Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Course Syllabus Course Dates : 2 April 1 June 2018 COURSE TITLE: Physics Non-Sci Majors ABBREVIATION: PHYS&110 CREDIT HOURS: 5 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS: 40 LAB HOURS: 20 INSTRUCTOR: Peter Kai INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTION: Over the years, I have worked/consulted with engineering groups, scientists, mathematicians and astronomical society personnel as well as having visited government laboratories, observatories, planetariums and ancient astronomical wonders throughout the world. Some of the locations visited- Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico; Tulum, Mexico; Adler Planetarium in Chicago, IL; Fiske Planetarium in Boulder Colorado; Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea, Big Island of Hawaii; and Mount Haleakala Observatory, Maui, HI. I have over twenty years of teaching experience/expertise with numerous accolades/awards from military and civilian educational institutions for teaching excellence. Since 1995, I have been with Pierce College where I have instructed mathematical courses as well as several science courses (Astronomy, Electronics and Physics). I have several degrees (baccalaureate and masters degrees) and attended the following universities: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA (Physics & Engineering); United States Military Academy at West Point (Applied Science & Engineering); Cameron University, OK (Science & Premed); University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (Education-General Administration); Pennsylvania State University, PA (Civil Engineering); and Saint Martin's College, Lacey, WA (Engineering Management). I am a veteran (retired military) and am qualified as a Certified Flight Instructor, PADI Scuba Diver and Licensed Professional Engineer. COMMUNICATIONS: All course communications will be through the Canvas course inbox. PREREQUISITE: High school algebra or MATH 096 with a grade of at least 2.0 or instructor permission.. CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A survey course for non-science majors that develops an awareness and appreciation of the physical environment by looking at everyday experiences and relating them to the principles and laws in physics. Lab included. REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS: This is an Open-Educational Resource Course. This course contains Open Educational Resources (OER). That means readings from documents and web links, videos, and any other educational material used in this course are provided as no cost materials. Your OER textbook is provided at no cost to you in electronic format and is located in the Getting Started Module along with a Student Solutions manual where you are able to download them. COURSE GUIDANCE: 1
1. Online Elements: Portions of this course will be available online, in Canvas. You are required to begin this course in the Getting Started Module and must complete all requirements within that module before proceeding on to Learning Modules 1-4. 2. Proctoring: This course may have online proctoring required for assessments. I will furnish proctoring information very early in the course so you can make necessary arrangement well in advance of the proctored assessment(s). 3. Course Expectations: As a student, you can expect that I will respond to your e-mail within 48 hours and will grade assignments/tests/quizzes within four (4) days. Please contact me immediately if you have not heard from me within these timelines. 4. Introductions: Students are expected to post a short (one paragraph) introduction to the course s Area during the first week of the course. I have guidelines within the course for the introduction located in the Getting Started Module. 5. s: This course has discussions as part of the curriculum. Students may also desire to discuss topics with other students in an unscheduled manner. Your instructor, as part of the course, may publish discussion questions/topics and require your input. Should you desire to hold a discussion with other students enrolled in your course, you may be authorized to create your own discussion topics. 6. Course Incompletes: Course Incompletes also known as extensions are not automatic and must be requested from me. Incompletes must be approved and arranged with me. Failure to request an incomplete will result in the instructor issuing a grade that you the student have earned at the end of the nine week period. You must complete at least 75 % of the course prior to your end date to be eligible for an incomplete. The conditions for an incomplete in this course are as follows: You will make at least one submission of an assessment or assignment per week. You will send me an email update of your progress at least once a week. You will have no more than four (4) weeks from the original end date of the course to complete the work. Violations of the aforementioned requirements will result in revocation of the incomplete and your original grade will be submitted. You will be requested to respond with an acceptance of the incomplete requirements. 7. Student Responsibilities: Please remember that it is your responsibility to notify me of major changes in your circumstances (e.g. deployment) that affect your ability to complete all course work within the course timeline. 8. Plagiarism Software: Plagiarism software may be in use during your course. You will receive a 0 for plagiarized work. Use this link that concerns plagiarism at Pierce College for more details on how to avoid it. http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/library/plagiarizing.. 9. Etiquette: Etiquette for classroom and online courses is the same. Treat others as you would like to be treated, respectfully and compassionately. STUDENT OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to: 1. Apply various modern and cultural concepts of mechanics to the motion of celestial objects, and the motion of objects on Earth. 2. Identify and explain the properties of solids, liquids, and gasses. 3. Describe observable phenomena connected with temperature and heat, and explain how these observations are related to temperature and the laws of thermodynamics. 4. Explain the causes, limitations, and effects of vibrations and waves in the environment, and relate the properties of sound to the perception of sounds. 5. Analyze the properties of electricity and magnetism, and explain how these properties are connected to the theories and laws that describe them. 6. Observe and identify reflection, refraction, interference, and other properties of light. 7. Describe and explain some theories in modern physics. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 2
There will be one Getting Started Module and four learning modules in this course. There is a Student Introduction and a Course Administration Test in the Getting Started Module worth 5 and 10 points respectively. They need to be done within the first two weeks. The four learning modules will consist of Required Readings/Video Viewings,, Study Guides, s, Practice Assessments, d Assessments for Record, laboratory exercises and web links to provide up to date information. Quizzes will be based on the subject matter for the assigned readings and video viewing in each module. Quizzes are based on the required video viewings. There will be no quiz problems involving complicated mathematical calculations. During the viewing of each video, I expect you to summarize in your own words/terms in a paragraph the key points/concepts of each video that you have viewed. I consider this to be your homework and request that you send me these paragraphs for each of the module s videos (as an attachment to the homework assignment) prior to taking the Module Quiz. This will help you to be better prepared and insure your success for the course assessments and assignments. There is one homework assignment worth 35 points and one discussion/lab worth 15 points in each learning module. The Module and s need to be completed before taking the d Module Assessment. The four module assessments have a total point value of 400 points. As a Lab based course, the student will be required to complete the laboratory exercises (colocated with each module discussion. Please start the course by clicking on the Modules Tab and proceed in Sequence from the getting Started Module. In order to stay on track throughout this course, you should turn in assignments, discussions, and quizzes per the timeline given in the schedule below. This syllabus will guide you through the Learning Modules, which contain the information you need to complete your course. You may work ahead of the recommended weekly schedule, but it will be difficult for you to catch up if you fall behind. GRADING: Each assignment and assessment will be given a specific point value. The earned value of all possible points will determine grade, per Pierce College published policy: WEIGHT OF ASSIGNMENTS/ASSESSMENTS: Category # per module # per course Value Student Introduction 1 5 pts Course Administration Test 1 10 pts (35 pts each) 1 4 140 pts s/lab Exercises (15 pts each) 1 4 60 pts Quizzes (100 pts. each) 1 4 400 pts Total 615 pts Calculation Example: If a student earned a 500 points out of the 615 points, the result would be 0.813 (500 divided by 615) which when rounded off to the nearest hundredth equates to a 81 percentage. Using this 81 as an entry value in the grade table, it is noticed that this 81 percent equates to a 2.6 on the Pierce College Scale and a letter grade of B-. 3
GRADE SCALE: See http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/grading for District Grading Policy COURSE SCHEDULE: 95% 4.0 A 84% 2.9 B 73% 1.8 C- 94% 3.9 A 83% 2.8 B- 72% 1.7 C- 93% 3.8 A- 82% 2.7 B- 71% 1.6 C- 92% 3.7 A- 81% 2.6 B- 70% 1.5 C- 91% 3.6 A- 80% 2.5 B- 69% 1.4 D+ 90% 3.5 A- 79% 2.4 C+ 68% 1.3 D+ 89% 3.4 B+ 78% 2.3 C+ 67% 1.2 D+ 88% 3.3 B+ 77% 2.2 C+ 66% 1.1 D 87% 3.2 B+ 76% 2.1 C 65% 1.0 D 86% 3.1 B 75% 2.0 C 64% 0.0 F 85% 3.0 B 74% 1.9 C You will accomplish each module's learning objectives, which align with the course outcomes, by completing the readings and assessments as listed in the schedule, below. 1 2-3 4-5 6-7 Module Description Requirements Outcomes* Getting Started Module Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Please note and read all the administrative guidance in the Getting Started Module. Introduce yourself to the class and take the Course Administration Test Read Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 &7 and Learning Module 1. Take the 1. Participate in /Lab. Read Chapters 11, 13, 14 &15 and Learning Module 2. Take the 2. Participate in /Lab. Read Chapters 17, 18, 22 and Learning Module 3. Take the 3. Participate in /Lab. Student Introduction Course Administration Test Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Quiz 3 7 1,7 2,3 4,5 4
8-9 Module 4 Read Chapters 24, 25 & 34 and Learning Module 4. Take the 4. Participate in /Lab. Quiz 4 MyCourseEval * Note: Outcomes are listed in the area entitled STUDENT OUTCOMES. above. CONSENT AGREEMENT: A Pierce College course requires frequent interaction with your instructor. It is, therefore, essential that you agree to the conditions set forth in the course syllabus. After you have read the course syllabus, let us know (do not wait) if you do not agree with the course conditions and requirements. If we do not hear from you within three (3) days from the start of the course, we will assume you agree with the conditions set forth in this syllabus. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Access Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Pierce College District here: http://www2.pierce.ctc.edu/military/canvas/policies/index.html ACCESS and DISABILITY SERVICES: Your experience in this class is important to Pierce College, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please seek a meeting with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) manager to discuss and address them. If you have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please take your approved accommodations (green sheet) to your instructor at your earliest convenience so you can discuss your needs in the individual course(s). ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you and the ADS manager, and your instructor is available to help facilitate them in this class. If you have not yet established services through ADS, but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not be limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are encouraged to contact ADS at 253-964-6468 (Ft. Steilacoom) or 253-840-8335 (Puyallup). For more information go to http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/supportservices/ads/ Students requesting accommodations must obtain the "Approved Quarterly Academic Adjustments, Auxiliary Aids or Services" (green) form provided by ADS. 6,7 5