Allegany Online Syllabus
FOLLOW THIS SYLLABUS
FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING CRITERIA
Please print a copy of this
syllabus for handy reference
COURSE NUMBER:106
COURSE TITLE: INFECTION CONTROL & BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS
COURSE START DATE:
COURSE END DATE:
INSTRUCTOR Sharon Walker RN, MSN,
CEN
(301)
784-5563 – Office Number
swalker@allegany.edu (PRIMARY EMAIL)
walkers62@earthlink.net
(Home email).
(814) 634-5126 Home phone for
EMERGENCY USE ONLY.
Hello and a very warm welcome to my
class! I am looking forward to sharing this learning experience with you and am
available on an as needed basis if you have any questions about the course
content or assignments. I check the discussion board on a daily basis, except
Sundays, and will also provide a thread in the discussion board in case of
questions that you may have. I’m always happy to talk to you on the phone as
well, in case of an emergency.
Remember that it is imperative to
communicate effectively, as I will not see you and have yet to learn how to
read someone’s mind!
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
I am posting my autobiography in the
course Discussion Board link. I am looking forward to reading your
autobiographies that you will also post in the Discussion Board in order
to get to know one another during this course time together.
**CLASS AUTOBIOGRAPHIES**:
Your FIRST ASSIGNMENT will be to post a
brief autobiography to the Discussion Board and also submit it to the Digital
Drop Box, Please respond to one another’s biographies so we may get to know
each other and practice using the system. This will be worth 2 extra credit points.
Complete this assignment on DAY 1 (Thursday) of class before
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed as an
introductory course to provide an understanding of the basic concerns in
addressing Infection Control issues and blood borne pathogens. Topics for
discussion include: current infection control measures, government regulations
regarding infection control and blood borne pathogens, means to identifying
common and lesser known blood borne pathogens.
COURSE CONDUCT:
Since there will be no
face-to face class lecture, it is imperative that you are conscientious,
motivated, and self-disciplined. While the course is very flexible in terms of
when you put in the time, you can expect to average about the same amount of
time as a normal lecture course. Note also that the course IS NOT SELF PACED. Assignments are
due by specific dates. You may work ahead if you like, but you may not “work
behind”.
I will not remind you of when
assignments are due. If you have difficulty or have questions, please contact
me and I will be happy to assist you.
You will be
interacting with other students enrolled in the course. Students are encouraged
to communicate with other students by email, use of the discussion board, group
pages, or by phone. If you form a live ‘chat session’ online using an instant
messenger, please have someone provide me with the date and time of the online
session, as well as who attended, and a summary of what was discussed.
Interacting with other students will enhance your learning experience.
**Remember when responding to classmate’s
posts, that our discussions are to be kept on a positive note. Please provide
feedback to others in a kind and constructive manner.**
PREREQUISITES: None
*** NOTICE*** PLEASE READ ******
This course begins and ends with different dates than your typical classroom courses. Because of the way the course is scheduled, you MAY NOT be able to drop the course to receive a full refund. If you fall behind or develop technical problems, you are still accountable for completing the work. You will receive a final grade based on your completed assignments, your participation, and weekly criteria. Project assignments will not be accepted after the course ends. If you post assignments late, you will receive either ‘zero’ or partial credit, depending on the original point value and how late you submitted the work.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The primary means of communication
in an online course is through the Internet. Therefore, you should be
comfortable with using the Internet and email. You must have reliable Internet access (you must provide your own ISP), an
email account, and a browser (Netscape 3.0 or higher or
Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher).
You are expected to have basic computer and Internet literacy skills. This includes the ability to work comfortably in a browser, send and receive email with attachments, use a search engine, and create and modify documents in MS Word. Access to Microsoft Power Point and Power Point Viewer is also highly recommended. YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THESE FOR FREE ON THE COLLEGE LIBRARY WEBPAGE under the “How to do Research” box and look for the link OR click on: http://www.allegany.edu/dl/updates.shtml
I have also included this link
in the “Course Information” folder.
*****It is highly recommended that you take the student tutorial located on the main page of Blackboard, once you have logged into the system – prior to the start of class. This will enable you to become familiar with the different areas of Blackboard and how to best use them to your advantage.***** You may also go to this web address: http://www.allegany.edu/dl/onlineorientation/oorientation.shtml
Please
note: Technical difficulties do occur during a semester. However, technical
difficulties do not excuse late or incomplete assignments. So, in other words-
PLAN AHEAD.
COURSE CONTENT:
Please see the course calendar for a
week-by-week list of what topics will be covered in the course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
·
Define
the term infectious disease.
·
List
the six links in the chain of infection.
·
Identify
risks for nosocomial infections.
·
Identify
anatomic and physiologic barriers that defend the body against microorganisms.
·
Identify
interventions to reduce the risk of infections.
·
Explain
the role of government agencies involved in infection control.
·
Explain
what is meant by the term Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard.
·
Describe
the steps to take in the event of a bloodborne
pathogen exposure.
·
Discuss
the different types of blood borne pathogens that pose a threat to society.
RESOURCES:
Suggested text reference:
Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition).
RELEVANT INTERNET/WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW) SITES:
(NOTE: Every effort has been made to
ensure that these sites are current; however, due to the rapidly changing
environment of the Internet and WWW some links may no longer be accurate.)
www.healthleaders.com www.medscape.com
www.cdc.gov
www.noah-health.org
REQUIRED
TEXTS:
All material is online. Currently a textbook is not required for this course. Information will be
obtained from lectures, Internet links and online sources, as well as accessing other traditional
resources.
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is the act of using another’s
work or ideas without giving credit to the originator of the work or idea. The way
that credit is given is through the use of reference citations. APA format is
used to reference citations in text and in reference lists. If you are unsure
as to whether or not you should credit work to another, do it. It is better to
give credit than to "forget" or "overlook" giving credit.
There are multiple venues available to faculty to address plagiarism in student
work. Should plagiarism be discovered in your individual or group work, I will
use all of ACM’s remedies to address the issue. I hold each member of a team
responsible for the entire work product of a team. So, if one team member
provides plagiarized content for a team assignment and it is submitted to me as
a final work, each and every member of the team will be held accountable for the
plagiarized work. For additional information, please visit the college’s
plagiarism website at: www.allegany.edu/plagiarism
WHERE TO GO TO CLASS – YOUR
COURSE NEWSGROUPS/CLASS MEETINGS
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Important announcements will be placed
here periodically. Be sure to check it each time you log in.
DISCUSSION BOARD: This is the main newsgroup for the
class. It
has read-and-write access for everyone to discuss issues related to the course content.
ASSIGNMENTS: This is a read-only (can read messages but not write them)
newsgroup where you will obtain assignments.
COURSE GROUPS: Located under the “Collaboration Link”,
this is a read-write newsgroup designed as a place to discuss issues related
to the individual learning teams.
COURSE INFORMATION: This is a read-only newsgroup where the class syllabus and
course calendar will be posted. I encourage you to print them out for a hard
copy to refer to.
COURSE DOCUMENTS: This area will contain handouts for the course, weekly
lectures, and discussion questions. Information on accessing Blackboard,
emailing assignments, etc. will also be posted here.
DIGITAL DROP BOX: Located under the “Tools” link, this is how you will send
your assignments to the instructor. In the event the Blackboard server is not
working and the magical hour of
WEB ACCESS TO CLASS:
Web access to class via http://student.allegany.edu is possible, as well as logging onto the
college website at www.allegany.edu and clicking on the Blackboard link in
the bottom right hand corner of the site. You may also login directly to
Blackboard at http://blackboard.allegany.edu
APA AND ATTACHMENTS:
Your formal written assignments require
APA format and should be sent as attachments. This
applies to the final written paper.
·
Prepare
these assignments in Microsoft Word
·
Save
your work as a “.doc” file (this is the MS Word default file type).
·
To
send an attachment, open a “Reply Group” in the correct thread (or a new post
if it is to the Assignments folder).
·
Type
in a subject line that includes the name of the assignment and your initials.
·
Use
the “Attach” function to find and attach the file from your word processor.
·
Then
send it.
THE ONLINE WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
The electronic week will begin on
Thursday and end on Wednesday. This will allow you to have greater
flexibility with your participation and completion of assignments. Assignment
due days are listed in the course calendar to assist you in keeping track of
when things are due to be posted.
Day 1 Thursday
Day 2 Friday
Day 3 Saturday
Day 4 Sunday
Day 5 Monday
Day 6 Tuesday
Day 7 Wednesday
**PARTICIPATION:
You
will be expected to contribute to the class discussion in a substantive way at
least three out of seven days each week by responding to at least 2
of your other classmates comments, etc. Your
contributions need to be posted to the Discussion Board and will be
evaluated according to its quality which constitutes 30 points/week
of your final grade. Responses such as “I agree” or merely repeating what was
previously stated, does not count as participation. You are intelligent people
with experiences and thoughts of your own. By contributing to the discussions,
it opens up different viewpoints to consider.
WEEKLY
SUMMARY:
Each student is expected to submit a brief summary (1/2 page-approx 150 words) of what was learned from the readings, research, activities, discussions, and assignments at the end of each week (Wednesday). Your summaries need to be posted to the Discussion Group and will be evaluated according to its quality which constitutes 5 points/week of your final grade.
LATE WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
Students are expected to complete
the course within the specified time frame. Late assignments submitted after
the last day of the course will not be accepted. Weekly assignments not
submitted on time (post date) may be deducted five points for each day
past the due date. The assignment is considered late if it is posted after
**LEARNING
TEAM FORMULATION AND GRADING:
Working
together on teams is an integral part of what we do in health care. There are
always obstacles to overcome, but it is our responsibility to learn how to
overcome those obstacles and work together for the good of our clients.
Therefore, during the first week of class, I will assign each of you to a
learning team. Each team will need to select a ‘team leader’ for the final team
assignment. It will be the team leaders responsibility to set due dates for
submissions of the assignment and also to combine each team members contributions
into a final report for grading purposes.
As a team, you will have approximately 3
weeks to complete the team assignment. DON’T WAIT TO GET STARTED. The team
leader should post the combined report to the team folder at least 3 days prior
to the actual due date to give everyone else on the team time to look over the
‘final draft’ and double check it for any corrections, etc. Once everyone on
the team has given the ‘OK’ to submit it, the team leader will submit the paper
to me for grading- making sure it is submitted before midnight of the due
date.
The
learning team will be awarded the same grade for the final written team
assignment. Therefore, it is in your best interest to read what others have
submitted as far as their sections of the assignment, and read over the final
draft of each paper before it is submitted for grading.
If
a member of your team is not participating or does not submit their sections of
the assignment by established due dates, you need to inform me and then do not
submit their name on the paper. If your name is the one not submitted on
the section paper due to lack of participation, you will receive a “zero” for
that grade. I will also be monitoring the team folders for discussion and
participation. Each team member will also have the opportunity to ‘grade’ their
peers at the end of the course, according to each person’s contributions to the
group projects, thus ensuring equal participation by all. The grades will be
emailed ONLY to me to ensure confidentiality, and team participation will
be counted towards 15% OF THE FINAL COURSE GRADE.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Academic honesty is highly valued in Online
Courses just as it is at each Allegany College of Maryland campus. A student
must always submit work that represents his or her original words or ideas. If
any words or ideas are used that do not represent the student’s original words
or ideas, the student must cite all relevant sources. The student should also
make clear the extent to which such sources were used. Words or ideas that
require citations include, but are not limited to, all hardcopy or electronic
publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual
communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an
identifiable source. At the Online campus, all submissions to any public
meeting or private mailbox fall within the scope of words and ideas that that
require citations if used by someone other than the original author.
Academic dishonesty in an Online
learning environment could involve:
·
Having a
tutor or friend complete a portion of your assignments;
·
Having a
reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment;
·
Copying
work submitted by another student to a public class meeting or;
·
Using
information from Online information services without
proper citation.
GRADING:
Grading for the course is as follows:
100% - 90% = A = Excellent
Performance
89% - 80% = B =Good Performance
79% - 70% = C =Average Performance
69% and below = F = Unacceptable Performance
Please refer to the grading criteria for
the listed assignments for point values assigned to each.
COURSE
STANDARDS FOR ASSIGNMENTS:
Written
assignments should be word-processed according to APA format. For
example, submit papers in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double spaced, one
inch margins, headers with page numbers, introduction, conclusion, references,
and a cover page. The cover page for each assignment should include: name of
university and site- (i.e. Online); title of paper; your name and credentials
(i.e. EMT, MLT, BSN, RN); course name and number; instructor's name and
credentials; and date paper is due.
Written
assignments will be graded according to APA format as well as organization and
clarity of presentation, logical progression of thought, technical accuracy,
current sources (not > 5 years old- except for historical purposes
that is clearly explicated), page length of paper (excludes cover,
references, appendices), and correct spelling and grammar. The content of all
papers is to be presented according to APA heading levels (refer to the APA
guidelines sample paper in the course documents section). ** APA is
NOT difficult, it is simply another way to cite references, etc., and is also
used in other courses.
In
order to avoid plagiarism, all concepts (ideas) that you use from a published
source must be paraphrased- not quoted - so
that the work is your own rather than a compilation of the works of published
authors, documented (cited), and properly referenced in the
"Reference" section of the paper in APA format. References are to be from professional literature (i.e. magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, brochures,
etc. are not professional publications).
**Each person submitting a portion of a
learning team assignment is responsible for its content in that it is
paraphrased, cited, referenced, and edited for correct spelling and grammar. **
WRITTEN
ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments will be posted in the course information folder, as well as the ‘Assignments’ folder.