Building a Syllabus

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

View teaching through the lens of learning◦ Thus the syllabus needs to focus on the student

Go over the syllabus with the students◦ Many will not read it on their own◦ Post it online

Purpose of Syllabus

Course Information Course Title Course Number and Section Class meeting days/time and place

Name and Title Department Email Phone Office Office Hours

Header Information

Classical andModern Astronomy

Astronomy 105 OnlineAST 105.502

Dr. N. L. MarkworthDepartment of Physics and

Astronomy

Lab SyllabusStudy GuidesHot Links

Office HoursMW 02:00 - 04:00 PM OfficeTR 02:00 – 04:00 PM TEC

Summer II 2012Office S-322F 468-3001Markworth's Home Pagenmarkworth@sfasu.edu

 

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.

Course Description

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.

Program Learning Outcomes

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

PLO Example

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.

General Education Core Curriculum Objectives/Outcomes

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

EEO Example

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

Student Learning Outcomes

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.

SLO Example

List all required and supplemental materials.

Text and Materials

Describe the major course requirements, assignments, examinations, projects. ◦ How does each assignment or project link back

to the SLOs.

Course Requirements

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.

Course Calendar

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

Grading Policy

Exams (equally weighted) 75 52.5Desire2Learn Review Quizzes 10 7.5Masteringastronomy Homework 10 7.5Class Participation 10 7.5

Exercises 75 18.75

(11 indoor labs + 1 night lab)

Lab Final 25 6.25

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.

Lab % of Lab % of Course

Lecture % of Lecture % of Course

A 90 – 105 B 80 – 89 C 70 – 79 D 60 – 69 F < 60

Attendance◦ probably need to explain excused and unexcused

absence Tardiness

◦ develop your classroom persona◦ may want to give a short quiz within the first minute of

class Cell Phone Usage Class participation Missed exams Missed assignments Lab safety

Classroom Policies

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

Academic Integrity (A-9.1)

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.

 

Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54)

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/.

Students with Disabilities

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

F-1 Visa Holders