PHY-111-OL


	Syllabus for PHY-111-OL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Physics I, Mechanics and Power, provides you with an inviting and intellectually rigorous introduction to physics. As you progress through the course, you will learn about the history, philosophy, and general culture of physics in particular and science in general. The emphasis is on comprehension of concepts. However, because mathematics is at the very heart of physics, problem solving will play a role in the course.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing Physics I, you should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific model.

Solve problems involving speed, velocity, and linear and nonlinear motion.

Explain Newton's Laws of Motion, Momentum, and Collisions.

Solve problems involving rotational motion, gravity, and gravitational fields.

Show the relationship between the falling apple and the falling moon and satellite motion.

Discuss waves and vibrations and the nature of sound.

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COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to do the work of the course.

Textbook
Conceptual Physics, 10th ed., by Paul Hewitt (San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley, 2009).

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COURSE STRUCTURE

Physics I is a 3-credit, online course consisting of six (6) assignment modules. Learning activities include reading from the course textbook, participating in online group study activities, and preparing written assignments. The course has been organized in the order of the textbook chapters. in your textbook readings.

At the end of each module you will complete a written assignment and submit it to your mentor for correction and grading. During modules 1, 2, 3, and 5 you are required to participate in online group study activities that will help you to do your written assignments. You are also required to take a proctored midterm examination and a proctored online final examination.

For the course's assignment modules (study assignments, online discussions and group study activities, and written assignments), go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.

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ONLINE PARTICIPATION

Physics I has four (4) graded online group study activities. There is also an ungraded but required discussion in Module 1 titled "Introductions." Class introductions and posting solutions for group study activities takes place on the class Discussion Board.

The online group study activities in this course provide an opportunity for you work within an interactive group setting. In so doing, you can benefit from the help of your classmates and share your understanding of chapter concepts. These activities take place in two phases: working with a group to review selected exercises and problems, followed by posting your solutions.

Phase 1 (Groupwork) involves group problem solving and discussion and counts 60 percent toward your activity grade. Participation in groupwork entails posting draft solutions to textbook exercises and problems and discussing them with other group members on the Group Pages in the Groups area of the course Web site.

Phase 2 (Posting Your Solutions) counts 40 percent toward your activity grade. Participation in phase 2 entails posting your worked-out solutions to the exercises and problems assigned in phase 1 to the Discussion Board.

Specific directions for group study activities are given in the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Physics I has six (6) written assignments, one per module.

The written assignments are the primary means for you to demonstrate that you have mastered the concepts presented throughout the semester. Due dates for each assignment are listed in the Calendar area of the course Web site.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site, and read through the written assignment questions before you begin each lesson. Your answers to the assignment questions should be well developed and convey your understanding of the course materials. Formulate responses in your own words (do not merely copy answers from your reading materials), citing text materials where appropriate and in an appropriate manner.

Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer and using whatever equation editor comes with your word processing software. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.

Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the

>>View/Complete Assignment

link provided at the bottom of the respective assignment page. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and submit your assignment file.

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EXAMINATIONS

You are required to take two proctored examinations: a midterm and a final. See the Calendar for the official dates of your midterm and final exam weeks.

For the both of these online examinations you are required to use the College’s Online Proctor Service. Please refer to the "Examinations and Proctors" section of the Online Student Handbook (see the General Information area of the course Web site) for further information about scheduling and taking online exams and for all exam policies and procedures. You are strongly advised to make your scheduling arrangements for both exams within the first week of the semester.

Online exams are administered in the Tests & Quizzes area of the course Web site.

Midterm Examination
The midterm is a closed-book, proctored exam. It is two hours long and covers material in Modules 1, 2, and 3. Since you must show calculations and provide explanations, you will be permitted to take with you an 8½" x 11" sheet of formulas and a calculator. If you have concerns about the format and/or content of the examination, please contact your mentor at least a week in advance of the scheduled test.

Final Examination
The final is a closed-book, proctored exam. It is two hours long and covers material in Modules 4, 5, and 6. It consists of multiple choice questions, all of which you must answer. Since you may need to make calculations to determine your answers, you will be permitted to use a non-programmable calculator.

Statement about Cheating
You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.

Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.

Plagiarizing answers.

Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.

Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.

Telling your mentor that you need another attempt at the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.

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GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Written Assignments (6)	38 percent
Online Group Study Activities (4)	12 percent
Midterm Examination	30 percent
Final Examination	20 percent

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.

Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, and the examination are based on the following numerical grades:

A	=	93–100	C+	=	78–79
A–	=	90–92	C	=	73–77
B+	=	88–89	C–	=	70–72
B	=	83–87	D	=	60–69
B–	=	80–82	F	=	Below 60

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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.

Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook General Information area of the course Web site. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.

Arrange to take your examinations by following the instructions in this Syllabus and the Online Student Handbook.

Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.

If you are not familiar with Web-based learning, or specifically with the Blackboard platform, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips
Consider the following study tips for success:

To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking your examination. For details on each assignment module and a complete listing of learning activities, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.

When you have done all of the assigned reading, prepare your answers to the questions for the Written Assignment. Your participation in the online Group Study activities will prepare you to do your Written Assignments.

Check the Announcements page and class Discussion Board regularly for new course information.

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Syllabus Index

This document contains the following main sections:

Course Description

Course Objectives

Course Materials

Course Structure

Online Participation
Written Assignments

Examinations

Grading and Evaluation

Strategies for Success