Spring 2011 Syllabus
SC 107
METEOROLOGY
4 Credit Hour
Textbook
Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment, 9th Edition
C. Donald Ahrens
Division of Nursing, Science, & Business
Instructor: Dennis Smith
METEOROLOGY
SPRING 2011
COURSE NUMBER SC 107
TIME & DAY
2:00—2:55 Monday, Wednesday and Friday (Lecture)
1:30—2:55 Tuesday (Lab)
LOCATION
Room 225 (Lecture)
Room 225 (Lab)
INSTRUCTOR
Dennis Smith
OFFICE
Room F19
PHONE
(785) 243-1435 ext 223 (Office)
(785) 243-9734 (Home)
EMAIL
dsmith@cloud.edu
REQUIRED
MATERIALS
OFFICE HOURS
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
Text: Meteorology Today, 9th Edition, by C. Donald Ahrens
Scientific Calculator
Please see the schedule posted outside my office.
Note: Responsibilities & committee assignments may place me in other areas of the
college during office hours
This course introduces the nature, origin, processes, and dynamics of the Earth’s
atmospheric environment. Content will focus on: (1) weather systems and processes,
(2) seasonal trends, (3) atmospheric circulation, pressure, and moisture, (4) storm
development, (5) air pollution, and (6) anthropogenic influences on weather and climate.
This course includes three hours lecture and one and one-half hours lab per week.
PREREQUISITE
None
SEQUENCING
This course is offered in the fall and spring semesters.
METHOD OF EVALUATION/GRADING
Your grade is completely determined by the total number of points earned during the semester. A student’s final
grade will be evaluated according to the following grading scale:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
5 exams @ 50 points each
5 lecture quizzes @ 20 points each
15 lab exercises @ 10 points each
15 lab quizzes @ 10 points each
25 activities @ 5 points each
15 homework assignments @ 5 points each
1 Five-Paragraph Essay
Final Exam
Points Possible
250
100
150
150
125
75
50
100
1000 Total Points
Grading Scale
A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79
D = 60 – 69
F = < 60
Note: An additional 50 points (40 Bonus Points & 10 Participation Points) can be earned as Extra Credit
Students having 900 points going into to the Final will not need to take the Cumulative Final Exam
TEACHING METHODS
Classes will be a combination of discussion, lecture, field trip, activities, and videos.
ASSIGNMENT POLICY
Students are expected to complete all reading assignments before coming to class. Homework and activities done
outside of class are expected to be turned in on time. No assignment of any kind will be accepted late.
Assignments turned in early are welcomed and encouraged. Unless otherwise stated, missed exams, in-class
activities, or quizzes will need to be made up within one week from the time that the exam, in-class activity, or
quiz was assigned. No credit will be given after one week. Make-up labs will need to be done at the next
scheduled make-up lab session. No credit will be given for a lab quiz unless credit was given for the lab.
Students failing to come to lab on time will need to take a make-up lab quiz. Make-up lab quizzes will need to be
taken at the next scheduled make-up lab session. Lab assignments done outside of class will be considered a
makeup lab. No more than three makeup labs are allowed. Makeup labs are scheduled on Mondays from 8:00
PM to 9:30 PM in Room 225.
COURSE POLICIES
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
It is imperative that each student does his/her own work. The following policy will apply to all students in class.
Infractions of academic integrity (honesty) shall include:
1. Using another student’s work without giving the student credit for the work. In other words, taking someone
else’s file and placing your name on it and claiming it is yours, using another student’s quiz, or help on a
quiz/exam.
2. Giving another student your file(s) knowing that he/she intends to turn it in as his/her own creation, giving
another student your quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
It is not an infraction of the policy to help another student understand how to do an assignment if he/she does the
work himself/herself with your assistance.
Cheating
“Cheating” means getting unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz or examination.
1. You must not receive from any other students or give to any other students any information, answers, or help
during an exam.
2. You must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam. You must not take notes or books to the
exam when such aids are forbidden, and you must not refer to any book or notes while you are taking the
exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam.
3. You must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been
corrected.
Materials taken from “Academic Dishonesty in Our Classrooms.” Instructional Exchange, 1990, 2 (2), 1-4 (Newsletter available from the Office of University
Assessment and Intellectual Skills Program, Western Michigan University)
Plagiarism
“Plagiarism” means submitting work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material from a
book, the Internet, or another source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s and not
your own is plagiarism. If you copy an author’s words exactly, treat the passage as a direct quotation and supply
the appropriate citation. If you use someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the wording, appropriate credit
should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper or submit a paper as your own
that you did not write.
PENALTIES FOR INFRACTIONS
Any infraction will receive zero (0) credit on the assignment, quiz, or exam.
Falsification of grades or involvement in the falsification of grades will result in an “F” for the course.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance in class is the student’s responsibility. Students cannot excessively miss class and effectively
complete the course requirements. Furthermore, lecture material will not always come from the textbook.
In case you are late or absent from class, it is your responsibility to get the course notes, handouts, and
assignments. Also be aware that assignments are not accepted after the due date.
CONDUCT
Mature behavior is expected and required. Class disruptions will result in deduction of points.
EXAMINATION POLICY
Only one week is allowed to make up an exam. Makeup exams may not be the same exams as given in class.
INSTRUCTOR ASSISTANCE
If you are having problems with the course work or assignments, please let me know as early as possible. My
office hours are intended as a time to work with students and prepare for classes. If you are unable to come
during my office hours, please ask for an appointment in advance. I encourage you to use email as a reliable
means of contacting me about any issue.
TUTOR ASSISTANCE
Tutors are available in the Learning Skills Center. Contact the Learning Skills Center for more information.
INCOMPLETE POLICY
Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented as described
in the Student Handbook. The incomplete must be made up with the instructor assigning the incomplete and
must be completed the semester immediately following the semester in which the class was taken. Refer to the
Student Handbook for a complete explanation.
ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS
Cloud County Community College has an Academic Due Process Policy to address any student academic
complaints. For any unresolved complaints, the policy can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.
ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY
If you need academic adjustments for any type of disability, see your instructor during office hours or make an
appointment. Students also may contact the Director of Advisement and Counseling, located in the Advisement
Center.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
In case of extremely severe weather, the college may close. The following radio and TV stations will be
notified:
KNCK
1390 AM
Concordia
KCLY
100.9 FM
Clay Center
KREP
92.1 FM
Belleville
KHCD
89.5 FM
Hutchinson
KVSV
1190 AM
Beloit
KSAL
1150 AM
Salina
WIBW (TV) Chan. 13
Topeka
KWCH (TV) Chan. 12
Wichita
KOLN (TV) Chan. 10
Lincoln, NE
You may also go to www.cancellations.com
Students should call the switchboard at 800-729-5101 or 785-243-1435 if they are unable to attend class due to
hazardous conditions. Night class and off campus class cancellations are left to the discretion of the instructor.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE
When alarms are sounded or crisis conditions arise, you will be instructed to move to a designated safe area or to
remain in the classroom until the crisis has passed. If you are informed to leave the room, take as many of your
personal belongings as time permits. Cell phones and other electronic devices are only to be used once you arrive
in the safe area outside the building. Students requiring special assistance will be the responsibility of the
instructor or staff person.
Systems of alert for tornado or bomb threat: PA system, phone, or staff interruption of class. In case of fire, the
alarm will sound.
If directed to leave the building, evacuate to the soccer field unless an alternate safe location has been
designated.
SCIENCE GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES
Students enrolled in this course will be expected to demonstrate the ability to apply the scientific process.
Successful students will be able to:











Recognize the problem to be solved
Follow written directions accurately
Demonstrate use of applicable scientific techniques
Apply deductive reasoning to develop an approach to the problem
Follow safety guidelines
Acquire data
Display data in a clear and organized format
Collect observations
Use observations and/or data to reach a relevant conclusion
Evaluate the validity of the conclusion
Express ideas, approaches, data, and conclusions in a well-communicated format
ASSESSMENT OF SCIENCE GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES
Instructors may collect one project to be used to assess faculty established general education outcomes. The
project to be used as an artifact should not have any identifying information on it. Artifacts are evaluated by team
based on faculty developed rubrics to determine if students are achieving expected outcomes at the rate
established by faculty. Reports are submitted to the assessment coordinator to be reviewed by the Student
Learning Outcomes Assessment Team.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Students who complete a physical science department program at Cloud County Community College should be
able to:
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Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of science
Develop science process skills to solve problems and make decisions
Develop skills to manipulate and/or operate science equipment
Develop responsible attitudes toward the environment, science, technology, and society
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts and principles basic to science
The program outcomes are the basis for the total framework of the Physical Science Curriculum and are
composed of:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
The nature of science
Process skills
Manipulative skills
Attitudes toward science
Concepts
LEVELS OF LEARNING
1. The student is able to analyze and evaluate Physical Science Program Goals (1-5)
2. The student is able to define, interpret, and discuss Physical Science Program Goals (1-5)
3. The student fails to define, interpret, and discuss Physical Science Program Goals (1-5)
ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Student learning is also assessed each semester based on program outcomes. Program outcomes
accomplishment is measured through performance on course outcomes. Each program uses a matrix to match
course outcomes of individual courses to overarching program outcomes. The program outcomes are calculated
as an average of all of the relevant course outcomes. This information is processed after each semester and then
immediately reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team.
COURSE OUTCOMES
The central objective of this course is to understand and enjoy learning about meteorological phenomena—its
importance and effects on society and environment. After completing this course, students will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Develop a greater degree of scientific literacy
Be able to use science tools/equipment to interpret and understand meteorological phenomena
Know the historical development of meteorology
Know the formation, structure, and properties of the atmosphere
Demonstrate an understanding of atmospheric processes and phenomena
Be able to research, interpret, and organize meteorological information into a written report
Develop an appreciation for Earth’s uniqueness and fragility
ASSESSMENT OF COURSE OUTCOMES
Student learning is assessed every semester based on course outcomes. Each instructor measures student
performance on all course outcomes for each course section every semester. The instructor fills out an electronic
form, which populates a database. This information is reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student
Learning Outcomes Assessment Team. It is due to be completed by February 15th for the fall semester and June
15th for the spring.