What You Need To Know About Lab
How to get the credit you deserve!
Quick Links:
- Registering for a lab course
- What is the difference between the lab component and the main class?
- How much lab time is required?
- How will I be graded for the lab course?
- How do I log my time?
- How can I submit time I worked off-campus or outside the campus lab?
- The most important information we need from you
- More questions...?
Registering for a lab course
When you sign up for a language course at San Jose City College, you must also sign up for the lab component.
A language course (such as French 1A) is a 5.0 unit course. In addition, you must enroll in French 1AL (0.5 units). Usually, you are automatically enrolled in lab when you enroll in the regular 5-unit language course, however; errors are sometimes made. Please make sure that you are enrolled in the lab course that corresponds to your language course (i.e. French 1A + French 1AL). If you are not automatically enrolled by the STAR system, you must register for the lab course the same way you register for any other course.
examples:
- French 1A + French 1AL
- French 1B + French 1BL
- French 2A + French 2AL
- French 2B + French 2BL
- French 3A + French 3AL
- French 3B + French 3BL
How does the lab component differ from the main language course?
As far as the main language course goes (ie French 1A, 1B...), you will be meeting with your instructor at your regularly scheduled times in the classroom. Language courses are 5.0 units.
The language lab component (1AL, 1BL, 2AL, 2BL, etc...) is a supplement to the main language course, and is loaded at 0.5 units.
Your instructor will assign lab work to be done outside of class. This may include pronunciation practice, practice quizzes, workbook exercises, audio/video activities, and more. Your lab work is to be done outside of the classroom -- on your own time.
How much lab time is required?
You are required by California State Education code to complete a total of 24 hours of lab work for one .5 unit course (that's about 1 1/2 hours per week).
Keep in mind that we use academic hours, so if you have 100 minutes of lab time logged, it will count as 2 hours.
How will I be graded for the lab course?
All lab courses are graded as Credit/No Credit. If you complete the required number of hours, you will receive a grade of CR (credit).
If you do not complete the required number of hours, you will receive a grade of NC (no credit).
How do I log my time?
If you work on campus in the language lab, you will log into the "Timekeeper" system. The Timekeeper system will generate a login code for you, and each time you work in the lab, you will sign in -- and sign out when you leave. The system is connected to the school's database system and your hours will be recorded and submitted automatically. If you work exclusively on-campus, you do not have to keep a manual record of your time. Timekeeper will store all your data.
Depending on the course, many lab activities are also available online, which gives you the option to complete some or all of your hours off-campus or otherwise outside of the physical lab.
If you work outside of the lab, you are still required to report your time. However, you will not be able to login to the Timekeeper system. You must be responsible for keeping records of the time you spend working off-campus.
To watch an online tutorial on how to use MyHours.com, click here.
How Can I Submit My Hours If I Work Outside the Language Lab?
There are two ways to do this: First, you can manually record your time on a lab timesheet, and submit it to your instructor or bring it to the lab in GE-209B.
You may also track your off-campus lab hours online by using a free web-based timekeeper. By using MyHours.com, you can effectively keep track of your hours, categorize your activities, and even log time using your mobile phone or PDA (requires Internet connection). The service is completely without cost, and you simply generate a timesheet from within the program. If you "connect" to the SJCC account, your instructor will have access to your timetracking data and will be able to generate reports to submit at the end of the semester.
For more information on using MyHours.com, go to their website, and be sure to watch this tutorial. If using the online system is not practical for you, please feel free to use the old pen-and-paper method via the timesheet.
The most critical information we need in order to process your hours is:
- Your name
- Your Lab Log-In Number (generated by Timekeeper)
- Your instructor's name
Have More questions?
Please contact me.