Transcript Building a Syllabus - Stephen F. Austin State University

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A Contract between the student and you
◦ What can the students expect of you
◦ What you expect of the students
◦ But don’t use the term contract
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View teaching through the lens of learning
◦ Thus the syllabus needs to focus on the student
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Go over the syllabus with the students
◦ Many will not read it on their own
◦ Post it online
Course Information
 Course Title
 Course Number and Section
 Class meeting days/time and place
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Name and Title
Department
Email
Phone
Office
Office Hours
Classical and
Modern Astronomy
Astronomy 105 Online
AST 105.502
Dr. N. L. Markworth
Department of Physics and
Astronomy
Lab Syllabus
Study Guides
Hot Links
Summer II 2012
Office Hours
Office S-322F 468-3001
MW 02:00 - 04:00 PM Office
Markworth's Home Page
TR 02:00 – 04:00 PM TEC
[email protected]
Provide the course description from the
current General Bulletin.
You may want to address the issue of why
the knowledge and skills you are offering to
your students matter.
Perhaps frame a meta-question to frame the
course
Course Description
Introductory study of planetary astronomy, astrophysics, and
cosmology. Computation of lecture and laboratory grades into one
grade; same grade recorded for both lecture and laboratory.
Corequisite: AST 105L.
This is a survey course that will stress the historical and descriptive
aspects of our knowledge of astronomy. The major aim will be to
give each student an appreciation and understanding of the size,
scale, and structure of the cosmos, to gain an understanding of the
nature of science and astronomy, to see that the universe is
comprehensible through the scientific principles that can be
understood by everyone, and to gain an increased interest in
studying current events in astronomy as a life-long learning activity.
The methods of science will be strongly emphasized.
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List the program learning outcomes addressed in this
course as identified in the course matrix for your
degree program. If your department requires a listing
of all Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) on the
syllabus, please identify those that are directly taught
in this course. If this is a general education core
curriculum course and no PLOs are taught in this
course then insert the following statement under this
heading:
This is a general education core curriculum course
and no specific program learning outcomes for this
major are addressed in this course.
The student will demonstrate proficiency in
the basic and applied fields of physics.
Generally, what should the student know or
be able to do as a result of taking this
course?
Use action verbs and direct it to the student
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List the Exemplary Educational Objectives
(EEOs) for this course if the course is included
in the general education core curriculum. If
you have reworded the EEOs as outcomes for
your course, please be sure that the original
intent of the EEO is retained.
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To understand and apply method and appropriate
technology to the study of physical science
To recognize scientific and quantitative methods
and the differences between these approaches and
other methods of inquiry, and to communicate
findings, analyses, and interpretation both orally
and in writing
To identify and recognize the differences among
competing scientific theories
To demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and
problems facing modern science, including issues
that touch upon ethics, values, and public policies
To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence
of science and technology and their influence on,
and contribution to, modern culture
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List all student learning outcomes (SLOs) for
this course including the course specific
student learning outcomes that support the
PLOs above. In general, SLOs in a course that
support the PLOs are specific and include the
exact knowledge, skill or behavior taught in
the course that supports the more global
PLOs. For additional information on
meaningful and measurable learning
outcomes see the assessment resource page
http://www.sfasu.edu/assessment/index.asp
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The overall objectives of this course are that
the learner will:
* Recognize that the universe can be described by a
few natural laws.
* Describe the characteristics of objects within the
solar system including the sun, planets, moons,
asteroids, and comets.
* Demonstrate a basic familiarity with stellar life
cycles, galaxies, and extragalactic objects.
List all required and supplemental materials.
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Describe the major course requirements,
assignments, examinations, projects.
◦ How does each assignment or project link back to
the SLOs.
Create a tentative timeline for the course. At
a minimum, list the topics that the course will
cover and indicate the approximate amount
of time to be devoted to each, either by
percent of course time or number of weeks.
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Describe how the grade for the course is
determined.
◦ Be specific – how much weight does every
assignment/exam/problem set carry
◦ Make sure every assignment traces back to the
course objectives
Each major exam will be graded on a 100-point scale. No grade curving is done on any
grade in this course. The lecture and lab grades will be combined and the same grade
will be recorded for both lecture and lab.
Lecture
% of Lecture % of Course
Exams (equally weighted)
Desire2Learn Review Quizzes
Masteringastronomy Homework
Class Participation
Lab
75
10
10
10
52.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
% of Lab % of Course
Exercises
75
18.75
25
6.25
(11 indoor labs + 1 night lab)
Lab Final
A 90 – 105
B 80 – 89
C 70 – 79
D 60 – 69
F < 60
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Attendance
◦ probably need to explain excused and unexcused
absence
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Tardiness
◦ develop your classroom persona
◦ may want to give a short quiz within the first minute of
class
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Cell Phone Usage
Class participation
Missed exams
Missed assignments
Lab safety
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Academic Integrity (A-9.1)
Abiding by university policy on academic integrity is a responsibility of all university
faculty and students. Faculty members must promote the components of academic
integrity in their instruction, and course syllabi are required to provide information
about penalties for cheating and plagiarism as well as the appeal process. (Much of
this information will be provided through internet links.)
Definition of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes, but
is not limited to: (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in
achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) falsification or invention of
any information, including citations, on an assignment; and/or (3) helping or
attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is
presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples
of plagiarism include, but are not limited to: (1) submitting an assignment as if it were
one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a
work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from the Internet or another
source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper or
presentation without giving the author due credit.
Please read the complete policy and the appeals process at
http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp and
http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_appeals_students.asp
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Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54)
At the discretion of the instructor of record and with the
approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH
will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the
course work because of unavoidable circumstances.
Students must complete the work within one calendar
year from the end of the semester in which they receive
a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If
students register for the same course in future
semesters, the WH will automatically become an F and
will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of
computing the grade point average.
To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate
formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities
must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS),
Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004 /
468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the
semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course
instructor and outline the accommodation and/or
auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request
services in a timely manner may delay your
accommodations. For additional information, go to
http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/.
There are important federal regulations pertaining
to distance education activity for
F-1 Visa holders. All students with an F-1 Visa
should follow the instructions at the following link
to make sure they are in compliance.
http://www.oit.sfasu.edu/disted/facsup/f1visa.html