NS 150: Introduction to
Natural Science
Dr. Rachel
Jameton email:
rajameton@lcsc.edu
Phone:
792-2268 Office: MLH 231
Office hours:
Pre-requisite or
co-requisite: English 101
Introduction to the class
This course is a part of the Introductory Component of the General Education
Core, designed to introduce students to the essential thinking and problem
solving processes in various traditional disciplinary groups. In general,
NS 150 is an introduction to the way in which the natural sciences contribute
to our understanding of the world around us. Although some content is
present, the focus will be on the processes involved rather than the
conclusions reached. We will approach the question What is science? not
by memorization of facts but by examination of the process of science including
data collection and analysis, experimental design and drawing
conclusions.
In
this particular NS150 course, we will focus on decision-making. Decisions
are an important part of our daily life. You could argue that everything
you do is a result of a decision: whether to walk or drive to school, when to
take your children or yourself to the doctor, whether to buy or rent a house,
whether to increase your hours at work or dedicate more time to school and
family. How you choose in each situation is a process that is unique to
yourself.
Science
is also a series of decisions. Scientists are constantly choosing what
avenue of research to pursue, which experiment to run, whether the result of an
experiment is consistent with theory. The processes that scientists use
to make decisions are also unique to the individual. However, there are
some guiding principles that are common, such as the use of data and the
importance of transparency.
In
this class, we will study some of the choices that scientists have made and
compare their process to decision making in everyday life. We can improve
our decision-making abilities and our critical thinking skills by becoming more
conscious of the way we make our own decisions and more aware of some of the
frameworks available. Along the way, we will explore the nature of science,
the complex relationships between science and society and how science is taught
in the
Course goals and themes
·
To answer the question
What is science? through study of the scientific method.
·
To connect, compare and
contrast decision making in everyday life to decisions made in science.
·
To explore how science
and culture are interconnected. We will read about science and society,
history and the people involved.
·
To gain experience in
scientific collaboration and communication.
·
To understand how life
skills such as critical thinking, data interpretation and writing skills can be
taught through science.
·
To foster curiosity
about our natural world.
Your WarriorWeb e-mail account is
the official method of communication between the college and yourself and so
you should check your account daily. If you have trouble accessing your
account, make sure you work out the problems as soon as you can by calling or
stopping by the computer help desk (located at SGC B102 or phone 792-2231).
Our class does have a website (http://www.lcsc.edu/rjameton/ns150home05.htm).
At the website, you can find this syllabus and handouts as well as links to
sites that you might find interesting or helpful.
If you have any special needs such as a documented learning disability or other
situation that limits your access or ability to participate in class or lab, please
discuss the situation with me as soon as possible so we can make appropriate
arrangements. Assistance with accommodations can also be found at the
Office of Student Life, room 111 Reid Centennial Hall.
Late homework, quizzes,
incompletes and drops
Late homework (i.e. writing assignments) will be accepted at 50% of its
point value until the homework has been returned to the rest of the
class. After return of homework, late homework will not be
accepted.
If you must miss a quiz due to sickness, family emergency or other situation,
that score will automatically be dropped (only your top-scoring four out of
five quizzes are counted). If you must miss more than one quiz, please
discuss your situation with me as soon as possible.
There will be no incompletes awarded for students with less than an 80%
average at the time of the incomplete. The course cannot be dropped
after March 31.
Plagiarism
The vast majority of students are honest. However, in the rare instance that
plagiarism (or cheating, fabrication or collusion) is apparent, it will be
dealt with in accordance with college policy.
Methods of Evaluation:
A Scientific process project In a group, you will propose and test a
hypothesis. Your group will present your project to the class.
Drafts of essay and final essay
The paper that you will write will be a comparison of scientific and personal
decision-making. This is a subject with many facets, many that we
encounter in this course, such as scientific process and responsibility, and
others that come from your own experience.
Sometimes, a final paper is just a draft with all of the grammatical errors
removed. In this class, however, each of the drafts will have substantial
additions and changes in focus made to result in the most coherent story
possible by the time the final essay is written. This sort of writing is
a way to document learning and practice critical thinking.
History poster You and a
partner will assemble a poster on an important scientist from one of several
different scientific eras. We will
display the posters during a class period in order to create a timeline of the
history of science.
Toy
poster One of the best ways to
learn about science is to teach to someone else. You and a partner will
assemble a poster and hands-on activity to teach a grade-school level child
about some scientific component of toys (I will have some suggestions for
you). Time permitting, you may also be
asked to present you activity and poster to a group of grade-schoolers.
Attendance Coming to class discussions and being prepared for
them is a vital component of the course.
As long as you do both of these things, you will receive full
credit. Missing classes, or coming
unprepared, will result in a loss of points.
Grade distribution by
assignment:
|
Scientific Method Project |
50 |
|
Quizzes (4 @ 25 points
each) |
100 |
|
Drafts of essay (3 drafts,
50 points possible each time) |
150 |
|
Final essay |
50 |
|
History poster |
50 |
|
Toy poster |
50 |
|
Attendance and
participation |
50 |
|
TOTAL |
500 |
Grading
scale
|
93-100% |
A |
83-86% |
B |
73-76% |
C |
60-66% |
D |
|
90-92% |
A- |
80-82% |
B- |
70-72% |
C- |
<60% |
F |
|
87-89% |
B+ |
77-79% |
C+ |
67-69% |
D+ |
|
|
There are no texts that you
need to purchase for this course.
Instead, you will use several online resources. The first, referred to as AAAS below, is
available at http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/sfaatoc.htm. You can also access it from the course
website at http://www.lcsc.edu/rjameton/ns150home05.htm. There are several other readings which will
also be accessible through the website assignment page.
|
Dates |
Reading |
Theme |
Class activity |
|
1/17 |
|
Scientific process |
Introductions and expectations |
|
1/19 1/26 |
AAAS chapter 1: The Nature of Science |
Scientific process |
Discussion of the Nature of Science; 1/26 Quiz
1 |
|
1/31 2/9 |
|
Scientific process |
Scientific method projects
2/7 and 2/9 - Project presentations
|
|
2/14 |
AAAS chapter 13: Effective teaching and learning |
Teaching science |
Why/how we study science, Toy poster assignment |
|
2/16, 2/21 |
|
Teaching science |
Toy poster 2/21 - Poster presentations |
|
2/23 |
|
Decision making |
Intro to decisions and assignment of
decision-making essay |
|
2/28 |
Reading 1: Decision education foundation:
making good decisions (read the introduction
which includes pages on framing, alternatives, information, etc.) Reading 2: Rushworth "How good people make
tough choices" (handed out in class) |
Decision making |
Discussion of readings on personal decisions and
scientific decisions |
|
3/2 - 3/14 |
|
Decision making |
Making decisions in-class
exercises; 3/2 Quiz 2
|
|
3/16 |
Reading 1: Ziman
Reading 2: Codes
of Ethics - choose one and bring it to class |
Science and society |
Ethics in science codes of ethics; First draft
of essay due |
|
3/28 |
|
Science and society |
Ethics in science case study role play; Quiz 3 |
|
3/30, 4/4 |
AAAS chapter 3: The nature of technology |
Science and society |
Technology and science
|
|
4/6- 4/20 |
AAAS chapter
10: historical perspectives |
Science and society |
History of science 4/6 - Second draft of essay
due
4/13 Quiz 4
4/20 Poster presentation
|
|
4/25, 4/27 |
|
Science and society |
Race and
science 4/27 -
Third draft of essay due |
|
5/2 - 5/9 |
AAAS chapter 11: common themes |
Current events |
|
|
5/12 |
|
|
Core assessment
|
|
Final |
|
|
Final draft of essay due
|
Date: 8/5/04
Contact: rajameton@lcsc.edu