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MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

To participate fully in course activities, you need to have daily access to a personal computer and command of certain basic computer skills, including the ability to send and receive e-mail with attachments.

In addition, your computer system must meet the following minimum specifications:

• Windows Vista/XP/2000 (with SP3 or later).
• Pentium III (Pentium 4 class microprocessor or equivalent recommended)
• 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
• 1 GB hard disk space (1.5 GB recommended)
• CD-ROM drive
• 800 x 600 minimum screen resolution (1024 x 768 or higher preferred)
• Personal Internet access.
• A full-featured Internet browser like Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox 1.X or higher.

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COURSE STRUCTURE

AC Circuits is a 3-credit online course, consisting of seven (7) assignment modules.

For your formal work in the course, you are required to complete seven (7) written assignments, participate in five (5) group activities involving circuit simulation problems, and take seven (7) online module tests. You are also required to take a proctored midterm examination.

Assignment modules comprise learning objectives, a detailed study assignment, a written assignment, and a module-ending test. Modules 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 also include circuit simulation problems that you complete as a group activity. Each study assignment, in turn, includes readings and exercises from the course textbook and self-check review quizzes from the textbook's companion Web site.

For the course's seven assignment modules, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site. (See also the course Calendar.)

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

The seven (7) written assignments consist of short-answer, essay-type questions and end-of-chapter problems selected from the textbook.

Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.

Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the

>>View/Complete Assignment

link provided at the bottom of the respective assignment page. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and attach your assignment file. Click to turn in the assignment.

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ONLINE PARTICIPATION

In addition to an ungraded "Introductions" forum in module 1, AC Circuits requires you to participate in five (5) group activities involving circuit simulation problems. Click link for the activities' ground rules.

Communication and collaboration among fellow students and with the mentor is a critical component of online learning. The circuit simulation problems provide an opportunity for you to apply textbook concepts and computational skills within an interactive team setting. In so doing, you can benefit from the help of your classmates and share your understanding of electrical circuits and chapter concepts.

You will be evaluated both on your group participation (i.e., how well you fulfill your team responsibilities of posting solutions, commenting on the work of others, and participating in team decisions) and on the quality of your work (i.e., the correctness and thoroughness of the final team reports).

Due dates for posting responses to the simulation problems are given in the course Calendar.

Specific directions for completing the group activities and circuit simulation problems are given in the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site (see modules 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7).

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MODULE TESTS

At the conclusion of each module, following the written assignment, is an online module test. The tests consists of twenty (20) multiple-choice questions and are up to forty-five minutes long. Module tests may be taken only once.

To access test links, go to Tests & Quizzes > Module Tests. Consult the course Calendar for test deadlines.

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EXAMINATION

You are required to take a proctored midterm examination. Consult the course Calendar for the scheduling of the exam.

The proctored midterm exam covers all material assigned in modules 1, 2, 3, and 4. It is two hours long and consists of twenty-five multiple-choice questions like those on the module tests.

The exam is open book, but not open notes. In this regard you are permitted to bring only a scientific (nongraphing) calculator and the authorized textbook to the exam. The textbook must be an original bound hard copy; electronic textbooks (or printouts) are not allowed. You are also not allowed to bring any loose pages or notes, either typed or printed, or to consult a solutions manual or any other reference sources or sources of information.

You may take the examination only during the designated exam week, at an approved location, and with an approved proctor. In this regard, you need to schedule your exam and submit your "Proctor Request Form" with the necessary documentation no later than the end of the first week of the semester (see Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site).

If you are on a course extension and have not yet taken the midterm exam, you must let your examination proctor know when you plan to take the exam and contact the Office of Test Administration (609-984-1181) two weeks in advance to request that your exam be sent to the proctor.

For more information on scheduling a proctored examination, see the section Examinations and Proctors in the Online Student Handbook.

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GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a nonarea of study course), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.

Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, exams, and projects are based on the following numerical grades:

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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.



2. Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams and arrange for proctors, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.



3. Arrange to take your examination by following the instructions in the Online Student Handbook. Then complete the "Proctor Request Form" and submit it to the Office of Test Administration (OTA). You must make arrangements to take your examination and send in your "Proctor Request Form" to OTA before the end of the first week of the current semester. (See Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site.)



4. Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.



5. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning, or specifically with the Blackboard platform, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips
Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments and taking module tests, posting group activities, and scheduling and taking your examination. For details on each assignment module and a complete listing of learning activities, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.



2. Check the Announcements page and class Discussion Board regularly for new course information.

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