Unit 1:

Reading Assignment

Frequently Asked Questions

This reading contains a few Frequently Asked Questions etc.

Question: When will I receive my UoPeople Student

ID (identification) number?

Answer: You should already have your Student ID # and your Password. It
was sent to you by the Office of Student Services in the email that was sent
to you announcing the information about New Student Orientation. You will
need your Student ID # and password for logging into both the Student
Portal and Moodle.

Question: What is UoPeople Time?

Answer: UoPeople Time is (GMT-5 time zone). If you want to see the current
time at UoPeople, go to the main/front page of your course and you'll see the
UoPeople Clock is on the right side of the screen just above where it says
"Navigation".

Question: Where should I go now if I still have questions?

Answer: You are always welcome to email [email protected] to

request advice from a Program Advisor! Your Program Advisor will be
assigned to you during the orientation and will be there for you as a resource
for you throughout your time at the University.

Reading Assignment

Frequently Asked Questions

This reading contains a few Frequently Asked Questions etc.

Question: When will I receive my UoPeople Student

ID (identification) number?

Answer: You should already have your Student ID # and your Password. It
was sent to you by the Office of Student Services in the email that was sent
to you announcing the information about New Student Orientation. You will
need your Student ID # and password for logging into both the Student
Portal and Moodle.

Question: What is UoPeople Time?

Answer: UoPeople Time is (GMT-5 time zone). If you want to see the current
time at UoPeople, go to the main/front page of your course and you'll see the
UoPeople Clock is on the right side of the screen just above where it says
"Navigation".

Question: Where should I go now if I still have questions?

Answer: You are always welcome to email [email protected] to

request advice from a Program Advisor! Your Program Advisor will be
assigned to you during the orientation and will be there for you as a resource
for you throughout your time at the University.

Online Classroom Navigation

It may take a while to get a hang of studying online versus in a classroom, but with
practice, it will become easier.
Important Tips
The Learning Week at UoPeople goes from Thursday to Wednesday.

So, what does that mean exactly? We'll explain! On Thursday morning, you
will see all the requirements for the new week including your course
readings, the discussion forum, learning journal, any assignments, quizzes
(both optional and required) etc.

Suggestion: We recommend that you look at everything required on

Thursday so you can plan out the week and know what's ahead. You will not
want to do this any later than Thursday! Why? Because at UoPeople,
Wednesday is the end of the Learning Week. And so everything has to be
submitted, rated or “turned-in" by Wednesday at 11:55pm UoPeople Time
(GMT-5 time zone) except the Learning Journals which are due at 11:55pm
UoPeople Time (GMT-5 time zone) on Thursday the following week they are
assigned.

Tip: Map out your week, and begin to build in time for your studies. How
many hours do you plan to set aside on Thursday, on Friday, over the
weekend, and the following week? Our experience tells us that you will need
to set aside a minimum of 15 hours per course.

Here are a few ways to make sure you build in the 15 hours a week to your
schedule. Obviously, you'll have to figure out what works best for you.
  Option A) 3 hours a day for 5 days
 Option B) 6 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday, along with one hour
during 3 other days
 Option C) 4 hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, along with one hour
during 3 other days
 Option D) Any other combination of 15 hours that works for you mapped out
Thursday-Wednesday

If you do not have 15 hours a week to spend on a course, you should pause
carefully to figure out if you can set aside enough hours to make this work.
Maybe speak with a trusted friend or family member to honestly discuss
whether you have time to take courses even at all. Or you may wish to talk
about it with one of our UoPeople Program Advisors by
emailing [email protected]. And just a reminder, if you have not
yet been connected with your Program Advisor, no worries--you will get an
email shortly! Many thanks in advance for your patience.

Tip: Finish your coursework work early. By completing all of your

requirements in the first half of the week (Thursday to Sunday), you will:

 Avoid rushing and trying to do everything at the last minute.

 Have a chance to fix any internet or computer connectivity issues that you
may be facing.
 Allow your peers to respond and rate your discussion forum posts with the
proper amount of time needed.
 Allow yourself time to rate and assess your peers’ submissions.
 The Abbreviation for University of the People is UoPeople, not UoP.
 A lot of students might refer to University of the People as UoP, but please
note that UoP is the abbreviation for University of Phoenix. Please help us
spread the word when you see students abbreviating UoPeople incorrectly.

This is Moodle, which is the learning platform we are using at UoPeople.

At the top of the main page of this orientation course, you have all the links
organized by different topics, such as the syllabus, the textbook and
announcements by the instructor. The class forum is a place to interact with
your fellow students and instructor. Here you can ask questions, introduce
yourself and be updated throughout the term.

Each week you’ll see one unit. We can see the first week’s unit and next
week, you will have unit two, on the third week you will have unit three.

The UoPeople learning model is very flexible. You are not required to be
online at a specific time a day, as long as you can submit your assignment
by the deadline by each week you are able to complete your work at your
own pace, we call this an asynchronous learning environment.

At the beginning of the week, you read the learning guide which has a
structure similar to an e-book. You can go through the pages and read the
introduction and the introductory post. You can also see the reading
assignments: In this case, you have to read chapters one and three of the
textbook, which you can download. In some cases, there are also
recommended videos to watch, but they are never mandatory. All of our
reading materials are free of charge and are part of the OER movement.

Afterwards, you need to participate in the discussion forum. You will also
have to rate three of your peers and your grade will be based on the grade
that your peers gave you. Then, you have the written assignment which is
also graded by your peers, and the learning journal which is graded by your
instructor.

On some weeks, you will have a review, and in some, a quiz. At the end of
the course in the undergraduate program, you will have a final exam which is
a part of your final course grade.

In case you’ve encountered any difficulties, e-mail or message the

instructors through the messaging system in Moodle. If you have any
technical or broader questions, you should contact your program advisor.
You can also ask your peers in our social network called Yammer.

Keep in mind that Moodle allows access only while you are enrolled in a
course. You will lose all access when that course is finished. To save the
materials, download them to your computer. Next term, you will have access
to courses that you are enrolled in for that specific term.

To keep track of your courses, go to the student portal. You’ll see your
previous courses, future courses, grades and where you can enroll for your
next course.

Important Skills for Online Learners

Online learning takes a lot of independence and self discipline, more so
than in a typical classroom environment. There is less structure and less
direction from a teacher or instructor on when to read or review something
from class, and students need to take their education into their own hands.

Time management is crucial for an online student. You must carve out a
consistent time in your schedule to dedicate to school work so you make
enough time for that on top of family or employment commitments. It is easy
to lose track of time.
It is also important to develop responsibility for your own learning. Your
professor will give you the information you need to take part in the class,
and it is crucial that you use it. Read the syllabus, use the online library, read
your textbook, complete assignments and deadlines ahead of time, and
organize a space to save all of your school work.

Good study skills are so important! Read up on how to take quality notes
and how to read higher level textbooks effectively. Learn how to research
online for an assignment and how to tell apart a good source from a bad
source. Learn how to write a proper research paper. All of these skills will be
vital to your success.

Communication skills are so important for an online student. A lot of your

work will be very independent since you won’t be studying in a physical
classroom, so if you have a question or are having some confusion, it is
important that you take the necessary steps to get help. Engage in your
learning community and discussion boards. Email back and forth with your
professor. Having great computer skills is crucial to be a successful online
student. You should learn the basics of using a word processing software,
how to save your work, and how to successfully use a keyboard. You can get
ahead and become an expert on these skills before your class starts!

Preparation is key!

For more helpful information about online learning, click here to

read from a page on UoPeople's website.

Moodle/Yammer and Support

Learning Your Way Around Moodle: It's your Campus at UoPeople!
What is Moodle, you may be asking; it's a fair enough question! So ask
away, and we'll answer you here.

Moodle is UoPeople's Learning Management System (LMS). Right now, you

are in Moodle.

Here's another way to think about it: Moodle is UoPeople's Online Campus.

Although Moodle and Class Forums are not open to public access, students
should note that these online spaces are neither private nor confidential.
Neither students nor instructional personnel should assume privacy when
communicating in UoPeople's LMS.

Note that the University may access and observe communications conducted
on the LMS for regulatory, accreditation, research, and other administrative
purposes such as enforcing the General Code of Conduct, including
investigating allegations of misconduct, suspected misconduct or other
complaints.

Suggestion: You're in Moodle right this minute if you're reading this article.
We suggest that you click around for 15 minutes and see where your clicks
lead you. We want you to feel very comfortable with Moodle so best to
explore now before classes begin so you feel nice and comfortable with your
LMS at UoPeople.

Think of it like this: if you were in a new place you would walk around a bit
to learn more about your new surroundings! So here too, take a walk around
Moodle and see what you can see. It's your new campus at UoPeople!
Welcome again!

Moodle Support
Moodle Support is available to registered students through email
at [email protected]. In order to troubleshoot the problem, students
are asked to include the following information in the e-mail:

1. Student ID number and the student’s first and last names

2. The course number and the course name (example: BUS 1103
Microeconomics).

3. Provide a brief description about what happened when the error occurred.

4. Include any error messages received. Another option is for students to

press the ‘print screen’ button (located on the upper right corner of most
keyboards) and copy and paste the image into the body of the email.

5. Record the exact time (University of the People time) that the error
occurred.

Also, reaching out to your program advisor is also a great way to

get your questions answered.

Yammer
In the spring of 2015 UoPeople introduced Yammer, a secure social network
to allow students and the wider UoPeople community to collaborate and
communicate.

This virtual space, Yammer, can be thought of as the University's "lawn" - a

collaborative and social area where students, alumni, staff, instructors,
supporters and volunteers can meet and hang out. Yammer groups are
more than Facebook groups; the groups are designed to help facilitate
connections in the UoPeople community. What kind of connections you may
ask? Yammer is designed to help facilitate connections between people,
teams, information and ideas all within the University. It's actually quite
cool!

Here's a bit more about Yammer. You can use the UoPeople Yammer
network to:

1) Meet and communicate with others in the larger UoPeople community.

2) Join online groups, interest groups, UoPeople groups (there are many to
choose from) to keep all conversations, updates, and files for a project in one
place.

3) Create your own groups.

4) Ask questions, share status updates, ideas, news and get to feel like you
are on a campus!

Do I have to join Yammer?

No, participation in Yammer is optional.

Yammer Support
All questions about Yammer should be directed
to [email protected]

Also, reaching out to your program advisor is also a great way to

get your questions answered.

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
next reading which is called 'Access to the Library- LIRN and JSTOR'.
Access to the Library - LIRN and JSTOR
UoPeople is a member of the Library and Information Resource Network (LIRN). Founded in 1996, LIRN is
a consortium of educational institutions which have joined together to share access to information
resources. As a student at UoPeople, you have access to this online library with over 60 million journal
articles, books, encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, and audio and video clips. UoPeople also
subscribes to JSTOR giving students online access to a wide array of journals to support research,
writing and learning activities. JSTOR too can be accessed directly within Moodle and includes access
to more than 2,300 academic journals and more than 50 million digitized pages. You will be able to
access LIRN from the main page of Moodle by clicking on "Access to Library and Information Resource
Network”. (See second link below) Note that you do not need a special access code for accessing LIRN
if you are logged in from Moodle; the access is automatic. LIRN will give you access as a UoPeople
student only if you enter through Moodle. This means that you should not bookmark in your browser the
link to LIRN because that will mean a direct access and you won't be recognized as a student of
UoPeople.

We also suggest that you take some time now to review the instruction for
accessing LIRN and JSTOR.

We want to leave you with this thought: there's always something

cool and valuable at the library, so don't miss out on using LIRN
during your time at UoPeople.

Reading Assignment

The American Academic System

If you’re planning to get your degree from an American college or university,
learning about how the American education system works is a great way to
start preparing. There are thousands of colleges and universities in the U.S.,
and none of them are the same. It may seem confusing, but there are
commonalities shared by most U.S. educational institutions. Learning how
American higher education operates, as well as learning some of the most
common concepts and terms, is helpful for all students entering an American
college or university, whether you’re coming from abroad or whether you’re
an American student just looking to get some clarity!

How Are American Universities Organized?

American universities operate within a hierarchical organizational structure that
starts at the top with the president (sometimes referred to as Chancellor) of the
university. In many cases, the president is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
university itself.

The president is the public face of the university. His or her responsibilities are
broad and include overseeing the academic quality of all university departments,
overseeing the university’s finances and fundraising efforts, implementing new
university policies and overseeing the personnel of the university.

The second most senior role within the university is that of the vice president.
Usually there is more than one. While the president liaises between the university
and the outside world, the role of the vice president is generally to deal more with
internal matters, helping to define and implement the academic vision and mission
of the university.

One of the vice presidents (and usually the most senior) is responsible for the
academics, and is also called the provost. The provost oversees all the university’s
academic affairs from curriculum to research, and who also oversees the
recruitment of new faculty members. Under the provost, there is the vice provost. A
university may have one or more vice provosts to specifically oversee a certain area
of focus – such as alumni relations, research or community outreach.

The leaders of all academic departments in the university report to the provost.
These department leaders are called deans. Each academic department within the
university or college will have a dean, such as Dean of Arts and Sciences, or Dean of
Business Administration. The deans are the link between each specific department
and the broader academic structure of the university, and are responsible for hiring
decisions in their departments, departmental policies and overseeing the
department’s quality.

Within each department are instructors. Instructors – sometimes called professors

or teachers – teach courses, mentor students, and lead any research efforts within
the university.

University Support Structures

Each university has a network of support systems to help students successfully
navigate their academic journey. The first place a student can turn to for academic
support is their instructors. Instructors can point students in the right direction for
academic support, and can also answer questions about their specific courses. The
relationship between instructors and students is very much a professional one, and
students should turn to their instructors mainly with academic concerns.

If students have questions about a course, they are encouraged to ask. Instructors
are happy to help by either recommending tutoring, directing students to additional
resources, or simply discussing the material.

Students are also encouraged to engage actively with their instructors during class
time. Class participation is highly valued and may even be a factor in a student’s
grade. Participating in discussions and asking questions are highly encouraged and
are appropriate forms of classroom behavior.

Students can also turn to their program advisors for help. While professors are there
to help students succeed in their specific course, a program advisor has a broader
and more personal role. Students are assigned a program advisor to help them with
the bigger picture of their academic experience. Students can turn to program
advisors for mentorship and advice about which courses to take, how to develop
more effective study habits, and how to deal with the challenges of being a
university student.

A university may have an entire department of student services headed by a Dean

of Students Affairs. This department will offer support resources for students related
both to academic and non-academic concerns, such as personal development,
mental and physical health, stress management, social development and more.

The Program Advising Office will be staffed with advisors who can offer confidential,
helpful advice and resources to students in need.

Academic Culture and Standards

Students in a University are expected to meet high academic standards that may be
very different than those previously encountered in earlier schooling. Students are
expected to take an active role in their courses. There is often a great deal of
reading and writing to be done outside of the classroom. With writing assignments,
students are expected to do research and put forth original ideas.

Universities will explain their individual policies of academic ethics to all new
students, but one policy that all universities share is an absolute ban on students
plagiarizing other people’s work. Plagiarism is when a student uses, copies, or
closely imitates someone else’s work and presents it as their own. Plagiarism can
refer to copying and pasting words from an online article or using another student’s
work as part of their own. Even if a student changes the words, it is still plagiarism
to copy someone else’s ideas.

While students are encouraged to incorporate words and ideas of others into their
own work, these ideas and quotations must be accompanied by proper citation. This
means that after using someone else’s words, data or concepts, students must
include a note within the paper saying exactly where this material came from.
Citations are an important part of academic work, and students’ grades will be
affected if they do not include them, or even if they are not presented properly.

Learning how to properly cite research will be one of your first tasks as a university
student. The university may have a general policy on how to write citations, or each
instructor may issue their own instructions.

Other academic policies will be explained by instructors or by the university itself,

but here is a list of some basic ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for a university classroom that
apply to almost all universities in the U.S.

Do’s and Don’t’s for a University Classroom

 DON'T plagiarize.
 DO use citations.
 DON'T miss class. Each class covers a great deal of material and attendance
may affect your grade as well.
 DO ask questions in class.
 DO take notes. Your notes are as important as your textbooks. Also, note
taking helps commit new information to memory.
 DON'T use inappropriate language.
 DO be respectful to your instructors and peers.
 DON'T treat your peers as your competitors. Help them and be a team player.
 DO your homework. University courses cover a great deal of material, and
have reading assignments that students are expected to do in their own time.
Coming to class without having done these assignments is like missing a
class
 DON'T ignore the deadlines. Manage your time properly to meet your
deadlines.
 DO be sensitive to different cultures.
 When necessary, DO give constructive criticism.

Other Important Information About American Universities

Academic Year
American colleges and universities operate on an academic year that runs from
Autumn to Spring.

Grading
When applying to an American college or university, you will be required to submit
transcripts – official records of your grades from previous academic experiences.

For U.S. students, this involves the submission of a Grade Point Average (GPA). A
GPA is the calculated average of all a student’s grades, and is presented in the form
of a number from 0.0 (lowest) to 4.0 (highest). Many colleges and universities have
a minimum GPA for acceptance. Every university has an Office of Admissions, where
prospective students can turn with questions about applications and admission
requirements.

International students applying to American colleges and universities from abroad

are advised to reach out to Offices of Admissions to check whether their academic
experience qualifies them for higher education at specific institutions. It is possible
that some students will have to complete an extra year of schooling to prepare for
American higher education.

Levels of Study
Before starting college or university, American students will typically have
completed 12 years of study at elementary and secondary school. Starting at
around the age of five, children begin elementary school education, which lasts for
five to six years depending on the local system. Then they will move onto a
secondary school, which includes both middle school (sometimes called junior high
school) and high school.

After the successful completion of high school, students are awarded a high school
diploma or certificate, qualifying them in many cases to continue studying at
college or university, referred to in the U.S. as “higher education.” There are several
levels of study within higher education:

Undergraduate Degrees:
Students just entering the college/university system will start out in an
undergraduate program. This may be either an associate degree program, which
typically lasts two years, or a bachelor’s degree program, which lasts four years. To
complete either an associate degree program or a bachelor’s degree program,
students must earn a set number of credits. Each course taken within the degree
program will earn the student a certain number of credits.

Students who graduate with an associate degree are qualified to continue studying
towards a bachelor’s degree if they choose. In many cases, the credits students
earned in their associate degree program can be transferred towards a bachelor’s
degree program, allowing them to complete the bachelor’s degree in just an
additional two years. Students with high school diplomas can also go straight into a
four-year bachelor’s degree program.

A bachelor’s degree will provide a broad, comprehensive education. While working

towards their bachelor degree, students will choose a major – an academic area of
focus in addition to the general education requirements of the program. A student’s
major is often listed on their bachelor degree. For example, a student majoring in
Biology would earn a “Bachelor of Arts in Biology.” A bachelor’s degree is necessary
for studying at the graduate level.

Graduate Degrees:
Master’s Degree: Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree are qualified to
continue studying at the graduate level. A common first level of graduate study is
the attainment of a master’s degree. Most master’s degree programs require
students to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), which tests academic
suitability for graduate level education, such as skills in critical thinking or verbal
reasoning. Many fields of study also have a specific test required for master’s
degree programs, such as the LSAT for law school, the MCAT for medical school,
and the GMAT for business school.

A master’s degree is a more focused, specialized degree than a bachelor’s. Many

master’s degree programs are specifically geared towards preparing students for
high-level careers in a certain field. Students may find that many professions
(teaching, for example) require, or give preference to, candidates or employees
with master’s degrees.

Master’s degree programs vary in length. While some can be completed in one
year, others may take up to three years depending on the area of study. Many
master’s degree programs culminate in the completion of a thesis – an intensive,
written research project on an issue of relevance to the student’s studies. To
complete the degree, students must earn a set number of credits. Each course
completed within this program will earn students a certain number of credits
towards their degrees.

A master’s degree can be an excellent first step in continuing one’s education on to

a Ph.D. (doctorate). Many master’s degree students, however, choose to enter the
workforce, finding themselves prepared and well qualified for high-level positions in
their chosen field.

Ph.D. (Doctorate):
Graduates of bachelor’s degree programs can begin studying towards their
Ph.D. directly without first getting a master’s degree, but many choose to get
their master’s first and then continue to the Ph.D. level. A Ph.D. (which
stands for Doctor of Philosophy) degree is completed in three to six years,
depending on the area of focus and the nature of the work involved. A Ph.D.
can be awarded in any field, and is awarded to students who present an
original thesis, research or dissertation based on their original work in their
field of study. While Ph.D. students may attend seminars and lectures, this
degree is based more on independent and original research than classroom
learning.
Many Ph.D. programs have high standards for admission, such as requiring
students to be fluent in at least two languages. Students may also be
required to complete a residency during their time of the study.

America University Dictionary – Important Terms and Concepts

Academic Advisor – an individual whose job it is to help students navigate the
challenges of college/university and make plans for their academic and professional
careers (also called Program Advisor).

Associate Degree – a type of undergraduate degree. Typically completed in two

years, this degree prepares students to continue studying at the bachelor’s degree
level.

Bachelor’s Degree – a type of undergraduate degree. Typically completed in four

years, this degree educates students in a broad range of general academic areas as
well as in a chosen major.

College versus University – both colleges and universities are institutions of

higher education. While a college will only offer a bachelor’s degree, a university
will include both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Credits – all undergraduate degree programs, as well as master’s degree

programs, will require students to complete a certain amount of credits. Each
course will give students a certain number of credits towards their degree.

Dean- the head of a college or university department. For example, “Dean of

Admissions.”

Diploma - a certificate showing that a student has graduated from a course of

study with a certain qualification. There are high school diplomas as well as
undergraduate and graduate degree diplomas.

Dissertation – a work of original research and scholarship to be presented by Ph.D.

students.

Freshman – an individual in their first year of a bachelor’s degree program.

GPA – Grade Point Average. The calculated average of a student’s grades from high
school or college/university. From 0.0 to 4.0.

CGPA – Cumulative Grade Point Average. The average of Grade Points obtained in
all the subjects excluding additional sixth subject as per Scheme of Studies.

Higher Education – This term refers to education at the college/university level.

Junior – an individual in their third year of a bachelor’s degree program.

Major – a student’s chosen area of study during undergraduate studies.

Master’s Degree – a type of graduate degree. Completed in one to three years, a

master’s degree offers a specialized education in a specific area of study.

Ph.D. – a type of graduate degree. This intensive course of study involves the
completion of an original dissertation.

Elementary School – The earliest level of formal schooling in the American

system, starting at age 5 and lasting six years.

Secondary School – The second level of schooling in the American system,

including middle school and high school. Upon completion of high school, students
receive a diploma and are qualified to continue to higher education.

Senior– an individual in their fourth year of a bachelor’s degree program.

Sophomore– an individual in their second year of a bachelor’s degree program.

Syllabus– an outline of topics covered in a college or university course, including

units of study, texts, and assignments.

Teacher/Professor/Instructor - instructors in high school are typically referred to

as teachers, while college and university instructors are typically known as
instructors or professors.

Thesis – an intensive research paper, often required by master’s degree programs.

Transcript – an official record of one’s past academic experience and grades.

Transfer - to transfer is to switch from one college or university to another.

Students who enter a college or university as a transfer student may find that many
of their credits transfer with them.

Tuition – the cost of college or university. Tuition refers to the cost of education
itself, but does not include other costs such as housing, learning materials,
application fees, examination fees, etc.

Tutor– an individual who helps students prepare for courses and develop their
grasp of course material. Tutors may be professionals or assigned through peer-
tutoring systems.

Withdrawal - withdrawal from a college or university program refers to temporarily

or permanently leaving the program before completing it.
Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
next reading which is called 'Understand the Basics of American e-
learning Technology'.

Understand the Basics of American e-learning Technology

Here are a few tips that may help you better understand the basics of American e-learning
technology:

 Courses at UoPeople are very low-tech. We don’t want to create

another barrier for our students who want a higher education but may
not have access to all the resources required at other universities. If
you have WiFi, you have everything you need because of our open
source classroom material. Everything is open source and free. There
are no textbooks to be bought, everything is found inside of the
courses and is available from day one.

 Practice with US keyboard before your classes start.

 All you need is a device, internet browser, a connection, and some sort
of document reader (Adobe, Microsoft, etc.)

 Moodle can be accessed anywhere.

 There is no need to print anything. Classes are 100% digital.

 Typically, University of the People learning materials are provided to

students in either Adobe PDF or Microsoft Office compatible
formats. Therefore, students need to be able to open and save
documents in these formats as well.

1. The Adobe PDF Reader software is available for free here.

2. Download and install LibreOffice, a free and open source office suite
that is mostly MS Office compatible.
3. When saving, please be sure to save your documents in MS Office
format or PDF format, not the default Libre Office format. This is the
preferred free option.

 The latest version of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera, Firefox and Chrome
can be used to access the UoPeople Online Learning Platform.

 Please note that students using mobile phones, especially older

models, may have difficulty accessing and using the site.
  Microsoft Office is commercial software which is not available for free.
If you do not already have or are unable to obtain a copy of Microsoft
Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) please use one of the following
free options:

1. Use an online office suite such as Office Online from Microsoft or

Google Apps from Google to view and edit basic Word, PowerPoint, and
Excel files in a web browser. To create an Office Online account, please
go to Outlook or Hotmail and create your account.
2. To create a Google Apps account, please go to www.gmail.com and
create your account. Note that whatever system students choose to
use, all files shared with Course Instructors and classmates must be
saved in either Microsoft-compatible formats or PDF format.
3. Other Software: Note that certain courses, for example computer
science courses, may require the installation and use of other
specialized software. This information will be listed in the relevant
course syllabus.

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
next reading which is called 'Role of the Online Instructor and
Faculty'.

Role of the Online Instructor and Faculty

What exactly is the role of your online instructors and faculty?

 To be present and to be engaged. Instructors are encouraged to come

online to check on their students at least once every 2 days.

 To be responsive to students through email or Moodle.

 To be a mentor, especially for new students.

 To be effective written communicators. Constructive feedback is

important at UoPeople.

 To bring their own experience and own knowledge to the course.

 Post updates, announcements and reminders.

 Kick off the weekly discussion.

 Because it is asynchronous, there is no live interaction. However,

instructors should be active.

 Grading.
  Help out with grading and problems during Peer Assessment.

 To be responsive to the school.

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
next reading which is called 'University Offices and Helpful
Resources'.

University Offices and Helpful Resources

The University of the People encourages all admitted and prospective

students to contact the relevant University office for any assistance and
clarification of policies and procedures.

If you ever have a question or need help with something, you can always
reach out to your program advisor or course instructor.

Program Advising Office

The Program Advising Office is designed to be a partnership between

Program Advisors and students whereby every incoming student is assigned
a personal Program Advisor who remains their single point of contact for
academic and administrative support throughout their studies at UoPeople.
Program Advisors work with students at University of the People to answer
questions and respond to concerns about academic progress, goals in
attaining their degrees from the University, and challenges and decisions
that need to be made throughout their academic studies.

Students may reach out to their personal Program Advisor as often as

needed, but are advised to be in touch at least once a year to monitor
degree progress; Program Advisors can be reached at their personal email
address or at [email protected].

Financial Aid Office

The Financial Aid Office reviews and processes requests from applicants
seeking grants to help with the Application Processing Fee and from
applicants and enrollees seeking scholarship support to assist with the
Course Assessment Fees. The Financial Aid Office can be reached
at [email protected].

Office of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs oversees all aspects of the curriculum with a
primary commitment to creating a dynamic atmosphere for student learning
and success. In assisting students with advice pertaining to their academic
studies and information regarding academic policies and procedures,
Academic Affairs provides guidance and leadership to assist students in
solving academic-related problems within their courses, including such
things as peer assessment issues, communication with Course Instructors,
and other general course-related issues.

UoPeople Course Instructors are available to students via email throughout

the academic year and students who have academic-related questions
should contact their Course Instructor first. Instructors respond to students
within 72 hours and usually sooner, but there may be technical difficulties.
Students who have not heard back from their Course Instructor within 48
hours should contact their personal Program Advisor for additional support.

Peer Assessment Office

The Peer Assessment Office (PAO) is resource center for students at the
University in Moodle devoted to supporting students as they navigate the
peer-to-peer learning and assessment processes. Peer Assessment Advisors
and Peer Assessment Student Advisors are available to help students to
become more proficient in the processes at UoPeople.

The PAO is accessed via the Learning Resource Center (LRC); participation,
however, is optional at all times. Students who do not wish to have access to
the PAO may send this request to the Office of Academic Affairs at
[email protected].

Degree Seeking Students are invited to participate in the PAO, and

participants are required to follow all the rules and regulations outlined in the
Catalog and posted in the PAO. Inappropriate postings violating the General
Code of Conduct and/or the Code of Academic Integrity will be removed from
the PAO, and students with repeated violations will no longer be given access
to the center. All violations are grounds for disciplinary action.

Office of Student Affairs

The Dean’s Office in the Office of Student Affairs

([email protected]) oversees the review of Satisfactory
Academic Progress, the naming of students to the President’s, Dean’s and
Honor’s List, UoPeople Partnership nominations, and supports students who
may be encountering or anticipating academic difficulties, or may require
special assistance in completing their requirements for graduation.

Office of Student Services

The Office of Student Services forms part of a comprehensive network of

services at the University designed to support and help students throughout
their studies. Student Services maintains all student records and supports
students with both administrative and academic services in consultation with
other offices in the University, responsibly implementing university policies
and procedures, degree audits, and the conferment of university degrees.

Office of Admissions

The Office of Admissions oversees the admissions process for prospective

and current applicants to the University, including the processing of all
applications for admission to UoPeople's degree programs. Providing
assistance and guidance regarding all admissions requirements, the Office of
Admissions answers questions regarding prospective students’ applications
and provides updates on their applicant status. More information about the
admissions process can be found in Chapter 3; interested parties can reach
the Office of Admissions at [email protected].

Outreach Office

The Outreach Department works hard to ensure that applicants around the
world are able to access the opportunities UoPeople offers to study online,
accredited and tuition-free. The Outreach Office can be reached
at [email protected].

Payments Office

The Payment Office oversees the processing of payments for both

Application and Course Assessment Fees at UoPeople. Also working in
conjunction with the Financial Aid Office, the Payments Office processes and
reconciles scholarship payments for students unable to pay Course
Assessment Fees.

For questions regarding payments including payment methods, amounts

payable, and payment deadlines, applicants and students may contact the
Payments Office at [email protected].

Career Service Center

University of the People’s Career Service Center offers career guidance and
advising for professional discovery and success both during and following the
completion of a UoPeople degree. The University of the People Career
Service Center offers students’ comprehensive, expert guidance as well as
tools to improve vital professional skills pertinent to the business world,
including:

 Resume building and cover letter writing

 Job searching skills
  Interviewing techniques
 Professional networking skills
 Career planning in the area of one’s major

The Career Service Center is accessible to students throughout the course of

their studies, as well as after they graduate. Whether students are thinking
about their first professional job in the workplace, wish to enhance their skills
in their current field, or are considering a career change, the Career Service
Center offers vital tools to help them succeed. Students enrolled at UoPeople
may access UoPeople’s career development services
at http://www.uopeople.edu/student-experience/quality/career-
development/.

Note that select Career Service Center initiatives are still being designed and
are not yet available.

Internship Opportunities

University of the People provides access to a number of different internship

opportunities offered by internationally recognized corporations and
organizations. Participating in online internships in a variety of sectors,
students gain invaluable work experience and networking opportunities.

All internship opportunities consist of defined projects within the host’s

organization, creating valuable learning opportunities for the student.
Internships opportunities are available to all current UoPeople students and
are announced by email over the course of their studies.

Mentorships

The University of the People Mentorship Program brings students and

professionals together for mentoring. Students are provided with
individualized, one-on-one professional guidance from industry leaders
working at some of the top companies worldwide. The mentorship program is
designed to enrich students’ studies, offering them an opportunity to apply
concepts learnt to real-life settings. The mentorship program allows students
to gain insight into specific job and career paths, as well as develop their
personal and professional skills, and build career goals.

Global Employment Network

Networking is vital in the quest to build a successful career, no matter what

the field. At UoPeople our international community of faculty and students
provides a global networking community. With faculty hailing from some of
the top universities, corporations and foundations worldwide, and students
hailing from over 180 countries, the networking potential at UoPeople is
immense! Our global employment network aids in broadening the career
opportunities as well as strengthening the career options for our students,
providing each student with a classroom of international learners and peers
to create an extensive professional network. Outside the classroom,
UoPeople partners with world renowned corporations offering excellent
networking opportunities for our students, which in turn, broadens their
employment opportunities. UoPeople develops students’ networking abilities
as participants in a thriving global community. Combined with internship and
mentorship programs, students gain the skills to utilize these connections, in
real life work experience.

Library Resources and Services

UoPeople belongs to the Library and Information Resource Network (LIRN), a

consortium of institutions that makes available to its members a rich and
powerful collection of resources including over 60 million journal articles,
books, encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, and audio and video clips.
Students gain access to the ProQuest online data bases and GALE databases
through LIRN.

UoPeople also subscribes to JSTOR giving students online access to a wide

array of journals to support research, writing and learning activities. JSTOR
too can be accessed directly within Moodle and includes access to more than
2,300 academic journals and more than 50 million digitized pages.

All University of the People instructional personnel and enrolled students

may use these resources free of charge. Additionally, students are provided
at no charge with other open education resources including textbooks and
course materials.

For questions or suggestions regarding the University of the People Library

and Resource Center, including LIRN or open educational resources, students
may contact UoPeople’s Director of Library Services
at [email protected].

Learning Resource Center (LRC)

The UoPeople Learning Resource Center (LRC)is a resource center for

students who wish to improve their general and academic writing skills
through peer sharing and the development of strategies and knowledge to
cultivate success as writers. In accessing resources in the form of guides on
the writing process, research methods, ESL, APA format, and best practices
to avoid plagiarism, the LRC helps students develop and further polish their
writing and editing skills.

The LRC is an optional resource for students at UoPeople.

Computing and Networking Services and Requirements

Although Moodle and Class Forums are not open to public access, students
should note that these online spaces are neither private nor confidential.
Neither students nor instructional personnel should assume privacy when
communicating in the Virtual Learning Environment. The University may
access and observe communications conducted in the Virtual Learning
Environment for regulatory, accreditation, research, and other administrative
purposes such as enforcing the General Code of Conduct, including
investigating allegations of misconduct, suspected misconduct or other
complaints. Additionally, the University of the People may provide limited
access to learning resources to individuals other than students, alumni,
instructional personnel, and staff.

Contact Information for Students

The primary form of official communication from University of the People is

through e-mail. Students are required to maintain active e-mail addresses
and are responsible for keeping their contact information accurate and
current. Students should note that the email address they used to apply to
the University of the People is the one maintained by the Office of Student
Services unless they have subsequently submitted a request to change their
email address. Students wishing to update any of their contact information
should contact their personal Program Advisor with the following information:
the student’s full name including both the first and last name, the student’s
ID number, and any details to be updated.

Students should note that any change of contact information on Moodle

at http://my.uopeople.edu is not considered a formal change of contact
information. Finally, to ensure receipt of important announcements from the
University, students should check that spam filters are set to receive email
from University of the People.

Student Login Username and Password

Each student is assigned a designated username and password to log into

the University of the People Online Learning Platform (Moodle) and courses.
UoPeople students with technical issues related to Moodle Support should
contact [email protected] for assistance with login problems.

Students’ usernames and passwords are vital for the security of a student’s
work. The responsibility for all activities carried out under a student’s
username rests solely with that student. Please ensure you keep your
password secret and do not give it to anyone else.

Other
UoPeople does not currently offer the following services: Student ID cards, a
graduation ceremony, or counseling services.

Disability Policy

University of the People recognizes and accepts its obligations under the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), requiring the University to provide
reasonable accommodations to qualified disabled students in its educational
programs.

Applicants with questions about disability accommodations should confer

with their Admissions Advisor.

Students admitted to the University with a disability requiring reasonable

academic accommodations may submit a Disability Accommodation
application to the Office of Student Services
at [email protected] and it will be directed to the Disability
Services Committee. Students will receive written notification by the Office of
Student Services of accommodations offered and/or denied within six weeks.

UoPeople is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all student

records related to requests for disability accommodations.

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
next reading which is called 'Language Barriers and Culture Shock'.

Language Barriers and Culture Shock

If this is your first experience with an American university, you might

experience a language barrier or culture shock at the beginning of your
studies. Don't be discouraged! Here are some tips to help you out:

Overcoming Language Barriers

 Utilize our writing center (Online Student Writing Center)! There you will find
writing assistants who are also instructors and offer resources.

 Links in Online Education Strategies course to Purdue OWL website

 Check out this article on Language Barriers and Culture Shock in eLearning!
Overcoming Culture Shock

cul·ture shock
noun

1. the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly

subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

 Be prepared that UoPeople is a diverse university with students from all over
the world with all different perspectives. Understanding is key.
 What is Culture Shock, and What Can I do to Avoid it?

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
next reading which is called 'The ABC's of Course Registration'.

The ABC's of Course Registration

University of the People opens course registration for students over

a 3-week period every term, and students are notified by the Office
of Student Services when the registration portal will be opened for
their group based on their class standing which is determined by
the total number of credits they have completed at the University
(e.g., seniors 90 credits or more, juniors 60 credits or more etc.)
Course registration takes place in the Student portal
at https://your.uopeople.edu/ and seats are filled on a first-come,
first-served basis.

With the exception of a student's first term at UoPeople, students

themselves register for their courses using the online course
registration system, and registration must be completed by the
dates listed in the Academic Calendar.

Where does Course Registration take place?

Course Registration at UoPeople takes place in the Student portal here.

How many courses can students take each term at UoPeople?

The registration guidelines change for students depending on whether you

are (1) enrolled in ENGL 0101 English Composition 1 to demonstrate English
proficiency (2) studying in UoPeople Foundations as you are applying to be a
Degree Seeking Student (3) a Degree Seeking Student, or (4) a graduate
student. (Graduate Student registration restrictions will not be discussed
here).
Registration Guidelines – Students Demonstrating English Language
Proficiency

Students who need to demonstrate English language proficiency may elect

ENGL 0101 English Composition 1 during their first term of study.

Registration Guidelines – UoPeople Foundations

Students studying in UoPeople Foundations who are applying for admission

to be a Degree Seeking Student may enroll in up to 2 courses per term. The
following registration restrictions apply:

 Students studying in UoPeople Foundations who maintain a cumulative

grade point average (CGPA) of ≥ 2.0 may register and/or be enrolled in
up to two (2) courses per term.
 Student studying in UoPeople Foundations who are on Academic
Warning, Academic Probation, and/or have a CGPA below 2.0 may only
register and/or be enrolled in one (1) course per term.

Registration Guidelines – UoPeople MBA or M.Ed. Foundations

Students studying in UoPeople MBA or M.Ed. Foundations who are applying

for admission to be a Degree Seeking Student may enroll in up to 2 courses
per term. The following registration restrictions apply:

 Students studying in UoPeople MBA or M.Ed. Foundations who maintain

a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of ≥ 2.67 may register
and/or be enrolled in up to two (2) courses per term.

Registration Guidelines – Degree Seeking Students

Full-time Degree Seeking students may enroll in up to 2-3 courses per term,
and part-time students may enroll in 1 course per term. The following
registration restrictions apply:

 Degree Seeking Students who maintain a cumulative grade point

average (CGPA) of ≥ 3.00 may register and/or be enrolled in up to
three (3) courses per term.
 Degree Seeking Students on Academic Warning, Academic Probation,
and Probation Continued and/or are not in good academic standing
may only register and/or be enrolled in one (1) course per term.

Notes on the Registration Process

1. Students whose CGPA falls at the end of a given term to below the
minimum CGPA required to be enrolled in the allowed number of courses for
the following term, will be required to cancel courses by the first day of the
term. Those who fail to meet this requirement to reduce their course load
according to the stated policy will be automatically removed from any excess
courses by the Office of Student Services.

2. Students whose CGPA improves at the end of a given term, which would
otherwise allow them to register for additional courses for the next term, will
not be able to add additional courses during late registration. They will be
required to wait until registration opens during the 5 th week of the following
term to register for the additional number of allowed courses.

3. University of the People endeavors to fulfill all registration requests. In

considering how many courses to take each term, students are reminded
that they should carefully consider their other time commitments outside of
the University when building their schedules, as each course requires a
minimum of 15 hours of study per week; budgeting up to 17 hours a week
per course is highly advisable.

Registration and the option to take one course your first term

The registration process differs for students depending on which program

they are entering at UoPeople. For questions about your first term
registration, please contact our UoPeople Program Advisors
at [email protected]. But what we want to emphasize is that you
may absolutely choose to take one course your first term at UoPeople. We
know that you are the best one to decide about how much time you have!

Suggestion: We recommend that you think carefully about this

commitment. If you'd like the opportunity to discuss any concerns about how
many classes to take your first term at UoPeople, please email our UoPeople
Program Advisors.

All of the requirements in your course are just that – required!

Do not skip or opt out of anything in the Learning Guide for your course.
Think of it like this: each week there are different tasks you'll need to
complete and you should plan to do them all.

Suggestion: Most students like to start with the reading assignment and
then move to the Learning Journal, Discussion Forum, Assignment, and then
assess their peers in both the Discussion Forum and Assignment area.
Finally, there are the quizzes—some are optional and some are required.
Tip: Plan to complete everything each week of the term, in every course you
take. Again, there should never be a reason to skip anything. This may seem
obvious to you, but worth emphasizing all the same. When you skip
something, there will be a zero entered in the grade book for that
requirement. And perhaps just as importantly, you lose out on learning the
material, and you miss contributing to the classroom learning that is so
important to the academic learning community in each course.

If you are unsure whether to drop or withdraw from a course, best to

check our UoPeople Program Advisors.

It happens: you start a course and a few weeks later say to yourself, "What
was I thinking? There is no way I can take this course (or these courses) this
term!" Things certainly come up. Situations can change with your work
and/or family.

Perhaps you got in "over your head" and were taking too many courses for
one term, or you may simply wish to drop or withdraw from a course that
you really are just not enjoying so much.

At UoPeople you have a few options:

* A) The first week, you can drop a course which means that the course is
removed from your transcript.

* B) Between the first day of the 2nd week and the last day of the 4th week,
you can withdraw from a course. In this instance, a "W" (meaning withdraw)
appears on your transcript but is not calculated into your grade point
average.

Suggestion: When you start the term, if you find that you have not been
completing the coursework and/or just not been doing well in the course,
those would be good reasons to drop or withdraw from the course. It is
always preferable to receive a "W" on your transcript rather than a failing or
weak grade. And yes, if you want to repeat a course that you've dropped or
withdrawn from, you can do so during a subsequent term.

Late Registration

A few days before each academic term begins, UoPeople opens a late
registration period for three days only. Please keep in mind is that a limited
number of courses are offered during late registration; therefore, you are
discouraged from relying on the late registration period to register for
courses for an upcoming term.
Mark your calendars now!

Late Course Registration dates are listed on the University of the People
Academic Calendar and we recommend that you put the dates on your
calendar.

Where does late registration take place?

Late registration, like regular registration, takes place in the Student Portal
with the same guidelines and procedures as during the regular registration
period.

You have completed all of the readings in Module 1! Click the 'next'
arrow to your right or click here to move on to the Discussion
Assignment.

Discussion Assignment

Congratulations! You have officially completed all of the readings in

Module 1. Now it is time to move onto the assignments that go
along with the readings that will help solidify all of this new
information. Below is a brief explanation of what the discussion
assignment is.

What is the Discussion Assignment, and what is a Discussion Forum?

Here's the answer:

In each UoPeople course your Course Instructors will ask you a specific
question that is connected to the reading and learning that is happening that
week in your course.

So first you will sit down and answer the question (Discussion Assignment)
and then post it in an area of the course called the Discussion Forum.

After you post your answer to the Discussion Assignment inside the
Discussion Forum, you will then need to respond to at least three (3) of your
classmates' posts by reading them and commenting on them. This is the
assessment part. Obviously you will only be able to respond to the students
who like you have already previously posted their Discussion Forum answers
already. That is why it's important that you don't complete this at the last
minute--because it won't allow others to read and comment on your work.

When assessing your peers in the Discussion Forum, you will need to review
their answer and then assess/grade it with comments.
Next week, we'll share with you the rationale for the Discussion Assignment
and assessing your peers' Discussion Forum posts. During the third week of
Orientation we'll show you an example of a Discussion Forum so you'll get a
feel of what it looks like and how it works. This way you'll be able to begin to
understand more about what this part of the course looks and feels like.
You can also watchto understand how to complete the requisites of the
Discussion Assignment.

Please access the submission page for the Unit 1 Discussion

Assignment on the main course homepage; it will be listed inside
the Unit, or by clicking here.

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
Unit 1

Step 1: Click on your name on the top right side of the Moodle page and click
on Profile in the scrolldown menu - This will take you to your personal profile
where you can make edits.

Step 2: Click on link: EDIT PROFILE

Step 3: Here you'll see the General Category and you'll want to check your
contact information to be sure that everything looks right. If not, make the
necessary changes.

Step 4: Go to the DESCRIPTION box, and write a brief description of who you
are and what you want to share with your fellow students at UoPeople.

Step 5: Go to USER PICTURE and upload a picture of yourself.

The picture should not be more than 5 Megabytes.

Step 6: Click UPDATE PROFILE to save all of the information

Step 7: Go back a day or two later to review and be sure that this all says
what you'd like it say.

Tip: You may read other students' descriptions later on and think of other
things you might like to include about yourself. For now, just get your
personal profile set up in Moodle and know that you can always edit it later
on!

This week we want you to go to the UoPeople Academic Calendar and figure
out the best way to mark the important dates on your own personal
calendar. We don't know if you use a paper calendar or an online calendar,
or perhaps no calendar at all.

But now is the time to get organized.

Go to the UoPeople website.

Look at the term you are starting and mark down for the coming
term:

1) The first day of the term.

2) The Course Drop deadline.

3) The Course Withdrawal deadline.

4) The beginning and end dates for registration.

5) When final exams begin.

6) When final exams end.

If you do not have a system to organize yourself, you will definitely want to
think carefully about this now so that you are on top off these dates for each
and every single term before each new term begins.

And then we will know that you won't be emailing us to say that you missed
registration, or missed the Term Withdrawal deadline, or forgot that the new
term began!

Please access the submission page for the Unit 1 Assignment on the
main course homepage; it will be listed inside the Unit, or
by clicking here.

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the
Unit 1 Learning Journal.

Introduction
×
Welcome to the workshop. Here you will submit and peer review the written
assignments.
For the Written Assignment, you will submit a substantial response on a
specific topic.
Detailed instructions for each assignment are provided in the Learning Guide
and the Written Assignment submission area.
The task you need to complete for the Written Assignment comprises two
steps.
The first task is to submit your assignment by uploading and submitting in
the submission area.
Check the due date of the assignment and remember to check the UoPeople
clock.

Second, in the week following your submission, you will see the written
submissions of three other students for you to assess.
A grading form will be provided to help you assess the components of each
paper.
More on this on the next tour.
Visits
×
The task you need to complete in the assignment is comprised of two steps.
During the unit you will submit your written assignment here.
In the week following, you will see the written submissions of three other
students for you to assess.
Both actions will contribute to your grade in this activity.
Submission
×
Read the instructions for the written assignment and prepare your
submission.
The instructions are also available in the Learning Guide.
Prepare your written assignment in a word processor
(Word, Google Docs, etc. If you use Pages export it to PDF first as not all
students can open .pages files) following APA format.
Submit your assignment before Wednesday at 11:55 PM UoPeople time.
The submission will be considered final and will be sent to your peers for
assessment.
How to submit
×
When you finish creating your submission click on the button and verify that
it has been uploaded.
In the workshop, you can continue editing your submission until the week
ends. Do not delete it by mistake.

It is your responsibility to make sure that your submission is here before the
end of the week.
Claims that your submission "has disappeared" will not be accepted.
Anonymity
×
Do not add your name anywhere in your submission. Either in the title,
content or file uploaded.
Review that your name doesn't appear in the metadata of the document if
you submit a Word file.
Assessment
×
The week following your submission of the written assignment, this same
workshop will be in the assessment phase.
You will see three submissions from your peers to assess.
***If you see more than three you can ignore the extra ones. If you
see less than three just complete the one or two you were assigned,
your grade will not suffer for this.***
A grading form will be provided to help you assess the components of each
paper.
Grades
×
At the end of the Assessment week you will see the grade you received for
your submission
and the grade you received for your assessments.
The grade for your submission is the average of the grades your peers have
given to your submission using the assessment form.
Assessment Grade
×
Part (usually 10%) of your final grade for the written assignment comes from
how you assess your peers.
The grade for your assessments comes from the quality of your assessments
and is calculated by Moodle itself.

An assessment is considered "the best" and receives full points when it is the
one that deviates the least
from the other two assessments given to the same student.
As you deviate from the chosen "best" assessment, your points are reduced
from the maximum.
Your three grades for assessment are then averaged and the result is the
grade you receive in this section.
Learning Journal

Now that you have finished the Module 1 assignment, you can move
onto your Module 1 Learning Journal. Below is a brief introduction to
what a Learning Journal is and then you can begin!

First, what is a Learning Journal?

In each UoPeople course your Course Instructors may choose to assign

specific topics and/or relevant questions as a weekly Learning Journal entry
for students to complete. The Learning Journal is seen only by your Course
Instructor. Some instructors might use this space to ask you a purely
reflective question about the material, to write questions that you may have
encountered, and/or share what you thought was exciting in your weekly
learning. Other instructors might use this area to give specific questions that
will expand your knowledge of the learning through practice or research
based exercises. Regardless of the question or exercise, please remember to
always use proper citations and references when using someone else’s
words or thoughts (for example, a quote or an idea you read during your
research).

Learning Journal Question:

Do you feel that you understand how the American academic system runs?
Are you worried or do you feel confident about understanding the material
covered on the topic of the American academic system?

Introduction
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Welcome to your next course component!
Learning Journals and Portfolio Activities are tools for self-reflection and
evaluation within the context of the course.
These activities are designed as a means to document and reflect upon your
learning process and critical thinking skills.

Your submissions here are visible only to your course instructor.

Learning journals and portfolio activities are graded by your course instructor
only.
Main Content
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Read the instructions carefully and prepare your submission.
You can compose it directly inside the window or you can write it in a word
processor
and paste it afterwards in the window. You cannot attach a file, unless
you see a separate window for file attachments. And these are very rare,
happening only in a few courses. So remember, your submission should be
text in the online window itself.
Draft
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Save your submission.
It will remain as a draft and you will be able to edit it as many times as you
want during the week.
Submission
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Make sure to always submit your assignment before Thursday 11:55 PM
UoPeople time
-yes, that's right, for this component only you have one extra day.
You need to submit the final version of the assignment by clicking on the
"Submit assignment" button.
Confirm
×
You will need to confirm your submission by clicking the "Continue" button or
your assignment will remain a draft.
If you do not do this step your draft may not be graded by the
Course Instructor.
Submitted for Grading
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Remember, it is your responsibility to ensure your submission is readable,
has been correctly uploaded and does not remain a draft submission.
Neither an instructor nor Moodle Support can find an assignment that you
say you submitted
but is not there at the end of the valid period for submission.