SCI 3110 – Physical Science I
Course Syllabus - Fall 2007

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Course Description:

Number and Title:

SCI 3110 (CRN 85638)
Physical Science I

Credit Hours:

2.0 semester credit hours

Catalog Description:

A one-semester, activity based course that incorporates methods, content, central themes and technology for teaching physical science in the middle grades. The topics addressed include: motion, work and energy, gravity, projectile motion, heat, and the nature of science.

Note: This course is open only to students admitted to the Middle Level Teacher Education program.

SCI 3110 is a teacher preparatory course in physical science. It will explore the physics and chemistry concepts needed for teaching Middle Grades science.  It will also provide some of the science content that should be mastered for teacher certification examinations.

Course prerequisite and co-requisite:

Prerequisite: Completion of Area D of the Core Curriculum and admission to the Middle Level Teacher Education program
Co-requisite: SCI 3110L

Note: Due to the co-requisite nature of SCI 3110 and SCI 3110L, if one of these courses is dropped the other must also be dropped.

Computer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/?nav=notebook_policy .

Computer Skill Prerequisites:

• Able to use the Windows^TM operating system
• Able to use Microsoft Word^TM word processing
• Able to send and receive e-mail using Outlook Express^TM
• Able to attach and retrieve attached files via email
• Able to use a Web browser.

In-Class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

Student notebook computers will not be used in the classroom in this course, but will be used extensively for communication, word processing and research.

Course Objectives:

• To better understand the nature of scientific inquiry.
• To gain an understanding of the laws governing the physical world.
• To use knowledge of physical science concepts to explain everyday-phenomena at a level appropriate for middle school learners.
• To become familiar with the following standards for Middle Grades science: GPS, NSTA

Student Learning Objectives:

General Education Outcomes

• Communication: knowledge base: SCI 3110 will provide base information necessary for communication of information concerning forces, motion, and energy.
• Critical thinking: all components (question/issue, method, evidence, conclusion). SCI 3110 will enable students to better understand the scientific method of data acquisition and problem solving. Students will also be better prepared to face critical issues of public policy concerning science and technology.

Teacher Education Outcomes  

The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/ professional education associations.  Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site:

http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm

• More specifically,  the learning activities of this course are correlated with the following sets of educational standards relevant to teacher education in the state of Georgia:
• Georgia Performance Standards in Science
• NSTA standards for teacher preparation

Standards for Middle Level Teacher Education associated with science courses are provided by the Educational Testing Service through its description of the PRAXIS II examination, the State of Georgia , and the National Science Teachers Association.  These standards and their implementation in the science courses taken at Clayton State University by Middle Grades Teacher Education students are located at the following website:

http://a-s.clayton.edu/campbell/TeacherEducation/MiddleLevelTeacherEducationStandards.htm

Term:

Fall Semester 2007

Instructor Information:

Instructor:

Mr. Harold Banke
phone: (678) 466-4771
fax: (678) 466-4899
e-mail: HaroldBanke@clayton.edu
internet: http://a-s.clayton.edu/banke/banke.htm

Office:

Arts and Sciences G-110J

Office Hours:

M:11:00-11:30 pm; 3:30-6:00 pm

W: 3:30-6:00 pm

Th: 1:30-3:00 pm

F: 10:30-11:30 pm

Other times by appointment

Class Meetings:

Classroom:

University Learning Center, U-331

Class Times:

MW: 2:30pm-3:20pm

Text Information:

Text:

Krauskopf and Beiser, The Physical Universe, 12th ed., 2008

Text Coverage:

Chapters1-5

Evaluation:

• Four exams: 60%
• Chapter quizzes: 10%
• Pedagogy lab: 5%
• Professionalism: 5%
• Final examination 20%

Professionalism will reflect attendance, notification of absences, tardiness to class, proper behavior toward instructor and fellow students.  Professionalism will also reflect activity in judging a science fair (date TBA).

Each unexcused absence or tardiness to class will result in a proportionate deduction from the Professionalism portion of course credit. 

Mid-term Progress Report

The mid-term grade in this course will be issued between September 25 and October 9. This grade reflects approximately 30% of the entire course grade.  Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on October 12.

Grading:

• A 90 - 100 %
• B 80 - 89 %
• C 70 - 79 %
• D 60 - 69 %
• F below 60 %

These grade definitions are University policy and will be strictly adhered to.

Grades may be communicated through e-mail, but only to a proper CSU e-mail account.

Course Schedule:

A tentative course schedule for SCI 3110 is available from this link:

Course Schedule

Class Policies:

Students must abide by policies found in the Clayton State University Student Handbook.  In addition, all students are bound by the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities found at  http://a-s.clayton.edu/BasicUndergraduateStudentResponsibilities.htm.

 A grade of zero will be assigned to graded work involving academic dishonesty and formal academic misconduct procedures will be applied.  

Refer to the Student Code of Conduct for details about academic misconduct.

Attendance is expected for all class periods. Attendance is required for quiz and examination periods. Any absence from these periods must be accompanied by a proper excuse, presented to the instructor.  Without excuse, a grade of zero points will be assigned for the missed work. With excuse, missed work may be made up, but only after arranging with the instructor to make up the work before the next class period.  If a proper excuse is presented to the instructor, but the work cannot be made up before the next class, the final exam grade will replace the missing grade, but only to the extent of one exam and/or one quiz.

Each unexcused absence or tardiness to class will result in a proportionate deduction from the Professionalism portion of course credit.  

Visitors (friends, children, etc.) are strictly prohibited from attending class without the permission of the instructor.

The use of simple calculators is allowed for all quizzes and examinations. All examinations are closed book. 

No smoking, eating or drinking is permitted at any time in the classroom.

Cell phones must be turned off or placed on silent alarm.

Important dates:

Exams: Refer to course schedule

Final examination: Friday, December 14, 2007; 3:00-5:00 pm

Last day to withdraw without academic penalty: Friday, October 12, 2006

Last update: September 24, 2007