Physical Science in Everyday Life PHS101 Spring 09 Syllabus

Northern Arizona University Dept. of Physics & Astronomy

Class Meeting Time and Place: Tu/Th 12:45 pm 2:00 pm, Physical Sciences Building, Room 233
Instructor: Kent Ellis email: r.ellis@nau.edu Please use PHS 101 in the subject line if you want me to read it, and put your
first and last names in the message if you desire to be identified.
Office: Physical Sciences - 302, office phone 523-5078
Office Hours: 15 minutes after class, or Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 11:00 or by appointment, Room 19-302
Texts: Conceptual Physics by Hewitt, Any Edition (preferably 4
th
10
th
)
PHS 101 Fall 07 Lab Manual by NAU Physics Dept
e-Instruction Student Response Pad (Class Key: H47584L964)
https://cpsonlinehe.einstruction.com/EnrollingThroughCPSOnline.pdf
NOTE: Please use your DANA I D as USER NAME when registering your clicker!!!!
Prereq: Must be taken concurrently with PHS 101 Lab. Failure to do so will result in an administrative drop from the course.
Important Web Sites: Instructor Web Site to be announced
Vista Web Site: http://vista.nau.edu/ (for homework and class calendar)
Course Description
The goal of this course is to provide a well-grounded understanding of selected fundamental concepts in physical science while at the
same time developing thinking skills that enable and encourage independent thinking. You will practice using the methods of scientific
inquiry to make sense of your own observations of everyday physical events. You will make observations during classroom experiments,
activities and demonstrations. You will also make careful observations outside of class of the motions of the sun, moon, and stars
throughout the course of the semester.

Since many PHS101 students are future teachers, this course features content addressing the Arizona Science Teaching Standards #1-
science as inquiry, #2- history and nature of science, #3- personal and social perspectives in science and technology, #5- physical science,
and #6-earth and space science. The major topics covered in the course are: Force and Motion, The Nature of Matter, Sound, Light,
Electricity& Magnetism, and Celestial Motions. The mathematics that is incorporated in the course is at a VERY basic level and is only
included when it is needed to enhance conceptual reasoning.
Course Particulars
This is a 3/1 credit-hour course, (3 hours for PHS 101 and 1 hour for PHS 101 Lab), which MUST be taken simultaneously. The four-
hour lecture and laboratory combination fulfills the University Liberal Studies requirement in Laboratory Science. You will automatically
receive the same course letter grade for both components of this course even though you register for the lecture and lab sections
separately.

Course Structure
This course is not structured as a traditional lecture. Since research on learning has demonstrated that the construction of individual
knowledge is greatly enhanced during verbal exchanges of ideas, peer discussions are incorporated as a central component of every class.
You will be asked to articulate your understanding. Both "lecture" and "lab" class will involve small group discussions, interactive class
discussions, group experiments, and interactive demonstrations.

Materials to Bring to Every Class
#2 pencil
eInstruction class response pad
basic calculator
current class notes downloaded from Vista class calendar

Class Notes
CLASS NOTES with questions and diagrams to be considered during each lecture class will be available on the class Vista site prior to
each class. Each student will be expected to download and print out a copy of the class notes prior to each lecture class to be used to take
notes on during the class. The notes will not be covered in numerical order, so be sure to check the class calendar on Vista before
downloading.

Class Participation and the e-Instruction Student Response System
Active participation in class discussions and experiments is expected from all students. During each lecture class, a number of learner
response questions will be posed to the class relating to demonstrations, experiments, or common experiences. All questions will be
included in the CLASS NOTES you will have download from the WEBCT site. After contemplating and discussing each question with
seat neighbors, students will use the e-Instruction remote control device to register their responses. Class participation points will be
accumulated during each class on the basis of each students electronic responses to the learner response questions. The prime reason for
the student response system is to encourage the active participation of each student in class, therefore correct answers are only assessed
slightly higher than incorrect answers. All points earned during the first two class periods will be credited as BONUS POINTS which can
be used to substitute for points which would otherwise have been earned during any potential absences. NOTE: Each student
MUST have their registered e-Instruction Response Pad in order to earn class participation
points!
Extra Credit Presentations: Class Demo OR Movie-Physics Students wishing to earn extra credit may either perform a physical demonstration
in class at some point in the semester OR make a Movie-Physics presentation. The Movie-Physics assignment will call for individual
students to identify some excerpt from a movie, cartoon, book or any other popular media source, and explain how the excerpt depicts
some physical event either correctly or incorrectly. Specific requirements for extra credit presentations are posted on Vista. NOTE:
No extra credit assignments will be scheduled in the last two weeks of class!

Tests: There will be two midterms and a comprehensive final. The tests are designed to probe for conceptual understanding using multiple choice
questions similar to those used as learner response questions in class. Formulas will be provided for all questions which require a
calculation. Tests in this class are meant to be learning experiences. Students are provided the opportunity to submit corrections after
each midterm to earn addition credit. Expectations for test corrections are published in Vista.

Missing Tests or Final: If you have to miss a test for any reason, that score will be automatically dropped and your course grade will be
automatically computed using grading Option 3 outlined below. If for some reason you have to miss both midterms, contact your
instructor by the end of the second midterm testing day to schedule a special essay based make-up test. Any student who must miss the
final exam will be provided the opportunity to take a special essay based make up final exam provided that they contact the instructor
before the end of the final exam testing day otherwise a grade of zero will be entered for any student who misses the final exam.

Quizzes Quizzes will be administered at the beginning of class on Tuesdays starting in week 2. Each student MUST have their registered e-
Instruction Response Pad in order to earn points on the quizzes! The lowest two quiz scores during the semester will be dropped from the
overall quiz average to accommodate potential absences.

Homework Homework assignments will be assigned after each Thursday class period to reinforce learning using Vista. Homework assignments
will be due on before the quiz on tuesday. Homework assignments will not be available for credit after this the due date for each
assignment. No late homework assignments will be accepted! The lowest two homework scores will be dropped. Since all homework
assignments will be completed using Vista, students must have routine access to a computer. Public computers are available for use by all
NAU students in the Cline library and on the second floor of the Physical Sciences building. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have problems
submitting any VISTA homework assignment, you are required to notify your kind hearted instructor within 2 days of the assignment due
date; have documentation to prove the computer breakdown. Challenges to homework grades will not be considered after this
deadline. NOTE ABOUT HI DDEN I DENTI TI ES: I f you have elected to hide your identity on public sites at NAU, please provide
your trustworthy instructor with your name and DANA I D.

Lab Attendance and Scoring Since every lab is based on group interaction, it is essential that you attend every lab meeting. Please be aware that
the lab equipment will change each week, and there will NOT be opportunities to make-up missed labs during the semester. If you have
to miss a lab, simply show up to one of the other sections that same week. Your lowest lab score will be dropped from the overall
average; this may be only one missed lab assignment. Your lab instructor will explain how your lab work will be scored. Students who
attend all 13 labs will earn a 1% bonus added to their overall lab grade.

Course Grading Four different grading options which emphasize different components of the course will be used to compute grade. Your course
grade will be computed at the end of the semester based on the grading option that yields the highest overall score. Close grades are
NOT rounded up!


Grading Options Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
Class Participation 12.5 % 12.5 % 12.5 %
Homework 12.5 % 12.5 % 12.5 %
Lab 25 % 25 % 25 %

All scores included
Quiz Score
Dropped
Low Midterm
Dropped
Quiz 10 % 0 % 15 %
High Midterm 13.33 % 16.67 % 15 %
Low Midterm 13.33 % 16.67 % 0 %
Final Exam 13.33 % 16.67 % 20 %
Grading Scale: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%

Final Exam Tuesday, May 5, 12:30 - 2:30 PM

Sickness or hospitalization: Northern Arizona University has an official authorized absence policy that is administered by the Office of Student Life.
Institutional excuses can be issued to authorize absences. If a student is hospitalized or has been directed by a physician to remain confined to his or her place of
residence because of illness, Fronske Health Center staff or private physicians may issue a statement providing the dates of the students confinement.

Statement on plagiarism and cheating: Instances of plagiarism or cheating will be reported to the Dean for disciplinary action and may result in a
failing grade for the course. (IMPORTANT NOTE: The only times students are not allowed to work together is on tests and quizzes. Working
with other learners on homework and lab activities is a fundamental aspect of this course and is heartily encouraged! When working with other
learners to complete an assignment, just make sure you submit your answers in your own words when turning in individual work.) NOTE:
Students who give another student their clicker to input responses during an absence are guilty of cheating. I n class 2-minute papers will be
used to cross check clicker usage with class attendance.
50%
50%