Course Syllabus

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Instructor:  TF Johnson, CPhil                                                                                    Office Location: ZOOM

Phone: 530-400-7303 (I do not text!)                                                                   Office Hours:  T/Th 10 -11 and by appointment

Email: tjohn118@solano.edu - Write "ASTR 010 Student" in subject line

 

I. TEXT/MATERIALS:

  • Text: Astronomy by Fraknoi, Morrison and Wolf ISBN - 9781680920383. Free pdf available at URL https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy.  There are details about purchasing a hard copy located at same URL.  Our CANVAS course shell also contains a version of the textbook.
  • You may need a calculator for a number of simple calculations. If you plan on continuing your studies in astronomy or other “hard” science you might want to purchase a significant calculator.  You can find a 90 day free trial for TI-84 emulator software at the following URL - http://ti-enews-education.ti.com/84CE-SmartView-90-day-trial.
  • Software needed: Microsoft Office 2016 or newer, Adobe Acrobat DC. These applications are available to all SCC students.

 

II. ENGAGEMENT:

  • Intro:  I will email everyone in the class the morning before class begins, giving instructions as to what to do to get started.  Logging on once every two days (at a minimum) and doing an assignment (even reading a power point or sections from the text) is important in a six week class.  
  • First Assignments: You must introduce yourself by clicking on the 'Discussions' bar on the left of your CANVAS homepage by 11:00pm on Wednesday, June 17th or you may be dropped.  There are series of primer assignments to help you acclimate to the online learning environments that have multiple due dates near the end of the first week.
  • Questions for Instructor: If your question is not answered in this syllabus contact me at the email address seen on the upper left of this page.
  • Online Office Hours:  I will be online to answer questions T and Th from 10-1 at my ZOOM meeting address (289 806 5952) and you will have your video ON during the meeting(s).  You can send me e-mail at tjohn118@solano.edu and I usually with respond within 12 hours (except weekends).  You also can send me an email message through the CANVAS inbox or setup other ZOOM meeting times.

 

III. STUDENT HELP:

  • Distance Ed

If you need assistance with Distance Education, contact Carol.Zadnik@solano.edu

  • Link to Student Handbook

http://www.solano.edu/student_service/handbook.php (Links to an external site.)

  • Counseling Services  

Link to counseling services like EOPS and Disability--Counseling (Links to an external site).   

  • DSP Services:

"If you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, learning or other disability that may affect your ability to carry out assigned course work, Disability Services Program (DSP) is here to help you. The DSP team will review your concerns and work with you to determine what accommodations are appropriate. They can also refer you to care providers if you are not certain whether you have a disability. All of your information is kept confidential. They will give you information to share with me so I can ensure your needs are accommodated in this course. Link to Disability Services (Links to an external site.)"

  • Technology Required and Support: 

Access to a computer (and/or tablet) and reliable internet connection are requirements in order to access the course via CANVAS and complete course assignments.  You may experience trouble completing coursework with just a cell phone.  Your PC should bContact tech supports if you are experiencing access issues while using CANVAS.

Computers are available in the library and Academic Success & Tutoring Centers (ASTC) at each campus location.

Hours/locations Library, Tutoring, and Technology support are available at: 

 

 

 

IV. COURSE WORK:    

  • Structure:  Course is composed of a number of Modules of 2-3 days duration each.  There is a required group discussion for many of the Module groups.  Click on the Modules link on the left to get started and see the course structure.
  • Grading--Timing and Location:  Discussions/Essays will be graded within 2 days of due date.  Homework, Quizzes, and Exams appear immediately after you submit them in the Grades link

 

V. GRADING BREAKDOWN:

 Homework                 20%                                               90-100%       A    

 Hour Exams              35%                                                 75-89%         B

 Quizzes                       10%                                                  60-74%         C

 Discussions              10%                                                  50-59%         D

 Final                              25%   Total    100%                      0-49%         F   

  • Homework:  Homework for each module due every 2-3 days.  Absolutely no homework will be accepted late.  Two homework scores will be thrown out.   Not completing homework will hurt your grade.

 

  • Quizzes:  There will be several quizzes interspersed throughout each module.  Absolutely no quizzes will be accepted late.  Two quiz scores will be thrown out.

 

  • Hour Exams:  Hour exams will be have a time limit of 1 hour, and consist of: (1) 20 true or false, (2) 30 multiple choice, 2 points each. No exam scores will be thrown out. 

 

  • Final:  The final will be online, 2 hours long, with 40 true or false questions, 60 multiple choice, and some short answer open ended questions/response prompts. It will be comprehensive and will emphasize subjects covered after the 2nd exam.  Final exam review problems will be found on Webassign.

 

  • Extra Credit: 

 

    • Essay:   A two page (type-written, double-spaced) book report (Essay) on the first eight chapters Cosmic Acceleration: Hounding the White Whale of Cosmology-– Dr Phillip Petersen’s book is a possibility for extra credit, boosting your grade up to 3% of your grade in the class. It’s only available online. Free online version: Cosmic Acceleration.  (Links to an external site.) 
    • Field Trip to Chabot Observatory:  You can get a up to a 3% boost to your grade by completing the 2 page essay indicated above or a full 3% by going to the Chabot Space and Science Center (if open) in the Oakland Hills, Fri or Sat night. See https://chabotspace.org/ for directions, ticket prices, and schedule.   Scan your ticket and a short one paragraph writeup of what you saw then submit to CANVAS.     
    • If you complete all assignments (homework, discussions) you will get a 2% boost to your overall grade!  

                      

VI. SUCCESS: The keys to success in this course in order of importance are as follows:

  • Learn the terminology! If you live in foreign country it really helps to learn the language. I suggest you learn “Astronomese.”  Purchase some blank flash cards or 3x5 cards from the bookstore, and write the term on one side and its definition on the other.   Then test yourself until you can give the definition by looking at the term and vice-versa.
  • Example: Supernova – exploding star.
  • If you DON’T become conversant with the terminology you run a good chance of FAILING the final exam, as it is detailed and challenging.
  • Do the assigned reading.  It will help you understand the questions on the Homework, Quizzes, and Exams.
  • Do the homework in a timely fashion. Once we finish a section, do the 10-15 questions on the Homework relating to it. Ask questions on the homework
  • Take advantage of the extra credit possibilities.

 

VII. GOAL(S)

  1. The student should achieve an appreciation of Astronomy in the ordinary world, scientific thinking, and the relations of concepts and their application.

 

VIII. ACADEMIC HONESTY

  1.   From the Student Handbook: Violation of the Academic Honesty Policy includes but is not limited to:
  • Plagiarism – involves using another’s work without giving proper credit, whether done accidentally or on purpose. This includes not only words and ideas, but also graphs, artwork, music, maps, statistics, diagrams, scientific data, software, films, videos and the like. Plagiarism is plagiarism whether the material is from published or unpublished sources. Even if only bits and pieces of other sources are used, or outside sources reworded, they must still be cited. To avoid problems, students should cite any source(s).
  • Violation of class assignments, examination rules, e.g., communicating or transferring information to another student, using any materials such as books, notes, etc., other than those expressly allowed for the exam, looking at another student’s exam, etc.
  • Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication, for any commercial purpose, of any contemporaneous recording of an academic presentation in a classroom or equivalent site of instruction, including, but not limited to, handwritten or computer generated class notes, except as permitted by any college policy or administrative procedure.  

 

IX. SANCTIONS

  • An instructor who determines that a student has cheated or plagiarized has the right to give a failing (i.e. “F”) grade, or numerical equivalent, for the assignment or examination...  A student may be expelled, suspended, or given a lesser sanction if he or she is found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty.

 

X.  SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE OUTCOMES PLAN: 

                                                             Division: Math/Science

                                                           Program: General Science

                                         Course: ASTR 010  –  General Astronomy

Related Program Outcomes:

Goals for students in taking Astronomy courses:

  1. To become aware of the place of Astronomy in the advancement of science.
  2. To prepare lifelong learners in Astronomy.
  3. To prepare students for upper division and graduate Astronomy courses.
  4. To stimulate interest in Astronomy as a career, both in observational and theoretical fields.
  5. To develop a passion for watching the sky and keeping up with advances and events in Astronomy.

 Expected Outcomes:

  1. Define astronomical terminology.
  2. Clarify astronomical concepts and apply them.
  3. Answer questions on astronomical concepts taken from astronomical writings.

Methods of Assessment

  1. At least twice weekly homework assignments/quizzes, occasional discussion entries (5-10), at least two one hour exams, and a final exam determine a student’s ability to understand the terminology and concepts of astronomy.

Students’ reading comprehension in the field of astronomy will be tested by three quizzes taken solely from the textbook.   There will also be questions on the tests related to textbook material, again assessing the students’ reading comprehension in astronomy.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due