Syllabus Fall 20--

Synchronous Meeting Time: A regular biweekly 20-minute slot to be arranged on Thursdays between 3:00pm and 5:00pm.

INSTRUCTOR: Will Hasty

OFFICE:  Dauer Hall 263a

E-mail address: <hasty@ufl.edu>

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesdays 12:50-2:45pm or by appointment, F2F in Dauer 263a or remotely via Zoom. In order not to have to wait, schedule an appointment in advance using the above email address.

COURSE WEBSITE: https://ufl.instructure.com/, then navigate to GER1125

COURSE COMMUNICATIONS: For any course-related questions, students should check the Start Here section. In case of problems with the technology tools used in the Canvas course, students should contact the UF Computing Help Desk phone (352) 392 4357 or in the HUB. Private questions should be sent to the instructor through the Canvas Inbox tool (this would include questions about grade, late work, etc.).

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the first semester of a two-semester sequence that includes GER 1126. Both courses are online. There are no classroom meetings. The course provides instructional and practice materials in various forms that allow students to learn on their own. Thanks to the collaborative tools in Canvas students will do a considerable part of their course work in groups to which they will be assigned. These groups have weekly assignments and have biweekly synchronous meetings (to be arranged) with their instructor in Zoom for additional practice with speaking and pronunciation. Students must keep the time period indicated in the Registrar’s course listing page free for these synchronous meetings with the instructor.

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: Students will acquire basic skills with German as a language and culture. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to communicate with native speakers, exchange information on a basic level and perform routine tasks as a student or tourist in German speaking countries. They will reach a level of proficiency and cultural knowledge that corresponds approximately to the A1 (Breakthrough or Beginner) Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This proficiency level can be described in the following way:

• Students can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal topics.
• Students can communicate and exchange information with German native speakers and interact with them in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
• Students can read simple and short information about familiar topics.
• Students can orient themselves in situations which occur in the everyday life of a student or tourist in a German speaking country.

TEACHING METHODS: By using a variety of teaching and learning tools of the course management system, students will be provided with the necessary information and opportunities to practice and develop their linguistic/cultural skills with the chapter materials and assignments. The materials and assignments help students develop speaking, reading, listening comprehension and writing skills. Cultural learning takes place through the use of a variety of Web-based learning resources employment of the German Grammar Cruncher (Links to an external site.) online language learning application for grammar writing activities, and using Avatars for the production of Online Skits. 

REQUIRED TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT: There is no required text for this course. You MUST have a headset with microphone and a web camera for this course. The cost for such a microphone ranges from $10.00 - 50.00, and the cost of a web camera is similar. These can be purchased at most electronics stores, online, or at the UF Bookstore.

COURSE POLICIES:

This is a 14-15 week online course. To be successful in this course all students must participate fully in the activities listed here:

• View Mediasite lectures and Captivate introductions to dialogs, grammar, and cultural topics.
• Study the chapter dialog, vocabulary, and grammar topics on the course grammar pages.
• Complete all your group work, including the Online Skits at the end of chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• Take all graded grammar quizzes and chapter tests. Chapter tests will be proctored with Honorlock.
• Make sure you familiarize yourself thoroughly with the dialog and vocabulary, and studied the grammatical structures, before you meet with your group for your group activities. Participate in all meetings with your group partners. Successful completion of this course depends to a high degree on the productive collaboration of the groups. It is very important that group members can rely on the constructive and timely cooperation of other group members.
• Each week students will be required to complete a set of assignments. All assignments are listed in the Course Calendar with specific availability and due dates. You may view all deadlines in list format through the Syllabus tab in Canvas.

Absences and Late Work

As a rule, unless a student has a medical excuse or a confirmed family emergency with documentation from the Dean of Students Office, late assignments, quizzes and tests will not be accepted.

Any technical difficulties with assignments must have a Help Desk ticket number if you plan to request an extension. The extension request MUST be submitted within 24 hours of the technical difficulty.

COURSE TECHNOLOGY: Course work will require use of a computer and a stable broadband connection to the Internet.

For additional information on UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences policy regarding computer requirements you can visit: http://it.clas.ufl.edu/policies/student-computer-requirement/ (Links to an external site.)    For additional information on UF Online policy regarding computer requirements you can visit:   http://ufonline.ufl.edu/resources/computer-requirements/ (Links to an external site.)

Students are required to have speakers, a microphone, and a webcam to take the proctored exams and to participate in the group activities and instructor meetings.

GRADING POLICIES:

See https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx for general UF grading policies. Grades for the course will be based on the following:

GRADE PERCENTAGES:

Grammar Quizzes: 20%

Chapter Tests: 25%

Synchronous Meetings with Instructor: 15%

Group Activities (including Online Skits and Comments): 30%

Final Exam: 10%

Note: Your lowest part 1 chapter test score and your lowest part 2 chapter test score, as well as your three lowest grammar quiz scores will not count in your final grade.

GRADING SCALE:

Grading Scale (& GPA equivalent):

A 100-93 (4.0)

A- 92-90 (3.67)

B+ 89-87 (3.33)

B 86- 83 (3.0)

B- 82-80 (2.67)

C+ 79-77(2.33)

C 76- 73 (2.0)

C- 72-70 (1.67)

D+ 69-67 (1.33)

D 63- 66 (1.0)

D- 62-60 (0.67)

E 59-(0)

QUIZZES AND TESTS: There are practice-grammar quizzes and graded grammar quizzes. The practice grammar quizzes can be taken as many times as you would like. The correct answers will be available upon completion of the quiz. The 5 Chapter Tests and Final Exam are proctored via Honorlock and available for a designated period of time during which students must take them.

Further details are available in the Start Here section of the course page in Canvas. It is the students’ responsibility to begin the written tests early enough that they can finish the test within the scheduled time.

WEEKLY GROUP ASSIGNMENTS: These assignments have a variety of tasks. They include recording recitations of the dialogs of each chapter, asking questions about the dialogs, grammar writing exercises using the German Grammar Cruncher, occasional short conversations between the group members about diverse topics, and brief cultural presentations using PowerPoint. Group members will use Zoom to record their weekly groupwork, and upload both the link to the recording as well as the associated Google Docs worksheet, following instructions that will be given. 

BIWEEKLY INSTRUCTOR MEETINGS: Your group will meet with your instructor once every two weeks using the Conferences tool in Canvas. The meeting time will be set during the two-hour block that has been assigned to your section.

PROCTORED EXAMS: Chapter exams and the final written exam is set up to be proctored with Honorlock. The Honorlock tab can be located on the left side of the Canvas screen in the course menu. To take the proctored exams:

• You will need a webcam and some type of speakers and microphone.• No sign up necessary with HonorLock but students are responsible to schedule taking their exam before the due date/time.• You will also be required to show picture identification to your proctor at the time of your exam. Approved forms of identification include, but are not limited to, a driver's license, military identification card, passport, or school‐issued identification card.• No breaks are allowed during your testing session and cell phones and other devices will not be permitted in the testing area.• No other people are allowed in the area in which the test is being taken.• Any unauthorized notes or other attempts to cheat will abort the test session and will be reported to your instructor.

UF POLICIES:

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

STUDENTS REQUESTING ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITIES MUST FIRST REGISTER WITH THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE (HTTP://WWW.DSO.UFL.EDU/DRC/ (Links to an external site.)).THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION TO THE STUDENT WHO MUST THEN PROVIDE THIS DOCUMENTATION TO THE INSTRUCTOR WHEN REQUESTING ACCOMMODATION. YOU MUST SUBMIT THIS DOCUMENTATION PRIOR TO SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS OR TAKING THE QUIZZES OR EXAMS. ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NOT RETROACTIVE, THEREFORE, STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT THE OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE TERM FOR WHICH THEY ARE SEEKING ACCOMMODATIONS.

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. Students should be sure that they understand the UF Student Honor Code at http://www.dso.ufl.edu/students.php (Links to an external site.)

NETIQUETTE & COMMUNICATION COURTESY: All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all meetings, group activities and email messages: NetiquetteGuideforOnlineCourses.pdf

UFONLINE HANDBOOK: Additional information can be found on http://handbook.ufonline.ufl.edu/ (Links to an external site.)

GETTING HELP:For issues with technical difficulties for E-learning, please contact the UF Help Desk at:● helpdesk@ufl.edu● (352) 392-HELP - select option 2● http://helpdesk.ufl.edu/ (Links to an external site.)  Any requests for make-ups due to technical issues MUST be accompanied by the ticket number received from The Help Desk when the problem was reported to them. The ticket number will document the time and date of the problem. You MUST email your instructor within 24 hours of the technical difficulty if you wish to request a make-up.

OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTP://WWW.DISTANCE.UFL.EDU/GETTING-HELP (Links to an external site.)  FOR:• Counseling and Wellness resources• Disability resources• Resources for handling student concerns and complaints• Library Help Desk support

Should you have any complaints with your experience in this course please visit https://ombuds.ufl.edu/complaint-portal/ to submit a complaint.

To Vocabulary Flashcards>>