UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY SYLLABUS
SPRING 2017
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ENGR 2301
Scientific Inquiry: The Effects of Climate Change
Room 202 DAV
1:00 – 1:50 MWF
William G. Tanner, Jr., PhD
Room 119 DAV Building
Posted Room 119 DAV
(254) 295-4645
[email protected]
http://mars.umhb.edu
Catalog Description of the course:
ENGR 2301 - The Effects of Climate Change (3). This course is designed to expose students with a wide range of
academic interests to the human activity of science. In this course students will take the broad view that includes the
natural, behavioral, and social sciences as material for discussions. Students will use the texts to explore the modes of
thought and activity that are common to all of these disciplines, including their mathematical tools and empirical
methods. Students will also consider the social, cultural and political contexts in which science occurs. By the end of the
course, students should be familiar with scientists’ intellectual and practical tools. Students should also be able to
contrast the distinctive features of the sciences with academic areas such as humanities. Lab fee.
Course Description
This course is designed to expose students who possess a wide range of academic interests to the human activity of
science. In this course we will take the broad view that includes the natural, behavioral, and social sciences as material
for our discussion. We will use the texts to explore the modes of thought and activity that are common to all of these
disciplines, including their mathematical tools and empirical methods. We will also consider the social, cultural and
political contexts in which science occurs. By the end of the course, you should be familiar with scientists’ intellectual
and practical tools. You should also be able to contrast the distinctive features of the sciences with academic areas such
as the humanities.
We will approach the course content in two ways. First, the texts introduce the practice of science from both theoretical
and practical perspectives. Discussion of these texts will allow us to examine science as an intellectual and social
enterprise and to identify areas that we will need to explore further. Second, we will use case studies to examine these
ideas in a more practical way and to gain experience in the application of science in a variety of settings.
One of the themes of the course will be that science, by its very nature, requires social interaction and cooperation. For
that reason, you will be asked to work with your colleagues towards an understanding of the text through discussion; to
solve problems in a collaborative fashion, to gather resource materials and present findings for the class as a whole.
Learning to work successfully in this setting is an important course objective.
Common Scientific Inquiry Course Objectives
1. To gain practice in the methodology of science, including an understanding of:
 hypotheses, theories, metaphors, laws
 empirical and mathematical analysis
 experimental and analytical design
 observation, objectivity and perception
 peer review, criticism and consensus building
2. To improve critical thinking skills, including:
 deduction, induction, intuition
 causality and association
 probability
3. To explore how science and scientific methods are used in everyday public and private decision-making.
4. To examine the limits of science as a tool for understanding the world.
Common Core Curriculum Learning Outcomes meet by the course:
KNOWLEDGE: 2) a. The process of the scientific method
KNOWLEDGE: 2) d. The general impact of science and technology on society and the environment
SKILLS: 2) a.: Critically interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating written, spoken, and artistic expression (essays, stories,
scientific papers, scriptures, music, and other media) and applying that knowledge in the appropriate context.
SKILLS: 2) c.: Applying mathematical and logical principles in problem solving (algebraic, geometric, statistical, scientific, etc.)
Student Competencies – Scientific Inquiry
Course Objectives
Students will acquire and demonstrate the
critical-thinking skills that apply to the natural,
behavioral, and social sciences.
Students will demonstrate their understanding
of science and scientific achievements as
inextricable in the fabric of their daily lives.
Students will acquire an understanding of the
process of science, i.e. analysis of data,
hypothesis formation and theory testing.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of
scientific inquiry as an exercise of human
intelligence and imagination that applies to
problematic issues in daily life.
Student Actions Steps
Students will read, outline, and discuss the textbook explanations of scientific
inquiry, reasoning, and methodology.
Students will list, discuss, and describe illustrations of the impact of science
and technology on modern society, business, and culture in the United States.
Students will be led by the instructor in class exercises which will demonstrate
the significance of data analysis used to support hypotheses of a theory.
As a group project, students will inquire scientifically into the relevance and/or
impact of a special issue (e.g., alternative medicine, environmental pollution,
gene therapy, global warming, nuclear energy, space exploration, stem-cell
research, etc.) on individual and social life in the USA and all parts of the world.
Spring 2017 Semester Schedule (week by week)
Week
Giere
1
January 09
Introduction / What is Science?
2
January 16
Scientific Reasoning
1
3
January 23
Sources of Knowledge
2
Mayewski
4
January 30
Something Out of Nothing
3
5
February 06
Too Much From Too Little – Exam #1
1-3
6
February 13
Theoretical Models
4
7
February 20
Theoretical Models
7
8
February 27
Causal and Statistical Modelling – Exam #2
4&7
9
March 06
Ice Chronicles - Introduction
10
March 13
Spring Break
11
March 20
Ice Chronicles
3, 4
12
March 27
Ice Chronicles
5, 6
13
April 03
Ice Chronciles – Exam #3
7. 8
14
April 10
Climate Modelling
15
April 17
Climate Modelling
16
April 24
Climate Modelling
Review
Finals
May 03
Comprehensive Final Examination
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Intro , 1, 2
Textbooks for Course:
Giere, Ronald N., Bickle, John and Mauldin, Robert F., Understanding Scientific Reasoning, 5th edition Thomson
Wadsworth, 2006, ISBN: 015506326x.
Mayewski, Paul A., and White, Frank, The Ice Chronicles: The Quest to Understand Global Climate Change, University
Press of New England, 2002, ISBN: 1584650621.
Methods of Assessment
Pre- and post-testing will be conducted to demonstrate the students have acquired the Student Competencies outlined
for the course. Emphasis will be placed on questions which will reveal students understand of the boundaries of
scientific inquiry, the critical reasoning techniques employed by scientist in the enterprise of science and the means by
which statistical models may be created from data to be applied in unique ways in science.
The ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica have revealed a distinctive pattern of greenhouse gases concentrations in the
Earth’s atmosphere over the past 1.5 million years. These patterns indicate periods of increase following by rapid decreases in CO2
which apparently correlate with increases and decreases in Earth’s surface temperature over the same period of time.
Course Policies and Procedures
1. Grade Calculation: Your final average will be calculated using the weights below. However, the professor reserves the right to
assign letter grades in accordance with his experience and discretion.
Group Writing assignments
Course participation (quizzes)
Three major exams
Final Exam
Total
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
10.0 %
15.0 %
60.0 %
15.0 %
100 %
Attendance: The student is expected to attend all scheduled classes and is held responsible for all class work and
assignments. Continued absences will reduce your Class Participation score, i.e. three absences equals a letter grade. An
absence percentage which exceeds 20%, i.e. more than nine absences for MWF course, will result in a grade “F” for the course.
Class participation will be vital to achieving a satisfactory grade since the professor will be available to answer homework
questions during class.
All student cell phones will remain in the off position while the student attends class unless an emergency requires the phone
be left in vibrate mode only. The professor must be notified of the nature of the emergency and all emergency phone
conversations will be conducted in the hallway outside the classroom.
Tests: All students are required to be present for a test. If an emergency occurs, and you cannot make the test time, the
student should immediately contact the instructor by email, phone or in person to receive permission to miss the test.
Permission will be granted only under extenuating circumstances.
Makeup Tests: Makeup tests will be given only under extenuating circumstances (major illness, death in the family, etc.).
Students desiring a Makeup Test must make arrangements with the instructor to take the test. A Makeup Test must be
scheduled during office hours before the next scheduled test. If a student fails to take a Makeup Test before the next scheduled
test, that student will receive a ZERO for the test missed.
Final Exam: NO MAKEUP WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE FINAL EXAM. The final exam will be comprehensive. A grade of zero will be
given to any student not present for the final.