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PHSC1011- Physical Science
Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Chad
L. Davies · Calculator · Plastic Ruler and Protractor · Three-Ring Binder
Semester Credit Hours:
3 (3-0-3) CourseDescription: An introduction to physical science, including basic chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy and meteorology. CoursePhilosophy: This course is designed for the student to achieve three basic objectives.
In designing this course, I’ve decided to take avery different approach to covering the material. Rather than going through the book on a chapter-by-chapter basis wherein the student must master (memorize) a large number of facts with little or no context in which to place them, I’ve decided to focus on examining the ideas of scientific modeling and scientific methods of inquiry. The heart of this approach is that the class will look at and address several historical models. These will include: · Electricity · TheAtom · The Solar System · Atmospheric Motion · Plate Tectonics In studying the material with a view to understanding how each model was arrived at, it is my hope that what is covered will be more accessible because it is tied to something interesting. Given this, the way in which the subject is studied will have to be changed. For each model we will spend time to understand the original issues and observations that framed the physical situation. The students will work in groups to add information to this historical foundation until the historical model is either fully realized or overturned and replaced with something more accurate. By working through this process for several different models, it is hoped that the student will grow to understand how the scientific method arrives at correct representations of the physical world. For this to be successful, it is vitally important for each member of the class to take an active role in learning the material. Much of the course will be conducted in groups. While most of the course credit will come from your individual work, about 1/4 of your grade will come from working on material with others. Additionally, while there will be some lecture, much of this class will require your participation. In other words, coming to class and checking out or coming to class unprepared is about as bad as not coming at all. What we are going to do is going to be different and probably a little uncomfortable at first. However, if you stick with the format and try to make it work, I think we’re going to have a lot of fun doing things in a pretty nontraditional way. How much work are you going to have to do in this class? The “old school” rule of 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour in class will probably hold true here. I’m a pretty “old school” instructor when it comes to workload so you should expect to spend about 4-6 hours outside of class per week. Some of this will be homework that I assign such as article reviews, pre-class worksheets and research quizzes, some will be reviewing material that we’ve covered for exams and quizzes and some will be preparing for the next class. Many students put studying for survey classes off until the night before the exam. This approach often leads to poor performance in a course of this sort. A better approach is to study some every day and to keep up with the material as it happens. Finally, a word about the text: After years of using a standard physical science text, the Gordon College Physical Science working group determined that these texts were not a useful resource for many students. As such, this course will use a different approach to the material by creating a “non-text” that is built up over the course of the semester. This non-text will consist of note handouts, background material, activities and other materials. For students who wish to access a textbook for the course, a few shall be placed on reserve in the library and a list of books available for purchase will be listed on the course’s WebCT site. In the place of pre-class reading assignments, a list of web resources will be made available to assist students in prepare for the research quizzes as well as for class. Each student will be expected to direct their own course research using the listed materials as a starting point. Exams and quizzes will be written assuming that you’ve read the material as well as participated in class. Method of Evaluation: The student’s progress in the course will be evaluated using several different methods. As this is a survey course, it is important that the student do reasonably well in each of the areas listed. Therefore, failure to complete any of the listed portions of the course evaluation may result in a grade of I (Incomplete) being assigned for the course.
Weekly Quizzes: Each week a quiz over the previous week’s material will be given. Fifteen to twenty minutes in length, each quiz will be worth same amount. Questions will be of several different types including multiple choice, short answer and essay. Quizzes should be thought of as“ check-ups” on how you are doing in mastering the material in preparation for the exams. No make-ups will be given for the quizzes as 10 or so will be given, however one quiz will be dropped from consideration when determining the quiz portion of the grade. Homework/JiTT Quizzes: Each week there will be some in class work done and an accompanying write up will be turned in. If you miss this time it may be possible to make up the missed work if the class was missed due to an excusable absence. Additionally, there will be occasional homework to be completed by the student. This work will generally be due at the beginning of the class period following the period it was assigned. Point values will vary from assignment to assignment. Additionally, research quizzes will be assigned to be taken from the WebCT course site. These quizzes will be “open book” and the student will have three chances to take them prior to the due date. Makeups on JiTT quizzes will not be allowed under any circumstances. Periodical Reviews: The student will be required to read a compilation of articles related to astronomy over the term of the course. The articles will be linked to from the course’s web page. Each student will read several articles over the course of the semester then summarize each article in a short paper of at least 150 words in length. The summary will be checked for spelling and grammatical mistakes as well as for informational accuracy. The articles will be picked up weekly. The review should address three points:
In-Class Paper: Near the end of the course, a portion of one period of the class will devoted to an in-class student writing assignment. Each student will select a topic to write about from the material included in the course. This topic will be selected by Oct 5. After the topic is selected, the instructor will return a question related to the selected topic to the student no later than Oct 12. On Nov 21, each student will be given 75 minutes to write an essay consisting of five paragraphs that correctly and adequately answers the instructor’s question. In addition, the student will turn in a bibliography of at least five sources the student used in researching the topic. The earlier a topic is selected, the earlier a question will be returned to the student thus allowing more time for research. Mid-term and Final: A mid-term and final examination will be given during the course. The exams will consist of several different types of questions including multiple choice, short answer and essay. Some questions will be conceptual in nature while others may require that quantitative work be done. Most exam questions will ask students to master the material beyond mere memorization. Exam scores will be curved with the top point of the curve being the average of the two highest scores on the exam and a perfect score. Consequently, it is possible for a student to earn more points than the exam was worth (a sort of extra credit). The curve is not a straight number of points that is added to each score but a sliding scale that rewards students for doing well. Hence, students who don’t score well shouldn’t expect the curve to bring their score up very much. A make-up for the mid-term examination will only be allowed in the case of excused absences with written documentation and must be completed within a week of the original exam date. The final will be comprehensive. Course Policies: The following policies will be in effect throughout the duration of the course. The instructor will deal with any other situations that may arise on a case-by-case basis. Cheating Policy: Cheating is immoral, unethical, antithetical to the goals of higher education and a violation of the spirit and mission of the scientific pursuit of knowledge. Additionally, dishonesty is harshly punished in the workplace. Therefore, cheating, if caught, will carry dire consequences in this course. If the student is caught cheating, the student shall be subject to any of the following possible punishments: assigning of a score of zero on the work, a permanent lowering of grade in the course, the assignment of a failing grade to the course, being reported to the Vice Presidents of Academic and Student Affairs and/or expulsion. Cheating will be considered any case where a student has represented someone else’s work as their own. Any student who knowingly assists another student to cheat will also be subject to the consequences of academic dishonesty as outlined above and in the Gordon College Catalogue. Accommodations of Disability: If you need academic accommodation for any type of disability, see me during office hours or make an appointment. I can’t make accommodation for a disability without the proper paperwork so be prepared and have the appropriate documentation on hand when we meet. Attendance Policy: Attendance will be taken for the course. A student will be given three days where he or she may miss class without penalty. Each unexcused absence thereafter will cost the student 3% of their final grade. While approved school activities will be counted as excused for the purposes of this policy; the only other excused absences are major, documented issues (prolonged illness would be an example). The three freebies should allow a student to miss classes for the general variety of reasons that may arise during the course of the semester. Each day a student is more than 5 minutes late to class will count as 1/3 of an absence. More than 15 minutes will count as 1/2an absence. Attendance at out-of-class “make-up” activities can be used erase missed days. A word of wisdom is in order here. The student shouldn’t feel that the freebies should be used as skip days. It is the instructor’s experience that “into each life a bit of rain must fall.” Nearly every student will have a couple of sick days, days where they have to be in court, days when they have to take care of business that has to be taken care of right then. These freebie days should be saved for those times when circumstances warrant having to miss class. Statute of Limitations: While the instructor does his best to accurately review and assess student work, instances may occur where an error in assigning a grade may occur. The student has exactly one week from the time the assignment, quiz, test or whatnot is handed back to the class to ask the instructor to review the grade. After this time has elapsed, all grades will be viewed as being carved in stone. Make-UpWork: While missing class is a bad idea, it is occasionally unavoidable. If a student finds that he or she must miss a class the instructor should be contacted at the earliest possible time to arrange a time to make up any missed material. If the student waits more than a week after the absence to discuss the make-up with the instructor, the request will be denied. What constitutes a valid reason for missing class? A prior approved school activity, a funeral, a serious illness or an automobile crash are considered valid as is a sick child. Proof will be required in all cases and will be taken by the instructor and may be checked by calling the issuing agency. Family vacations, doctor’s appointments, work obligations, etc. generally will not be considered as valid reasons for missing class. Extra Credit: Generally I am not in the habit of giving extra credit. My experience as an educator is that the only students who take advantage of extra credit are those who don’t need it. Additionally, students who do their work in a timely fashion and keep up with the course shouldn’t need extra credit. I do allow for some “make-up” credit activities such as star parties, museum trips, etc. to substitute for missed in-class work on occasion. Personal Electronics Use: In the interest of preserving an environment conducive to collaborative learning students are asked to limit their use of personal electronic devices to activities that are appropriate for the academic setting in the classroom. As such, cell phones are to be turned off prior to the beginning of class unless specifically cleared with the instructor. Personal recording devices and laptops may be used with permission of the instructor. MP3 players and other portable audio equipment are not allowed in class. Students will be expected to use any such devices in a way that does not promote academic dishonesty or distract other students in the course. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in the student being removed from the classroom environment. Dress Code: While not strictly a classroom policy, students should dress in a way that will not distract from the classroom learning environment. Thus, T-shirts and hats displaying blatant sexual innuendo or obvious profanity will be frowned upon as will particularly revealing or suggestive clothing. During exams, those wearing hats may be asked to remove them. While I a mall for freedom of expression, I’m more interested in making sure everyone can learn without distraction. Most students taking this course will be working in professional environments and treating the class in this way is a good idea.
A Tentative Schedule: Physical Science-Fall 2006
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