CME 050: Core Milestone Experience

Spring 2017
Section 082
Dr. Kimberly McGann
Email: kmcgann5@naz.edu
Phone: 389-5136

Office Hours: MW 1:30-2:20 and

by appointment

Required Materials:
P@N or Google Sites artifacts from IS courses, P(EQ) courses, and EL
Use of a computer with a high speed internet connection that runs Moodle, Word,
PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat & Flash
Enthusiasm, creativity, elbow grease
Course Description:
The Core Milestone Experience is your chance to reflect on and create an original project based on what
youve learned while fulfilling the requirements of the liberal arts core, with particular emphasis on your
IS courses and experiential learning experience. This is NOT a class about writing a big research paper,
taking tests, or figuring out what the professor wants. Instead, you will chose a big idea and an
associated messy or enduring question to explore through a creative project that you design and that
draws on your coursework and other interests. The project you do for this course will be uploaded to
your portfolio and will represent the culmination of your Uncommon Core course work.
Note that this is an online course that requires either familiarity with or willingness to learn on your own
how to use many of the features of Moodle (turning in assignments, taking quizzes, using group forums)
and various other types of electronic technology. If you are someone who is bad with technology or
dislikes using or learning to use new programs, apps, or other technologies, this is not the class for you
and you should drop and enroll in an in person section of the CME. This doesnt mean that you have to
do a project for the class that is computer based, but it does mean that you have to be comfortable and
willing to use a computer and associated technologies to participate in the class.
Course Objectives:

Integrate academic and practical experience

Make connections across disciplines
Integrate content in form and in communication
Evaluate own learning, skills, strengths, and challenges

Course Philosophy: Whether this course feels like a worthwhile and meaningful experience depends
entirely on what you put into it. It is much more student-driven than a regular class, and this is
underscored by this section being taught online. While I am here to help you design and create an
interesting, engaging project, my role is to be your muse rather than to try to teach you any new content.
The content of the class is created by your interests, motivations, experiences, and ideas. There is
much more responsibility to take ownership of the course requirements than in a traditional for credit
class, but because of this there is much more opportunity to a personally meaningful and innovative
project. I encourage you to approach the tasks ahead with an open mind, sense of creativity, and
appreciation for the flexible expressions of interest that the course is designed to foster.

Class Policies
1) Email policy: The email policy for the class is designed to establish expectations for email
communication. I receive hundreds of emails each week from various sources, and this email policy is
designed to ensure that any communication we have through email is efficient and useful for all parties
involved. Please read this policy carefully as I will not respond to emails that do not adhere to these
guidelines!

Email hours: I will check my email regularly during business hours (8-4) Monday through
Friday. In general you can expect a reply from me within one business day, though this may be
longer during especially busy times of the semester. You should not expect email responses from
me over the weekend or overnight unless a specific announcement has been made.
I occasionally send out reminders, modifications, handouts, and other pertinent class information
via email. I expect that you will regularly check your Nazareth email during the same regular
weekday hours.
Email formatting: Emails you send to me should have the following formatting:
Subject line: Put your full name, course abbreviation, and section number1 in the subject
line of your emails to me, followed by a meaningful subject descriptor. e.g.
To: kmcgann5@naz.edu
Subj: Jennifer Simon CME 082: Question about my messy question
Salutation: Emails should begin with a formal salutation that includes my name (e.g.
Dear Dr. McGann or Hello Professor McGann)
Tone & Topic: You should treat an email as a formal business letter. Complete sentences,
correct punctuation, and a formal tone should be used. Please be sure to check your
syllabus, classmates and on Moodle for any administrative questions (due dates, reading
changes, assignments for missed class, my office hours, due dates, etc.) before emailing
me.
Signatures: Sign your email with your first and last name, your class name and section
number
e.g. Sincerely, Jennifer Simon, CME 082

**Emails that do not follow this policy will be returned or deleted**

1 Be sure you use your section number (e.g. 082), NOT the course number (050)

2) Grades & Participation

The class is graded on a pass/fail basis. Those with exceptional projects will be eligible to receive a
special award and be invited to show off their projects during the CARS 2017 event. (This makes an
excellent line item on your resume!)
Because this is an online course, the expectation that you follow instructions, mindfully complete
required activities and assignments, and meet deadlines is higher, not lower, than for a traditional
class. Because of this, I am fall less lenient about missing deadlines or assignments than I might be
otherwise.
The different assignments for class build on each other culminating in your final project. I have not
assigned specific percentages to each element, but instead expect that you will complete each required
part and submit it on time. Failure to complete correctly and on time any of the following can result
in an automatic failing grade:

Visual Project Proposal

Word Doc Project Proposal
Attending the one-on-one meeting
Rough Draft of project
Final Draft of project

You may also earn a failing grade if you miss more than one of any of the other assignments or
requirements for class. In short, be sure that you keep track of the work required for class and submit it
on time!
3) Technical help: For difficulty logging into Moodle or password issues, contact IT at x2111. For any other
issues, please contact IT and also notify me in. When your final project is complete, you will upload it along
with your reflection to Moodle and also to your official Nazareth Portfolio (P@N or Google Sites). For
questions about accessing your portfolio or uploading your final project & reflection, go to Frequently Asked
Questions ( http://www.naz.edu/portfolio-naz ) or email portfolio@naz.edu .
4) Statement on Respect and Diversity: It is the policy of Nazareth College of Rochester not to
discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
national or ethnic origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, carrier status, genetic predisposition or any
other protected status in the admission of students to the college; in any of the rights, privileges, programs,
and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college; in the administration of its
educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other programs
administered by the college; or in the employment practices of the college.
5) Academic Integrity: Academic Integrity Policy: Academic integrity is essential to the educational
mission of Nazareth College of Rochester, for the free pursuit of knowledge and understand is seriously
impeded by any form of academic dishonesty. Hence, no form of academic dishonesty will be condoned by
the college. Academic dishonesty is understood as any act of deceit bearing on ones own or anothers
academic work, where academic work is understood to mean any activity pertaining to the educational
mission of the college. Such acts include, but are not limited to, plagiarism in any form and the use during an
exam of information of materials not authorized by the instructor for such use.

Course Schedule
Note that with the exception of our one-on-one meeting, you are free to complete most of the required
elements of the course early. The due dates listed below are the *deadlines* for completing the
assignments for class. You do however have to complete the assignments in order. Moodle will not
let you skip ahead and may deny you access to assignments etc. if you have not completed those
that come before. All tasks are due at midnight on the date listed.
Please see Moodle for detailed instructions that go along with the required work for each day of class.
The schedule below is designed to provide you with an overview of what is due when so you can add
these items to your calendar well ahead of time.
Assignments and due dates are subject to change. Changes will be posted on Moodle and/or sent via
email.

Week 1: January 16th January 22nd

Saturday January 21st

Watch the Welcome Video

Read the Syllabus
Read the Frequently Experienced Problems document
Watch the Core Overview video
Submit the Core Summary Form
Complete the Course Basics Quiz
Week 2: January 23rd January 29th

Wednesday January 25th

Read Types of Projects document

Read the Preparing for Our One on One Meeting document
Submit the Brainstorming Form
Take the Types of Projects Quiz
Sign Up for one-on-one meeting

Saturday January 28th

Post an introduction of yourself in your groups forum
Post your Brainstorming Form to your groups forum

Week 3: January 30th February 5th

Wednesday February 1st

Comment on the introduction from each classmate in your group.
View & comment on the Brainstorming Form posted by each group member
Saturday February 4th
Submit Visual Project Proposal through Moodle AND post it to your group forum
Submit Word Doc Project Proposal through Moodle AND post it to your group forum

Week 4: February 6th February 12th

Wednesday February 8th
Contact assigned peer for conversation
Submit the Peer Conversation Assignment
Saturday February 11th
Read the Creating and Submitting Your Rough Draft document
Submit Rough Draft through Moodle AND post it to your group forum

Week 5: February 13th February 19th

Wednesday 15th
Comment on rough draft of each member of your group
Saturday February 18th
Submit Final Project to Moodle, your group forum, AND to your Uncommon Core portfolio

Week 6: February 20th- February 26th

Wednesday February 22nd
Comment on the final projects of each person in your group
Submit Final Project Comments Assignment
Saturday February 25th
Complete Course Evaluation
Submit Reflection Assignment