Spring 2011 Syllabus
SC 109
Applied Physics
3 Credit Hour
Textbook
Technical College Physics 3rd Edition:
Thompson Brooks Cole 2008
Wilson
Division of Science, Business Nursing
Instructor: Dr. Todd R. Leif
Department Chairman
Applied Physics
Spring 2011 Syllabus
Course Number: SC 109
Time & Day: 12 -1:30 T-R, (Section 1)
Location: Room 225 (Section 1)
Instructor: Dr. Todd R. Leif
Office: Room 220 B
Phone: 785-243-1435 ext. 216 (Office)
785-243-7301 (Home) Before 10 p.m.
Email:
Required Materials: Textbook: Technical College Physics 3rd Edition: Thompson Brooks/Cole Pub.2008 Wilson
Computer storage device: i.e. diskettes, jump drive, etc.
Office: Please see the schedule posted outside my office.
Note: Responsibilities & Committee assignments may place me in other areas of the college during office hours
Advisement Center: See Door Schedule:
Course Description: The applied physics course is designed to teach the basic concepts of physics, while applying them to practical situations and situations pertaining to wind energy and wind energy generation. Students will use a hands-on approach to study the concepts of force, work, rate, resistance and energy as related to mechanical, fluid, electrical and thermal systems.
Prerequisite: Completion of Workplace Math, Intermediate Algebra or higher-level math course with a C or better.
SEQUENCING: This class is offered in the fall semesters each school year
Teaching Methods: While this course is mainly a lecture course a series of mini laboratory activities are incorporated into the classroom to assist the technical students in gaining a better basic understanding of the application of physics to their future careers.
cOURSE pROJECTS:
Each weekly module will include project work to be done in conjunction with the assigned classroom work.
These projects will include written exercises and hands-on demonstrations of competency using various technical equipment.
In-Class Use of TEchnology:
Communication devices have become a very important part of our society. Computers, pages, and cell phones are commonplace and very useful tools. These are, however times and places where the use of these devices is inappropriate. The policy in this class is as follows
A) Cell phones and pagers are to be turned off during class unless specific arrangements have been made with your instructor.
B) Laptop computers are to remain off and closed during class unless otherwise instructed.
C) Display of any sexually explicit material is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to; wallpaper, screensavers, e-mail images and display of inappropriate websites.
D) Instant messaging services and chat rooms are not to be used at any time during class.
assignment policy:
Daily assignments will be written using assigned problem sheets and should include a drawing, a list of the given information, equations used, bar charts, and well as graphical representations, and the algebraic solution when required. Multiple representations of problems will be examined throughout the course and this format will be the only way that papers will be accepted.
Method of Evaluation/Grading: Since this course is an “Experimental” science course the instructor reserves the right to adjust the grading scale as the course progresses. However the general structure for administering final grades will be the following.
10 weekly exams or classroom activities @ 100 points each 1000 points
3 unit exams @ 100 points each 300 points
1 comprehensive final @ 200 points 200 points
TOTAL POINTS FOR COURSE 1500 points
Note: Basically you will be getting the opportunity to earn 100 points each week of the semester. An assignment received/completed after the due date will not receive full credit. A traditional grading scale of the following will be used to record the letter grades.
Letter Grade Percentage Score Min. Points (1500)
B 89-80 / 1200
C 79-70 / 1050
D 69-60 / 900
F 59-00
Course Policies
Attendance Policy: Attendance is required. Absence from any examination must be approved in advance by the instructor and is the responsibility of the student. Any student who misses an examination without prior approval will receive a deduction of ten percent on the exam. Students can opt to make up missed tests in the LSC but need to be aware that the LCS will not proctor make-up tests after 12:00 noon on the last day of the semester. Any missed exams need to be made up in a timely manner so other students in the course can receive current feedback from their examinations.
Academic Integrity
It is imperative that each student does his/her own work. The following policy will apply to all students in class.
Infractions of academic integrity (honesty) shall include:
· Using another student’s work without giving the student credit for the work. In other words, taking someone else’s file and placing your name on it and claiming it is yours, using another student’s quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
· Giving another student your file(s) knowing that he/she intends to turn it in as his/her own creation, giving another student your quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
It is not an infraction of the policy to help another student understand how to do an assignment if he/she does the work himself/herself with your assistance.
Cheating:
“Cheating means getting unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz or examination.”
- You must not receive from any other students or give to any other students any information, answers, or help during an exam.
- You must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam. You must not take notes or books to the exam when such aids are forbidden, and you must not refer to any book or notes while you are taking the exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam.
- You must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been corrected.
Materials taken from “Academic Dishonesty in Our Classrooms.” Instructional Exchange, 1990, 2 (2), 1-4 (Newsletter available from the Office of University Assessment and Intellectual Skills Program, Western Michigan University)
Plagiarism:
“Plagiarism” means submitting work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material from a book, the Internet, or another source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s and not your own is plagiarism. If you copy an author’s words exactly, treat the passage as a direct quotation and supply the appropriate citation. If you use someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the wording, appropriate credit should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper or submit a paper as your own that you did not write.
Penalties for Infractions:
The instructor reserves the rights to “terminate you from employment” a.k.a. remove you from the class for unethical practices. Cheating will not be tolerated. The course is an essential element for a student who is planning on going into the professional workforce. These professional technical jobs require the utmost ethical standards and this “training” experience needs to be approached as such. Many of you might consider asking me for a job reference and I cannot give a reference to somebody who lacks ethics or a strong workplace background. Hence ethics are an essential to this learning experience. If you cheat you will not succeed in this course.
Conduct: I expect you to behave like you are a working professional. Hence your continued employment will be based upon your ability to meet deadlines, make appointments, and produce a finished product. This course is supposed to train you for a career in an engineering type field and your conduct should be appropriate.
This philosophy is based upon the following decorum statement.
Decorum – Respect will be given by all involved in the class to all involved in the class. I will respect you as
an autonomous responsible individual. I will expect you to return that respect. Being chronically late, visiting,
jumping in and out of the classroom, sleeping, doing homework is disrespectful. If you do it in this class, you
may be dropped from the course.
Examination Policy: Exams will cover material, which has been presented in lecture as well as
originating from assigned reading and problem sets. A formula sheet can be created by the student and will be
allowed for each exam. Exam questions will be multiple choice type, short answer, and problem based type.
Showing required work and multiple representations is generally required on all exams.
Instructor Assistance: I am available in my office at various hours as posted on the door. Please stop by or email me if you need specific arrangements made to obtain instructor assistance.
Tutor Assistance:
Tutors are available in the Learning Skills Center. Contact the Learning Skills Center for more information.
Incomplete Policy:
Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented as described in the Student Handbook. The incomplete must be made up with the instructor assigning the incomplete and must be completed the semester immediately following the semester in which the class was taken. Refer to the Student Handbook for a complete explanation.
ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS:
Cloud County Community College has an Academic Due Process Policy to address any student academic complaints. For any unresolved complaints, the policy can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
Science General Education Goal: Although this course is not a General Education course, the students enrolled in a Science General Education courses will be expected to demonstrate the ability to apply the scientific process. The department has determined that students who are successful in this course will also be able to
§ Recognize the problem to be solved
§ Follow written directions accurately
§ Demonstrate use of applicable scientific techniques
§ Apply deductive reasoning to develop an approach to the problem
§ Follow safety guidelines
§ Acquire data
§ Display data in a clear and organized format
§ Collect observations
§ Use observations and/or data to reach a relevant conclusion
§ Evaluate the validity of the conclusion
§ Express ideas, approaches, data, and conclusions in a well-communicated format
Students will be assigned work demonstrating whether or not they can successfully meet these goals.
Department Goals:
Physical Science Department Goals: Students who complete a natural science department course at Cloud County Community College should be able to:
- Understand the nature of science
- Become proficient in using science process skills to solve problems and make decisions.
- Develop skills to manipulate and/or operate science equipment.
- Develop responsible attitudes toward the environment, science, technology and society.
- Understand basic scientific concepts and principles.
The department goals are the basis for the total framework of the physical science curriculum and are composed of (1) the nature of science, (2) process skills, (3) manipulative skills, (4) attitudes toward science, and (5) concepts.
Levels of Learning
- The student is able to analyze and evaluate Physical Science program goals (1-5).
- The student is able to define, interpret and discuss Physical Science program goals (1-5).
- The student fails to define, interpret and discuss Physical Science program goals (1-5).
Standards: Eighty percent of the students finishing a physical science department course at Cloud County Community College will be able to define, interpret, and discuss (Level 2)
Evaluation of these goals will be ascertained though a variety of coursework that may include reading, writing, discussion, and oral report assignments.
Criteria Method of Evaluation Percentage
Daily Homework, attendance, 20%
participation and cooperation
Lab Projects Demonstrated competency 30%
Written exercises
Major Exams Exams based on reading 30%
Assignments and class discussions
Final Exam Final exam will cover all material 20%
Presented in the modules
Assessment of Course Outcomes: Student learning is assessed every semester based on course outcomes. Each instructor measures student performance on all course outcomes for each course section every semester. The instructor fills out an electronic form, which populates a database. This information is reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team. It is due to be completed by February 15th for the fall semester and June 15th for the spring.
COURSE GOALS: PURPOSE OF THIS COURSE:
At the completion of this course, the following behaviors by the learner will indicate mastery of the knowledge and skills specified in the instruction.
· To recognize and explain basic concepts of physics, emphasizing especially, static and dynamic mechanics, work and energy, impulse and momentum, heat and thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism.
· To demonstrate a basic vocabulary of physics..
· To interpret, and solve workplace-based physics problems.
· To demonstrate a knowledge of basic physical principles and the ability to apply these principles with confidence and facility.
· To indicate the knowledge of how a scientist conducts science.
· To indicate the knowledge of how a technologist conducts science in a technical field..
· To conduct an experiment, synthesize, analyze, and evaluate the data.
ASSESSMENT OF COURSE GOALS:
Assessment of Student Outcomes from this course will be done by examining results from the following activities.
1. Weekly multiple-choice exams
2. Weekly homework problems
3. Calculator problems, Spreadsheet analysis, Graphing problems
4. Ranking task activities, Active Physics computer activities
5. Written activity reports, Formal presentations
6. Computer interfaced activities
7. Small group activities
8. Discovery, exploration activities
9. Major classroom projects
METHOD OF ASSESMENT:
A student’s performance will be assessed and evaluated using several methods. Failure to complete any portion of this course will be considered grounds for removal from the course of the assigning of a grade of F or I.
Student performance will be evaluated base on completion of assignments done in and out of class, including laboratory work, project work, written assignments and exams.
PROGRAM EXIT GOALS: (If applicable) Applied Physics is a required course for a number of technical professional programs. A specific set of program exit goals currently do not exist to be analyzed at the community college level.
Assessment of Program Outcomes: Student learning is also assessed each semester based on program outcomes. Program outcomes accomplishment is measured through performance on course outcomes. Each program uses a matrix to match course outcomes of individual courses to overarching program outcomes. The program outcomes are calculated as an average of all of the relevant course outcomes. This information is processed after each semester and then immediately reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team.
ASSESSMENT of PROGRAM SUCCESS: (If applicable) Since Applied Physics is a required pre requisite for a number of technical programs the best assessment of its success is the antidotal evidence that is acquired from our program participants who attend and obtain degrees from our school. These students report their success to us often times via email and with requests for letters of recommendation etc. The Wind Energy Department also gives us feedback on their student success.
Accommodation for Disability: