CASPER COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
Physics 1090: Fundamentals of the Physical Universe
Physics 1090 L: Fundamentals of the Physical Universe Lab
EDCI 1440: Physical Science in the Elementary School
Semester/Year: Summer 2007
1090 Lecture Hours: 3
EDCI Lecture Hours: 0
1090 Lab Hours: 1
EDCI Lab Hours: 1
Credit Hours: 4
Credit Hours: 1
Lecture Time: 7:30 – 9:10 AM
Lab/EDCI Time: 7:30 – 9:10 AM
Days: MWF
Days: TTh
Room: 209
Room: 208
Instructor’s Name:
Mr. Jared Bowden
Office Phone: 268-2064
Email: [email protected]
Instructor's Contact Information: E-mail is the easiest way to get in touch with the instructor; e-mail is
checked continuously while in the office and is checked at home multiple times. You may also call the
instructor’s office at any time; if the instructor is not available, leave a voice mail and your call will be
answered as soon as possible.
Office Hours: TO BE DETERMINED
Course Description: One semester introduction to the physical sciences (physics and chemistry) designed
only for students majoring in elementary education. (Does not qualify as a lab science for non-elementary
education majors.)
Statement of Prerequisites: N/A
Goal: Students will
1. Effectively use problem solving techniques to solve a variety of physical situations
2. Recognize the variety of uses of physics/chemistry/astronomy in everyday life
3. Develop effective pedagogy for use in elementary and secondary school classrooms
Outcomes:
Passing students should:
• Be proficient in SI unit conversions
• Understand physical properties of objects, such as volume, density, and weight/mass
• Understand at a qualitative level a multitude of physical laws (Newton’s Law, Archimedes’s
Principle, Boyle’s Law, Kepler’s Laws, etc…)
• Qualitatively and quantitatively describe motion/force in one dimension
• Be able to recognize situations that involve conservation of energy and conservation of
momentum
• Qualitatively and quantitatively describe pressure
• Understand the difference between heat and temperature
• Qualitatively and quantitatively describe a change in heat, and how it relates to temperature
•
•
•
•
•
change and phase change
Understand the basic features of the periodic table and be able to recognize the basic information
it gives
Be able to describe an atom and its atomic structure
Understand the life cycle of a low-mass star
Be able to describe physical properties of bodies within our solar system
Be able to describe the structure of the sun and our own galaxy, as well as physics characteristics
of each
Methodology: This course will be presented in a variety of methods. Most information will be presented in
a lecture format, which will include board-work, power-point presentations and small group work activities.
The students will then use the information taken from lecture and use it in a laboratory setting, where
individual and small group work will be used as assessment tools.
Evaluation Criteria:
This class will have 3 one-hour exams, 8 Homework Assignments, Participation, 1 Lab Journal, and 3
lab/EDCI teaching presentations.
Homework will be graded upon a 3-2-1-0 High Performance Grading Scale. This system allows you as
students to see how you stand with regards to my expectations, compared to the traditional grading scale
where you are always asking whether or not there is a curve. The expectations guidelines are as follows:
3-2-1-0 High Performance Grading Scoring Key
Score 2: Your work is essentially correct and free of most major errors. Your work is meeting my
expectations. You should quickly check the posted answer key and resolve any differences that might exist.
Score 1: Your work is missing some important components or has some important errors that need to be
resolved before you can progress. Please take a careful look at the posted answer key and then arrange a few
minutes to talk individually with me as soon as possible.
Score 0: Your work was not submitted according to the directions or no meaningful attempt is evident in
your work. Please see me as soon as possible.
Score 3: Your work is unusually exemplary and goes far beyond my expectations for this particular
assignment. This score is rarely assigned and you should be very proud of your efforts.
Important Note: Students should strive to earn a “2-score” on every assignment. A consistent “2-score”
will earn an A for this portion of the grade. Please do not assume that a 2-score represents a 67% grade or
that a 1-score represents a 33% grade; rather, the scores are intended to describe the degree to which
students are meeting performance expectations.
Exams will be a mixture of general knowledge questions (definitions/units would be examples) and
conceptual problem-solving questions.
The goal of the lab journal is to give the student something to look back upon when they begin teaching in a
real classroom and it will be graded upon whether or not this is feasible.
The lab/EDCI presentations will involve the students researching and presenting elementary lab
experiments/lectures to their peers. Students will be graded upon their participation, their understanding of
the core material, and the poise shown during their presentation. Students are required to discuss their
presentation with the instructor at least 2 days before the presentation is performed. Participation will be
based upon attendance in the lecture and lab, as well as in-class participation.
Method
3 One-Hour Exams
8 Homeworks
Participation
3 Teaching Presentations
1 Lab Journal
TOTAL FOR THE COURSE
Points for Each
150
75
50
100
Total Points
450
150
75
150
75
900
% of Total Grade
50%
17%
8%
17%
8%
100%
Required Text, Readings, and Materials:
The Physical Universe by Krauskopf & Beiser, 12th Edition
Book Website http://www.mhhe.com/krauskopf
Calculator:
A standard scientific calculator (one that can do scientific notation, exponents and trigonometric functions
will suffice). Graphing calculators (TI-83) are allowed, but not necessary nor required. The calculator on a
cell phone is not sufficient.
Class Policies:
Late Policy
Late work will not be accepted, unless the student is at a school sponsored event.
Exams: If you are aware that you will have to miss an exam, let the instructor know as early as possible. A
make-up exam be given if the situation merits, and will take place outside of the regularly scheduled class
period.
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Please refer to the Casper College Student Conduct and Judicial Code
for information concerning your rights and responsibilities as a Casper College Student.
Chain of Command: If you have any problems with this class, you should first contact the instructor in order
to solve the problem. If you are not satisfied with the solution offered by the instructor, you should then take
your problem through the appropriate chain of command starting with the department head, then the
division chair, and lastly the vice president for academic affairs.
Academic Dishonesty - Cheating & Plagiarism: Casper College demands intellectual honesty. Proven
plagiarism or any form of dishonesty associated with the academic process can result in the offender failing
the course in which the offense was committed or expulsion from school. See the Casper College Student
Code of Conduct.
ADA Accommodations Policy: It is the policy of Casper College to provide appropriate accommodations to
any student with a documented disability. If you have a need for accommodation in this course, please
make an appointment to see me at your earliest convenience.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)
MONDAY
June 9
Introduction
Course Scheduling
16
European & MezoAmerican Astronomy
23
The Sun
TUESDAY
10
Intro to Lab
24
25
The Terrestrial Planets
26
30
Life Cycles of Stars
July 1
3
7
Historical Chemistry
8
2
5-10 Minute Astronomy Presentations
EXAM 1
9
Atomic Structure
10
11
Periodic Table
14
Bonds & Chemical
Reactions
15
16
5-10 Minute Chemistry Presentations
17
18
21
1-D Kinematics
22
23
Forces
24
25
Energy
28
Heat & Temperature
29
30
5-10 Minute Physics Presentations
31
1
17
WEDNESDAY
11
Scientific Method
Ancient Science
18
Telescopes
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
12
13
Intro to EDCI Non-Western Astronomy
19
20
Ancient Astronomy 5-10
Minute Presentations
27
The Jovian Planets
4
NO SCHOOL
EXAM 2
EXAM 3