ASTRONOMY HONORS SECTION (Earth-101 HR)
Spring 2013, Wed 8:15 - 9:20 am, EBS-102
(on-line version of syllabus subject to change -- always check for updates)

INSTRUCTOR: Erin O'Connor
Phone: 965-0581 x4723
Office: EBS-112
Office Hours: posted
e-mail: oconnor@sbcc.edu
web: www.fieldstudy.com

EARTH 101H - INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY HONORS SECTION (1 additional unit):  A one unit honors section in astronomy to be taken concurrently with your regularly scheduled astronomy course.  We will use the time to delve deeper into the material than time permits during the regular introductory course.  Planetarium based computer software activities and a required research review paper and presentation make for a rewarding in-depth experience in introductory astronomy.

LIMITATION on ENROLLMENT:  Acceptance into the SBCC Honor's Program
TRANSFERABILITY:  CSU; UC Transfer Limit
COURSE ADVISORY
:  EARTH 102 (Astronomy Laboratory) - can be taken a different semester
SKILLS ADVISORY:  English 110, Math 1.
TEXT: Same text that was assigned with your regular Earth 101 Astronomy section.

COMBINED GRADE:  You  will receive one combined grade for both the lecture portion and honors section of this class.  Your grades will be calculated separately, then combined as a weighted percentage (as per unit value).  So, the lecture portion will comprise 3/4 of your grade, and the honors section will make up for the remaining 1/4 of your grade.

GRADING OF HONORS SECTION:  Grading is based on consistent performance and is highly correlated to attendance and in class activities and discussions. No single test will determine your grade. Please note that all assignments are required components of your grade. You must complete all assignments to pass this course regardless of your cumulative percentage.  Following is a tentative grading criteria (adjustments may be made as assignments are added or deleted).

20% + Attendance-based discussion and participation (% may change during semester)
10% Starry Night Software Activities (3 required)
  10% Required Outside Activities (3 required)
10% Daily Quizzes
  20% Student Essay
  20% Student Presentation
10% FINAL (Cumulative)

GRADING SCALE: The grading scale (subject to revision) will follow the traditional percentage breakdown of 90's (A), 80's (B), 70's (C), 60's (D), and below (F).  Scores may be curved slightly to help you, so always strive to do your best.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
ERTH101H SLO 1 - Describe the size and scale of the components of the universe and discriminate between various models of celestial motions. Predict the consequences of these motions.  ERTH101H SLO 2 - Compare and contrast various components of the solar system, how they form, and how they relate to Earth.  ERTH101H SLO 3 - Use the components of the electromagnetic spectrum to investigate stars and stellar evolution. Demonstrate how stars, nebulae, galaxies, and quasars have been used to explore the concepts of relativity and cosmology. 
ERTH101H SLO4 - Students in Honors sections will attain a deeper grasp of a subset of the field of Astronomy through participation in class projects, writing of reports, and making of class presentations.

ATTENDANCE:  Your grade will be based on class participation, computer activities, required videos, group projects, and your participation with a poster paper and presentation.  These honors sessions will be interactive in nature, and as such, attendance is required for successful completion.  Remember, each class missed represents a full week of class time.  The highest grade you receive, is  limited to the following table.  If you miss more than one class, the highest grade you can receive drops by about a letter grade for each additional class missed.  See the table below for clarification.  Note that extra credit may be awarded for those who attend every class.  Being late to class also affects your attendance score (one quarter of a class period of credit is lost each time you are late).

 CLASSES MISSED  HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE (based on %)
     0      A  (+ extra credit for no classes missed)
     1      A
     2      B
     3      C
     4      D (about a month of class missed)
     5 or more      F (over a month of class missed)

ASTRONOMY LAB:  The astronomy lab component of this course (ERTH-102) is not required, however is highly recommended (and may be important for transfer).  The one unit lab is held in the Planetarium and Observatory at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (click here for directions).  In lab you will learn by watching and doing.  The planetarium allows us to show celestial motions as they are happening.  The telescopes allow us to look at the sun, moon, planets, and many deep sky objects such as galaxies, planetary nebulas, supernova, and diffuse nebula.  I hope many of you will consider taking advantage of the lab component of this course.  The lab fills quickly.  If you are unable to get into the lab this semester, be sure to register early next semester.  You may take the lab any semester and it will still transfer with this lecture course as a science with a lab.

PIPELINE:  All students are required to make use of SBCC's PIPELINE service for participation in classroom activities and assignments and so that the instructor (and other students in your class) may contact you.  It is required that you check your PIPELINE account a few times per week.  To access PIPELINE, click the PIPELINE link at the bottom of my www.fieldstudy.com website, and/or on the www.sbcc.edu website.  If you have difficulty accessing your PIPELINE account, meet with me after class so that I can help you.  Always try to use your Pipeline account to email me so as to avoid spam filtering problems.  I always check my Pipeline account first.  If you do not receive a response from me within a few days, catch me before or after class or contact me by phone.  If you autoforward your Pipeline email, be sure to check your spam filter and/or adjust your spam filter settings so as not to filter out my all class emails with important announcements and your class grades.

DROP POLICY:  Adding and dropping courses is a student responsibility, do not expect the instructor to do it for you.  In general though, students may be dropped after missing 2 classes in a row, or 3 classes total.  If there are extenuating circumstances, be sure to let me know (in advance if at all possible).  Students who do not show for the first few days of class will be dropped to make room for those on the waiting list trying to add.

TURNING IN PAPERS:  All papers are to be turned in at the front of the room before or after class, but not during class. For all papers submitted, in the upper right corner, give your name, the date, the class, and the assignment.  Keep a copy.  Many assignments will be kept by your instructor until the end of the semester  You may pick these up after the class is over.

MISSING CLASS:  By registering for this class, you have contracted with the school and with the instructor for lecture class hours, lab hours, and 2-3 homework hours out of class for every hour in class. Sign the attendance sheet each time you come to class. If you miss 2-3 classes, you may be dropped without consultation. If you must miss a class, make arrangements with other students to have your work turned in on time and to have notes taken for you. It is your responsibility to check the "daily announcements" on-line.  You should also check with other students to see what material was covered and if any important announcements were made. No due date extensions are given for students who miss class. You do NOT need to call me to let me know that you will miss class.

HONOR:  I would like to encourage a healthy educational environment of trust and academic responsibility. I will trust you the student to pursue academic success with honor and integrity. I do not anticipate any problems, however, for the record - any indication of cheating (no matter how minor the infraction) will result in an F in the course with your name being turned in to the administration. This can result in a permanent blemish on your transcript as well as expulsion. Do not let this happen to you. There are no second chances!  If it is apparent that you have copied, or falsely represented your work, or you have made the same errors as the solution manual, solution key, or others in your class, you will be removed from the course. The person being copied from will be considered an accomplice.  If a homework or test problem is in question, you may be asked to solve it for your instructor or explain each and every step of your solution. Conduct yourselves with honor and integrity.

GET AHEAD:  If you consistently keep up with the material you will do well. It is easy to get ahead but difficult to catch up should you fall behind!  Material at the end of the course can be challenging. Do not let this catch you by surprise. For those who keep up, the class can be fun and rewarding!

TRY TO BE ON TIME:  Entering and leaving during class can be disruptive to students and staff.  Certainly if you are running late, do join us, but please make a considerate effort to be on time.

TURN CELL PHONES OFF:  It is distractive to have cell phones ring during lecture.  Please turn your cell phones off before coming to class.  No text messaging!  Cell phone use in class is cause for dismissal from class.  Please keep them turned off!

NO FOOD OR DRINK IN CLASS (Water Bottles OK):  Health and Safety Code Regulations dictate that there is to be no food or drink in the classroom.   Please no eating during class. 

NO LAPTOPS WITHOUT DSPS/INSTRUCTOR AUTHORIZATION:  You may not use a laptop during class.  Laptop screens (and the light they emit during slide presentations) can be very distractive to other students.  Also, it is my experience that many students often work on non-class related projects with their laptops.  Please copy your notes to your laptop outside of class time.

IMPORTANT LINKS: