Below is my synopsis of the full cor100 experience. In the event of a discrepancy between this and the written version, the written version is correct..

Text: Readings for the course are available on the COR 100 website. The URL for the site is www.lyon.edu/webdata/groups/COR100. Visitors to this site will need a Lyon computer system user name and ID.

Course Description:

COR 100 First-Year Experience……………………………1 credit

This course is designed to introduce students to college life and further develop the personal and academic skills necessary for success in college. (Lyon Catalog 2004-2005, 105.)

Offered in conjunction with programs sponsored by Spragins House, the course is led by faculty, staff, and student mentors and is part of an overall system of advisement and support for first-year students.
 
 

Course Objectives: In association with programming and other initiatives through Spragins House, COR 100 seeks to promote successful transition to the academic and social challenges of the residential liberal arts college. It introduces new students to the life of the mind, the need for emotional well-being that parallels the role of the intellect in pursuit of educated citizenship, and the skills required for successful learning and personal development on the college level and beyond. It seeks to do these things by establishing a tone of intellectual inquiry that centers on:

• respect for diversity, personal integrity, and community;
• developing critical analysis skills in oral, written, and visual communication; and
• facilitating the integration of new students into the life of the College and the development of responsible, reasoned behavior.

• Readings as assigned
• Journal entries as assigned (minimum length=250 words.) These are submitted to your mentors for feedback. These essays are considered confidential communication between the student and faculty/staff mentor and are intended to deepen the mentoring relationship. In addition to responding to the prompt for writing, the student should always feel free to share "What else is on your mind this week?" The entries are graded for content, style and clarity of communication, which includes grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Service Day and Second Service—Service learning opportunities are group activities that provide community contact. As stated in the mission of the college:

• Preparation for and participation in class
• Attendance in class—COR 100 meetings are once a week. Students must attend all meetings of the class unless they are excused. Excused absences include illness and injury, college business, or personal emergency. The instructor must be informed in advance (by voice mail, email, or through an R.A. or student mentor) for the absence to be excused. Unexcused absences will be reported to the Registrar. The college attendance policy may be found on pages 111-112 of the catalog.
• Attendance at two outside cultural events. Learning takes place in and out of the classroom. In order to benefit from the educational experiences available at Lyon, the student should attend and report on two "outside" activities on campus. These might include offerings by the Convocations committee, the Harlequin Theatre, the Kresge Gallery, a poetry slam, a chapel service, dinner at Spragins House, a foreign film, a sporting event, or the video series offered through Spragins House. Students should choose two events that are different in character, i.e. one theatre event and a chapel service or one sporting event and a concert. Failure to attend/report two "cultural" events can result in the lowering of the final grade. Students should submit reports of attendance as an emailed journal essay to the mentor.

• Personal essays: 33%--On-line, the student will find a series of suggestions for writing. One of the keys to acquiring a college education is to understand that learning is not based solely on memorization; studying is not only a matter of reading through an assignment once. Reflection and assimilation, i.e. making the knowledge your own, are vital to life-long learning. Writing about what you read for this or any other class is a means to integrate what you are learning. Writing about what you experience in the classroom, playing field, studio, residence hall, or laboratory are also valuable learning experiences. These brief essays reflect to your mentors how you think and what challenges you face as you make the transition form high school to college. The writing is also a way of sharing with your mentor ways in which he/she might help you. Essays are awarded points based on the merits of the submission, which includes both content and mechanics, i.e. grammar, punctuation, and spelling. "0" points are awarded when no submission is made; "15" points are awarded for a submission of any kind; "18" points are earned by the submission that addresses in a "bare-bones" way the writing prompt; and "20" points are given for the essay that demonstrates you are assimilating the material and/or spending time in reflecting on your experiences. Mentors may provide an opportunity for a re-write if they believe the submission only merits a score "15."

• Attendance and participation: 33%--Constructive class participation will be taken into account in grading, and roll will be taken at all class meetings. College policy calls for dismissal from courses that students have missed excessively. No make-up assignments will be given except in cases of documented medical necessity, family emergency, or college business. Participation in service opportunities and attendance at outside events are also considered in this element.

• Information resources component: 33%--Students in COR 100 will receive orientation to Lyon’s information resources from library and information services staff. Attendance at two initial training sessions is required. From that point, students will progress at their own rate through a series of online exercises designed to evaluate and, if necessary, strengthen skills in using information resources. Students must pass the library and information technology orientation component to get credit for COR 100.

(Underlined readings are those found on the web for the information technology component of the course.)
 
 

WEEK ONE, 8/31: Academic regulations: The Way Things Are At Lyon. Students should bring their copies of the 2004-2005 Lyon College catalog

• Reminder: Group One invited to lunch at Spragins House following class.
• Library/Information Technology Component (LIT): Chapter 1 - Introduction to Citrix Network; Read chapter and do exercises. (Click on link above to access chapter Webpage) Take exam by 12:00 midnight on Sunday, Sept. 5. [You are welcome to work ahead on the LIT component and complete many or all of the assignments well before their due dates.]
• Assignment: Download the time schedule found on the COR 100 website. Beginning on Monday, September 6, track how you spend your waking and sleeping hours. Submit the assignment by email to your mentor on Monday, September 13. Your student mentor will tabulate the information you provide with that of other students in your group. The "average" amount of time spent weekly in sleeping, studying, eating, visiting friends, watching television, on the internet, or partying may come as a surprise. Consider if you might want to make some changes in how you are using your time, and then consider what your ideal schedule might look like for next semester. The second half of the assignment will be available on Tuesday, September 14.

• Reminder: COR Groups will sit together at Brown Chapel.
• LIT: Chapter 2 - Introduction to First Class; Read chapter and do exercises. (Click on link above to access chapter Webpage) Take exam by 12:00 midnight on Sunday, Sept. 12.
• Reading: None. Use this as an opportunity to get ahead on the readings for this course.

• Reminder: Group Two invited to lunch at Spragins House following class.

• LIT: Chapter 3 - The Mabee-Simpson Library. Read chapter and do exercises. Take exam by 12:00 midnight on Sunday, Sept. 19.
• Reading: Follow the links provided for this class meeting and read the material prior to class.
• Assignment: Writing prompts for the second half of the Time Management assignment will be distributed in class. Please complete the assignment and email to the mentor by noon, Monday, September 20.

• Reminders: Tomorrow is Service Day: Each COR Group will have a project;

• LIT: Chapter 4 - Research Skills and Strategies. Read chapter and do exercises. Take exam by 12:00 midnight on Sunday, Sept. 26.
• Reading: Go to the COR 100 website and read Margaret McWilliams’ letters from her mission work in the Philippines.
• Assignment: After reading her letters and hearing her speak, what are the life lessons you believe will best serve Ms. McWilliams later in her life and career? Use specific examples from the texts and the presentation demonstrate your assertions. Be sure to use quotes from McWilliams in ways that avoid plagiarism. What role does service play in your vision of your future. Submit the assignment by email to your faculty/staff mentor before noon on Monday, September 27.

• Reminder: Group Four invited to lunch at Spragins House following class.
• LIT: Chapter 5 - Using Online Databases. Read chapter and do exercises. Take exam by 12:00 midnight on Sunday, Oct 3.

• Reminders: Mid-term grade reports are due to Registrar’s Office tomorrow;

• LIT: Chapter 6 - The World Wide Web. (You are still responsible for this chapter even though Fall Break falls on the weekend.) Read chapter and do exercises. Take exam by 12:00 midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
• Reading: Prior to attending this session, the student should take time to read the Honor and Social Code as found in the printed manual he/she was provided at check-in.

• Reminders: Go by your mentor’s office on Monday to obtain your copy of the mid-term progress report; Group Six invited to lunch at Spragins House after class.
• LIT: Chapter 7 - Copyrights and Plagiarism. Read chapter and do exercises. Take exam by 12:00 midnight on Sunday, Oct 17.

• Assignment: Based on your mid-term progress report, calculate your current G.P.A. Your mentors will assist you in class. If you have all "A"s, calculate the effect of a final grade of "B" in one three-hour course at semester’s end. If you have grades lower than an "A," calculate the effect of raising the lowest grade by one letter. Write a paragraph in which you begin to outline a strategy for a successful outcome to this semester. Submit the assignment by email to your mentor before noon on Wednesday, October 20. If you have any grades of "D" or "F" on the report, you must schedule an appointment this week with your faculty/staff mentor for a discussion of options.

• Reminders: Founder’s Day and Parents’ Weekend at the end of this week.

• LIT: Final Exam. Review Chapters 1-7. Take Final Exam by 12:00 Midnight, Sunday Oct 31.
• Assignment: Your mentors will distribute instructions for an assignment you will need to complete and bring to class on November 2.

• Reminders: Registration Conferences all week: please sign-up for an appointment at your mentor’s office; Group Seven invited to lunch at Spragins House following class; all mentor groups will gather in Nucor Auditorium this class period for a special presentation by Bethany Pitts and Donna Baxter.

• Reminders: Registration Tuesday through Friday of this week.

• Reading: Creating a Personal Mission Statement, available on the COR 100 website.
• Assignment: The mentor will give you an assignment hand-out. You must complete the assignment and bring it to class on November 16.

• Reminders: Group Nine invited to lunch at Spragins House following class; all mentor groups will gather in Nucor Auditorium for a special presentation by visiting author Greg Martin
• Reading: Prior to this class, read Greg Martin’s essay from his book Mountain City, available on the COR 100 website

Personal Values

• Reminders: Group Ten invited to lunch at Spragins House following class.

• Reminders: Thanksgiving Break begins at the end of classes today.
• Reading: None.

• Reminders: Today is the final meeting of COR 100. The final day of classes is Friday, December 3.