Lana Oconnell
Savannah State University offers both online and traditional classroom courses. Instructors at the university are responsible for conducting courses, giving assignments, answering questions, leading discussions, and assigning grades. Students can communicate with their instructors via email, discussion forums, or chat sessions. While there is no explicit mention of instructors emailing grade breakdowns to students, the university encourages communication between instructors and students. Additionally, the Office of the Registrar maintains student academic records and issues grades and transcripts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Instructor's role | Conduct the course by giving assignments, answering questions, leading discussions and assigning grades |
| Grading | Instructors can export grade sheets from the Grades area for retention and filing with a department |
| Student's role | Active participation in the course by posting and responding to instructor and classmates' comments on the discussion forum |
| Course deadline | Instructors will set a deadline for the course, which is either before or during the final exam week for the semester |
| Academic status | Expressed in a quality point index, calculated by dividing the sum of quality points by the sum of "Hours Attempted" |
| Student-paced course | Students can work at their own pace as long as they complete all requirements by the end of the semester |
| Instructor-paced course | Instructors set the pace of the course and the deadline for completion |
| Synchronous learning | Instructors might set a specific date and time for all students to meet online |
| Asynchronous learning | Students can access online courses at their own convenience |
| Grading system | Savannah State University uses a letter-based grading system |
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What You'll Learn
Instructors can email students
Instructors at Savannah State University can email students. Savannah State University offers online courses, which are similar to traditional courses, in that they have an instructor who will conduct the course by giving assignments, answering questions, leading discussions, and assigning grades. Students are encouraged to communicate with their instructors via email, discussion forums, or chat sessions. Instructors can also set a specific date and time for all students to meet online.
Instructors at Savannah State University have access to students' grades and can provide feedback on student answers. They can also use the export function to make a copy of a course's content, excluding student data and participation. However, they can export grade sheets from the Grades area for retention and filing with a department.
Instructors play a crucial role in the university's course evaluation process. At the end of each semester, they are required to ensure that students complete the university's Course Evaluation Form, which includes close-ended and open-ended questions. These course evaluations are made available to instructors several weeks before the end of the semester and play a critical role in the university's academic processes.
Instructors at Savannah State University have the flexibility to set deadlines for assignments, projects, and tests within the course timeline. They can also choose to request a Sandbox or Practice course for creating and saving course content outside a given semester or for experimenting with different teaching tools. Ultimately, instructors are responsible for facilitating student learning and providing the necessary support and guidance to help students succeed in their academic endeavours.
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Instructors assign grades
Instructors at Savannah State University (SSU) are responsible for assigning grades to students. SSU's grading system is based on letters, and academic status is expressed in a quality point index. This is calculated by dividing the sum of quality points by the "Hours Attempted".
Instructors at SSU have access to Brightspace, which is used for all classes. Brightspace enables instructors to give timed online tests, provide general and private feedback on student answers, and automatically grade quizzes with class grade records. Instructors can also use Brightspace to encourage communication with students and cooperation among students through discussions and chats.
Instructors can also use the export function to make a copy of a course's content, excluding student data and participation. They can export grade sheets from the Grades area for retention and filing with a department.
At the end of each semester, instructors are required to ensure that students complete the university's Course Evaluation Form. This form includes close-ended and open-ended questions about the course and instructor.
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Grades are based on letters
In the United States, the most common grading system uses letters ranked in descending order, with A being the highest and F the lowest. Variations on this traditional five-grade system include A+, A, A-, B+, B, B- C+, C, C- D+, D, D- and F. In primary and secondary schools, a D is usually the lowest passing grade, but in post-secondary schools, such as colleges and universities, a D is considered an unsatisfactory passing grade.
The letter grades are assigned based on specific criteria, including effort, social interactions, necessary skills, and understanding of the course material. Each criterion is given a score, and these scores are then totalled to arrive at the final grade. For instance, daily homework may be counted as 50% of the final grade, chapter quizzes 20%, the final exam 20%, and a major project 10%.
Some high schools use a weighted GPA to reflect the varying skill required for different course levels. For instance, Denver Public Schools use a different system for honours and AP courses to get weighted GPA values.
A small number of American high schools use a twelve-point system, which is the same as the above but includes the grade A+, to which the value 12.0 is applied. Many elementary schools use a four-point scale, notably many California school districts, including the Los Angeles Unified School District. This system more clearly indicates proficiency levels in core subjects by segmenting students who are proficient and ready to advance, from those who are not meeting all required standards and should not advance.
In some schools, the traditional A-F grading system and the GPA grade scale are replaced by rank-based grading, where students are evaluated based on their relative performance compared to their peers. Critics of this system say that it can be just as subjective as the traditional system and lead to more competition among students.
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Student-paced courses
Savannah State University offers student-paced courses, which are designed to allow students to learn at their own pace. Student-paced courses are a form of self-paced learning, where students can access course materials at any time and work through them independently. This approach provides students with increased flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to improve their time management skills. It is particularly beneficial for learners who may have busy schedules or need to balance their studies with other responsibilities, such as work or family commitments.
In a student-paced course, learners can spend more or less time on specific lessons or course materials, allowing for a more personalised learning experience. This adaptability means that students can determine their unique needs and interests and progress at a speed that suits them. Student-paced courses cater to those who may require more time, as well as those who move through the material at a quicker pace. However, it is important to note that student-paced courses still have a final deadline by which all course requirements must be completed, usually set before or during the final exam week of the semester.
While student-paced courses offer independence and flexibility, they may also present certain challenges. One of the main disadvantages is the lack of structure and motivating factors compared to cohort-based or instructor-led programmes. Student-paced courses often lack social pressure, mandatory attendance, and fixed schedules, which can make it difficult for some learners to stay motivated and engaged. Therefore, it is essential for students to possess good self-discipline and organisational skills to succeed in a student-paced course.
To address the potential challenges of student-paced courses, Savannah State University encourages students to actively participate in discussion forums and communicate with their instructors and classmates. This interaction can help learners stay motivated and engaged, as they can learn from each other and build relationships with their peers. Additionally, students are advised to set their own intermittent deadlines to ensure they stay on track and meet the final course deadline.
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Online course content
Savannah State University offers online courses that mirror traditional courses, with an instructor to conduct the course, give assignments, answer questions, lead discussions, and assign grades. Online courses at Savannah State University can be either student-paced or instructor-paced. Student-paced courses allow students to work at their own speed as long as they complete all requirements by the end of the semester. Instructor-paced courses have deadlines set by the instructor, which may be before or during the final exam week.
Instructors at Savannah State University have access to the D2L system, where they can export course content and grade sheets for retention and filing with a department. They can also give timed online tests, general comments, and private feedback on student answers, as well as automatically graded quizzes with class grade records. Brightspace, which supports these eLearning principles, is used for all credit courses.
When designing online course content, it is important to keep in mind that it should evolve over time to meet the needs of students. Course creators should gather feedback from students, observe common questions, and ask learners to complete surveys. Supplemental materials such as downloadable files, infographics, workbooks, and checklists can add value to the course. An online community can also be set up to facilitate discussions and help students stay on track.
AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the way course content is designed, and can be used to build more courses in less time. However, it is important to use these tools correctly to avoid negative consequences.
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