SCI 3120 – Physical Science II
Course Syllabus - Spring 2008

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

Course Description:

Number and Title:

SCI 3120 (CRN 26095)
Physical Science II

Credit Hours:

3.0 semester credit hours

Course Description:

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

SCI 3120 is a teacher preparatory course in physical science. It is a continuation of Physical Science I (SCI 3110).  The course will deal with the physics  and chemistry concepts needed for teaching Middle Grades. 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

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 .

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

Notebook computers will be used occasionally in class in connection with laboratory experiences. Computers will be used extensively for communication and research.

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.

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 physics and chemistry concepts to explain everyday-phenomena at a level appropriate to middle school learners.
• To become familiar with the following standards for Middle Grades science:  GPS, Praxis II, NSTA, GACE.
• To practice planning, preparing, and presenting a laboratory lesson. 

Student Learning Objectives:

General Education Outcomes:

• Communication: knowledge base: SCI 3120 will provide knowledge base information necessary for communication of information concerning Physical Science for middle-grades learners.
• Critical thinking: all components ( question/issue, method, evidence, conclusion ). SCI 3120 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  

Georgia Performance Standards

The following standards will be correlated with student work and assessments:

S8P1: Students will examine the scientific view of the nature of matter  

S8P2: Students will be familiar with the forms and transformations of energy

S8P3: Students will investigate relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects

S8P4: Students will explore the wave nature of sound and electromagnetic radiation

S8P5: Students will recognize characteristics of gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major kinds of forces acting in nature

Term:

Spring Semester 2008

Instructor Information:

Instructor:

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

Office:

Arts and Sciences G-110J

Office Hours:

Monday: 1:30-6:00 pm

Wednesday: 11:00-11:30 am; 4:00-6:00 pm

Thursday: 2:00-3:00 pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Class Meetings:

Classroom:

Lecture Hall, Room B-12 (M, Th), C-58 or C-48 (F)

Class Times:

Monday: 9:30 am-11:20 am

Thursday: 3:00 pm-4:15 pm

Friday: 2:30-4:20 (Various weeks)

Text Information:

Text:

Krauskopf and Beiser, The Physical Universe, 12th edition, 2008

Text Coverage:

            Chapters 5-11

Pedagogy Experiences:

• Each student, as a member of a group, will be responsible for planning and presenting a lesson during the scheduled lab times. Print out the details of this assignment from the following link:

Pedagogy Experience

Evaluation:

• Three one-hour exams: 45%
• Chapter quizzes: 15%
• Pedagogy Experience (Teaching): 10%
• Pedagogy Experience (Class Participation): 10%
• Final examination 20%

Examinations will be correlated with the Georgia Performance Standards as follows:

Exam 1:  S8P2, S8P4, S8P5

Exam 2:  S8P1, S8P2, S8P5

Exam 3:  S8P1, S8P2

The mid-term grade in this course will be issued between February 13 and February 27.  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 Friday, February 29, 2008.

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.

Course Schedule:

A tentative course schedule for SCI 3120 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.

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated.  While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF. 

A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at: 

 http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.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: TBA

Last day to withdraw without academic penalty: Friday, February 29, 2008

Last update: December 19, 2007