Richard Barrans, Ph.D., M.Ed., Department of Physics and Astronomy
| Office: | PS 110 |
| Phone: | 766-6516 |
| e-mail: | rbarrans@uwyo.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday 10 AM–noon, Wednesday noon–2 PM |
The successful student will:
What is the universe? How does it work? What is our place in it? This course is an opportunity for students who plan to become elementary school teachers to 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 we have learned it and are trying to learn more.
These are at the University Bookstore for $19.95, $19.99, $24.95, and $18.45, respectively.
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 | points |
|---|---|
| Weekly lessons | 450 |
| Geology project | 150 |
| Meteorology project | 150 |
| Astronomy project | 150 |
| Incidental activities | 100 |
A note about grades: Your grade in this course reflects only your performance over a 15-week period on a limited set of evaluations. Your grade 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 really is.
Tuesday and Thursday 2:10–5:00 PM, Physical Science Building, rooms 237–239. Lectures and laboratory activities are integrated in the two loooong weekly class meetings. There is no grade for attendance, but in-class work cannot be made up without a University excuse or prior instructor consent. Class activities are usually conducted by the lab group.
Reading quizzes prepare students for class meetings. Each weekly drill reinforces or extends the concepts explored in the class. Students submit reading quizzes and drills on-line through Sakai. Unless otherwise specified, weekly homework questions require hard copy written answers.
There are three projects during the semester, each worth 150 points. These 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 select from an extensive list of projects to complete throughout the semester. Different projects are worth different numbers of points, for a total of 100 course points.
The textbooks are a resource for students to help themselves fulfill the course objectives. Textbook readings complement the material presented in class by providing a different approach and addressing additional material. Guides for all readings are posted on the class web site. Completing the appropriate textbook reading before a class meeting is expected.
Course information will be posted on the class web site at http://www.barransclass.com/astr1070. Reading quizzes, surveys, and drills are submitted through Sakai.
Anticipated absences should be brought to my attention before they occur. Work missed due to an absence may be made up if the student has an official University excuse or at my discretion. If a justified makeup is not possible due to schedule or equipment constraints, the missed work may be prorated.
Without prior arrangements or an unforeseen crisis, work turned in after its due date will be assessed a penalty of 10% for each day that it is late. Sakai does not accept late submissions.
This class exists for students to explore earth and space science. Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with this goal. Those who disrupt the class or interfere with other students’ opportunity to learn will be asked to leave. Students are expected to respect others’ opinions and abilities, and to help each other during group work activities.
If you have a cell phone, leave it home, or turn it off and keep it out of sight. Telephoning or text messaging during class is just rude.
If you find yourself struggling, please see me for help sooner rather than later. I will do whatever I can to help you succeed.
Students are expected to work together on group work. Individual work, such as projects, must be solely the work of the student. 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 misrepresenting work submitted in the class or assisting another student to submit misrepresented 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, welcome.
You are welcome to visit me in my office as described above. Otherwise, the very best way to contact me is by e-mail. I can pretty much guarantee that I will 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 tell 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 will be concentrating on preparing for class. After class is usually better, unless I am in a hurry to clean up before the scheduled end of class.
Finally, I am not permitted to discuss 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 330 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* |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | Nature of science, Maps | C 3–14, G ch. 20 |
| Aug 27 | Landforms, Geologic time | G chs. 1, 9, 11 |
| Sep 1 | Streams | G ch. 2 |
| Sep 3 | Ice | G ch. 3 |
| Sep 8 | Wind and waves | G chs. 4, 5 |
| Sep 10 | Plate tectonics | G ch. 12 |
| Sep 15 | Rocks | G chs. 14–17 |
| Sep 17 | Ground water, Slides | G 6, 7 |
| Sep 22 | Volcanoes | G 8 |
| Sep 24 | Oil, Wyoming geology | G ch.19 |
| Sep 29 | Atmosphere, sunshine | M 9–22, A 25–31 |
| Oct 1 | Physics of wind | M 23–25 |
| Oct 6 | Geology projects, Climate types | M 30–36, 43–49 |
| Oct 8 | Mid-latitude cyclones | M 25–29, 92–96 |
| Oct 13 | Physics of precipitation | M 52–68 |
| Oct 15 | Thunderstorms and tornadoes | M 69–83, 398–399, 404–406 |
| Oct 20 | Tropical cyclones | M 84–91 |
| Oct 22 | Climate change | M ch. 4 |
| Oct 27 | Local winds | M 96–101 |
| Oct 29 | Meteorology project presentations | none |
| Nov 3 | Measuring the heavens I | A 2–10 |
| Nov 5 | Measuring the heavens II | A 10–13 |
| Nov 10 | Solar system | A chs. 4, 5 |
| Nov 12 | Gravity | none |
| Nov 17 | Stars | A 136–146, C 131–140 |
| Nov 19 | Star death | A 146–157 |
| Nov 24 | Galaxies | A ch. 7 |
| Nov 27 | Thanksgiving | |
| Dec 1 | Work day | none |
| Dec 3 | Cosmology | A ch. 8 |
| Dec 10 | Final: Astronomy project presentations, 1:15–3:15 PM | |
* G = Cvancara, Field Manual for the Amateur Geologist; M = Henson, Rough Guide to Weather; A = Gribbin, From Here to Infinity; C = course pack.
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Copyright © 2008, Richard Barrans
Revised: 23 August 2009. Maintained by Richard Barrans.
URL: http://www.barransclass.com/astr1070/A1070_Syll_F09.html