|
General
Science |
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| General Science – Syllabus | |
| Instructor Information: | Office: |
| John W. Pluemer jwpluemer@swtc.edu 1-800-362-3322 x2112 Schedule - Monday - Thursday 8:00 - 2:30 |
SWTC Building 100 Room 107 1800 Bronson Blvd Fennimore, WI 53809 |
| Course Information: | ||
| Crs # - 10-806-107 | Semester Starts - Monday June 6, 2005 | |
| Credits - 3 | Semester Ends - Thursday July 14, 2005 | |
| Prerequisites - None | Time Frame - 6 weeks | |
| Course Description: General
Science is divided into three units:
1. Scientific Tools and Methods,
2. Introduction to Chemistry, 3.
Chemistry Applications. In
unit 1, students convert measurements, design tables and graphs, create
models, and use the scientific method.
In unit 2, students interpret a model of the atom and use the
periodic table. They
distinguish physical, chemical, and nuclear changes and identify
properties of common compounds. In unit 3,
they
analyze chemical equations and relate technical applications to chemical
properties. Students examine basic cell structure and function.
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| Course Outcomes: | Competencies: | |
| Primary Core Ability - Communicate Clearly | Convert measurements to required accuracy | |
| General Ed Outcome - Apply Scientific Concepts | Create tables and graphs | |
| Create a model | ||
| Materials: | Use the scientific method | |
| Worktext - Technical Science 3rd
ed. by John W. Pluemer published by SWTC |
Interpret a model of an atom | |
| Supplies - Scientific Calculator | Use the Periodic Table | |
| Resources - Math/Science Resource Center | Distinguish between physical, nuclear, and chemical changes | |
| Determine chemical properties of basic compounds | ||
| Analyze a chemical equation | ||
| Relate technical applications to chemical or physical properties | ||
| Interpret types of rates | ||
| Examine basic cell structure | ||
| Interpret basic cell function | ||
| Guidelines and Information | ||
| Progression Through the Course: | ||
| Worktext - Students will receive a worktext that is a combination textbook,
workbook, and course guide. It will present and explain material, guide the student
through various learning activities (Computer Programs & videotapes), and
provide questions and exercises to monitor the student's learning.
Students will progress through the sections of the worktext reading
passages, watching videotapes, completing computer tutorials, answering
questions, and completing exercises. If
at any time the student needs further explanation of a concept the instructor
will be available to help. PLEASE ASK!! |
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| Quizzes - There is a quiz following each section in the
worktext.
Quizzes are given often to insure that the student keeps up with the
work and to insure that the material in one section is mastered before moving
on to the next. The instructor
will review quizzes with the student. If
the results of a quiz indicate that the student has not mastered the material
in that section, the instructor may require that the student spend more time
on that section before moving on. The
student will not continue until the material in the previous section is
mastered. If at any time the
student is having difficulty understanding the material in a section the
instructor will be available to help. PLEASE
ASK!! |
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| Internet
Assignments and Labs -
There are also Internet assignments and lab
activities that must be completed by the
student. These will be posted on
the grade record sheet at the end of this document.
The purpose of these assignments is to give the student the
opportunity to apply the science concepts to their occupation and to their
everyday life. |
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| Report
- A short written report is required of all students. The purpose of
the report is to give students an opportunity to explore a topic (related
to science) that is of interest to them. The criteria for the report
are explained in the worktext. |
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| Unit Tests:
There is a Unit Test following each required unit. Study guides are available to help the student prepare for the test.
You may use your completed quizzes as a study resource but they must be
returned to your instructor before you take the course. |
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| Tips and Policies for a Successful Performance: | ||
| 1. Get started immediately after your initial meeting with your
instructor. Procrastination is
the single biggest reason for poor performance in independent study courses.
Be aware of the deadline for completing the course. |
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| 2. Set a pace for yourself that will allow you to finish the
course on time. If you have 17 sections to complete and 6 weeks to get them done, then you should be
completing about 3 sections per week. (I recommend 1 section per day) Even if it only takes you one day to do a
section, don't wait until the last 24 days to start working. |
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| 3. Ask questions when you don't understand.
Take advantage of the communication resources:
answer keys, instructor email and whiteboard contact, discussion with
other students, ASC instructors. |
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| 4. Be honest with yourself.
If you do a problem and check your answer and you find you got it right
then you probably understand that problem.
However, if you get a problem wrong, don't just look at the answer key
and say "Oh I know how to do it now." Find out why you got it wrong. |
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| 5.
Spend a reasonable amount of time on each question. Some problems will be easy for you and you will finish them quickly.
Other problems may take a little more effort. Don't give up too soon.
On
the other hand, don't spend hours on a single question. If you have given it your best effort, move on to another
problem and come back to it later or ask your instructor for help. |
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| Open Enrollment: | ||
| 1. Open enrollment courses will last 16 "school weeks"
beginning with the official registration date of the student.
(Your instructor will inform you of the exact ending date for the
course.) |
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| 2. If you register within the first two weeks of the Fall or
Spring semester, the course will finish at the end of that semester.
If you have not completed the course, you could get an Incomplete (I)
only if you have completed 80% of the course material and if you have put
forth significant effort as determined by the instructor of record. |
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| 3. If you register more than two weeks into the semester, you will receive an In-Progress (IP) and be given appropriate time in the following semester or summer session to finish the course. For example, if you register at the 8-week mark (halfway through the Fall semester), you would then be given 8 weeks in the Spring semester to complete the course. Late registration will mean a diminished or no refund period. | ||
| 4. Registration for a given semester stops when the registration
for the following semester begins. For
example, if you enroll in a course on December 1st, you will be registered for
the Spring semester. Your course
officially begins on the first day of the Spring semester (early January) and
ends at the time of the last class meeting in the Spring semester.
(Your instructor will inform you of the exact ending date for the
course.) In a situation like the one described above, you are free to get the course materials (textbook, etc) and begin to review them. However, your instructor will not begin grading any tests or assignments until the semester officially begins. For purposes of this open enrollment option the following applies: Registration for Spring semester begins in early November Registration for Fall semester begins the first day of Summer session (early June) |
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5. You can expect to have contact with your instructor during
the official Fall and Spring semesters and during the 6-week Summer session.
Do not expect to have contact with your instructor when SWTC in not in
session. |
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| ADA Statement: | ||
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Students with disabilities should contact
the Special Services Coordinator to arrange
special accommodations or services to
participate in this course, please contact… |
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| Ethics Policy: | ||
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When an instructor has evidenced dishonest behavior by a student or students, that student shall be withdrawn from the course for the semester. A letter describing the infraction will be sent to the student and the division dean and filed with student services. The student or students will be required to meet with the division dean, the counselor, and the course instructor. |
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| Grading Information | ||
| Rationale: | ||
| Attendance - This course is
offered through the ASC in a self-paced, open-entry/open-exit format allowing
students to fit it into their schedule when it is most convenient for them.
However, students must show steady progress.
Sporadic attendance will adversely effect grades. |
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| Worktext - Students will be
required to complete the questions and activities in the worktext as they
study the various materials that are a part of this course. In order to be successful in this course, students must grasp
the concepts that are presented through the various activities in the worktext. |
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| Quizzes: The student will
be required to complete a quiz following each required section covering material from the three units
outlined above. The quizzes range
in value from 14 to 50 points. Quizzes
represent 40% of the grade. |
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| Tests:
The student will be required to complete
two tests one following each of the
first two units. The tests
represent 25% of the student's grade. |
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| Report:
A two-page report is required of all students.
Details about the nature of the report will be covered in the worktext.
The report represents 15% of the final grade. |
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| Internet Assignments
and labs - The
Internet assignments and labs occur periodically as means of applying the content to the
students’ program area. This
will be 20% of the final grade. |
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| Final Grade Computation: | ||
| The final grade is based
40% on quizzes, 25% on tests, 15% on report, and
20% on Internet assignments and
labs. |
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| Quizzes -
At
the end of the course, the quiz points earned will be divided by the total
quiz points possible for that student. This
is the quiz score. Tests - The test points earned will be divided by the possible test points. This is the test score. Internet Assignments and labs - The Internet assignment and lab points earned will be divided by the possible points. This is the assignment score. Final % = (Quiz Score x 40%) + (Test Score x 25%) + (Assign. Score x 20%) + (Report Score x 15%) The final percentage will translate into a grade based on the scale below. |
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| Grading Scale: | ||
| A = 92%
- 100% B = 83% - 91% C = 74% - 82% D = 65% - 73% F = Below 65% |
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Grade Record
| Unit 1 Scientific Tools and Methods | |||
| Section | Assignment | Quiz | Test |
| Making Observations |
---------- |
1 = | ---------- |
| Measurements | ---------- | 2 = | ---------- |
| Tables and Graphs | ---------- | 3 = | ---------- |
| Models | ---------- | 4 = | ---------- |
| Scientific Method | ---------- | 5 = | ---------- |
| 1 = | |||
| Unit 2 Introduction to Chemistry | |||
| Section | Assignment | Quiz | Test |
| Study of Matter | ---------- | 6 = | ---------- |
| Multidimensional Properties |
Multidimensional Properties Worksheet | 7 = | ---------- |
| Atoms |
Atom
Web Assign |
8 = | ---------- |
| Elements, Isotopes, and Ions |
---------- | 9 = | ---------- |
| Periodic Table | Periodic Table Web Assign | 10 = | ---------- |
| Physical, Nuclear, & Chemical
Changes |
---------- | 11 = | ---------- |
| Chemical Bonds | Soaps Web Assign | 12 = | ---------- |
|
---------- |
---------- |
2 = |
|
|
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| Report | |
| Report Score |
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| Unit 3 Chemistry Applications | |||
| Section | Assignment | Quiz | Test |
| Making Compounds | Making
Molecules Wrksht Acid/Base Web Assign |
13 = | ---------- |
| Chemical Equations | Skip this section |
Skip this section |
Skip this section |
| Chemistry in Your Everyday Life. |
Shampoo Evaluation |
---------- |
---------- |
| Biochemistry | Solvents
Web Assign Fat Assign |
15 = | ---------- |
| Cells | Hair
Color Web
Assign |
16 = | ---------- |
| Meiosis | Meiosis Worksheet | 17= | ---------- |
| Genetics | Tanning Web Assign | 18= | ---------- |
|
3 = |
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