We will have weekly video updates posted to your announcements in Canvas, which are part of the required weekly work of the course. ESCi 01 at De Anza College is a 100% online course and is not self-paced (i.e. you will have weekly deadlines).

Our course is asynchronous, meaning that we do not have any in real time meetings and there are no zoom sessions to attend for lecture. You will not see the course appear in your Canvas page until the official first day of class.

ESCi 01 will keep you engaged each and every week with readings, videos, discussions, and activities. Please note there are no late assignments or makeup work allowed (since you always have at least a week to submit anytime), so it is important you get the assignments submitted before their weekly deadlines.

• We will be using Canvas as our learning management system.
  
  
• If you are new to using Canvas please take some time before the class begins to familiarize yourself here: https://fhda.atlassian.net/l/c/irbPw2Xr – once you are familiar with Canvas please make sure you can sign in.
  
  
• If you need additional tips and tricks for using Canvas, check out the resources that De Anza has put together for students at https://fhda.atlassian.net/l/c/0MMnNci5.
  
  
• You will not see our course until the first official day of classes.
  
  
• Sign in at https://deanza.instructure.com/ – if you have any enrollment issues for Canvas please contact https://fhda.atlassian.net/l/c/0MMnNci5.

1. Sign into Canvas on our first day  https://deanza.instructure.com/
    
2. Review our full syllabus 
    
3. Complete our welcome module, Module 0, no later than the due date listed in Canvas

I will do everything in my power to make you successful, but it is you who must put in the hard work and focus. I love online learning and have been teaching online courses since 2008. It has many wonderful perks, like not having to park on campus and watching lectures in your pajamas! However, it has some pitfalls, including the need for you to be self-sufficient and keep active in the course. Time management and organizational skills are essential for the online student.

• You do not need to buy any materials. My courses are free of material costs to you, therefore there is nothing you need to purchase – just log in on our first day of class and we will go from there.
  
  
• Everything you need will be provided to you in Canvas with no additional fees, charges, or purchases required.

Dr. Mary Poffenroth​

It’s been over 20 years since I first began my science career at NASA, spending the last 14 years as STEM faculty. With innovation and engagement my top priorities, I’ve been able to bring science out of the academy and into the hands of people across the world ready to use evidence based information to transform their lives through keynote talks and immersive workshops. I’ve done public talks on such stages as TEDx London, Inbound, and SXSW and my work has been featured in legacy media outlets such as Time magazine, Forbes, Science, Entrepreneur, and National Geographic. 

I have personally taught nearly 20,000 adults both in person and online since 2007 and am the author of Write Present Create: Science Communication for Undergraduates. Some of my proudest accomplishments include being a first generation college student that would go on to become a Salzburg Global Fellow, being able to graduate from Imperial College London to round out my three masters degrees (biology, psychology, science communications). 

My research focuses on the intersection of non-clinical fear mastery and innovation for personal/organizational growth. Currently, I am writing a book for Hachette that will be published globally in 2023 called The Courageous Mind.

ESCi 01, our class, is a community.

You are not in this alone. To be a successful community, each member must be regularly show up, be curious, be willing to lean into discomfort (ah! Scary!), have a positive attitude, and a willingness to help one another.

Each member of this community is different and those differences will strengthen your learning by yielding unique insights drawn from diverse experiences. We acknowledge the tremendous amount of expertise in our community and encourage you to support and help one another as challenges and questions are shared.

Moving outside of your comfort zone is incredibly difficult sometimes, but necessary to learn and grow. Keep in mind that when you feel struggle, it is a sign that you are learning. We will celebrate that feeling. When mistakes happen (and they will!), we will recognize them as learning moments that contribute to our growth.

I am so excited to work alongside you! Welcome to ESCi 01!