ASTR 111, ASTR 111/111A

all sections

Prof. Rosenfeld, Instructors Page & Overcash

OBJECTIVE:

1.   Students will be able to answer correctly over 80% of questions posed on the following:

a.          Scientific description of the night sky and how time determines what is visible.

b.          The physical laws that determine the orbits of the planets and who, when, and how these laws were determined.

c.          The nature of light and descriptions of telescopes.

d.          The methods used to determine the nature of stars and their distances.

2.                Students will successfully complete at least six two-hour laboratories related to the listed objectives of the course.

3.                Exact requirements for grades are given in the syllabus

GOALS:

1.     Students will understand of the nature of astronomy as a science and the distinction among science, non-science and pseudo-science.

2.     Students will understand how physical laws were discovered and how this

knowledge has enabled astronomers to construct a worldview of the structure of the universe.

3.     Students will understand astronomerÕs current construct of the universe from the Earth, through the solar system, our galaxy and the distant universe. They will also understand the methods used.

 

Welcome to Astronomy 111, a self-paced mastery oriented course.  This is a laboratory course for three (ASTR 111) or four (ASTR 111 & ASTR 111A) credit hours.  The course material is broken up into sections that we call Òunits.Ó  Your grades in these courses are based upon the number of units and which of the units that you master.  Mastery is demonstrated by an evaluation via computer and/or a laboratory.  All  the documents and other items needed to achieve mastery are listed in the table below:

TEXT:

DISCOVERING ASTRONOMY—USC  SHAWL, LoPRESTO, SAFKO 4TH

STUDY GUIDE:

SELF-PACED STUDY GUIDE AND LABORATORY EXERCISES IN ASTRONOMY, J. L. Safko, 11th Ed.

CALCULATOR

needed for laboratories -- (one with logs and trig functions — such as TI 25X or better is required)

SYLLABUS:

This handout

EMAIL ADDRESS

An email address at which you read mail sent to username@mailbox.sc.edu

STUDENT ID

You must have a USC Student ID with you at all times in the Astronomy Center.
 
I. INFORMATION THAT IS COMMON TO ALL SEMESTERS

You are expected to have a valid university email of the form username@mailbox.sc.edu that you check on a regular basis.  Your University email will be used for official communication.  The evaluations are taken on computers in PSC Room 008 (EV room), and laboratories are held in PSC 010B, 010C, and 010D. In addition Room 007D  and 005 are rooms where you may find study aids.  Often staff is on duty in Room 007 to provide tutoring.   The activities of some of the units are conducted at Melton Memorial Observatory or other sites. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR STUDENT ID FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE CENTER. ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE FIRST MEETING OF THEIR SECTION and to SELECT THEIR first laboratory TIME no latter than the 2nd day of class.

PROGRESS

We use a four letter code (Index Code) to identify you and to provide privacy.  You must use this code in conjunction with your student ID number to check your progress and to reschedule all labs after the first lab meeting.  The code is not needed to retrieve sample questions via the internet.  Except in unusual circumstances the ASTR Website will be available from any location that has internet connectivity.  You should check your progress regularly and promptly report discrepancies between the course records and your private records.  When a student has completed all requirements for a specific unit, that unit appears in a list of units ÒAVAILABLE FOR CREDITÓ under your index code.  Your grade will be based upon the units listed as "AVAILABLE FOR CREDIT ".  Final grades will be posted by this code unless you request in writing that they not be posted.

MILESTONES

Two milestones established for the course will encourage you to begin work early in the semester and to set a steady-pace.  The first milestone is the completion of Unit 1 by day 15 of the semester.  The second milestone is the mastery of at least three of the required units (not counting Unit 1) or the equivalent by day 35 of the semester.  For this purpose a lab and a mastery will each count ½ unit.  If you fall short of one of these milestones you must meet one-on-one with the professor or instructor to discuss your progress.  Your ability to earn additional credit will be suspended pending this meeting.

PLANETARIUM LECTURES — UNIT 51

Unit 51 will be available in a portable planetarium in the Carolina Coliseum.  This planetarium program is excellent preparation for Unit 2.  Because the seating accommodates only 30 students at a time, the program will be rerun several times.  A seat may be reserved by signing up on a list posted in the hallway outside of Room 007B.  Unreserved seats are available on a first-come first-served basis at lecture time.  Be on time — the doors are locked when the program starts.  The program lasts 50 min.  You may not attend the planetarium program more than once.  The location of the planetarium is shown on a map posted near the sign-up list.  You will be issued a receipt for attendance at the planetarium program, and credit for Unit 51 requires that you submit your receipt to a staff person working in the Evaluation room (008) within one week of attending the program. 

OPTICAL OBSERVATORY

The Melton Memorial Observatory with its 40 cm reflector is open to the general public Monday evenings (weather permitting) 8:30-10:30 EST (9:30-11:00  EDT).  You are welcome to drop in anytime during these hours.  Units 49/50 and 60 require activities at the Observatory on nights other than Monday, and Units 55 and 59 require daytime activities at the Observatory.  The schedule of Observatory sessions will be posted in the hall outside of room 007C. You may sign up for observatory units at http://boson.physics.sc.edu/~melton/.   Units 49, 50, 55, 59, and 60 do NOT count as laboratories.

LABORATORIES

Astronomy is a laboratory science for either 3 or 4 hours credit.  If you take a unit which has a laboratory listed as part of its mastery, you must do the laboratory to receive credit for the unit, no matter what your enrollment.  ALL STUDENTS IN ASTR 111 MUST COMPLETE UNITS 1-7 FOR A PASSING GRADE, SO ALL ASTR 111 STUDENTS MUST DO AT LEAST 6 LABORATORIES (UNITS 2-7). Laboratories may be done before or after the mastery evaluation for the unit.  Each of the basic laboratories (2-7) will take 2 hours to complete.  During the first seven weeks of the semester you should commit a two-hour block of your time.  The first meeting, which will be less than two hours, will familiarize you with the laboratory procedures.  Attendance at each laboratory will assure you a seat in the following weekÕs lab provided you are prepared and on time.  Students who complete all the basic laboratories (2-7) during the first seven meetings will receive as a bonus credit for Unit 54.  You must choose your laboratory meeting time during the first week—the sooner the better.  Prior to the second and subsequent laboratory meetings you must pass a simple pre-laboratory evaluation showing that you are familiar with the terminology of the laboratory exercise.  This pre-laboratory evaluation may be taken in the EV room anytime during the week preceding the laboratory.  Credit for this evaluation requires 4 correct responses to 6 questions.  Short video programs are available on the ASTR Website to aid you in your preparation.  Do not wait until just before your scheduled laboratory to attempt the pre-laboratory evaluation.  Pre-laboratory success will be verified on our computer network before you are permitted to do your laboratory.  The laboratory schedule and reservation system is available on the ASTR Website.  Some make-up labs for the basic units (2-7) will be offered during the second half of the semester but excluding the last week (Dec. 1-5).  The number of labs we can offer during the last two weeks is usually insufficient to accommodate all of the students who have deferred them to that point.  These labs are needed to pass the course.  If you are missing a basic lab at midterm, you should schedule it at your earliest opportunity.

Times for elective laboratory units (Units 9, 24, 27, 30, 58, 16, and 39-43) will be scheduled later in the semester.  Like the basic laboratories the elective labs entail a pre-laboratory evaluation during the week preceding the lab meeting.  Pre-labs for Units 16 and 39-43 have 10 questions each and the others 6 questions each. 

YOU MUST BRING A PENCIL AND A CALCULATOR THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO USE TO ALL LABS. You will need log and trig functions such as provided on a TI 30X.  STUDENTS WHO DO NOT BRING A CALCULATOR, PENCIL, OR THEIR LAB PAGES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PERFORM THE LABORATORY. 

If you miss the first laboratory meeting or you are changing sections, you must reserve a seat on the ASTR Website.  To get credit for a laboratory you must (1) pass a Pre-lab within 7 days prior to the lab meeting, (2) bring lab pages and calculator to the lab meeting, (3) have your ID scanned before the lab starts, (4) perform the lab, and (5) have your ID scanned by the instructor after you complete the lab.

Additional supporting material is on the WEB at

 http://astro.physics.sc.edu, http://spastro.physics.sc.edu


GO TO http://astro.physics.sc.edu to get

Syllabi

Copies of Units 56,57,59,60

Access astronomical images

General information(staff photos etc.)

 

 GO TO http://spastro.physics.sc.edu to get

Laboratory schedules

Reserve laboratory space

Check your progress

Information on center hours, special events, sample questions

 

GRADING SYSTEM -- ASTR 111 or ASTR 111/111A

To be credited toward your grade units must appear on the line ÒAVAILABLE FOR CREDITÓ (shown on the ASTR Website). In the following tables ÒList XÓ refers to Review Units 11, 15, 21, 25, 29, and 33.  Credit for units beyond the required units may be obtained with any other units that are offered. No unit may earn credit in more than one ASTR course.  All parts of any unit selected must be completed.  In ther four (4) credit hour table the first grade is the 3-credit hour grade and the second grade is the 1-credit hour grade.

 

Enrolled in ASTR 111 only (3 credit hours)

GRADE

REQUIRED UNITS

TOTAL UNITS NEEDED

A

1-8, 44 + 2 from List X

17

B+

1-8, 44 + 1 from List X

16

B

1-8, 44

14

C+

1-7, 44

13

C

1-7, 44

11

D+

1-7, 44

10

D

1-7, 44

8

 

List X:  The review Units 11, 15, 21, 25, 29, and 33

Enrolled in ASTR 111 & ASTR 111A (4 credit hours)

GRADE (111/111A)
REQUIRED UNITS

TOTAL UNITS NEEDED

A/A

1-8, 44 + 2 from List X

22

A/B  

1-8, 44 + 2 from List X

21

B+/A  

1-8, 44 + 1 from List X

20

B+/B  

1-8, 44 + 1 from List X

19

B/B    

1-8, 44

18

B/C  

1-8, 44

17

C+/B  

1-7, 44

16

C+/C 

1-7, 44

15

C/C   

1-7, 44

14

C/D  

1-7, 44

13

D+/C

1-7, 44

12

D+/D 

1-7, 44

11

D/D 

1-7, 44

10

 

Please see your instructor if you are retaking this course or have any questions about these grade tables. Do not confuse Required Units and Total Units in this table. For example, to earn a B for 3 hours one must complete units 1-8, 44 + 5 additional units.  Units completed in excess of those required for the assigned grade can count towards Astronomy enrollment completed within the next year.  Partly completed units (masteries) will not carry over.

Incompletes

Incompletes are given only for UNANTICIPATED illness, accident, family or work related responsibility. Requests must be in writing, in detail, and clearly explain how the circumstances fit the eligibility requirements.  It must be submitted no later than reading day and must be submitted to your instructor in person.  A request will not be considered if you did not show proportional progress towards a passing grade during that portion of the term not covered by your exigency.  If your college permits, these courses may be taken on a pass/fail option.  A grade of D or better is a satisfactory grade. See your dean's office for permission forms.  Your instructor does not sign the request form.  Print the instructor's name in the space on the form. Do not contact the instructor. 

II. INFORMATION FOR THE CURRENT TERM

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES – Fall 2008

21-22 Aug.

Choose laboratory time -- before first lab meeting

24 Aug.

Center opens for EVÕs and ASTR 111 Laboratories start meeting

31 Aug.-1 Sept.

Center closed for Labor Day Holiday

5-17 Sept..

Planetarium lectures – Unit 51 credit – choose one – only offers for the term.  Schedule posted.

5 Sept.

1st Milestone. Unit 1 must be mastered by this date -- you are advised to drop the course if you cannot master the first unit by this date.

26 Sept.

2nd Milestone. Mastery of at least three of the required units(not counting unit 1) or a mastery of an equivalent combination of partial units(labs or masteries will each count as 1/2 unit for this purpose) by this date.

2 Oct.

DROP DATE -- Students in 111 who have not mastered at least: Unit 1 and a total of 3 Units from 2-7  are strongly urged to withdraw (Labs or masteries will each count as 1/2 unit for this purpose).  Students in 211 or 311 should have completed 3 units.  Students in 1 or 2 hours should have completed at least one unit per hour.

8 Oct.

Schedule of makeup labs for Units 2-7 and advanced (211/311) lab schedule available on the WEB. Signup within one week after pre-lab.

9 Oct..

Midpoint of semester — use grading information to calculate your midterm grade.  One-half the work needed for a passing grade is considered satisfactory for midterm.  Evidence of attendance for Unit 51 must be submitted by this date.

9-12 Oct.

Center Closed for Fall Break

17 Oct.

111 Labs finish basic cycle.  Bonus Unit 54 if all 111 Labs completed by closing

19 Oct.

211 Labs and 111 makeup labs begin

4 Nov.

Center Closed for Election Day(Go Vote!)

26-30 Nov.

Center Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

26 Nov.

Deadline for Incomplete Request

3 Dec.

211 Labs complete cycle

3 Dec.

Last offers of makeupÕs for all labs Not all labs available this or the preceding week.

5 Dec.

Last day to attempt test. Center closes for term at usual hour -- requests for Incompletes must be in. You should check your progress before the center closes and report any errors in recording your work.

6 Dec.

Final grades should be posted by noon on the wall outside the center entrance – Not on the WEB

NO GRADES WILL BE RAISED AFTER THEY ARE SUBMITTED TO THE REGISTRAR

DISCOUNT DATES – Fall 2008

Only 12 correct responses are required for mastery of Units 2-4 during the period 24 Aug- 22 Sept.

Only 12 correct responses are required for mastery of Units 5-7 during the period 24 Aug- 17 Oct.

REVIEW LECTURES

To assist with the mastery of the basic astronomy units (2-7) a series of review lectures are offered during the semester.  A lecture reviewing units 2, 3, and 4 will be offered on Sept. 8, and repeated on Sept. 10, 12, 15, 17, and 19.  The lectures are scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm and last 50 minutes.  They will be held in CLS 104.  Additional review lectures will be announced as the semester progresses.

NUMBER OF TRIES PER DAY

You may take as many different units per day as desired; however, you may attempt any given unit or pre-lab only two (2) times per day with at least a 30 min. study period between tries. After 4 attempts on any of Units 1-7 you should bring your lists of missed objectives to your instructor or a senior student staff member and talk about the unit.  (Staff in the EV can help only if the center is not busy.)  After discussing your problems  you may make additional attempts.

USC Code of Academic Responsibility

It is the responsibility of every student at the University of South Carolina to adhere steadfastly to truthfulness and to avoid dishonesty, fraud, or deceit of any type in connection with any academic program.  Any student who violates this rule or who knowingly assists another to violate this rule shall be subject to discipline. The discipline referred to in the preceding is separate from any grade penalty that we may impose (Usually an F and cancellation of all the work done for the term).

CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF IN ASTRO CENTER.