HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
EASC 122
INTRODUCTORY EARTH SCIENCES LAB
COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING 2002
GENERAL INFORMATION
COURSE NUMBER/TITLE/CREDITS:
EASC 122
Introductory Earth Science Lab, 1 Semester Credit Hour
INTRODUCTION:
This lab class is designed to exercise your analytical and problem solving skills using
scientific reasoning skills.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
A beginning college-level laboratory science course that will present basic applications
with problem-solving challenges and discovery methods in the physical sciences.
TEXTBOOKS:
EASC 122 Lab Book & Hammond Comparative World Atlas.
PREREQUISITE FOR THIS COURSE:
EASC 111 or 121 or concurrent enrollment.
STUDENTS FOR WHOM THIS COURSE IS INTENDED:
Non-science majors who my have had little or no exposure to science in high school.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Sue Stroyls
Adjunct Office 2402
Home phone: 557-0615
Email address: sbirds27@webtv.net
Office hours by appointment or before/after class
COURSE PURPOSE
GENERAL COURSE GOALS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Understanding of the scientific method by observing. gathering, and evaluating
information.
Increasing analytical and reasoning skills.
Understanding basic physical science terms and concepts.
Aiding students in their ability to assess and make informed environmental
decisions.
RELATIONSHIP OF COURSE TO STUDENT ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
EASC 122 provides a basic scientific laboratory foundation necessary for further
college-level courses.
RELATIONSHIP OF COURSE TO GENERAL EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
This class will fulfill lab science credit in the A. A. and A. S. degree requirements.
EDUCATIONAL BELIEFS:
BELIEFS ABOUT STUDENT LEARNING:
Students must take an active role in the learning process for it to take place and for you
to feel a sense of accomplishment. Desire, effort, and persistence are the key
ingredients to your success.
BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHER’S ROLE:
I will be responsible for creating an atmosphere conducive to the learning process.
Please feel free to ask me questions either during your lab period or my office hours or
whenever we can make a connection.
DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES AND RATIONALE:
Discussions, laboratory work, and written reports. Students will have the opportunity
to ask questions and contribute throughout.
DESCRIPTION OF LEARNING FORMAT:
Students will be able to achieve success by:
1. Attending lab sessions regularly.
2. Participating in discussions and group work.
3. Asking questions about material you do not understand.
4. Doing careful, thoughtful and thorough work.
5. Not giving up on themselves.
FEEDBACK AND GRADING
GRADING SYSTEM/METHOD OF EVALUATION:
The grade for this lab will be based solely on attendance, participation, and completion of lab
work. You must attend the lab or field trip to get credit. You must also participate in the work
done during lab and hand in the assignment associated with a field trip to get full credit. Any
homework must also be handed in on time.
A
B
C
D
you may miss 2 labs
you may miss 4 labs
you may miss 5 labs
you may miss 6 labs
If you know ahead of time that you are going to have to miss a lab or field trip, talk with the
instructor to see if there is an alternate lab you can attend. You are urged not to deliberately
skip coming to any of the labs or field trips.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1.
come to lab regularly and ON TIME
2.
Bring your lab book, atlas and pencils with you each time.
3.
Work cooperatively in small groups as assigned. Every student should record answers
in their own lab book.
4.
No extra credit is accepted.
5.
We will not take a break during lab. If you need to use the restroom or get a drink,
quietly leave the room without asking permission. Return as soon as possible.
6.
When lab work is completed, even if shorter than scheduled, you are free to leave.
7.
There will be minimal homework. Most work will be completed during the scheduled
lab time. There will be a couple of assignments at the beginning of the semester where you
will collect data in lab and then be required to write-up your findings at home. These papers
must be typed, using complete sentences and good grammar. After each field trip, you will be
required to write up a short report to be handed in. Again, these must be typed using good
grammar and complete sentences.
8.
Field trips will occur early in Fall
SUPPORT SERVICES
LIBRARY POLICIES:
Students may use the library here at Heartland and will be informed by the instructor of
the services available to them.
LEARNING ASSISTANCE POLICIES:
If additional assistance is necessary outside of class, please contact me as soon as
possible. Tutoring can be arranged through Student Services.
CURRICULAR AND TRANSFER STATUS
DEGREE/CERTIFICATE:
This course counts toward completion of the A. A. Degree or the A. S. Degree.
TRANSFERABILITY:
Check with an advisor to get specific transfer information related to the school you
wish to attend.
STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS AND PURPOSE
RELATIONSHIP OF COURSE GOALS TO ASSIGNMENTS:
Each assignment provides background needed to achieve course goals.
RATIONALE FOR COURSE CONTENT:
Course content covers science fundamentals and basic laboratory techniques necessary
for more advanced science courses. Topics in the class will increase earth-environment
awareness.
WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO BRING TO EACH LAB MEETING:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pencil and pen
Calculator
Hammond Atlas
Lab Book
CALENDAR & LAB ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK 1
Introduction, Scientific Method, Reaction Time
WEEK 2
Soil and Water Differential Heating
WEEK 3
Metric Sets
WEEK 4
Geography
WEEK 5
Weather and Oceanography
WEEK 6
Topographic Maps
WEEK 7
Plate Tectonics and Volcanoes
WEEK 8
Earthquakes
WEEK 9
Minerals
WEEK 10
Rocks and Fossils
WEEK 11-16
Field trips-to be determined
SCIENTIFIC METHOD FORMAT
INTRODUCTION
Explain the project we did in lab.
HYPOTHESIS
Explain what you hope to prove. It can be something you think will be true or will not be true.
EXPERIMENT
Describe in detail what we did in class
RESULTS
Explain your results. State whether you were right or wrong but what you set out to prove.
Your results can be positive or negative.
DISCUSSIONS
Explain why you think you got the results you did. Describe anything you or another scientific
group repeating your experiment could change to test your hypothesis further