INTRODUCTION TO SELF-PACED ASTRONOMY

Welcome to self-paced Astronomy. This is a series of courses [ASTR 111 (3 credit hours), ASTR 111A (1 credit hour), ASTR 211 (3 credit hours), ASTR 211A (1 credit hour), ASTR 311 (3 credit hours)] designed primarily for the non-science major. They are self-paced, mastery oriented courses.

We have broken the material for these courses into pieces called Units. Each Unit investigates a particular aspect of astronomy. Two examples are: The Sun (Unit 22) or Space Exploration (Unit 37). Credit for a Unit is acquired by mastery. Mastery is the process of taking an evaluation and/or completing a lab. There is no penalty for failure to get a mastery when you try it. You may try again after more studying. Most of the Units are evaluated in one of the following fashions:

1. 15 question multiple-choice evaluation (EV),
   
2. An evaluation plus a 2-hour laboratory,
   
3. An evaluation plus a brief paragraph,
   
4. A 3-hour laboratory

The material to be mastered, the level required for mastery, and suggested study aids are all described in the Unit materials that follow this explanatory part.

YOUR GRADE IS BASED UPON HOW MANY OF THE UNITS YOU MASTER

See your course handout for the number of Units required. Certain Units are required (as well as any laboratories that accompany them). These Units are listed in the handout for your particular course. The additional Units for your grade may be selected from any of the other Units that you have not used.

You may study for your Units at any convenient location. The following locations apply to USC-Columbia: Mastery is achieved at the evaluation center (EV) in Jones Physical Sciences (PSC) Room 008. Laboratories are held in Rooms 010 B, C, and D. Some Units are held at the Melton Memorial Observatory (Bull and Green Streets) and others at the Planetarium (Senate Street near Pickens).

ALL THE UNITS CONTAIN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The following goals and objectives illustrate these terms and provide an introduction to these courses.

GOALS:

After studying this part, you should understand the operation of this course and how to study the material.

OBJECTIVES:

1. You should recognize a description of
   
   1. a Unit
      
   2. goals
      
   3. mastery and the procedures to observe
      
   4. objectives and the meaning of the symbols * and +
      
   5. how your grade is determined
      
2. You should recognize a description of the following procedures for evaluation:
   
   1. how many correct responses are needed for mastery of a 15 question evaluation,
      
   2. what two items you must bring with you when you take an evaluation,
      
   3. how many times per day you may take a Unit,
      
   4. how many times per day you may take a Prelab,
      
   5. how much time must separate different attempts of the same Unit or Prelab,
      
   6. how many different Units you may attempt each day,
      
   7. that evaluations (EV¹s) are not to be removed from the EV room.
      
3. You should recognize a description of the operating procedures for laboratories.
4. You should recognize who is responsible for reporting errors in crediting Units and that there is a deadline for such reports and where the date for the deadline is found.
5. You should recognize from the handout sheets (syllabus).
   
   1. the date for choosing a laboratory section if your course so requires,
      
   2. the date for completion of Unit 1 if you are in ASTR 111 and/or ASTR 111A.
      

EXPLANATION OF THE UNIT INFORMATION

Goals are statements of intent or purpose. Goals contain words such as: understand and appreciate. Goals do not tell you what performance is expected. Performance statements are called objectives. Objectives contain words such as: recognize and choose.

All of the Unit instructions, except 39-43 and 49-55, 59, and 60 contain the following information:

1. Goals of the Unit
   
2. Relevant chapters and pages in Hartmann and Impey Astronomy: The Cosmic Journey: Be sure to study any figures on these pages and read the captions.
   
3. Objectives: Certain objectives are denoted by + or * in front of the objective number. The objectives with * are those which require quantitative skills. The objectives with (+) are those which are not discussed in the text. Fairly extensive notes are usually given for both types of these objectives in the notes.
   
4. Audiovisual aids that are available to help you in your preparation These are divided into two categories, "Suggested" and "Supplementary"
   
   • "Suggested". The suggested materials directly tie to the goals and objectives of the Unit. Usually they are materials specifically designed for this course.
     
   • "Supplementary". The supplementary materials are more general, usually commercially prepared material. They cover many of the objectives but are not specifically geared for our course.
     
5. Notes: to amplify the text material and to cover any objectives denoted by (+) which are not covered in the text
   
6. Word Practice based mainly on bold faced words (in the Concept list at the end of the text chapter)
   
7. Questions - Use these for a self evaluation. These questions are often chosen to bring out subtle points. Sample questions are not given for all objectives.
   
8. Answers to Word Practice and Solutions to Questions
   
9. Material for the laboratory if any,
   1. information needed before laboratory (Prelab objectives),
      
   2. explanation of laboratory,
      
   3. data pages.
      

HOW TO Prepare to MASTER A UNIT

1. Choose the Unit.
   
2. Refer to the Unit description in this book and read the appropriate text section.
   
3. Study the objectives one by one using (as necessary):
   
   1. Text (Text figures are referred to as Figure x-x or as H Figure x-x, while figures in this study guide are referred to as Figure SG y-y.)
      
   2. Any notes that update or amplify text
      
   3. Special lectures if offered
      
   4. Word Practice and Sample Questions
      
   5. Audiovisual (AV) -- computer programs, tapes, slides, magazines, video tapes
   6. Discussions with instructor or assistant This study may be best begun by writing each objective and its explanation.
      
4. Take the Evaluation (given in the EV room): If you get Mastery, choose another Unit; otherwise return to step 3.
   
5. If a laboratory is a part of the Unit: prepare for the laboratory.
   
6. Study the laboratory sheets.
   
7. Take the Prelab evaluation (given in the EV room).
   

Note: steps 5-8 may precede steps 2-5

If you do not succeed in getting mastery, the staff on duty may provide you with a list of the objectives for the questions you missed. This provides comments to aid your study. If you nearly get mastery (miss no more than 4 on a 15 question evaluation), you may examine the evaluation in the EV room. You should still ask for a list of missed objectives.

Evaluation Room (Room 008)

You will have mastered a Unit Evaluation when you successfully answer 13 of 15 questions on the evaluation. If you do not achieve mastery, you may review your errors, unless you miss more than 4 on a 15 question evaluation. Please remember failure to show mastery does not count against you. If after several trials you feel you are not making progress, please talk with your instructor or a staff assistant. If you are a 111 student and do not master Units 1 to 7 after 4 tries, you must have a conference with a course instructor (or a senior assistant) before making further attempts for that Unit. This is not a penalty; it is to help you isolate your problems and deal with them before you waste time and effort. You may attempt any given Unit at most twice in one day. Each attempt must be separated by a half-hour break for study. You may, of course, try any number of different Units each day. There is no limit on the number of Prelab attempts per day but each must be separated by one half-hour.

RULES

1. Bring photo ID (USC or other) and pencil or pen with you.
   
2. You may take as many different Units per day as desired,
   
3. A half-hour study period between repeat trials of any Unit or Prelab,
   
4. You are permitted only 2 trials of any given Unit per day (3 in summer school)
   
5. Your are permitted as many attempts as desired for any given Prelab per day,
   
6. No evaluation is to be removed from the center, and
   
7. All books must be under desk or at front of room while being evaluated.
   
8. No calculators are to be used for Units or Prelabs.
   

Laboratory

Some Units have laboratories associated with them. The laboratory may be done before or after the Unit evaluation. These laboratories are required to get credit for the Units with laboratory regardless of whether you are registered for 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours. You are expected to read your laboratory sheets before coming to the laboratory. To assure that you have read the laboratory sheets, there will be a short Prelab evaluation. (Six questions with 5 correct responses required). This Prelab must be taken at the evaluation center and mastered sometime during the week before the laboratory. You will be given a receipt that serves as your entrance pass. Detailed information will be given in the student handout for your section of Astronomy. You must bring a calculator, this book, and a pencil (not a pen) to all laboratories.

Audiovisual Facilities

Room 007D contains an audiovisual center with computer aided instruction and taped lectures, films, and reading material. The astronomy adviser on duty in Room 007 will provide any aid you need with equipment. There is also a general study area at the main entrance to the astronomy area.

Grading System

Your class syllabus will tell you how many Units are required for a given grade and which Units are required. If a required Unit has a laboratory, the laboratory must be completed no matter how many hours you are enrolled. Astronomy is a laboratory science. The syllabus also describes conditions for an Incomplete grade.

Extra Units may be completed and carried over the next semester. They will only be carried over one semester (not counting summer).

Other Comments

Units 49, 50 and 55 are observation Units (not laboratories) held at the observatory. Sign up sheets are posted weekly. Sign up to reserve a place. Units 46-48 are constellation identification; one or two of these will be offered once each term. Check your syllabus for the schedule for the term

Feel free to use the suggestion boxes or contact any instructor during office hours or by appointment.

Several Units and advanced labs are available only a few times each term. Notices of schedules will be posted on the boards.

You are responsible for checking the notice boards at least once per week for these and other announcements.

Please check your course enrollment status in the hall between Rooms 007A and 007B.

You may check your procress using a private code anytime the center is open . This code will be printed on both evaluations and Prelabs. This code will be given to you when you try your first Unit. You will need to know this code for credit for any work done for this course at the planetarium, observatory or other special events.

ALL ERRORS IN YOUR PROGRESS MUST BE REPORTED BY THE FIRST DAY OF EXAMS. (Errors should be reported within 2 weeks of their occurrence.) Errors may occur; you are responsible for notifying us of them. There is a deadline for reporting errors. This deadline is given in your class syllabus.

Students should not eat or drink in any carpeted areas of the Astronomy Center, including the halls. University regulations forbid smoking in any areas of our building except designated smoking areas.

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of the page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of South Carolina.