SWK 113 Working with Diversity
Spring 2004
W 5:30 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.
One hour or more Blackboard each week
Instructor: Sheri Narin
Office: L130
Office Hours: Posted by Office Door
Phone Number: (336) 599-1181 Ext. 424
E-mail: narins@piedmont.cc.nc.us
Course Website: http://courses.piedmont.cc.nc.us
Faculty Website: http://www2.piedmont.cc.nc.us/faculty
Textbooks: Cultural Diversity: A Primer for the Human Services, second edition by Jerry V. Diller, 2004, Brooks/Cole Publishers. ISBN: 0-534-52221-1
The Four Skills of Cultural Diversity Competence, second edition, by Mikel Hogan-Garcia, 2003, Wadsworth Publishing Company. ISBN:0-534-52475-3
Other Required Materials: Access to the Internet and a working email address.
Course Description: This course examines and promotes understanding, sensitivity, awareness, and knowledge of human diversity. Emphasis is placed on professional responsibilities, duties, and skills critical to multicultural human services practice. Upon completion, students should be able to integrate and expand knowledge, skills, and cultural awareness relevant to diverse populations.
Classroom – 3 Lab – 0 Clinic – 0 Credit - 3
Prerequisite/Corequisites: None
Course Objectives:
1.. Student will be able to describe and demonstrate what it means to be culturally competent.
2. Student will be able to define racism and prejudice and describe its personal and professional effects.
3. Student will demonstrate an understanding and respect for cultural diversity through workbook exercises and oral presentations.
4. Student will be able to identify and describe the impact of institutional bias in service delivery.
5. Student will demonstrate an understanding of how to integrate culturally diverse practices into a workable practice approach through role-plays and workbook activities.
Evaluation: A combination of classroom activities, homework assignments, oral presentations/projects, journals, examinations and Blackboard activities will comprise the basis of evaluation for this course. Evaluation will be based on an accumulative point system with a total of approximately 1000 points available. Total point value is subject to change.
Classroom Activities: The learning process in this class involves strong participation in small group activities, as well as presenting information to your fellow classmates. Your input is essential for your own learning as well as that of your classmates. You will be asked to play various roles in group activities and will be graded on fullness of participation and quality of participation. The grade will include evaluation of your ability to work out conflicts within the small group, using the principles gained in studying issues of diversity. Group members will be responsible for the full participation of all group members. In-class assignments cannot be made up. Classroom activities will be worth up to a total of 50 points, or 5% of your grade.
Homework Assignments: You will be given several homework assignments. Assignments are to be turned on the due date and at the beginning of the class period due. Homework assignments that are late will lose 5 points per day late, including weekends. If you are not going to be in class, assignments can be emailed or faxed or left early. Homework assignments will be worth a total of 100 points, or 10% of your grade.
Oral Presentations/Projects: You will give at least two group presentations. You will be assigned a different cultural or religious group about which to learn and will present this information to the class. You will also have a project developing a book for young children to explain prejudice. You will be graded on thoroughness and creativity of presentations and projects. The class will also be working with Shelly Stone to prepare a short workshop on diversity. Oral presentations/Projects will be worth a total of 250 points, or 25% of your grade.
Journal: You will be asked to keep a journal about responses to class content and how the class may other areas of your life. At the end of each class, you will also be given a question to answer in the journal as well. You are responsible for a journal entry each class day even if you are not in class. Thus, each journal entry should answer the following questions:
 |
What struck you/stood out for you the most strongly in today’s class? |
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What personal values/beliefs did you find challenged? |
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With which points did you have the strongest agreement? |
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Question from that class. |
Journals will be collected approximately every four weeks. Journals that are turned in late will lose 5 points per day.
Journals will be kept in one notebook and will be turned in with that format. Loose pages or stapled pages will not be accepted. Journals will be worth a total of 250 points, or 25% of your overall grade.
Examinations: There will be at least three examinations during the semester. Examinations will involve a variety of question types and will focus on applying information learned. Examinations will be worth a total of 100 points, or 10% of your grade.
Blackboard Activities: There will be weekly Blackboard discussion board/assignments to be completed on the Internet. These will be worth a total of 300 points, or 30% of your final grade. You can find more specific instructions on the Blackboard site.
GRADING SCALE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON FINAL POINT VALUE TOTAL):
1000 to 900 = A; 899 TO 800 = B; 799 TO 700 = C; 699 TO 600 = D; Below 600 = F.
ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance at
all class meetings is necessary for students to learn important concepts. In
this regard, the following class attendance policy is established:
1. A student is expected to be regular and punctual in meeting all classes. To
receive credit for a course, the student must attend prior to the census point
and a minimum of 80 percent of classes, labs and shop hours. Failure to attend
class is an absence, regardless of the reason. Absences are counted from the
first scheduled meeting of the class, not the first day the student attends. All
work missed during absences must be made up to the satisfaction of the
instructor. Failure to complete required assignments will negatively affect the
student's final grade.
2. A student who exceeds the 20 percent limit of absences may be dropped by the
instructor through the eighth week of the semester. If a student exceeds the 20
percent limit after the eighth week, the instructor is authorized to award the
student the "I" or "F" grade as warranted by the student's performance.
3. Any exceptions to this policy must be authorized by the instructor.
Attendance Policy for this class
Attendance and participation are important components of learning. In addition
to the Piedmont Community College attendance policy, the following policies will
apply: Perfect attendance in class at the end of the semester will raise your
overall grade by 1.5% points. Thus, if your average at the end of the class is
an 88.5 % and you have perfect attendance, your grade will be increased to a
90%, or an A. Being on time for every class will result in another .5% grade
increase. After three absences, every subsequent absence will result in an
overall grade reduction of 3%. Every fifteen minutes missed of class counts as
1/3 absence; thus, three incidences of being late or leaving early or not coming
back from a break within the specified time will count as an absence. For
example, if you have 2 absences, were late three times and left early three
times, this would count as 4 absences and your final grade would be reduced by
3% points, such as an 82% being reduced to a 79%.
CLASS POLICIES:
1. You are expected to be on time and prepared for class. If you are unable to
be in class, you are expected to let the instructor know by leaving a message by
phone or email previous to the class period.
2. Assignments are to be turned in on the date due and at the beginning of the
class period due. You are
responsible for making up any missed in-class assignments; however, some
assignments cannot be made up.
3. As noted in the attendance policy, excessive absences will reflect negatively
on your grade.
4. You are expected to be on time for class.
5. The ability to write well is an important skill for your professional
development. Assignments that are difficult to read due to handwriting will be
returned with one opportunity to redo the assignment, within 2 days. Typing is
strongly recommended. Some assignments require typing and will not be accepted
if not typed. Assignments with excessive grammatical or spelling errors
(excessive as subjectively defined by the instructor) will be returned with one
opportunity to make corrections.
6. According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary on the internet (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary),
to cheat is:
(transitive senses)
1 : to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
2 : to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
3 : to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting
(intransitive senses)
1 a : to practice fraud or trickery b : to violate rules dishonestly (as at
cards or on an examination)
Cheating includes copying someone else's work, taking credit for someone else's
work, as well as what is traditionally thought of as cheating. An example would
be: Copying someone else's homework, when it is an assignment that is supposed
to reflect your work/thoughts. An example would be an assignment of finding
words you do not understand and finding definitions for them; copying someone
else's homework in this instance would be considered cheating. The consequences
for cheating are the same as for plagiarism, listed below.
7. Copying directly from the textbook or any resource for assignments or tests,
or taking someone else's thoughts or ideas without giving them credit is
plagiarism and is illegal and unethical. This also includes printing information
from the Internet without identifying and referencing the source. The
consequences for plagiarism are as follows:
· For the first occurrence, rewrite of the assignment and loss of 50 % of the
grade
· For the second occurrence, failing the assignment and reduction of overall
class grade by one letter grade
· For the third occurrence, a grade of 'F' in the class
Please note that this applies to all assignments in the class.
8. Respect other students' opinions, even if you do not agree with them
9. Respect confidentiality. Being actively involved in class may involve some
level of sharing of personal information. You are expected to treat the
classroom with the same level of ethical responsibility with which you would
treat a job or internship. Do not share personal information about other
students outside of the classroom. This includes discussing this information
with your fellow classmates.
10. If you choose to drop the class, you are responsible for completing and
turning in the withdrawal slip. If you have stopped coming to class but not
turned in a withdrawal slip or contacted the instructor to discuss this, you
will receive an 'F' for the class.
11. Cell phones and beepers should be turned off or on vibrate in class. If you
do get a call, please leave the classroom before answering the call.
Location Schedule:
All classes will meet in B101, unless otherwise noted.
Student Success Center: Piedmont Community College now offers a comprehensive
package of services to assist students with their academic success. The Student
Success Center, located in Room G-204, provides a variety of free learning
support services including computer access, tutoring, supplemental instruction,
study groups, and other academic services. Visit or call Gloria Bennett,
Coordinator of the Student Success Center, at 599-1181 ext. 276 to access this
valuable student resource.
Students with Disabilities: If you have a learning or other disability, and you
want to request special accommodations to ensure equal access to education at
PCC, please see Shelia Williamson at the Office of Student Development. The
information that you provide to Ms. Williamson will be kept confidential.
The last day to drop this class with a "W" is March 5, 2004.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
1) Wednesday, January 7, 2004
2) Wednesday, January 14, 2004
3) Wednesday, January 21, 2004 Shelly Stone
4) Wednesday, January 28, 2004 Journals Due
5) Wednesday, February 4, 2004
6) Wednesday, February 11, 2004
7) Wednesday, February 18, 2004
8) Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Journals Due
9) Wednesday, March 3, 2004
10) Wednesday, March 17, 2004
11) Wednesday, March 24, 2004
12) Wednesday, March 31, 2004 Journals Due
13) Wednesday, April 7, 2004
14) Wednesday, April 14, 2004
15) Wednesday, April 21, 2004
16) Wednesday, April 28, 2004 Journals Due
17) Wednesday, May 5, 2004 Possible make-up day if classes are missed due to inclement weather
Week One: Wednesday January 7, 2004 to Sunday, January 11, 2004
Week Two: Monday, January 12, 2004 to Sunday, January 18, 2004
Week Three: Monday, January 19, 2004 to Sunday, January 25, 2004
Week Four: Monday, January 26, 2003 to Sunday, February 1, 2004
Week Five: Monday, February 2, 2004 to Sunday, February 8, 2004
Week Six: Monday, February 9, 2004 to Sunday, February 15, 2004
Week Seven: Monday, February 16, 2004 to Sunday, February 22, 2004
Week Eight: Monday, February 23, 2004 to Sunday, February 29, 2004
Week Nine: Monday, March 1, 2004 to Sunday, March 7, 2004
Week Ten: Monday, March 15, 2004 to Sunday, March 21, 2004
Week Eleven: Monday, March 22, 2004 to Sunday, March 28, 2004
Week Twelve: Monday, March 29, 2004 to Sunday, April 4, 2004
Week Thirteen: Monday, April 5, 2004 to Sunday, April 11, 2004
Week Fourteen: Monday, April 12, 2004 to Sunday, April 18, 2004
Week Fifteen: Monday, April 19, 2004 to Sunday, April 25, 2004
Week Sixteen: Monday, April 26, 2004 to Sunday, May 2, 2004
Week Seventeen: Monday, May 3, 2004 to Sunday, May 9, 2004