The ADN program that I will be entering as a first year student on August 19th charges for the course syllabus & guide, which also includes the lab manual and clinical manual created by the instructors at the college. It is a highly detailed and specific 216 page document, there is a ton of information and guidance in this packet. It includes schedules, dates, rubrics for assignments, what is covered in each class, lab and clinical, information on tests, assignments, group projects, lab skills and papers. Etc etc etc. Do other schools charge for this? Do other schools create their own lab manual and clinical manual? I mentioned this in another thread and there were a couple of comments questioning this practice.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
And the instructor has the copyright to it. You are not allowed to make copies. They must spend weeks writing them - and yes it's like having another text book.[/quote']
Exactly. It would be a copyright violation to buy one and copy for others without permission of the author. Just like taking a traditional textbook or workbook to the printer and making copies.
You know, I know a lot of students who would really benefit from something like that all in one place. It's a textbook, take it for that, and perhaps people will stop thinking it's a big rip-off.
As to why it came about this way, I'd be willing to bet that the faculty got good and damn tired of having to explain things over and over to students who couldn't organize their ways out of damp paper bags, so they put it all together so no one could say they never knew that (..insert class info here...) and so forth.
^This!
I really do think this is a blueprint for success in each portion of the program. It's not a replacement for the hard work and active learning we'll have to do, but having clear direction, exact specifications for all the work, the dates and material covered and the 2 manuals plus more all in one place laid out and outlined as well as made by our instructors is extraordinarily helpful. It is to the benefit of both student and teacher, in that we all waste less time getting on the same page. There is no excuse for missing anything. It's all in here. Other schools may have another system for all of these components as far as the delivery of the information to the students, but I really do think there is great benefit in this particular method.
We have course boxes we are required to have in print each semester. They include our syllabus, lab manuals, CPEs, and ADN manuals. All together, they fill a box the size of a shirt gift box. We can buy it for $32 or print it ourselves, but buying comes out to be cheaper and more convenient. The school sells us pre-punched pages on card stock. They hold up really well.
You know, I know a lot of students who would really benefit from something like that all in one place. It's a textbook, take it for that, and perhaps people will stop thinking it's a big rip-off.
As to why it came about this way, I'd be willing to bet that the faculty got good and damn tired of having to explain things over and over to students who couldn't organize their ways out of damp paper bags, so they put it all together so no one could say they never knew that (..insert class info here...) and so forth.
Exactly.
We spend our entire first 8hr lecture going over ever page, too. It amazes me that they have to go to such lengths. It is really convenient to have it all in one place, color-coded on card stock and all. Saves me the trouble of doing it myself, because I would. :)
While I was taking prerequisite courses, this was not very uncommon. We were given a five-paged syllabus at no extra cost, however, we would have to go to the bookstore at the start of each semester and purchase a course pack for our classes. These course packs would include pages from various other lab books versus a single text. Supposedly, it allowed the instructors to design the curriculum as they saw fit versus how the publishers offered it. I got smart after my first purchase and started photocopying the pages needed for submission, so that I could sell the book later (i.e. I recouped most of my money and the buyer was happy not spending as much as the bookstore). This is just an idea as long as the book isn't protected against photocopying to help you save a bit of cash. The school got hip to students making copies and added the copyright a few semesters later. However, it was good while it lasted. I'd just hate to get into trouble for something so avoidable, so I'd check first. I'm just a nurse, not a lawyer.
My syllabus has everything for clinical, lab, calendars, everything you all are mentioning. Still doesn't justify charging students bc the faculty is having to do their jobs. It is not special that they put this together. It is their job to inform students of their requirements to pass. It's not special that it is hole punched. $200 is far too much. It should be $20 max
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
even copyrighted can shared.....just not copied yes?[/quote']
Not necessarily. It depends on the permission granted by the copyright owner. Some permit sharing in unaltered format. Others permit single user use. There are some licensees that give a limited right to make copies (such as the workbooks I use for tutoring. I am permitted to make a limited number of copies for my students use, this 'permissible use' is clearly stated in the front of the book. )
If it is not stated then the assumption should be that it is NOT permissible to copy, scan, or share.
I don't pay for a syllabus but I do pay technology fees and testing fees per hour as part of my tuition. I assume those fees cover my syllabus and such.
I had to buy a school-constructed lab manual for science classes in my first undergrad, but that was separate from the syllabus and course calendar; those were posted online for us to print out or given out in class when we were lucky. I guess they figure they are forcing you to buy the lab manual anyway, so they can put it all together and prevent having to distribute multiple packets?
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JustBeachyNurse, LPN
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