LB 1:     August 9, 2021 - September 8, 2021

LB 2:    September 13, 2021 - October 12, 2021

LB 3:    October 18, 2021 - November 18, 2021

LB 4:    November 22, 2021 - December 21, 2021

Examples of the daily schedule for a 3-unit lecture class are the following:

                                    7:00 a.m. —  9:30 a.m.

                                    10:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

                                    1:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m.

                                    4:00 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

A 2-unit laboratory class may have the following daily schedule:

7:00 a.m. — 12:00 noon

1:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

Students shall have 2-3 courses in each block.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ONLINE STUDENTS

The key benefits of online learning are flexibility and convenience. You can study at your own pace and time.  But online learning has its own challenges different from what you have encountered in face-to-face instruction. You can and will succeed with the following: 

1. Persistence

Persistence is perhaps the biggest key to success in online learning. Students who succeed are those who are willing to tolerate technical problems, seek help when needed, work daily on every class, and persist through challenges.  When you run into a challenge, keep trying and ask for help.  We have our help desk to assist you.  Just email them.

Set up a manageable study schedule for yourself and stick to it. Students who succeed are those who log in and make progress every day.

2. Effective Time-Management Skills

You must be able to manage your time well. Most courses are not taught in real time. There are no set times for classes.  This flexibility is one of the great benefits of online learning. It can also be a drawback for a student who procrastinates, is unable to stick to a routine study schedule, or is not able to complete assignments without daily reminders from a teacher.

Effective time-management skills don't just happen. They have to be learned. Once you do, they will benefit you throughout your life. Follow the tips below to develop yours:

• Review the syllabus for each of your courses. Develop a long-term plan for completing your major assignments.
• Make a daily "To Do" list. Have fun checking things off the list as you complete them.
• It takes time to develop good habits, but you'll gain satisfaction from being well-organized and accomplishing your tasks.
   

3. Effective and Appropriate Communication Skills

Communication skills are vital in online learning because students must seek help when they need it. Teachers are willing to help students, but they are unable to pick up on non-verbal cues, such as a look of confusion on a student's face. Follow these tips:

• Use the tools provided by the school to communicate with your teachers. Teachers will tell you how you can communicate with them. These might include email, discussion groups, chat room office hours, cell phones, and even text messaging. Teachers and staff want to help you to succeed in your classes and will answer your questions. It may feel awkward to talk with your teachers this way, but don't worry. If your teacher has a chat room or cell phone during office hours, don't be shy about using these tools to communicate with your teacher.
• Use appropriate style and language for school. When communicating with teachers and other staff, you should write in full, grammatically correct sentences and with a respectful tone. Many students are used to a very informal style of writing in chat rooms, blogs, text messages, and so forth.
• Because of the distance, it's tempting for some students to say things out of anger or frustration that they would never say to a teacher in person. Online teachers are professionals. Treat them with respect and courtesy.

4. Basic Technical Skills

Online learners need basic technical skills to succeed. These include the ability to create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet, and download software.

This will be discussed in the different student orientation programs that will be given to you. These will teach you how to use the university’s learning management system (CEU LEAPS) and other online tools.

5. Reading and Writing Skills

Reading and writing are the main ways to (you will) communicate in an online class. Although some hard copies of textbooks might be required, you should be comfortable reading a lot of documents on a computer screen and be able to type.

Some tests and quizzes have multiple choice questions, but many of your assignments will involve writing short or long answers.

If you type less than 25-30 words per minute, it may be worth completing a typing software program before beginning online classes.

6. Motivation and Independence

To be successful, an online student has to want to succeed. Online learning requires independence, internal motivation, responsibility, and a certain level of maturity.

Have you given some thought to your own personal reasons for attending school?

Are you determined and self-motivated to succeed in school?

There are many worthwhile reasons to work hard in school. You might want a greater level of personal satisfaction with your future career. Or perhaps it's personal pride in your accomplishments. Or maybe you are seeking a wider range of opportunities available to you with higher education or a higher income.

7. A Good Study Environment

Another critical component of academic success is a good study environment.  See some of the things you should consider :

• Get some peace and quiet. You will need a quiet place to work without distractions from things like television, family, or roommates.
• Avoid games. Consider uninstalling any computer games to avoid temptation. Or keep the games on a different computer in the house.
• Turn off your cell phone. Let friends and family members know the hours that you will be "at" school.
• Beware surfing the black hole of the Internet. It is easy to lose track of the time as you wander from site to site.
• Consider ergonomics. Adjust the height of your chair, keyboard, and screen so that you are comfortable. Forearms and thighs should be level and parallel to the floor. Wrists should not be bent while typing.
• Set up good lighting and comfortable seating. Lighting in the room should be at least as bright as the computer screen to avoid eye strain.

Students will be more successful with their learning by being responsible, participating, and having a positive attitude.
 

Your Responsibilities:

• Attend and participate in classes, labs, and seminars, prepared and on time.
• Complete the assigned work in a timely manner with attention to quality of work.
• Organize your time well.
• Respect yourself and others.
• Read on a regular basis.
• Do your best.
• Demonstrate academic integrity, accountability, trustworthiness and honesty.
• Utilize college resources and seek help when needed.
• Identify, develop, and implement a plan to achieve their educational goals.
• Endeavor for lifelong learning.
   

Your Participation:

• Participate in classroom activities.
• Contribute to discussions and group activities.
• Ask questions when you don’t understand.
• Participate in school activities and have fun.
• Participate in community outreach and recreation programs.
• Be an engaged learner who dedicates sufficient time outside of class to college work.

Your Attitude:

• Understand your parents’ expectations.
• Maintain good physical health, exercise, eat right, and get enough sleep.
• Listen carefully to teachers and parents.
• Develop positive attitudes; be cooperative and considerate.
• Welcome challenges.
• Helping others.
• Avoid making excuses for your behavior.
• Communicate in a careful and respectful manner with professors, peers, and other members of the class
• Act in a civil manner that respects the university learning/social environment and complies with college policies outlined in the student constitution and college catalog.
• Respect diverse ideas and opinions
   

References
Responsibilities of Students.  Retrieved from:  https://burnabyschools.ca/responsibilities-of-students/
Minnesota Online High School and Minnesota Department of Education. 

What Makes a Successful Online Learner.  Retrieved from:  https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/education/successonline. html

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING SYSTEM

Assessment is a critical component that you should pay attention to.  It will provide you with an idea on how you are progressing in your courses.  You will know your strengths and weaknesses, and this will help you measure if you have achieved your modules’ learning objectives.

Assessments also will allow you to be fully engaged in the activities to prepare you with the skills you need in future courses, practicums, and even in your careers.  In your coursework, you will have two types of assessment:

(1)

The formative assessments which are the check-in activities and other forms of activities that are integrated in the lessons.  Your teachers will identify which of these are graded.  You have to ensure that you answer these activities so that you will know what you are learning in the lessons.  In cases where you are not able to answer, you need to go back to the lesson to either read again, watch a video, study a PowerPoint or other ways in which lessons are presented. 

(2)

 At the end of the module, you will see a post task which is usually one big task, this time to see if you have achieved the outcome/s of the modules.  This is the summative assessment for the module which will have a high point value in your grades.  These may be essays, longer examinations, e-portfolio or other performance tasks designed by the teacher.

Grading Scale

The grade you earn is an indicator of your mastery of the subject and a mark of scholarship.

Numerical grades/marks prescribed in the following official grading scale, shall be followed:

The grades/marks of 3.50 or 4.00 may be given only as periodic grades, i.e., for the first, second and third grading periods. They are not used as final mark/grade.

Bases of Grades

The semester is divided into two (2) grading periods. A student is given a grade for each grading period.

A periodic grade is the result of evaluating a student’s achievement or performance in a course for a particular grading period and is independent of the student’s performance or achievement in the previous grading period.

The bases for the computation of each periodic grade are as follows:

1. Class participation (learning activities, check in activities and other activities as indicated and has been announced by the teacher as graded) – weight of 2.
2. Comprehensive/Summative examination (midterm and finals) – weight of 1.

Grades in Courses Consisting of Lecture and Laboratory

Grades in courses consisting of lecture and laboratory classes should be the result of the student’s achievement or performance in both classes, weighted accordingly and expressed as a composite grade.

Grades in lecture and laboratory classes shall be given separately, one for lecture and another for laboratory.  The composite mark is computed by the lecture faculty.

Computation of Final Marks/Grades

The averaging system of computing final marks/grades will be used.

The final grade in a course is the average of the two (2) periodic grades (midterm and finals) rounded off to the nearest numerical grade prescribed in the official grading scale.

For all courses, the final mark/grade is passing if the minimum aggregate sum of the midterm and final periodic grades does not exceed 6.0.

Grades for Performance, Music Education and Composition Courses

          The mark/grade assigned to a student shall be an indicator of the student’s mastery of the subject and a mark of scholarship.  Therefore, in determining any mark/grade, only those factors that afford evidence of the degree to which the student has attained the objectives set-up for that particular course are taken into consideration.

          The bases of marks/grades in a course/subject and their corresponding weights are as follows:

1. Class participation (preparedness for weekly, individual lessons, proficiency during recitals and similar performances)
2. Panel examination (finals only)
    

The 20 weeks (for professional courses only) shall be confined to individual lessons leading to a final examination period to be determined by the faculty.

1. Each examinee shall submit a prescribed form containing the rubric of the particular course and his/her repertoire, to each member of the panel and to his/her teacher.
2. After the examinee’s performance, each panelist (excluding the teacher) shall record the grade with comments (if any) in the form.
3. The forms duly signed by the panelists are then submitted to the chairperson of the panel for computation of the final examination grade/mark.
4. The averaging system of computing the final examination marks/grades given by members of the panel shall be used and the corresponding equivalent recorded.
5. All forms with the final examination grades are then submitted to the respective teachers.

The teacher will compute the final grade.

A mark of “5” shall be given to any student who fails to take the final examination and shall be required to enroll the same level for the next semester.

A mark of “NFR” shall be given to a student for the following reasons:

1. The panel is of the opinion he/she did not perform satisfactorily (poor memorization, poor tempo, poor interpretation, lack in proficiency in playing the instrument, lack in vocal development)
2. Non-compliance with the requirements in the syllabus
3. For both cases cited, the student has to reenroll the same level and is given another semester to pass the examination for said level.
4. Should a first year student again not meet the approval of the panelists in the following semester, he/she shall be advised to consider changing to another major.

Failure To Take An Examination

          If you fail to take the midterm examination on the scheduled date, you should take the special examination set for the purpose; otherwise, the student will receive a grade of “5.00” for the examination not taken.

         A remark of “NFE” will be given to any student who fails to take the final examination provided he/she passes the midterm grading periods and the final class participation.

         The remark “NFE” may be removed by the student by taking the special examinations.  The special examination for students who are unable to take the final examination should be scheduled and administered by the School/College/Department after midterm or final examinations.

Deadlines for Removal of NFE

• For students currently enrolled – last day of final examinations of the following semester.
• For students not currently enrolled – one (1) school year after the NFE was incurred and prior to enrollment the following school year.
• For graduating students in the second semester – during the scheduled special examinations for graduating students.

         If the student takes the special examination, NFE will be changed to a computed grade by the faculty member.

         Failure to take the examination within the stated period will mean that NFE will remain in the student record. The student will have to re-enroll the subject.

         Graduating students who are not enrolled but with academic deficiencies due to NFE will be allowed to complete their deficiencies following the same deadlines, provided they enroll for residency during the semester when they will make their completion.  Therefore, students will be considered as graduates of the semester when he/she shall have completed all deficiencies.

         The student must pay a residency fee plus the usual fee for special examinations.

Failure to Complete Requirements of a Course

         A remark of “NFR” (No Final Requirement) will be given to any student who fails to finish the requirements in Applied Music, Clinical courses in Dentistry and Optometry, RLE for Nursing, Medical Technology Laws and Bioethics and Internship for Medical Technology, Undergraduate Research course, and practicum.  In the case of Clinical Dentistry, the remark “FRI” (Final Requirement Insufficient) will be given to students whose final requirements are found to be lacking.  The requirements must be completed within one semester.  For Applied Music and Clinic 1, 2, 3, for Dentistry, however, the requirement must be completed within two semesters and one summer. Requirements in RLE for Nursing (Make-up Duty) must be completed in two semesters.

Mark for Unauthorized Dropping of Courses

         Unauthorized or unofficial dropping of courses shall be indicated as “U.D.” in the official grading sheet for the student/s concerned in each of the following circumstances:

• When a student has enrolled in the course but failed to attend even a single class day up to the midterm examination.
• When a student has passing grades for the midterms, but stopped attending classes in the final grading period.
• When a course has a lecture and laboratory components, a remark of “U.D.” is given when a student is UD in either lecture or laboratory.