover what and how to submit your assignments later in the syllabus.

2. I can monitor how many times you log-on to the course, how many messages you read, and how many you answer. Remember, participation is important in this class, and will be part of your grade. You will find that the more discussion that takes place, the more you will learn, and the quality of your work will usually improve. I will take this into consideration when determining your grade.

3. Pay attention to the availability dates and times for your assignments (they are listed below each assignment, quiz, and exam). Assignments will be “open” during a time frame with the date and time it opens, and the date and time it closes will be listed below each assignment. Once it closes, you will not be able to access it. It is your responsibility to be familiar with these dates and times, and to submit all assignments on time. I will not accept late work.

4. Create a new folder on your desktop, or, set aside a floppy disk and label it “Web Files” and save all files that you are going to submit for a grade in this folder or on this disk. This way you know exactly where they are stored when it comes time to up-load files into the course. You will also have all the files for future reference, if needed. When naming your files, please use the assignment name, i.e. assignment one, or application paper two. Keep everything you submit, either as a hard copy or on a flash drive. This may come in handy if anything questions come up, or, if you submit the wrong assignment (which has happened!).

5. Submit all assignments using Microsoft Word, or save and submit your file in Rich Text Format. My assignments and files are in MS Word. If you cannot open an assignment, you will need to find a computer, in a lab maybe, to open your assignments, or, go to Microsoft.com and download (it's free) Word Viewer. This will allow you to open Word documents even though you may not have Word installed on your computer. DO NOT use WordPerfect, or Microsoft Works. If you have no choice,you can save and submit them in Rich Text Format. All computers have this available.

6. You may experience problems if AOL is your internet provider. AOL uses its own browser and you may be “booted” after a pre-determined time. This is being worked on, but I don’t know if the problem has been resolved. To avoid any problems, after you sign on to AOL, minimize it, and then use the Internet Explorer browser. Also, if you have any pop-up blocker programs installed, disable them. Pop-up blockers will not allow you to open any files, or take exams.

7. If the campus webpage goes down, notify your instructor via email as soon as possible. I will probably already know it's down. You can always bypass the server by going to http://nmjc.blackboard.com. Please keep in mind that it should not be assumed that I will accept any assignments because you could not login... in most cases the assignments are "open" for a week, which should give you ample time to submit your assignments or take your exams. Just because your home or dorm computer is down, does not give you an automatic excuse not to do the assignment. Go to a computer lab on campus, or the library, or even a friends house. But if I can login up here in South Dakota, you certainly should be able to login from where you are. Also, I would not "bookmark" the log-on page. Sometimes you may miss important information, or, miss an update if you bookmark the page.

8. Just because this is a web-course, it does not mean that you cannot come to my office if you have problems, or just want to talk “live and in person.” Now, because I live in South Dakota, this may be a problem (unless you really want to see South Dakota!). Just email me and we can set up a live chat session to take care of the problem. Also, you should be logging in to the course on a regular basis, I would suggest at least once a day, even if it’s for ten or fifteen minutes. This way you can keep up with the message board, make sure you are up to speed with all your assignments, and informed of any new messages or mail. Keep up with the message board, and your assignments. You will find that during the first couple of weeks the message board may have hundreds of message postings, don't get discouraged because there are so many, you don't have to respond to every one, but try to keep up with the general topics; you may find some topics that really interest you.

9. If you fall behind in your assignments, there is no chance to make-up work. It is your responsibility to keep up with the course material. I am required to report students who are not logging into the course to the Registrar and Financial Aid office… please don’t put me in this position. Take responsibility for your learning!

10. Patience, patience, patience!!! Things do go wrong one in a while. When, or if, problems come up, we will work them out. Also, please remember that all times reflect Mountain Standard Time. You may wonder why this is important. I don’t want anyone to miss an assignment or exam because they were confused as to the time. So all times listed will be Mountain Standard Time. Also, the time is kept by the server, so play it safe and submit your assignments early.

Students will be held responsible for the information on these pages.

Academic Honesty
Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in online academic and professional matters. The College reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, against any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty or otherwise fails to meet these standards. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, dishonesty in quizzes, tests, or assignments; claiming credit for work not done or done by others; and nondisclosure or misrepresentation in filling out applications or other College records. Cheating or gaining illegal information for any type of graded work is considered dishonest and will be dealt with accordingly.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information
Any student requiring special accommodations should contact the Special Needs Student Services Coordinator at (575) 492-2576 or by e-mail at krueda@nmjc.edu.

Attendance Policy and Participation Expectations
It is expected that you regularly log into class at least three times weekly and check your Canvas mail to ensure you have not missed any changes/updates. Students are expected to complete discussions/quizzes/tests/ assignments before deadlines expire.

Canvas Help
If you experience difficulty with Canvas you may reach the Canvas Helpdesk at canvashelpdesk@nmjc.edu, or by calling the 24 hour helpdesk phone at (575) 399-2199.

Netiquette
The professor is responsible for monitoring and evaluating student conduct and student behavior within the Canvas course. By registering for this class, the student is assumed to have entered into an agreement with New Mexico Junior College and the professor to log into the class regularly and to behave in an appropriate manner at all times. Disruptive behavior may result in the student being removed from the class and dropped for the semester. For comprehensive information on the common rules of netiquette and other online issues, please review the NMJC Online Student Handbook.

Online Learning Environment
By participating in an online class, you undertake responsibility for your own progress and time management.

• Pay attention to deadlines and do not forget them (keep a calendar if it helps).
• Carefully read and understand all assignments.
• Complete assignments according to posted instructions and notes. Do not just glance at an assignment before attempting to complete it (this is likely to result in a poor grade).
• Questions may be posed for clarification in the class discussion area or by sending an e-mail to your instructor.

Plagiarism
Offering the work of another as one’s own, without proper acknowledgment, is plagiarism; therefore, any student who fails to give credit for quotations or essentially identical expression of material taken from books, encyclopedias, magazines and other reference works, or from the themes, reports, or other writings of a fellow student, is guilty of plagiarism. Plagiarism violates the academic honesty policy and is considered cheating.

Tutoring Assistance
Free tutoring services are available to all NMJC students through Brainfuse and the Learning Resource Center located in Mansur Hall room 121.

Withdrawal Policy
The instructor has the right to drop any student who has failed to log on to Canvas for two weeks or more, but it is not guaranteed that the instructor will drop you. If the student chooses to stop attending a class, he/she should withdraw from the class by accessing your student account in the T-Bird Web Portal at www.nmjc.edu, or submitting the required paperwork to the Registrar’s Office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. Failure to withdraw yourself from a course by this date may result in your receiving an “F” in the course. All students are encouraged to discuss their class status with the professor prior to withdrawing from the class.