Friday, December 11, 2015

Winter and Spring 2016

Welcome Back!

I hope you all have enjoyed a short break and are ready for (full-speed learning for winter session) with your minds open and questions forming. Most of the information that you need to know about your class will be made available to you the first day of school and is also available on the syllabus (posted in our classroom in Blackboard for Cabrillo, Angel for West Valley). This blog will provide you with some key information for getting started (and also lists office hours, textbook, etc in the sidebar).

This semester, I will be teaching 2 face-to-face classes and 1 online class at Cabrillo and 2 face-to-face classes and 1 online at West Valley. In addition, I am teaching 2 winter sessions for West Valley. Please, when you communicate with me, let me know which college and which class you are in (you can tell me the start time or the section number).

WINTER STUDENTS:

We do not have an on-campus orientation but I am providing you with a virtual video that shows you how the class is designed and some important information about our two Learning Management Platforms. The 4-week course is intensive, covering close to the same amount of work as the full-term course. The schedule follows. If you do not have time to devote to class, and are planning to squeak it in during some spare moments, please reconsider taking this course in the spring. This is our tentative class schedule, subject to change:

Week 1 (1/4-1/10)
Chapters 1, 2, 4, 12: Learn Smart and quizzes, plus 5-day food record and weekly discussion posts (includes video lectures or other material)

Week 2 (1/11-1/16)
Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9, 11: Learn Smart and quizzes, plus assignment 1 and weekly discussion posts (includes video lectures or other material)

Week 3 (1/17-1/23)
Chapters 10, 13, 15, 8, 15: Learn Smart and quizzes, plus assignment 2 and weekly discussion posts (includes video lectures or other material)

Week 4 (1/24-1/28 Ends Thursday)
Chapters 16, 17, 18, 3: Learn Smart and quizzes, and weekly discussion posts (includes video lectures or other material)

Virtual Video Orientation: Angel and McGraw Hill Connect/Learn Smart: https://youtu.be/gE4I-bqjADY

Information about the textbook and the overall course can be found at the bottom of this blog post.

SPRING STUDENTS 

West Valley Students
West Valley online students do NOT have an on-campus orientation. I will provide you with orientation material virtually. I think you will find it quite helpful. In the spring, I am also available on Monday mornings, on campus between 10:30 and 10:50. During winter session, I do work remotely.

West Valley face-to-face students will get started Monday morning at either 11 or 12:30. Missing the first day results in your being dropped from class and your spot given to another student. Please email me if you are unable to attend but plan to participate.

Cabrillo Students
Cabrillo online students have a "mandatory" orientation on Monday, 1/25 in room 401 at 7 pm. At this time, I confirm attendance and drop all no-shows, to make room for waitlisted students and those attempting to crash. The online class is full with a full waitlist so if you are unable to attend the orientation, reach out to me before our orientation. Waitlisted students should still attend as codes will go to those who are showing an intent to participate by attending orientation. (Email me if you have a conflict.)
Cabrillo cace-to-face students will get started  Tuesday morning, at either 11 or 12:30. Missing the first day results in your being dropped from class and your spot given to another student. Please email me if you are unable to attend but plan to participate.


Textbook
Last year, I switched to a more interactive book, available at a price that is less than my previous book. If you are interested in owning JUST the electronic version ($85), I will provide that code to you in email, on Blackboard (Cabrillo) or Angel (West Valley) and on the syllabus. If you wish to purchase the softbound book, in edition to the e-version, you can either do that through the link that I supply or in the bookstore. The price for that varies, based on whether you purchase in the book store on via the link. Adding the loose leaf book via the McGraw Hill website (the link that I provide) will be less expensive than the bookstore. Keep in mind, that purchases from the bookstore have a mark-up so the least expensive option is going to be purchasing through the link that I provide.

For face-to-face students (F2F), in the past I have made the course reader (all of my powerpoint slides) available via Aptos Print Smith, in a book. In an effort to reduce costs, I will be posting those outlines as PDFs in our classroom in Blackboard (Cabrillo) and Angel (West Valley). 

Class
Nutrition is a science-based class. Although there is no science prerequisite for the course, you will be required to learn some basic, scientific principles as part of your learning. You will learn about how the foods we eat affect our bodies, exploring the nutrients individually and in the context of overall diet. All classes will have assigned an adaptive learning tool for each chapter (Learn Smart) which "encourages" (requires) reading of the book. Online learners will complete weekly quizzes, discussions and 2 projects/assignments (one being a nutrient analysis).  Face-to-face learners will have 2 written exams, 5 pop quizzes, in class activities and 2 assignments (one being a nutrient analysis). Online learners will do most of their learning through the reading of the book and viewing of video lectures on the discussion board. Face-to-face students will do most of their learning via the reading of the book and attending lecture. Overwhelmingly, students review my class as challenging yet very interesting and with a lot of support and enthusiasm from the instructor. In other words, you will work hard but I will provide you with the tools needed and help you (if you ask), as much as possible. And, you will learn information that you can apply to your life.

I hope this answers some of your "getting started" questions. More information will be available the first day of school. You are welcome to email my nutritionrusso account too (it's at gmail, in case you don't already have it).

Eat well, play fit,
Denise

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Fall 2015

Welcome Back!

I hope you all have enjoyed a wonderful break and are ready to learn, minds open, questions forming. Most of the information that you need to know about your class will be made available to you the first day of school and is also available on the syllabus (posted in our classroom in Blackboard for Cabrillo, Angel for West Valley). This blog will provide you with some key information for getting started (and also lists office hours, textbook, etc in the sidebar).

This semester, I will be teaching 2 face-to-face classes and 1 online class at Cabrillo and 2 face-to-face classes and 1 online at West Valley. Please, when you communicate with me, let me know which college and which class you are in (you can tell me the start time or the section number).

Cabrillo Students:
Cabrillo online students have a "mandatory" orientation on Monday, 8/31 in room 435 at 7 pm (this is different than what is posted in WebAdivsor). At this time, I confirm attendance and drop all no-shows, to make room for waitlisted students and those attempting to crash. The online class is full with a full waitlist so if you are unable to attend the orientation, reach out to me before our orientation. Waitlisted students should still attend as codes will go to those who are showing an intent to participate by attending orientation. (Email me if you have a conflict.)
Cabrillo cace-to-face students will get started  Tuesday morning, at either 8 or 9:30. Missing the first day results in your being dropped from class and your spot given to another student. Please email me if you are unable to attend but plan to participate.

West Valley Students:
West Valley online students do NOT have an on-campus orientation. I will provide you with orientation material virtually. I am also available on Monday mornings, on campus between 10 and 10:45.
West Valley face-to-face students will get started Monday morning at either 11 or 12:30. Missing the first day results in your being dropped from class and your spot given to another student. Please email me if you are unable to attend but plan to participate.

Textbook
Last year, I switched to a more interactive book, available at a price that is less than my previous book. If you are interested in owning JUST the electronic version ($85), I will provide that code to you in email, on Blackboard (Cabrillo) or Angel (West Valley) and on the syllabus. If you wish to purchase the softbound book, in edition to the e-version, you can either do that through the link that I supply or in the bookstore. The price for that varies, based on whether you purchase in the book store on via the link. Adding the loose leaf book via the McGraw Hill website (the link that I provide) will be less expensive than the bookstore. Keep in mind, that purchases from the bookstore have a mark-up so the least expensive option is going to be purchasing through the link that I provide.

For face-to-face students (F2F), in the past I have made the course reader (all of my powerpoint slides) available via Aptos Print Smith, in a book. In an effort to reduce costs, I will be posting those outlines as PDFs in our classroom in Blackboard (Cabrillo) and Angel (West Valley). 

Class
Nutrition is a science-based class. Although there is no science prerequisite for the course, you will be required to learn some basic, scientific principles as part of your learning. You will learn about how the foods we eat affect our bodies, exploring the nutrients individually and in the context of overall diet. All classes will have assigned an adaptive learning tool for each chapter (Learn Smart) which "encourages" (requires) reading of the book. Online learners will complete weekly quizzes, discussions and 2 projects/assignments (one being a nutrient analysis).  Face-to-face learners will have 2 written exams, 5 pop quizzes, in class activities and 2 assignments (one being a nutrient analysis). Online learners will do most of their learning through the reading of the book and viewing of video lectures on the discussion board. Face-to-face students will do most of their learning via the reading of the book and attending lecture. Overwhelmingly, students review my class as challenging yet very interesting and with a lot of support and enthusiasm from the instructor. In other words, you will work hard but I will provide you with the tools needed and help you (if you ask), as much as possible. And, you will learn information that you can apply to your life.

I hope this answers some of your "getting started" questions. More information will be available the first day of school. You are welcome to email my nutritionrusso account too (it's at gmail, in case you don't already have it).

Eat well, play fit,
Denise

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Course eBook: This course uses an ebook that requires registering into a Connect Plus account that you create. The fee for this is $85 (and if you want a paper copy of the book, you can add that after your initial enrollment for $15). All students will need this in order to complete the adaptive learning assignments (Learn Smart) and quizzes. There is a link that is individual to EACH course, so please select the one that corresponds to the class for which you are registered. I will also send these out via email the week before class starts. To delay paying, you can use a 2 week free trial but you will have to pay to complete the class. If you are in anyway not sure if you are going to be successful in this intensive, 4-week course, perhaps try the trial as there are no refunds. There is not hard copy of the book available at the bookstore since you do need to purchase the Connect Plus access. The book title is Perspectives in Nutrition: A Functional Approach, 1st ed by Byrd-Bredbenner.

Cabrillo 6/15 classhttp://connect.mheducation.com/class/d-russo-2015-summer-cabrillo-june-15

Cabrillo 6/22 classhttp://connect.mheducation.com/class/d-russo-2015-summer-cabrillo-june-22-1

West Valley classes (both)http://connect.mheducation.com/class/d-russo-2015-summer-west-valley-june-15

Friday, May 8, 2015

Summer 2015

This summer, I will be teaching 3 sections of Nutrition. All 3 sections will be online and completed in 4 weeks. The following is what is offered:

West Valley: 4 week course, starts 6/15
Cabrillo: 4 week course, starts 6/15
Cabrillo: 4 week course, starts 6/22

The first 2 classes are full with wait lists, but the third section (as of 5/9) is only half way full.

Here's what to expect. Please note, this nutrition class covers 16 weeks of material in 4 weeks. The amount of time needed by each student will be the equivalent of what you normally need for an online class times 4. In other words, if you typically spend 5 hours per week in an online class during a full semester, you should anticipate that you will spend 20 hours/week in our class. I am posting an estimate of what I expect at the end of this post, but it varies greatly by student.

The textbook will not be purchased in the bookstore. You will purchase a Connect (McGraw Hill) access code which gives you the ebook, the LearnSmart assignments and the diet analysis software that we will use. If you still (like me) prefer to have a hard copy, you can pay an additional $15 and they will send you a loose leaf copy. The code is SPECIFIC to the section in which you are registered so I will send that to all students by the week before school starts.

This introductory nutrition course DOES include some science as we will cover the chemistry of nutrients, anatomy and physiology of digestion and absorption and the metabolic pathways that release energy. There is also practical application in the course but it is definitely a blend of both science and practical information. Connect does offer some prep activities that I will make available before class starts as extra credit. It will help those not as familiar with science and be a great review for those who are.

If I can answer further questions, please do not hesitate to email me. nutritionrusso is how you reach me at gmail or you can email my college account and it will forward there.


This is what to expect each week:
2 hours to read a chapter and 1 hour to do the associated LearnSmart.. 3 hours/chapter x 4 chapters = 12 hours
1 1/2 hour on the longest discussion lectures (but you don't have to pick those) and a follow-up = 2 hours (that is a max)
Quiz: 30 minutes each x 4 quizzes: 2 hours 
Assignments: entering data, answering questions, finding research: 2-3 hours (this is going to vary)

That might be more realistic, although some weeks we will have 5 chapters, so that adds 3 1/2 hours (reading plus the quiz). I am going to try to balance that, though, so the assignment has less demand that week.

I can tell you this....for a 3-unit class, you should plan that you will spend 9 hours per week in the regular semester. (I believe my students usually spend closer to 6 hours, on average.) Multiple that by 4 since each week is the equivalent of 4 weeks. So, I would say it is reasonable that you'd spend 24+ hours on the class in a week. Items for each week will be available the full week (except the last week, when we get cut off early, on a Saturday).

Eat well, play fit,
Denise C. Russo, MS RD 

Friday, January 23, 2015

Spring 2015

Welcome Back!

I hope you all have enjoyed a wonderful break and are ready to learn, minds open, questions forming. Most of the information that you need to know about your class will be made available to you the first day of school and is also available on the syllabus (posted in our classroom in Blackboard). This blog will provide you with some key information for getting started (and also lists office hours, textbook, etc in the sidebar).

Online students have a "mandatory" orientation on Monday, 1/26 in room 401. At this time, I confirm attendance and drop all no-shows, to make room for waitlisted students and those attempting to crash. The online class is full with a full waitlist so if you are unable to attend the orientation, reach out to me before our orientation. Waitlisted students should still attend as codes will go to those who are showing an intent to participate by attending orientation. (Email me if you have a conflict.)

Face-to-face students will get started Tuesday morning, at either 8 or 9:30. Missing the first day results in your being dropped from class and your spot given to another student. Please email me if you are unable to attend but plan to participate.

Last Fall, I switched to a more interactive book, available at a price that is less than my previous book. If you are interested in owning JUST the electronic version ($85), I will provide that code to you in email, on Blackboard and on the syllabus. If you wish to purchase the softbound book, in edition to the e-version, you can either do that through the link that I supply or in the bookstore. The price for that varies, based on whether you purchase in the book store on via the link ($125).

For face-to-face students (F2F), in the past I have made the course reader (all of my powerpoint slides) available via Aptos Print Smith, in a book. In an effort to reduce costs, I will be posting those outlines as PDFs in our classroom in Blackboard. Having it in a bound format has often been very helpful for students, but if I can help you to save $20, I am willing to do so. For those who want a bound copy, we will make arrangements for that.

I hope this answers some of your "getting started" questions. More information will be available the first day of school. You are welcome to email my nutritionrusso account too (it's at gmail, in case you don't already have it).

Eat well, play fit,
Denise