Course Syllabus for DAAC 2306 Section 04816
Substance Abuse Prevention I
2010 Spring Standard Semester

Note to Students:  This may not be the most recent syllabus for this course, and any dates shown may apply to a previous semester. Any assignments included in this syllabus may change in the syllabus distributed on the class start date. Textbook information in this syllabus may also change. For current textbook information, refer to the Course Details accessed by clicking the course title in the online Course Schedule.

This is the Course Syllabus from Spring 2008 and it will change but this gives a general overview of the course.

Substance Abuse Prevention.  Spring 08, Distance Learning

Instructor:       Elizabeth Coccia, Ed.D, LCDC

                        Office:  RGC 207.2

                        Phone:  223-3207

                        Email:  ecoccia@austincc.edu

                        Webpage:  www.austincc.edu/ecoccia

Office Hours:   Although this is a distance learning class and most of our contact will be conducted electronically, there may be times you would like to visit during my office hours.  My spring hours are 

Course Data:  16-week course:  DAAC-1391- 14048, Section 001. 

Course Description:  This course will focus on aspects of substance abuse prevention from a public health model.  Topics include the history of prevention, risk and protective factors among youth, community-based prevention strategies, an overview of program design and evaluation, and resources for prevention planning.

Instructional Methodology:  This is a Distance Learning class with 10 lessons assigned for course completion.  See Course Structure (below) for more information.

Course Rationale:  This course is designed to help students gain an understanding of the substance abuse prevention in preparation for employment in the field and in partial completion of the requirements for the Prevention Specialist Certification offered through IC&RC/TCADA. 

Course Objectives:  Upon successful completion of this course students will:

1.      Identify historical and current societal influences in substance abuse prevention.

2.      Identify risk and protective factors for substance abuse within a cultural context.

3.      Demonstrate an understanding of community-based prevention strategies.

4.      Identify elements of good prevention program design.

5.      Demonstrate an understanding of program evaluation.

6.      Create a  resource list for prevention planning and programs.

Course Access:  The course is accessed through the ACC distance learning web site at http://acconline.austincc.edu. To access the course, you will need a user name and password. For further instructions go to http://itdl.austincc.edu/blackboard/stlogin.htm . If you are taking this course through another college (Virtual College of Texas), your user name and password will be provided by VCT.

All students must complete an online orientation of the course before starting the assignments. The orientation is located in the Course Documents section of the course on the Blackboard page.

Student must have a current media player downloaded on their computers.  To find out how to download a media player on your computer, follow this link  http://itdl.austincc.edu/streaming/students/  . 

Course Structure:  This course is taught online, via the Internet.  Students must have basic computer skills and Internet access/skills.  A personal, not shared, e-mail address is required.  The use of the most current web browser(s) and media player are essential for proper transmission of course materials. (see above Course Access.)

Lessons:  There are 10 lessons for this course. Lessons consist of reading assignments in the textbooks, online reading and research, quizzes and a discussion board. Students should read the lesson objectives and complete the reading assignments prior to taking the lesson quiz.

Textbook: Substance Abuse Prevention:  The Intersection of Science and Practice.  Julie Hogan, Kristen Reed Gabrielsen, Nora Luna and Denise Grothaus. 

Grading:

Your grade will be based on an accumulation of points earned through the completion quizzes, discussion board postings, and submission of a final project that will serve as the final exam for the course.  Lessons must be completed by the deadlines (see Course Outline for deadlines) to earn full points.

Completion of quizzes: Each lesson has a quiz that is part of the lesson. There are 10 quizzes (the orientation quiz does not count toward your grade) each worth 20 points. Total possible points for quizzes is 200 points. Quizzes must be completed by the deadline posted on the Course Outline. Late quizzes will be worth half the scored value (maximum of 10 points).

Discussion board postings: Students are required to participate in each lesson's discussion board during the semester. The topics for discussion boards vary depending on the lesson. Students are required to post their comments on the discussion topic, as well as to respond to comments posted by at least 2 other students. Discussion boards are designed like “chat room”, although they are only accessible to students in this class and can be accessed at any time. The discussion boards are located in the Discussion Board section of the course web page. Each Discussion Board counts for up to 10 points. While you are welcome to continue posting comments past the deadline (you may have an interesting discussion going), only postings made by the deadline will be counted for points. Total possible points for Discussion Board is 100 points. Guidelines for posts include:

• You are expected to actively participate in the discussion with postings submitted in a timely fashion while that discussion is in progress. Please do not wait for 5 minutes before the deadline to post your 3 responses – that defeats the purpose of a discussion board on the topic!
• You are expected to post a minimum of 3 times in each lesson. One posting should be a substantive response to each of the discussion questions and two postings should be a substantive response to other classmates.
• Your comments are expected to be substantive (meaning substantial or considerable) in nature and to reference the assigned readings or professional literature as appropriate. When responding to other classmates' comments, it may not be as relevant to support your comments with references from your readings, especially if you are offering a personal opinion. What is important, however, is that comments are more than “me too” or “I agree”.  It is also important to post throughout the time period of the lesson.  If your posts come in right at the deadline, this does not give other students a chance to respond – hence you risk losing points.
• If you expect to be away from a computer for a week or more, you should contact me.

Discussion etiquette:

• Never post, transmit, promote, or distribute information that is known to be illegal.
• Never post harassing, threatening, or embarrassing comments. If you disagree with someone, respond to the subject, not the person.
• Never post content that is harmful, abusive; racially ethnically, or religiously offensive, vulgar; sexually explicit; or otherwise potentially offensive.
• Do not use all capital letters in your postings – this is the equivalent to shouting.
• Spell and grammar check your postings – this counts toward your grade
• Never share anything that you are concerned about becoming public knowledge. The College does not guarantee the confidentiality of information shared by participants in the course environment
• The instructor reserves the right to remove any postings that are deemed inappropriate for the classroom environment.  Postings that are removed are not given any grade points.

 Supplemental Assignments:  There are 4 supplemental assignments that are built into Lessons 2, 7, 8 and 9 and are due during those lesson deadlines.  Each supplemental assignment is worth 25 points.

Final Project

There is one final project for this course that will serve as your final exam.  Complete instructions for the project are located under the Assignment Button.  The deadline for the project is located in the Course Outline and it is worth 100 points.  No late projects will be accepted.

Total possible points for the course is 500: 

Grading system:

450-500  = A

400-449  = B

300-349 = C

250-299 = D

Less than 249 = F

Course Policies:

Academic Freedom: Each student is expected to participate in classroom discussion boards. In any discussion there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected and faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in online classroom discussions. Postings that contain language or content inappropriate for the classroom environment will be removed by the instructor and the student will not be given credit for that posting. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated. This same policy applies to email exchanges among students related to the course.

Incomplete grade: Students are expected to complete this course within the semester. An incomplete (I) will only be given in cases of emergencies after the last day to withdraw has passed and if the student has completed at least 2/3 of the lessons and has a C average.

Withdrawals: Students are expected to withdraw themselves from the class if they choose to no longer participate. Once you complete the online orientation, it is expected that you will take responsibility for withdrawing should you chose to no longer participate in the course. Withdrawing requires completing a form with the Admissions and Records office by the College deadline. Failure to withdraw from the course will result in a performance grade (A-F) being assigned. Students who fail to complete the online orientation by the second week of the semester in which they are enrolled will be withdrawn by the instructor and removed from the Blackboard course access. 

Scholastic Dishonesty: Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework. (Student Handbook) The penalty for violating the policy will be a withdrawal from the course and assigned a grade of F.

Office for Students with Disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester. (Student Handbook)

 This is an old syllabus and will change for Spring 2010