1. Introduction to Cultural Diversity 2053

Welcome to LSC 2053

Welcome to LSC 2053 - Your Cultural Diversity Class

Hi Everyone 

Welcome to your Cultural Diversity class. In this course we will examine different cultures globally and within the UAE. We will explore the challenges and benefits of diversity as well as consider influences to culture and their impact.

My name is Gregory and I will be teaching you for four hours each week.

My email is Gvrhovnik@hct.ac.ae AND  http://2053cge.blogspot.ae/ is the Blogger URL we will use.  

Please, always put your section CMxx in the subject box when you send me an email. (I have five sections.)

This email will tell you how to keep me happy and get good grades!

Information about this course can be found on

iTunes U – LSS 2053   or

http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/hd1/ls/index.htm

Course Work

Course Assessments

					Percentage
	Reflections (15)
	I.				15%
	II.				5%
	III.				5%
	Portfolio/Log (40%)
	Submission 1 Submission 2				15% 15%
	Midterm Exam (15%)				15%
	Final Assessment (30%)
	Final (individual) Presentation				30%
Grade		Range	Grade Points	Explanation of Codes
A		90 – 100	4	Achievement that is outstanding relative to the course and GPA requirements
A-		85 - 89	3.7
B+		80 – 84	3.3	Achievement that is significantly above the course and GPA requirements
B		75 - 79	3
C+		70 – 74	2.3	Achievement that satisfactorily meets the course and GPA requirements
C		65 – 69	2
D		60 – 64	1	Achievement that minimally meets the course requirements but may not meet the GPA requirement
F		0 - 59	0	Achievement that does not meet requirements for course with normal grading mode.
P		Pass	0	Achievement that meets the course requirements, in courses graded pass/fail, but is not computed in the GPA.
FL		Fail	0	Achievement that does not meet requirement

 

Classroom Procedures

I give an especially warm welcome to any super geeks in our class. They will become my NBFs (New Best Friend) and help all of you to have a stress-free e-portfolio – the e-portfolio is 30% of your grade.

If you are unsure of any technology - ask the class super geeks – not the teacher! Remember, the teacher is usually a digital immigrant – not a digital native like most of the students!

 Please, please, please!

1.    Always be on time with your laptop or iPad charged  with a headset. If you forget your headset you will have to buy one at the ADMC shop.

Make sure you empty your email inbox today. A full inbox is no excuse for you not getting important information.

2.    Have your iPhone configured so that you receive college emails and have all classmates on BB Messenger and work together as a team. If the super geeks in our class can’t solve your problems then ask IT.

3.    Always read your emails before every class – sometimes I send an email telling you “Do not come to class today!” Last semester a student drove from al Ain for an 8:00 am Sunday class which had been cancelled – because he did not bother to read his email.

4.   Create a blog before the end of the first class.

Here are the instructions.Video:  Start a Blogger.com Blog  

Transcript: Start a Blogger.com Blog

Hi, I’m Shane Murphy, your technology Guru for About.com. Today we’ll review how to start a Blogger.com blog.

Create a Google Account

Start by heading to Blogger.com and clicking “create a blog.” You’ll now be prompted to create a Google account, which requires all of the fields below to be filled in. If you already have a Google account, click “sign in” to skip this step. Accept their terms of services and click “continue.”

Name Your Blog

Now, fill in your desired blog title and web address, then click “continue.”

Choose Your Blog Template

Now choose between a handful of start templates for your blog (Simple is best). Click the “start blogging” button to be taken straight to the control panel for your blog.

Customize Your Blogger.com Blog

From here you can customize every aspect of your blog to suite your needs. You can post new entries under the posting tab, or re-work the layout under the design tab. In all cases, clicking the orange “save” button will make whatever changes you’ve made live on your blog.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit About.com.

Please make sure that you have uploaded a recent photograph of yourself and inserted your blog URL onto my spreadsheet and checked that it is working before leaving the first class.   

Here are samples of blogs from former students:

5.    Please, scan, or take a photo using your laptop or phone, all handwritten class assignments and upload to your blog/e-portfolio immediately.

6.    Sometimes, after I have corrected your essay, you must make corrections and upload a typed improved assignment.
 
7.  First Assignment for your blog/e-portfolio:

Introduction

In Pairs

A. Record a one-minute-video on your smart phone and upload it to your blog by the end of this class

B. Introduce yourselves and say what makes you different from other students

Here is an introductory video about one CD intsructor. (Unfortunately, it is a bit boring.)

Frankie’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21HIcLtmZEI
 

Here are some introductory videos made by students in my last class:

10. Never plagiarize!. If you do I will split the grade between you and the other student..

 Plagiarism

Official HCT Policy: Plagiarism is unacceptable. Copying and pasting will result in a mark of 0%. Serious case of plagiarism will result in dismissal from the college.

11. Never miss an assessment – the only good excuse is if you are dead!!!

12. If you use technology inappropriately in my classroom (play with telephones etc.)

                       

·         You will have to put your device on my desk

·         Then write me an email to get it back.

·         Three emails and you will have to ask the supervisor to get it back!

If you do all these things we will have a relaxed and a successful semester and you should get a very good grade.

 I look forward to having a successful and relaxed semester with you. 

Good Luck

Gregory 

1.5 LSS 2053 Draft Delivery Calendar - 2013

Week	Date	Assessment	Notes	Outcome
1	8 September			Learning Outcome 1 Introduce cultural diversity and its current role in the UAE.
2	15 September			Explore concepts of multiculturalism, assimilation & acculturation.
3	22 September			Explore types of diversity and consider challenges.
4	29 September			Recognize and distinguish culture vs. personality issues.
5	6 October	Reflection #1 Group film 20%		Learning Outcome 2 Explore reactivity and concerns: territoriality, privacy, stereotyping, prejudice, bias and discrimination
6	13 October		Eid, 4 days	Introduce ethnocentrism & the relationship to culture & personality.
7	20 October	Reflection #2 Presentation (pairs) 5%		Assess learning for Outcomes 1 & 2
8	27 October	Mid-Term Exam LO1&2 15%		Learning Outcome 3 Explore communication in diversity & cross-cultural communication.
9	3 November	Portfolio/Log 1 15%	Islamic New Year, 1 day	Introduce final project. Explore benefits of cultural diversity
10	10 November
11	17 November
12	24 November	Reflection #3 Written 5%
13	1 December		National Day, 1 day
14	8 December	Portfolio/Log 2 15%
15	15 December
16	22 December
17	29 December
18	5 January	Final Presentations 30%
19	12 January	Final Presentations	Prophet’s Birthday, 1 day
20	19 January	Grade Entry	Exams  start 22 January
21	26 January
22	2 February
23	9 February