Frederick Community College ID214 – Introduction to Gerontology: Issues of Aging and the Aged SUMMER 2011
Class begins: 6/6/11	Class ends: 8/1/11	Last Day to Withdraw: 7/13/11

Instructor Information:
Name: Gail Spessert	Office: n/a
E-mail: gspessert@frederick.edu	Phone Number: n/a
Contact Hours: email and by appointment for in-person meeting	Campus Mail Box #: 1029

Course Information:
Credits: 3
On-campus Meetings: 0	On-campus Exams: 1
Prerequisites: EN52; ESL99	Corequisites:

Course Description:

Provides an overview of the psychological, sociological, and physiological aspects of adulthood and aging. Emphasis on the theories of why and how we age, lifestyles and factors that influence health and aging, personal needs, self-actualization, and crises of the later years.

Core Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course students will demonstrate

1. knowledge regarding the importance of studying social gerontology;
2. understanding of biopsychosocial issues inherent in the aging process;
3. recognize public programs related to old age
4. awareness of ageist attitudes and beliefs
5. understand the impact of culture on aging and the need for culturally relevant practice

Instructional Methods:

On-line discussion topics; assigned readings; tests, & case study project.

 How is this course organized:

· This is NOT a self-paced course. You may work ahead, but not behind. The only assignment you can submit late is the case study paper that will lose 11 points for every day it is late – NO exceptions. You should begin working on it as soon as you begin your readings.

· Assignments are posted on Blackboard. There will be readings, a discussion board topic that requires outside research, and a test related to the readings.

· Discussion questions from the assigned readings and outside research will be posted on the Discussion Board, these discussion are weighted as 30% of your grade and have varying point values.

· Student will respond to the discussion topic via the Discussion Board making sure to have at least one outside source (properly cited) for each question in that discussion topic. NOTE: The text is not considered an outside source.

· Each student will make a substantive and academic response to at least two other students each week. A substantive response means that you pick a point made in the learner’s original discussion for academic discussion. For example: A learner has posted a discussion regarding Erikson’s psychosocial stage identified by the conflict between ego integrity versus despair. Rather than responding with “Well done. Thorough explanation of Erikson’s final stage;” you would further explore this stage, mentioning perhaps the ego strength (wisdom) that the first student had not mentioned, or if they had, you would expand on it. You can find a sample of a qualified discussion under “Course Materials.” (5 points for each; possible extra credit for conducting an academic discussion with more than two classmates).

· You could earn some extra credit by posting by Wednesday, giving everyone a chance to make good responses, rather than waiting until the last minute and making it all but impossible for others to make the two mandated responses.

· There will be quizzes of varying lengths each week on that week’s readings weighted as 30% of your grade.

· There will be one written research paper. You will interview an older person aged 70 years or more. Instructions are found under the “Assignments” tab. Weighted as 30% of your grade.

· There will be a final exam weighted as 10% of your grade. The exams are multiple choice questions. The exam will be taken in the FCC testing Center.

· 90+% of pts = A; 89-80% pts = B; 79-70% pts = C; 69-60% pts = D; <59% pts = F

Be sure to keep track of your grade on BlackBoard.

Text(s) and Course Materials:

Novak, M. (2009). Issues in aging. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Progress Report:

You may follow your progress by checking your grades through BlackBoard on a regular basis. This way you can evaluate your progress and decide if you need to make any adjustments to best assure your success in this course. Remember that your weighted total grade is a running total. If you elect to skip graded work, you weighted total will be adversely affected when I enter a “0” for that work.

Evaluation Methods:
Tests / Papers / Projects	Point Value	Final Grade Scale
Weekly discussion Quizzes Final Exam Case Study	varies (weight 30%) Vary (wgt 30%) Up to 100 (wgt 10%) Weighted as 30% of grade	90+%= A 89-80%= B 79-70%= C 69-60% = D Below 60% = F
If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

Student Services

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

Participation Policy:

(1) Class participation is crucial to support the learning process.

(2) This is an on-line course. Your attendance is required at your convenience. Online courses are based on the assumption that the student is a self-motivated learner who will share and receive knowledge from other self-motivated learners in the class.

(3) Class participation will adversely affect your grade as it relates to the quality of work you produce; those who have a consistent presence and participation in the class do better on the assignments.

(4) In case of serious illness, emergency, religious holidays, or participation in official college functions, students remain responsible for completing the requirements of the course.

(5) Class participation and presence in the course room will be taken into consideration if the student’s grade is near enough to the next higher grade that the grade could be pushed to the higher grade. (Only grades that are x9.5% and above will be considered for increase.)

Email Policy:

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

"The instructor will normally respond to student email inquiries within the following timeframes

- For 9 to15 week course formats within 24 to 36 hours.

- For 5 to 8 week course formats within 18 to 24 hours

- For J-Term to 3 week course formats within 12-14 hours

Instructors will notify students of any arrangements specific for weekends. Instructors will notify

students if the normal response time has to be modified temporarily because of illness or other

unforeseen circumstances."

This instructor travels extensively on the weekends and weekend response time will be delayed.

Academic Integrity:

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times. Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

Topical Outline (ONLINE COURSES)

Week	SUBJECT	CONTENT
Week 1	Why Study Aging and Demography	See Assignments on Blackboard
Week 2	Theories & Methods in Gerontology	See Assignments on Blackboard
Week 3	Life Course Perspective	See Assignments on Blackboard
Week 4	Health & Well-Being	See Assignments on Blackboard
Week 5	Finances/Economics/Work/Retirement	See Assignments on Blackboard
Week 6	Housing/Transportation/Policies	See Assignments on Blackboard
Week 7	Family Life & Social Support	See Assignments on Blackboard
Week 8	Race & Ethnicity	See Assignments on Blackboard
Final Exam opens end of Week 7 & must be completed by 8/1 in the testing center

Week #	Begins @ 12:00 AM	Ends @ 11:59 PM
1	6/6	6/12
2	6/12	6/19
3	6/19	6/26
4	6/26	7/3
5	7/3	7/10
6	7/10	7/17
7	7/17	7/24
8	7/24	7/31

NOTE: Your instructor reserves the right to make changes to this outline as needed.