Expectations for professional behavior

Confidentiality

Mastery learning

Being here

Where to go if you have difficulties

Doing original work

Using the internet as a resource

Inclement weather policy

EXPECTATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR:

One of the goals of this class is for participants to learn a set of behaviors associated with professionalism. Professionalism is first and foremost a way of showing respect for the children with whom you interact and the other educators with whom you work. Here are some suggestions for ways to behave professionally while completing your assignments for this class, as well as during your internship:

Think of students as real people, rather than they type of program in which they are placed. For example, the phrase "she is a student placed in a self-contained special education classroom" is more acceptable than "she is a self-contained student".

Think of students as real people, rather than the disability label they have been assigned. The phrase "he is a student labeled learning disabled" is more acceptable than "he is learning disabled". When possible, avoid using labels completely.

Only make commitments or promises you can keep. For example, if you agree to meet with a teacher, make the appointment at a time when you can be sure you can be on time. Similarly, be sure you have the ability and resources to follow through on any agreements to create materials or perform other tasks for a teacher. 
 

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The identity of all teachers and students observed in association with any of the requirements of this class must be kept confidential at all times. ANY ASSIGNMENT that contains the name or other identifying information of an actual student will receive a FAILING GRADE. First names may be used as long as actual last names are not used. When discussing internship placements, it is okay to use the names of schools and your cooperating teacher. Any discussions of teachers, students, and schools that take place in our class are not to leave the room.
 

MASTERY LEARNING:

It is important to you, as prospective teachers, that you master the content in this course. You will be completing an internship this semester and soon will be student teaching, and before you know it- teaching on your own. Therefore, it is up to you as the prospective teacher, and I as your professor, to work together to make sure that you have a mastery of this course's content. On many assignments, you have the opportunity to do the assignment again after you have received a grade from me on it. In cases where this is not practical, and you still need to master the content, set up an appointment with me to discuss alternative assignments that you can complete.

There will be due dates announced in class for those of you wishing to redo the assignments that are due before the internship starts (typically the next-to-last class before the internship). Other due dates will be worked out between the student and me. Given that you are all adults, I will not suggest to you when it is appropriate to do an assignment over again. That is up to you to decide.

BEING HERE:

Attendance is very important for this class. First of all, each class meeting will contain important information for which you will be responsible. Second, you are in preparation for a career for which attendance and promptness is very important. By attending class regularly, you develop and project part of a professional attitude that is important. Therefore, for the second and each subsequent absence, your grade will be lowered by ten points. There is no exception to this policy unless there is a documented emergency that keeps you out for more than two class meetings.

University Policy regarding attendance:

"It is the policy of Appalachian State University that class attendance is considered to be an important part of a student's educational experience. Students are expected to attend every meeting of their classes and are responsible for class attendance. No matter what bases exist for absence, students are held accountable for academic activities, and faculty may require special work or tests to make up for the missed class or classes. Faculty, at their discretion, may include class attendance as a criterion for determining a student's final grade in the course. On the first day of class, faculty members must inform students in writing of their class attendance policy and the effect of that policy on their final grade. If class attendance is to affect a student's final grade, then a statement to this effect must be a part of the course syllabus distributed to each student." 
 

WHERE TO GO IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTIES:

For a variety of reasons, it might be the case that you are having difficulties with some aspect of this course. If you find yourself in such a predicament, keep in mind that the earlier you deal with it, and the more directly you deal with it, the better off you will be. I prefer that you come directly to me with problems while they are still small. I will do whatever I can to help you come to some resolution before it is too late. When approached early enough, I can be extremely flexible. For further information, please see this link.
 

DOING ORIGINAL WORK:

From the Appalachian State University Code of Academic Integrity : "Plagiarism is the use of the distinctive ideas or works belonging to another person without adequate acknowledgment of that person's contribution. In the context of academic work the standards for acknowledging sources are very high. An author must give due credit whenever quoting another person's actual words, whenever using another person's idea, opinion or theory, and whenever borrowing facts, statistics or illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge."

If anyone has any questions about this policy, or another part of the University's Academic Integrity Code, please see me. Better to avoid a problem in advance than to risk your standing at the University. 
 

USING THE INTERNET AS A RESOURCE:

The Internet has many resources which you might want to take advantage of to complete assignments for this course. I encourage you to do so, but also to use it with as much (perhaps more) caution as you would traditionally published material. First, always give credit to sources from the Internet, supplying either the E-mail address of the person/group from whom you got the idea, or the url (http address) of the website on which you found the material. Second, just because it's on the Internet does not mean it is a good idea- use your own judgement as to the workability, validity, and credibility of resources you encounter. 
 

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:

In the event of severe weather, students should call 262-SNOW, or listen to local media to determine whether ASU is holding classes.

In the event that this class needs to be postponed, students should check their email, and a phone tree message will be activated.

If you are scheduled to be at a school and Watauga County Schools are closed, call the school for which you are scheduled to determine whether travel will be safe for you.

When classes are not canceled, students are expected to use their discretion about traveling to campus. The University does not expect anyone to travel to campus if it endangers her or his well being.