Astronomy Classes

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS

PURPOSE:

This two-semester course is intended to be an introduction to the field of astronomy. It is considered "descriptive" since only a moderate application of physics or mathematics is expected. The constellations as seen from the Earth, the unusual features of Deep Space, current knowledge about the Solar System, and basic information about astronomical techniques will be dealt with during the course.

EVALUATION:

The students will be evaluated using a simple "point system". Each score will be the comparison of the number of points a student could have earned and the number actually earned on any one assignment.

Those graded activities, for which the students can use text material, notes, group work, etc., are classified as INFORMAL ASSESSMENT. The average of these grades constitutes 55 percent of the grade for any grading period.

Those graded activities for which the student does not use any additional information, such as tests and quizzes, and any activity which is graded by the teacher, are classified as FORMAL ASSESSMENT. The average of these grades constitutes 40 percent of the grade for any grading period.

The remaining 5 percent of the grade for a grading period is the MERIT GRADE. At the beginning of each grading period, each student is given a grade of 100 points. For any infraction of the class rules, or disturbance in the classroom, 5 of those 100 points will be deducted. With this grade, any student who simply follows the rules and normal classroom procedures has a very real advantage.

In each grading period, one of the Formal Assessments is a student’s participation in the ASTRONOMY IN EVERYDAY LIFE project. This ongoing project preparation is described in Appendix A.

The semester examination will be comprehensive for all of the material covered in that semester. The score for the semester examination applies only to that semester’s grade. The average of the three Six-Week Grading Periods constitutes 90 percent of the semester grade, with the semester examination accounting for the remaining 10 percent.

The student should be aware that there are NO "extra-credit" activities available in this course.

CLASS MATERIALS

For the most part, only normal classroom materials are required. Any student should have notepaper, pens, pencils, etc.

Each student will have some form of 3-ring binder or notebook in which to save graded and returned assignments. The tests are taken from the text material, but in the much the same form as the graded assignments.

Every student is required to have some form of pencil or pen – in a color other than blue, black, or regular pencil. Most of the regular, daily assignments are graded in class, by the owner or exchanged with other students. So, a "grading pen or pencil" is required.

Any other materials that might be needed for some activity will be described at that time.

BASIC CLASSROOM PROCEDURES AND EXPECTATIONS

ABSOLUTE RULE #1 –

An individual student does NOT have the right to disrupt or interfere with any other student’s efforts to learn, to succeed, or just to make good grades. If any student does not want to do well, or doesn’t want to participate, that is the problem of that one student. But he or she absolutely does not have the right to stop someone else from succeeding. Any student who disrupts the efforts of an individual student or of a class is automatically in the wrong, and must expect to suffer any consequences.

ABSOLUTE RULE #2 –

At this level in high school, most students are aware that they will be treated in much the same way that they act. If a student wishes to be treated like an adult, then he or she must first act like one. If a student acts like a child, then he or she shouldn’t be surprised if he or she is treated accordingly.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

To simplify record keeping and distribution, students will be seated alphabetically in a classroom setting.

Under normal circumstances, gum chewing is allowed, but strictly controlled. Any damage to the carpeting or upholstery will lose the privilege for an entire class.

Eating or drinking anything is not allowed in the Planetarium. This includes all candies, lunch items, or liquids. Evidence that this is happening will bring negative consequences for the entire class.

If the door to the Planetarium is propped open, then the Planetarium is open – please enter. If the door is not standing open, whether locked or not, then the Planetarium is not open – wait in the hall.

Try to keep the walkways and aisles in the Planetarium as clear as possible of book bags, purses, and other materials.

There is no question of "Tardy" if a student enters the classroom as the bell is sounding, There will still be enough time to reach the assigned seat without causing a disturbance. However, if the bell has finished sounding before the student enters, then there would be a disturbance and a delay in beginning the class. The District’s rules about tardiness then take effect.

A very few items of school supplies are required, but those few are for a reason. It is the student’s responsibility to have the items every day.

Normally, only one person at a time will be speaking in the class. Sometimes this may be the teacher, and sometimes, a student. But courtesy and the need to hear what is being said require this.

Students should not expect to be allowed to leave the classroom, unless called for from the school office. The principal has specifically stated that no one is to be released from the class, even to go to the restroom.

LEARNING MANAGEMENT

Students should listen to and make an effort to follow directions. The maximum amount of information will be given, to maximize the possibility of success. If a specific way to do something is given, it may be assumed that there is a reason, even if it is not obvious at the moment.

One way or another, the class will begin as soon as the bell rings. It is to the class’s benefit to stop all other activities and listen for instructions, announcements, or directions. Since there is often some sort of assignment at the end of the period, it would be an advantage to go ahead and begin on the day’s work.

Stay on task as long as there is time in the class, or until all possible work has been completed. Do not stop work and begin making preparations to leave until the announcement is made to bring all work to a halt. A reminder will be given approximately one minute before the end of the class. Please note: if a student does stop work before the end of the period, it can be reasonably assumed that the assigned work must be complete; if the work is complete, then it can be picked up and graded.

PERSONAL CONDUCT

All of the "old-fashioned" courtesies and good manners are expected and required. Bad manners are always to be avoided, whether it is student-to-teacher, teacher-to-student, or student-to-student.

An odd situation has developed, since the beginning of the "television era", which has had an effect on behavior in the school. With the TV on so much of the time, people have gotten accustomed to social interaction while the television is still on. As a result, students (and others) have a tendency to continue socializing even after class activities should have begun. Let it be understood that this teacher is not a television set which can be ignored without serious repercussions.

There is no need to use cosmetics, brush hair, etc., while in the Planetarium. Since this course is not being held in some student’s bedroom, it seems only fair that the students should not dress in the Planetarium. Aside from any questions of hygiene, the chance of damage to the carpet and upholstery is just too great.

The Planetarium, any classroom, and any laboratory will have normal acoustics. A normal tone of voice, with a normal volume, should be adequate to be heard. Loud conversations, exclamations, or other extraneous noises are not necessary and will be considered deliberate attempts to disturb the class’s activity.

It is surprisingly disruptive when a student yawns loudly and obviously, taps, pats, or beats on a desk or table, or overreacts to something another student has done. Anyone who wishes to be treated like an adult would avoid doing these things. While it is a polite (although outmoded) gesture to "bless" someone who has sneezed, it is also disruptive in an otherwise quiet classroom. Don’t do it during class time.

There are two obvious student behaviors that are deliberate efforts to disrupt and distract. These will NOT be tolerated and will bring an immediate negative reaction.

On rare occasions, it might be permissible for a student to relax and sleep in the classroom, Planetarium, or laboratory. This would occur ONLY when all possible work has been done, all preparation, checking and rechecking has been completed, and when there is nothing else that a student could possibly do. However, every student is expected to be awake and alert during normal classroom activities. It is the student’s responsibility to stay involved in the class, no matter how tired, how late in the day it is, how late you worked last night, etc. Remember that it is the STUDENT’S responsibility.

All students are asked to not put their feet on their seat or any seat around them in the Planetarium. We want the upholstery to last as long as possible.

GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

When any assignment is made, the due date for that assignment will be stated at the same time. It is assumed that the work will be completed and ready for scoring at that time. If it is not, then the reason for the work being late must be examined.

(1) If there was an absence, including school approved absences,

then the work is Excused Late, and the district’s policy of ten calendar days (not class days) for make-up to be completed is used.

(2) If there seems to be no acceptable reason for the work not to have been completed on time, then it is considered Unexcused Late.

"ASTRONOMY IN EVERYDAY LIFE"

When people say "astronomy", they often feel that they don't know anything about it, it doesn't have anything to do with them. Most people will never take an Astronomy course, or have a telescope, so how can astronomy affect them?

Without us being aware of it, we are bombarded daily by astronomical references. Astronomical images and ideas are so appealing that the advertising and publicity industries use them constantly. There are literally tens of thousands of product names, advertising campaigns, brochure and pamphlet themes, trademarks, program themes, and sales gimmicks based upon astronomical images.

Some of the more obvious examples are the "Milky Way" candy bar, the "Saturn" automobile, "Comet" cleanser, a pamphlet which exhorts one to "Reach for the Stars", or "Star-Kist" fish products.

To see how this works, a large collection of these references is being made, to form a display entitled "Astronomy in Everyday Life". Students will seek out and submit examples of these astronomical references. Their participation in this search will be one of the Formal Assessments in each of the Six-Week Grading Periods.

There are some limitations and requirements on what the project item can be, so that they can be most effective.

(1) It must be ASTRONOMICAL, NOT ASTROLOGICAL. The sham science of astrology has no place in our study. If an item refers to a constellation, that is acceptable. If it refers to one of the Astrological Signs of the Zodiac, it isn't.

(2) The item must be something that can be placed on a display board. A hubcap from a "Saturn" is nice, but it won't go on a bulletin board arrangement.

(3) The item must refer to an astronomical subject, not just an obvious term. For example, the "stars" in Hollywood are not the same as the ones in the night sky.

(4) The project item must be a reference to or about an astronomical item. It must be using astronomy for its own purpose. This means it cannot be an article or picture of something astronomical...that is not a reference or use of the subject. As an example, it cannot be pictures of rockets, or pages from a catalog of model rockets...but it can be a cereal box with "Blast Off!" on it.

(5) Each item submitted for a grade must come from a different source. One from a magazine, another from a newspaper, a box for another, a can label for another would be excellent, but several items obviously from the same magazine doesn't really help our purpose.

Since this is part of every Six-Week Grading Period, there has to be a "Due Date" and a limit for the items being turned in. The student can turn something in the very first day of the grading period, and any time after that, until the final due date, which is generally the next-to-last-class meeting of the grading period. Under the circumstances, it is fair to say that the items are "due" the first day of the grading period, but nay be turned in until the final due date. Given this long opportunity, and the volume of material that this project produces, there won't any "make-up" for this; if there isn't anything submitted by the final due date, a zero will be added in for that grading period.

GRADING FOR THE PROJECT ITEM

A student must turn in at least one such project item, per Six-Week Grading Period. A maximum of three can be turned in, to improve the score for that grading period.

Each item will be assessed as it is submitted. It is immediately determined if it is or isn't "acceptable" - if it meets all of the requirements.

However, if it is acceptable, and there has not been another like it turned in, then it is classified as "original", and there is a bonus for that.

The Project Item grade is a 100-point grade, a Formal Assessment during each of the Six-Week Grading Periods. The below list describes the scoring of the items. Please note that the bonus for an original item doesn't begin until the third acceptable item is turned in.

Out of a possible 100 points, the score will be:

0 points for no acceptable items

75 points for any one acceptable item

80 points for any two acceptable items

85 points for any three acceptable items

90 points if any one of the three acceptable items is also "original"

95 points if any two of the three acceptable items are also "original"

100 points if all three of the acceptable items are also "original"

Obviously, all a student has to do to get a 75 for that grade is to bring in the simplest, commonest wrapper of some sort. If a student can't even make that much of an effort, then the score for that Formal Assessment will be zero. That, unfortunately, will have a negative effect on the student's grade for the grading period.