Richard Barrans, Ph.D., M.Ed., Department of Physics and Astronomy
| Office: | PS 110 |
| Phone: | (307) 766-6516 |
| e-mail: | rbarrans@uwyo.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday 1:00–1:50 PM, Tuesday 10:00–10:50 AM, Friday 10:00–11:50 AM |
Brenda Stratemeyer
| Office: | TBA |
| Phone: | TBA |
| e-mail: | bstratem@uwyo.edu |
| Office Hour: | Thursday 1:10–2:00 PM |
The successful student will:
What is the universe? How does it operate? What is our place in it? In this course students who plan to become elementary school teachers explore these questions. Students are invited to learn not only what we know about the universe we live in and the earth we live on, but especially how
Textbook: The Physical Universe, 13th edition by Konrad B. Krauskopf and Arthur Beiser, published by McGraw-Hill. At the University Bookstore for $170.05 new, $117.55 used.
Course Pack: Astronomy/Geology 1070 Course Materials, at the bookstore for $13.35.
The final grade is determined from cumulative points attained. Grading is on a standard scale (90’s = A, 80’s = B, 70’s = C, 60’s = D, < 60% = F). A total of 1000 points are available in the course. They are apportioned as follows:
| item | number | points |
|---|---|---|
| Class work | 26 | 90 |
| Quizzes | 9 | 180 |
| Written homework | 9 | 180 |
| Meteorology project | 1 | 150 |
| Geology project | 1 | 150 |
| Astronomy project | 1 | 150 |
| Incidental activities | varies | 100 |
Nearly all of the graded items in the course may be revised and re-submitted if you are not satisfied with them. Only the latest grade will count. To revise a submission, first apply to re-submit: explain what was wrong with the previous effort and your plan to correct it. (You will be told the specific application procedure for each graded item.) If your application is accepted, you may submit the revision. If your application is rejected, you may apply again. Usually, a first application must be entered within one week after grades are returned.
A note about grades: Your grade in this course reflects only your performance over a 15-week period on a limited set of evaluations. It does not reflect your worth as a person or what I think of you. Because of the limited scope of this course, your grade is not a prediction of your future success or even an evaluation of your potential as a teacher. In short, do not cause yourself (or your instructor) anxiety by making more of your grade than it is.
Tuesday and Thursday 2:10–5:00 PM, Physical Science Building, rooms 237–239. Lectures and laboratory activities are integrated in the two long weekly class meetings.
Most class periods feature an activity, worksheet, or short project: something the student creates individually or with a group. Grading is all-or-nothing: a satisfactory creation yields full credit, while any inadequate part permits no credit for the day. Each day, sign the roster at the start of class and verify that the instructor approves your work before you leave.
Tuesday classes are worth 3 points each and Thursday classes 4 points each. There are no class points Sep 29, Nov 10, or Nov 22.
Most quizzes are accessed on-line through WyoSakai. A quiz may be re-taken as many times as you wish before it closes; the latest score is recorded. Up to one week after a quiz closes, you may arrange to re-take the quiz by applying.
Most homework questions are posted on the class web site, and may also be accessed through the “Assignments” tool on Sakai. Homework assignments may be submitted as hard copy or as entered text or computer files uploaded through the Sakai “Assignments” tool.
There are three projects during the semester, each worth 150 points. They focus on integrating the information from class to describe and explain the natural world. Each project is described in detail in its own document.
Students complete additional projects of their choosing throughout the semester. Different projects have different point values, for a total of 100 course points.
The textbook is a resource for you to help yourself fulfill the course objectives. Textbook readings complement the material presented in class by providing a different pproach and providing additional material. I expect you to complete the textbook reading before a class meeting.
Course information is posted on the class web site at http://www.barransclass.com/astr1070. Surveys and quizzes are submitted through WyoSakai, which can be accessed at http://wyosakai.uwyo.edu. Grades are also maintained on Wyosakai.
Class is the primary setting in which I communicate content to you and you examine the concepts in a supportive environment. If you know that you must miss a class, please notify me beforehand so that I won’t wonder or worry. If you miss a class for an emergency, please notify me as soon as possible afterwards. Arrange to get class notes from a classmate. Missed class work may be made up without penalty with a university excuse or at my discretion. Arrange with me within one week of your return to make up class work.
If an assignment is not submitted by its deadline, apply before the application deadline to submit it later.
The purpose of this class is to help students learn earth and space science. Students should conduct themselves in class in accordance with this goal. Respect others’ opinions and abilities, and help each other to learn.
Telephoning, text-messaging, web-surfing, etc. during class is rude, as is pretty much verything other than attending to the lesson. Using electronic devices for class purposes is permitted.
If you find yourself struggling, please see me or Brenda for help sooner rather than later. We will do all we can to help you succeed.
Students are expected to work together on group work. Individual work, such as quizzes and projects, must be solely the work of the student claiming credit. All ideas from others that appear in writings and presentations submitted in this class must be properly attributed. Consult me or the specific assignment for the appropriate attribution format.
Academic dishonesty is forbidden and will be dealt with according to University procedures. Academic dishonesty primarily involves a student claiming credit for work done by another or helping another student improperly claim credit for work. This includes, but is not limited to, signing an absent student’s name to a group work sheet; “dry-labbing” or recording data that you did not actually observe; submitting material for grading that is, was, or will be also submitted to another class; and submitting material written by another without proper attribution. A comprehensive description of academic dishonesty can be found at http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounselsupport/UniRegs/802, rev 3.doc.
During my listed office hours, I will be either physically in my office, or I will leave a note on my desk stating where I can be found nearby (lab, department office…). You are also encouraged to see me in my office any other time that I am there. If my office door is open, come in! To ensure my undivided attention, you may schedule an appointment.
The very best way to contact me is by e-mail. I will almost certainly forget any conversation in class. If I have my wits about me when you speak to me in class, I will ask you to send me an e-mail to remind me of what we discussed. If I forget to ask you to send the e-mail, please send the e-mail anyway.
The hour immediately before class is not a good time to contact me, because I need the time to prepare for class. After class is usually better, especially if you help me clean up while we talk.
Finally, I am not permitted to divulge your grades by telephone or e-mail, so please do not ask!
If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. You will need to register with, and provide documentation of your disability to, University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 109 Knight Hall, 766-6189, TTY: 766-3073, udss@uwyo.edu. Please discuss any special needs you have with me as well.
This course fulfills the Earth Science (SE) component of the 2003 University Studies Program. SE courses include basic and applied study of fundamental principles addressing the earth-sun relationship, astronomy, distribution of physical/geological features, map interpretation, weather/climate/oceanography, soils and vegetation. They introduce the scientific approach, its scope and limitations. They provide a term-long laboratory experience (or equivalent substantial experimental work integrated with the lecture).
Information in the syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, correct and complete when distributed at the beginning of the term. The instructor, however, reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of the University of Wyoming, to make changes in the course content or instructional techniques during the term without notice or obligation. If any changes to the syllabus become necessary, students will be notified in class and on the web site.
| Dates | Unit | Reading | Quiz/HW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23 | The atmosphere | 14.1 | |
| Aug 25 | Clouds and precipitation | 14.2–14.3 | 1 |
| Aug 30 | Temperature and climate | 14.4, 14.9–14.10 | |
| Sep 1 | Thunderstorms and tornadoes | 5.10–5.12 | |
| Sep 6 | Global patterns | 14.5–14.7 | 2 |
| Sep 8 | Frontal systems | 14.8 | |
| Sep 13 | Tropical cyclones; hydrosphere | 14.12–14.13 | |
| Sep 15 | Climate change | 14.11, ch. 4 | 3 |
| Sep 20 | Rocks and minerals | 15.1–15.5 | |
| Sep 22 | Earth inside and outside | 15.6–15.9 | |
| Sep 27 | Weathering, streams, glaciers | 15.10–15.12 | 4 |
| Sep 29 | Meteorology project presentations | none | |
| Oct 4 | Wind, waves, and groundwater | 15.13–15.14 | |
| Oct 6 | Volcanoes and mountain building | 15.15–15.17, 16.1–16.2 | |
| Oct 11 | Geologic maps | none | |
| Oct 13 | Plate tectonics | 16.3–16.6 | 5 |
| Oct 18 | Geologic time | 16.7–16.12 | |
| Oct 20 | History of earth; oil and coal | 16.13–16.18 | |
| Oct 25 | Geology of Wyoming; moon phases | 17.12–17.13 | 6 |
| Oct 27 | The solar system | 17.1–17.11; 17.14–17.16 | |
| Nov 1 | Light; the sun | 18.1–18.7 | |
| Nov 3 | Measuring the heavens | 1.3–1.8; 18.8–18.10 | 7 |
| Nov 8 | Star types | 18.11–18.12 | |
| Nov 10 | Geology project presentations | none | |
| Nov 15 | Star life and death | 18.13–18.16 | |
| Nov 17 | Galaxies | 19.9–19.5 | 8 |
| Nov 22 | Astronomy project work day | none | |
| Nov 24 | Thanksgiving break | ||
| Nov 29 | Origin of the universe | 19.6–19.8 | |
| Dec 13 | Future of the universe | 19.9 | 9 |
| Dec 6 | Final: Astronomy project presentations, 1:15–3:15 PM | ||
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Copyright © 2008, Richard Barrans
Revised: 9 October 2011. Maintained by Richard Barrans.
URL: http://www.barransclass.com/astr1070/A107_F11_Syll.html