Martens, Hilary R.

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana Course Syllabi Open Educational Resources (OER) Fall 9-1-2020 GEO 224.R00: General Science - Physics and Geoscience Hilary R. Martens The University Of Montana, hilary.martens@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Martens, Hilary R., "GEO 224.R00: General Science - Physics and Geoscience" (2020). University of Montana Course Syllabi. 11309. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/11309 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources (OER) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana Course Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Geo 224N – Gen Science: Phys & Geoscience | Fall 2020$Instructor Information: Instructor: Dr. Hilary Martens || Office: CHCB 329/330 || Blended Learning (In-Person / Online-Interactive)Email: hilary.martens@umontana.edu || Phone: 406.243.6855 || Office hours: T 3-4 PM; W 9-10 AM; By appointmentTeaching Assistants: Chloe Boucher | chloe.boucher@umontana.edu | Masters student in GeosciencesGina Belair | gina.belair@umontana.edu | Masters student in GeosciencesLecture and Labs: Lecture: MWF; mostly online asynchronous (you can complete readings and activities at a time convenient for you); occasionally*lectures will be held in an online synchronous format using Zoom at the normally scheduled class time of 2-2:50 PM (mountain time)*Labs: TR; online asynchronous and synchronous (we will let you know in advance of each lab session)*Thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility as we navigate uncertain times. Our goal is for all students to achieve and*excel at the learning outcomes of the course while keeping all members of our community as safe and healthy as possible.*Course Description: This course will introduce basic principles of the physical sciences, including fundamental topics in physics, astronomy, and Earthsciences. A major focus of the course will be on building confidence in science, inspiring scientific curiosity, and preparing studentsto incorporate current science education standards in their future K-8 classrooms. Specific topics that we will explore include thescientific method, the physics of motion, force, and energy. We will also cover the four main components of the Earth system, thehistory and evolution of the Earth as a planet, the ways in which humans use resources and affect our planet, and our planet’s placein the Solar System and Universe.Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students should be able to:1. Describe the motion of an object in terms of position, speed, velocity, and acceleration2. Apply the scientific method to ask questions and conduct basic scientific experiments3. Explain and provide conceptual examples to illustrate Newton’s Laws of Motion4. Differentiate between kinematic and potential energy, and discuss methods of energy transfer5. Describe the interior structure of the Earth and the physical processes that shape its surface6. Summarize the roles that human communities play in the evolution of our planet7. Characterize Earth’s place in the Solar System and Universe8. Appreciate the impact of science on society and discover ways to inspire the next generation of scientists!Textbook:Conceptual Physical Science, 6th Ed., Hewitt, P.G., Suchocki, J.A., & Hewitt, L.A. 2017, Pearson.Online Learning:Moodle: Login to Moodle through UM-Online (moodle.umt.edu). We will use Moodle extensively in this course forasynchronous learning, class discussions, activities, assignments, and exams. Zoom: A Zoom link will be posted to the Moodle site and sent via email. We will use Zoom for synchronous lectures, remotelaboratory sessions, class discussions, interactive activities (e.g. breakout rooms), team projects, and office hours.Labs: Laboratory exercises will involve a combination of asynchronous and synchronous online learning. Some labs may havethe option to meet in person in outdoor, socially-distanced settings. We will inform you of each upcoming laboratory format inadvance via email and Moodle. Important Dates: UM Office of the Registrar: https://www.umt.edu/registrar/calendar.phpTime Management: The standard expectation for college courses is that two hours outside of class will be required for every one credit hour in class. Asa 5-credit course, you should therefore expect to spend an average of 15 hours/week on lectures, labs, homework, readings,exams, and other course activities. Please ensure that you have sufficient time to devote to this course before enrolling.                           Dates Topic    Assignments and Due Dates  Week 1  The Nature of Science   19 August    Unit 1: Welcome and Introductions  20 August   Lab 1: Campus Scavenger Hunt   21 August      Unit 1: A Brief History of Science   Week 2  Scientific Inquiry   24 August    Unit 2: Scientific Methods  25 August   Lab 2: Making Observations in Nature   26 August     Unit 2: Questions and Observations  27 August   Lab 3: Accuracy and Precision   28 August    Unit 2: Hypotheses and Theories   Week 3  Physics of Motion   31 August  Unit 3: Distance, Time, and Speed  01 September   Lab 4: Distance, Time, and Speed  02 September    Unit 3: Position and Velocity  03 September  Lab 5: Position and Velocity   04 September     Unit 3: Mass and Inertia   Week 4   Acceleration and Gravity   07 September Labor Day: No Class  08 September Lab 6: Acceleration   09 September    Unit 4: Acceleration and Gravity  10 September  Lab 7: Measuring Earth’s Gravity   11 September    Unit 4: Review and Active Practice   Week 5     Net Force and Projectile Motion   14 September   Midterm Exam 1  15 September  Lab 8: Net Force   16 September   Unit 5: Net Force  17 September  Lab 9: Projectile Motion   18 September   Unit 5: Projectile Motion   Week 6  Newton’s Laws   21 September       Unit 6: Newton’s 1st and 2nd Laws  22 September Lab 10: Newton’s 2nd Law    23 September    Unit 6: Newton’s 3rd Law  24 September Lab 11: Newton’s 3rd Law    25 September   Unit 6: Active Practice   Week 7  Work and Energy   28 September  Unit 7: Work   29 September    Lab 12: Mission Possible! 1  30 September  Unit 7: Energy  01 October    Lab 13: Mission Possible! 2  02 October   Unit 7: Practice Problems   Week 8   Astronomy and Planetary Science  05 October    Unit 8: Solar System   06 October  Lab 14: The Moon  07 October    Unit 8: Earth Seasons  08 October   Lab 15: Space Exploration  Course Calendar*:* Subject to change: We will try to stick to the schedule as best as possible, but may need to adjust from time to time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Dates Topic Assignments and Due Dates09 October Unit 8: Space MissionsWeek 9 Journey Inside the Earth12 October Midterm Exam 213 October Lab 16: Earth Materials14 October Unit 9: Layers of the Earth15 October Lab 17: Earth’s Interior16 October Unit 9: Mechanical BehaviorWeek 10 Plate Tectonics19 October Unit 10: Plate Boundaries20 October Lab 18: Plate Boundaries and Motion21 October Unit 10: Earthquakes22 October Lab 19: Global Earthquakes23 October Unit 10: Volcanoes Due: Project 1Week 11 The Water Cycle26 October Unit 11: The water cycle27 October Lab 20: The Water Cycle28 October Unit 11: Atmosphere and oceans29 October Lab 21: Geomorphology30 October Unit 11: Climate changeWeek 12 History of Earth and Life02 November Unit 12: Geological time scale03 November Election Day: No Lab04 November Unit 12: Mass extinction events05 November Lab 22: History of Life06 November Midterm Exam 3Week 13 Natural Resources and Sustainability09 November Unit 13: Natural Resources10 November Lab 23: Personal Water Usage11 November Veterans Day Observed: No Class12 November Lab 24: Ask a Scientist / Points of Connection13 November Unit 13: Sustainability Due: Project 2Week 14 Inspiring the Next Generation!16 November Unit 14: Be curious & Inspire curiosity17 November Lab 25: Reflections18 November Course wrap-up and evaluationsWeek 15 Finals Week19-25NovemberFinal Exam Final Exam (Due: Wednesday 25 Nov 2020 by 5 PM)Required assignments and exams:1. Readings: You are expected to complete online (Moodle) readings and activities as you work through the course.2. [15%] Term Projects: Create a lesson plan on a physical science topic of interest (10%); “Notes to Myself” (5%)3. [5%] Participation: Active and thoughtful contributions to online Moodle activities/forums4. [10%] Midterm Exam 1: Scientific methods, basic physics of motion, and gravity5. [10%] Midterm Exam 2: Newton’s Laws, work, energy, and astronomy6. [10%] Midterm Exam 3: Earth and water sciences7. [10%] Homework: Weekly exercises to explore course content more deeply8. [20%] Laboratory Exercises: Two laboratory exercises and reports per week9. [20%] Final Exam: Comprehensive (covering all units)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Course guidelines and policies: Student conduct code All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructorand/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code:https://www.umt.edu/safety/policies/default.phpAttendance  Regular participation in online/remote course exercises is expected. If you need to miss class activities (e.g. due to illness, inadequate technology, or other extenuating circumstances), then please inform me in advance.Course withdrawal Please refer to Institute policy on adding, dropping, and withdrawing from courses:https://www.umt.edu/registrar/students/dropadd.phpImportant dates and deadlines are provided by the Office of the Registrar:https://www.umt.edu/registrar/calendar.phpDisability modifications The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors,and Disability Services for Students. If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and youhave not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommasson Center 154 or call406.243.2243. I will work with you and Disability Services to provide an appropriate modification. The University does not permit fundamental alterations of academic standards or retroactive modifications. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that I am aware of requested modifications as soon as possible during the term (including providing me a copy of their official DSS letter).Assignment expectations Readings, homework, labs, projects, exams and other course activities are expected to be completed thoughtfully and on time. Honor Code: “No member of the community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the community.” (Caltech)Plagiarism: Reproducing the work of someone else, and representing the work as your own, without appropriate citation andattribution is forbidden. Plagiarism extends beyond tangible material to also include ideas. When in doubt, cite.Collaboration: Since the course is remote/online, peer-to-peer collaboration will not look the same as in other courses. Although youare welcome and encouraged to discuss course materials (except for exams) with your fellow classmates, it is expected that yousubmit your own work that reflects your own understanding of the material. Please respect and uphold the Honor Code.Grading policy Term Projects: 15%)Participation: 5% (Participation in discussions, readings, and activities in the Moodle course)*Homework: 10%)Laboratories: 20%)Midterm Exams: 30% (3 x 10%)*Final Exam: 20%)It is recommended that you begin assignments early and keep track of due dates.*We use traditional letter grades: A [93–100%], A- [90–92.99%], B+ [87–89.99%], B [83–86.99%], B- [80–82.99%], etc.*Late assignments Late assignments will only be accepted for full credit with prior written approval (e.g. disability with official DSS letter) or as a resultof extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student (e.g. hospitalization of the student). Formal documentation willtypically be provided in the case of extenuating circumstances. Situations will be evaluated by the instructor on a case-by-casebasis, and the acceptance of a late assignment or exam is not guaranteed. The guiding principal will be in the spirit of fairness toall students in the course, based on the Honor Code (see above). It is the responsibility of the student to plan ahead and submit work on time. Late assignments will incur the following penalties:                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Student Academic Resources  Disability Services for Students (DSS): http://www.umt.edu/dss/* The Writing Center: http://www.umt.edu/writingcenter/* Office for Student Success: http://www.umt.edu/oss/* Career Services: http://www.umt.edu/career/* Mansfield Library: http://www.lib.umt.edu*  Student Health and Wellbeing*  Curry Health Center (mental health, physical health, pharmacy, health promotion): http://www.umt.edu/curry-health-center/* Campus Recreation: http://www.umt.edu/crec/* DiverseU: http://www.umt.edu/diverseu/* Student Activity Groups: http://www.umt.edu/asum/student_groups/* Tips for Success and Frequently Asked Questions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                - Projects: A deduction of 20% off the maximum possible grade will be assessed for assignments submitted by 10 PM(Montana time) the next business day. A deduction of 40% off the maximum grade will be assessed for assignmentssubmitted before 10 PM on the third business day following the deadline. Beyond the third business day, late assignmentswill not be accepted. Late assignments must be emailed directly to me; the portal on Moodle will close at the deadline.- Midterm Exams: A deduction of 50% off the maximum possible grade will be assessed for late exams submitted before 10 PM on the third business day following the deadline. Beyond the third business day, late exams will not be accepted. Ifyou missed the deadline for an exam, you must first email me to reopen the exam portal for you on Moodle. - Final Exam: Late Final Exams will not be accepted.- Homework and Laboratory Reports: A deduction of 10% off the maximum possible grade will be assessed for every 24hours that elapses after the due date.Cultural leave policy Cultural or ceremonial leave allows excused absences for cultural, religious, and ceremonial purposes to meet the student’scustoms and traditions or to participate in related activities. To receive an authorized absence for a cultural, religious or ceremonialevent the student or their advisor (proxy) must submit a formal written request to the instructor. This must include a brief description(with inclusive dates) of the cultural event or ceremony and the importance of the student’s attendance or participation. Authorizationfor the absence is subject to approval by the instructor. Appeals may be made to the Chair, Dean or Provost. The excused absence or leave may not exceed five academic calendar days (not including weekends or holidays). Students remain responsible forcompletion or make-up of assignments as defined in the syllabus, at the discretion of the instructor.Additional information and resources 1.	* Each “lesson” in our Moodle course is equivalent to one in-class lecture. I strongly recommend that you take notes asyou read the content and engage with the multi-media (e.g. videos, animations, and activities). Taking notes, or evenspeaking out loud, may help you to engage more actively with the material and to retain it better.2.	* To be successful in this course, you must (1) submit all your work, and (2) submit all your work on time. Even if youfail an exam, chances are that you can still pass the class (and maybe even still receive an A!) as long as you submit allyour work on time. The best thing to do is to stay on track and work diligently through the material each week. Do not put everything off until the last minute. If you work steadily and actively through the material, and submit all of your work on time, then you are highly likely to succeed in this class, regardless of your prior experience in math and science.3.	* I don’t have a computer; can I take the course on my mobile phone? Technically, yes you could take the course onmost mobile phones, but it is not recommended. The small screen size of a mobile phone may make it difficult tonavigate and read course materials. If you need a computer, free computers are available on campus for students to use,including at the Mansfield Library and in some departments.4.	* Start the projects early, and use the UM Writing Center as a resource. Procrastination is tempting, but I stronglyencourage you to start your projects early so that you can have time to create your best work and explore your topic fully!5.	* Feeling confused? Reach out! Please feel free to start discussions and ask questions using the open forums at thebottom of each unit. Online courses present challenges for student engagement – it is easy to stay in your own bubble when you aren’t in a classroom surrounded by other people. I encourage everyone to participate in the open discussions.6.	* This is my first online course – help! I have structured the course with straight-forward navigation – some activities willrequire completion of other activities before you can move on. UM-Online offers Moodle trainings for students. You canalso reach out to me and the TAs via email and/or office hours with questions.7.	* How can I engage more with other students in the course? One of the best ways to engage directly with otherstudents in the course is by posting to the open discussion forums at the end of each unit or the “Common Room” forum.

GEO 224N.R00: General Science - Physics and Geoscience

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GEO 224.R00: General Science - Physics and Geoscience

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