Introduction to Public Service

Enrollment Message

Students need access to a webcam or video recording device.

Course Description

Introduction to Public Service offers a comprehensive overview of public service, focusing on both military and non-military avenues. Students will explore the many benefits of military service, including personal and professional development, leadership skills, and community impact. A historical overview of U.S. military history and the history of non-military public service will provide context for the evolution of public service and its significance in shaping national identity. Key components of this course include an introduction to military customs and courtesies, instruction on ethical behavior and decision-making, development of leadership and analytical reasoning skills, an introduction to career paths (and their entrance requirements) available within public service, incentives for public service, and the significance of public service.

• Fulfills requirement for the New Indiana Diploma with Enlistment & Service Honors Seal or Enlistment & Service Honors Plus Seal

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• understand what public service is and why helping your community and country matters.
• discover jobs in public service, like being a teacher, firefighter, police officer, or soldier, and what they do to help people.
• learn about the six military branches, what they do, how they work together, and why they’re important.
• explore different military careers and what kind of training or education they need, and see if one fits your interests.
• look at how military and non-military jobs are alike and different, and how both work to keep communities strong and safe.
• practice using leadership, thinking skills, and teamwork to solve real-life problems like a public service leader.
• learn what it means to make good, fair, and honest decisions, especially when helping others.
• look at historical military events and people to see how the past helps us understand the present.
• discover how public service, whether in uniform or not, helps build pride, responsibility, and a strong national identity.
• reflect on your own acts of service and how they help you grow in character, kindness, and responsibility.
• explore military customs, protocols, and courtesies and understand their importance.

Indiana Academic Standards

• Key Pillars

Units of Instruction

• Unit 1 Introduction to Career Paths in Public Service
• Unit 2 Historical Context of Public Service
• Unit 3 Significance of Public Service in National Identity
• Unit 4 Ethical Behavior and Decision-Making
• Unit 5 Developing Leadership Skills and Analytical Reasoning
• Unit 6 Personal and Professional Development through Public Service
• Unit 7 Community Impact of Public Service
• Unit 8 Military Customs and Courtesies

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Students must complete at least 70% of the course and take all parts of the final exam(s) to have a score reported to their school of record. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a score of 0 reported to the school of record.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the minimum number of assessments

• 3 Discussions
• 28 Assignments
• 10 Quizzes

The assessments for this asynchronous course are weighted as follows

Teacher Contact Response Time

Students can use email or the private message system within Genius or Canvas to access highly qualified teachers when they need teacher assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside Canvas. The Teacher Information page of their course may describe additional communication options.

The teacher will respond to student inquiries (email, text, call) within one business day. Assignments will be graded and posted within two business days.

Expectations for Academic Conduct 

Student Handbook 

It is your responsibility to read the student handbook to understand all aspects of taking an online course including expectations for academic conduct. Contact your teacher if you have any questions. 

Assistance for Students with Accommodations

Indiana Online supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

Technology

Technology Requirements 

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Please review the Indiana Online’s Technology Requirements.

Technical Skills Needed 

Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to

• download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• download and install software
• use a messaging service similar to email
• communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• open attachments shared in messages
• create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• save a file as a .pdf
• copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• insert images or links into a file
• search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• use presentation and graphics programs
• follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• create and maintain usernames and passwords

Technical Questions?  Please contact the Indiana Online Helpdesk.