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Carefully read the following course policy (*.html version 080118) regarding
contact information, grading, and attendance.
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Welcome to Astronomy 10 (section 4160)
This one-semester course is a descriptive survey of and introduction to the conceptual aspects of astronomy. The emphasis of this course is on developing observational and predictive astronomy skills, understanding concepts and applying analytical reasoning, and not on rote memorization of facts and figures! Student learning outcomes are organized into four general topics:
We will be using the following class materials, all available at the Cuesta College Bookstore (San Luis Obispo campus: 546-3206; North County campus: 591-6206):
Website All Astronomy 10 announcements, updates, and handouts will be posted at http://www.waiferx.com/Physics/. Descriptions of more detailed student learning outcomes for each individual quiz and exam, in terms of objectives and measurable outcomes, are also posted there. Contact Information E-mail will be the preferred (and most reliable) means of communication, and will be checked regularly throughout the day as well as from off-campus. When using e-mail, include "Spring 2008 Astr 10" in the subject line. Voice mail messages left at the number listed below will be checked regularly during the workweek.
Lectures are TuTh 1:00-2:30 PM in Room N2401. Attendance is mandatory. You are responsible for all topics covered and materials handed out in lecture. Missing class means that you cannot receive credit for participation in written group activities and individual CPS clicker responses. You are expected to take quizzes and midterms in class at the scheduled dates and times. Tardiness and absence for any reason whatsoever will result in a zero quiz score, and arrangements for missed midterms can only be made under special circumstances. Students are responsible for their own enrollment status in this class, and are expected to handle their own adds and/or drops accordingly, as authorized by the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to drop students due to non-attendance or underperformance. Due to campus policy, under no circumstances are non-registered students or visitors allowed to attend lecture, unless written permission has been explicitly granted by the Physical Sciences Division. Course Components The responsibility for learning is yours. If you complete the assigned readings, participate fully in the group in-class activities and individual CPS clicker responses, you should do well on the quizzes and midterms. All students in Astronomy 10 should be able to attain the expected level of understanding. You will not succeed if you do not attend the lectures, and/or do not regularly put forth a good effort into studying, in-class activities, and CPS clicker responses.
There is no curve for this course, your performance is determined by a 600-point scale. This scale will be strictly adhered to--there will be no downward adjustments to this scale nor any "rounding up" of scores at the end of the semester. Your accumulated points towards this scale will be tabulated periodically throughout this semester. You are expected to retain all graded work that is handed back to you as a record to check for unintentional record-keeping errors; a *.pdf worksheet is available to keep track of your scores throughout this semester.
Your course grade in Astronomy 10 is comprised of your quiz and exam scores, in-class group activities, and individual CPS clicker participation: [600 points] total = [150 points] quizzes + [300 points] exams + [75 points] group activities + [75 points] CPS clicker participation. Quizzes [25% of your total course grade] There are 13 quizzes, and each quiz will take up 15 minutes of class, from 1:00-1:15 PM. Do not be late! Quizzes are closed-book and closed-notes. Each quiz has five multiple-choice questions of equal weight (each worth 3.0 points). No work needs to be shown for multiple-choice questions. No partial credit is given for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. No scantron forms are required for quizzes, as you will record your answers on the quiz itself. As the emphasis of this course is on understanding concepts and applying analytical reasoning, the multiple choice questions on quizzes are deliberately constructed to test your skills in weighing evidence and supporting conclusions. Since there are 13 quizzes in this semester, your three lowest scores are dropped, and are not included in calculating your quiz grade. Thus your ten highest quiz scores are each worth 2.5% of your course grade (or a maximum of 15 points each). This in effect allows you to miss three quizzes, if you are content with the scores on your remaining ten quizzes--but it is strongly encouraged that you do not abuse this policy early in the semester. Because of this, make-up quizzes are not allowed because of absences or tardiness. It is important that you come to every class in a timely and prompt manner. As such, if you come to class at any time between 1:00-1:15 PM, you will only be given the remaining time until 1:15 PM to take the quiz. It is expected that each and every student makes the necessary arrangements and contingency plans in advance to arrive promptly to class on a quiz day. Again, under no circumstances will a make-up quiz be given because of an absence or tardiness after a quiz has been collected from the class at 1:15 PM. Keep in mind that you are allowed to drop your three lowest quiz scores, regardless of whether they are due to an absence or actual low score. It is the intent of this policy to allow for whatever circumstances may arise during the semester that would preclude you from being able to take a quiz at the assigned dates and times. You cannot have the score for a quiz that you have already taken retroactively replaced, removed, or excused. By showing up and taking a quiz, your actions imply that you are prepared and are able to perform to the best of your ability on the quiz at the assigned date and time, and demonstrate your intent to have your work graded equitably with the rest of the class. Note that there are only 12 scheduled quizzes in the semester. "Quiz 13" is credit for showing up and taking the pre- and post-tests for educational research (Star Properties Concept Inventory, and Survey of Attitudes Towards Astronomy) in a conscientious and serious manner, on the first and last lectures of the semester. You are expected to bring your textbook to each class. At least one, but no more than two quizzes during a semester may be specially designated as "open book," where you will be allowed access to your own individual textbook during the quiz, but open notes are not allowed. Highlighting, underlining and short comments written in your textbook are acceptable. Lecture notes, reading guides, and other separate study materials are not acceptable. An "open book" quiz will not be announced until just before the start of a quiz. You should be prepared to answer all quiz questions regardless of whether or not you have access to a textbook, and regardless of whether a quiz is "open book" or not. Time spent to retrieve a textbook from outside the classroom during a quiz will be considered time during the 15 minutes allotted to take the quiz. The intent of this practice is to encourage individual ownership and accountability, and to emphasize the importance of utilizing the textbook effectively as a learning resource. Exams [50% of your total course grade] There are three scheduled midterms, and each midterm will take up 50 minutes of class, from 1:00-1:50 PM. Do not be late! Midterms are closed-book and closed-notes. There are no open-book exams. The Final Exam is scheduled to be given on Thursday, May 22, 12:30-2:30 PM. However, the Final Exam is the same length and format as a midterm, covers only the material after Midterm 3, and as such could be considered a de facto "Midterm 4." Each test (whether midterm or Final Exam) will be weighted at 12.5% of your course grade (or a maximum of 75 points each). You are not allowed to drop nor skip a midterm/Final Exam. Each midterm (and the Final Exam) is comprised of ten multiple-choice questions (each worth a maximum of 3.0 points), and three short-answer questions (each worth a maximum of 15 points). No work needs to be shown for multiple-choice questions. No partial credit is given for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. For the short-answer questions, credit (and partial credit) is awarded primarily for relevant and reasoned astronomy concepts and skills used in your explanations, as discussed below. Note that partial credit cannot be given for a question that is left blank! (Grading Rubric for Short-Answer Questions)
There are no make-up midterms or Final Exams allowed, but carefully read the following policy:
In-class activities are where you will work in assigned groups of three or four students. These activities are meant to challenge you in analyzing and resolving common misconceptions in astronomy in a collaborative and cooperative environment. Each activity is worth 0.5% of your course grade (or a maximum of 3.0 points each). These activities are graded as a group for effort and creativity as well as being correct. There is partial credit awarded. CPS Clicker Participation [12.5% of your total course grade] Throughout this semester, there will be questions presented to the class to be individually responded to using your Classroom Performance System clicker. Credit is given for participation, and results will be used to guide further classroom discussion. Again, you are responsible for purchasing, registering, and bringing your CPS clicker to each class. As an incentive for students to purchase and register their CPS clickers as soon as possible, participation credit will not be awarded until after you have registered your own individual CPS clicker. However, if you bring your registered clicker to class and it is not functioning reliably, you may be allowed at the discretion of the instructor to either use a "loaner" clicker, or to turn in a written record of your in-class responses for participation credit. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to use a "loaner" clicker or to submit a written record of your in-class responses unless you have already purchased and registered your CPS clicker. Participation for responding to each question is worth 0.05-0.10% of your course grade (or a maximum of 0.3-0.6 points each). As an incentive for constructive interaction with your peers, bonus points will be awarded contingent on the class as a whole attaining a standard success rate. More details on how CPS clicker points are awarded will be discussed in lecture. Extra-Credit Points There will be opportunities near the end of the semester to accumulate extra-credit points. It is the intent of these extra-credit points to allow for circumstances where your total course points are very near a letter grade cut-off, which in effect will be "rounded up" with the inclusion of these extra-credit points. Academic Responsibilities You will be expected to be informed of and to abide by all student policies outlined in the Cuesta College Catalog, 2007-2008. You are also responsible for being informed of and to abide by all student policies and calendar deadlines in the Cuesta College Spring '08 Class Schedule, especially those listed on the inside front cover. Students should contact Disabled Student Program & Services (San Luis Obispo campus: 546-3148; North County campus: 591-6215) regarding arrangements for disability accommodations in a timely manner. |
