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[ Materials ][ Class ][ Grades ][ Laboratory ][ Observations ][ Extra Credit ] INFORMATION FOR SUMMER, 2008: Welcome to the telecourse: Descriptive Astronomy! We are pleased and very excited in offering this telecourse under a brand new lesson format: "ASTRONOMY: Observations and Theories", with video episodes to be aired weekly on KLTV channel 11. These lesson videos are also available in the college LRC on a student DVD format. Viewing of these episodes will be a necessary course requirement; see "TV Schedule" link above. A supplementary/enrichment video series based mostly upon PBS' "The Astronomers" will be aired on another spot each week. Viewing of these weekly episodes is highly recommended; encouragement is further fostered by a small bonus credit scheme. At exam time on designated Tuesdays submit short one page reaction/summaries to the previous "The Astronomers"(since last exam) episodes for up to two extra exam points per episode. NOTE: All aspects of the course will discussed at REQUIRED ORIENTATIONS given in SCI 102 on Wednesday, 25 June 2008 at 4PM with alternative repeat at 5 PM; first "Open Lab" will then follow at 6 PM - ALL LAB STUDENTS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO ATTEND ALL OR A PORTION OF THIS FIRST "OPEN LAB" SESSION, AS OUTLINED IN THE OREINTATION LETTER!

MATERIALS

Textbook: HORIZONS:Exploring the Universe, Tenth(or current) Edition by M. Seeds, plus telecourse Student Guide for "ASTRONOMY: Observations and Theories", are REQUIRED (NOTE COURSE THEMES in Student Guide). The "Night Sky" star chart is required for laboratory and highly recommended for 3 Cr students; consideration of the associated booklet "Viewing the Night Sky With Binoculars" is recommended. Other laboratory materials are indicated below.

CLASS

Wednesday activities will include examinations on the scheduled study guide sections (given at 5 PM on 09-16-30 July, and 06 August), viewing/discussion of previous exams, and other questions/discussion. A comprehensive final examination will be given at 5PM on 13 August 2008. The Study Guide Unit exams, final examination, regular viewing of telecourse episodes, and regular Study Guide lesson activities are required. While the Wednesday "three-credit" SGS exams will normally last an hour or less, the final examination will require allowance of additional time. Students may submit their notebooks at the end of the quarter as additional evidence of positive effort.

GRADES

GRADES: (3 Cr HR portion) The result for each student guide section (SGS) exam is expressed/recorded on a 4.0 numerical grade scale. The average of these comprises 50% of the EXAMINATION grade. The other 50% of the EXAMINATION grade will come from the comprehensive final examination(for 5 Cr HR students this amounts to 40% lab, 30% SGS exams, and 30% final). In view of the large tolerance offered by this approach, evidence of continuous, persistently passing effort, is also expected for successful course completion. As exam attendance is required, exam make ups will NOT be offered for any reason. However, to allow for the unusual isolated circumstance of a missed exam, your lowest SGS exam score will not be used in determining your EXAMINATION grade. (NOTE: RARE exceptions/ alterations to the foregoing are reserved ENTIRELY to The Instructor’s discretion).

LABORATORY

Students enrolled in 5 Cr HRS. will participate in laboratory. Requirements will include completion of laboratory exercises, laboratory examinations given on Study Guide exam dates, completion of three observational "star watch" exercises(according to a schedule to be handed out), and completion of a comprehensive final laboratory examination. Purchase a packet of laboratory exercises at the bookstore; a compass and protractor/straight edge are also encouraged. Additional laboratory information will be given on other handouts. Note that for 5 Cr HR students, 2 Cr HR is assigned to laboratory, so completion of some 40-44 clock hours work/participation will be expected. The laboratory grade will count 40% of the course grade. The laboratory will be available for student help during the 6-11 PM period on Wednesdays. If the weather is clear, the latter part of this time period will be reserved for instructor led field observational "star watch" exercises. While required laboratory "help session" attendance is of limited provision, even well-prepared students have found it quite beneficial, and attendance is urged, particularly for the first few exercises.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Submitted laboratory exercises are expected to be THE STUDENT’S OWN WORK/RESPONSIBILITY, allowing for help from the Instructor/Aide, and helpful interaction with other currently ASTR enrolled students. Keeping in mind that the emphasis here is for each student to experience the thought process and logic necessary for an appropriate and valid response to each exercise, whole or large scale copying from any outside source is highly discouraged and viewed as borderline cheating. In any case, all (even small scale) outside laboratory exercise help needs to be appropriately acknowledged/referenced and must be verifiable.


NOTE: Laboratory exercises are due at 6PM on the Wednesday dates indicated in the lab schedule. If still unfinished, work must then be completed by students IN THE LABORATORY during the 6-11 PM "open" time on that evening.

TELESCOPE SET-UP/OBSERVATIONS

The telescope set-up exercise Requires only about 45 minutes of small group activity, and can Be completed early in the evening of 25 June or 02 July.

Participation in an evening observation session and a late night star watch is required. As an aid to completing these requirements, the instructor will lead field observation sessions during the latter part of Wednesday evening lab periods with clear evenings. Bring small flashlights, star charts, binoculars/telescopes(if you have any). Be prepared with appropriate clothing for a cool evening.

If we go off campus, limited transportation will be avaialble for telescopes and a few students. You may choose to take your own vehicle, joining the "caravan" as it moves directly from the college to the observation site. After the observation session, your help in unloading and storing equipment back at the college will be appreciated. Submission of a written report on handout format by 17 July will complete this requirement(whether carried our under "Instructor led" or "on-your-own" format). The late night star watch session is initiated in a similar way to the evening observation session, but with the goal of observing substantial changes in the night sky as the night progresses. Group activity is encouraged. An associated written report is due by 07 August. The third "observation” is the "classroom exercises using THE NIGHT SKY" worksheet; it is due by 13 August
NOTE: Skies may become cloudier as the season proceeds; early completion of these requirements is advised.

LABORATORY EXTRA CREDIT: (limited to about 2/3 of a letter gradee.g. B- to B+, C to B-, etc.) appropriate activities:

a) additional lab investigation(for a total of eleven)
b) documented astronomical observations with binoculars/telescopes done in addition to normal class requirements
c) documented visit to observatory or planetarium
d) other project pre-approved by Instructor
NOTE: All laboratory work should be completed by 11 PM on 08/13/08.