Instructor: Elsa M. Johnson
Office: 417 Willamette
email:
elsa@uoregon.edu
Office hours: Tue 1-3pm; Wed 3-5pm
Course home page: http://pages.uoregon.edu/elsa/a122.htm
Schedule: MWF 2:00-2:50 110 Fenton
Links:
Webcom
Lectures (Reading Material)
Homework(on
blackboard)
Class Schedule - Please Read!!
Understanding how we can infer MANY physical stellar properties such as age, mass,
size, stage in evolution and composition by simply measuring one quantity –
light.
Generating curiosity about the Universe and how the
Earth, us and everything on the planet comes from stars.
Practice science by engaging in astronomy simulations.
Or, to quote the first lecture for this course:
“Stellar evolution and production of new elements is
the physical source for all life in the Universe. Any educated person should have some understanding of this
process”
§ Register for
the online notes under the Johnson section at webcom.
Should cost about $20.
§ You need to
purchase an iclicker through
the bookstore and register the number
on blackboard under “Register Clicker Here!!”
There are three websites associated with
this course.
1) This one: main course website which contains links to the other.
2) Blackboard site for course
3) Webcom
You have two sources of reading materials for the course. The webcom lectures are the
“textbook” for the course (see link above and on blackboard). They are outside the blackboard
environment. The other source is my power
point notes given in class that are located on blackboard under Lecture Notes in the side menu. Both
this page and blackboard will be updated as necessary and will contain
information specific to this class section. You will need to sign up for the webcom lectures by clicking
on “Purchase an access code now” at
the bottom right portion of the main webcom page. Be sure to select the section
for “Johnson”. Some international credit cards won’t work. If you have any
trouble signing up for the web lectures, please let me know.
95% and above = A+
90-94% = A
86-89% = A-
82-85% = B+
77-81% = B
72-76% = B-
66-71% = C+
59-65% = C
50-58% = C-
40-49% = D
Below 40% = F
The homework is designed to familiarize you with the
material and practice the concepts taught in class. There will be 5 homework
assignments worth 35% of your total grade. Depending on the content covered,
the assignments vary in length, style and points. Each homework assignment is
equally weighted meaning that regardless of what the total points, each assignment is worth 7% of your total
grade. If you skip even one, you will lose out on 7% of your grade. You
will turn it in at the beginning of class. The assignments can be retrieved
from the blackboard course website.
You must use MS WORD, Notepad or some word-like app and type your
answers into the turn-in forms provided. For calculations and entering data,
you may hand write answers clearly. If we can’t read it, it doesn’t get
credit. Simulations work best on
Firefox and an updated version of JAVA. If you have trouble running any
simulation and have updated your browser and JAVA, then please let me know ASAP.
Don’t wait until the day the assignment is due. Chances are I won’t get back to
you in time.
THE RULES:
These are my homework policies. Know them.
You will have two midterms and a final. Your midterm grade will be the best of the two midterms.
All tests are multiple choice, some true false and possible matching. Unless
you are significantly ill and have some sort of documentation, there are no
make up tests. Vacation plans aren’t considered an excuse (see FAQs and rules
below). The midterms
will be given in class on Wednesday 5/2 and Wednesday 5/30. The final
is comprehensive and on
June 14th at 3:15pm.
Make up tests: Make up tests are only given to those who
had a serious illness and provide a note from a doctor. The
Student Health Center is no longer providing doctor’s notes.
You can’t make up a test due to
vacation, functions etc.
You
are graded on the best of two midterms. So for example, if you take the first
midterm and then miss the 2nd midterm it won’t count against you, but you won’t
have a chance to improve your midterm score. If you do need to make up a test and have the proper documentation, it
will be an essay-question exam. Traditionally, students get lower scores on these than the in class
tests.
Final Test Date: The test will be
offered at the scheduled time (Fenton
110; 3:15 pm Thursday 6/14). You
can’t take it earlier or later, so make your vacation/work plans accordingly.
According to school policy,
if you have more than 3 (read
4) finals in one day you can reschedule the final. If this is the case for you,
and you asked your other professors first and you have proof of having 4 finals
(copy of transcript or schedule) then I will reschedule the test for you only.
This will also be an essay-type exam.
Email,
Questions and Homework Help
I welcome questions from students in class, on email
and during office hours. However, I do have a few issues to discuss about
email. If you email me the night before an assignment is due, chances are you
won’t be the only student doing so. I’m online a lot, but I do get a lot of
emails so you might not get a response as soon as you’d like. The chance of me
responding to you decreases as it gets later at night. If you send something
prior to 9pm, I’ll probably get back to you on time. If it’s a course question,
check the syllabus first. If a lot you ask the same question, I’ll send a
course-wide email instead of answering them individually. Seeing me during
office hours is usually the best way to get help, if you can make them.
When you do email me a question, be as
specific as possible without writing a novel. If you just tell me that you
don’t know how to do something, then I’ll keep asking you to tell me what you
do know until we reach what’s confusing you. Remember I’m trying to get you to
think, not do your homework for you. Many students ask “Is this what you want
for a response?” which bugs me. Unless it’s a quick fact question like “what is
the color of the sky?” I usually expect a few sentences to a paragraph for a
response. Just be complete and answer what is asked. For simulations, calculations, diagrams I will try to be as
specific as possible in the instructions.
My
Office
I’m located in 417 Willamette Hall, which is
home to the physics department. My office is located on the 4th
floor.
Directions: Take the elevator to the 4th
floor, head left and through the double doors (they will be open). My office is
the first on your right.
Math and
Help
You just can’t avoid math and graphs in astronomy – it
is impossible. Astronomy for professional astronomers is all about data, which
means graphs and math. You measure light from stars in different wavelengths,
graph the data, do some statistics and the data will tell you something new and
interesting (or sometimes it’s inconclusive). I am well aware that many of you are not confident in your
math skills. Don’t fret, its nothing more advanced than basic algebra. I try to
include as many examples as possible in class – in the lecture notes and in the
clicker questions. I will also post online video math tutorials from Khan
Academy (http://www.khanacademy.org/)
that are relevant to the homework algebra. I also recommend working with
someone who has stronger math skills.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any astronomy graduate
TAs at this time, so help is limited to my office hours (and email if you can’t
make the office hours). If you have basic math questions, you can also try the
drop-in help center in Willamette 147. Unless there is a class going on, there
are physics graduate students in there who can help you with math or any
physics question you may have. Again, it is highly unlikely that they can
answer any stellar astronomy questions.
Just remember: everybody can do math, you just need to put the time and
effort into understanding it and practice problems. In my experience,
successful students simply work until they understand it and get help when they
need it. Students who fail, don’t put the time in to studying, rely too heavily
on others to figure it out for them and in the end try to memorize problems,
which just doesn’t work in this class.
Outside help
If you are having trouble in this or any course I
recommend the Teaching and Learning
Center. They do not specialize in astronomy, but they can help you with
reading comprehension, writing, math, studying, test anxiety, and time
management. See http://tlc.uoregon.edu/ for more information.
Students and
Disability Services
If you require extra assistance, such as notes, extra
time on assignments, exams, etc., please contact me before or after class and
provide the appropriate documentation from disability services as soon
as you can. You may also email me if you are concerned about confidentiality,
and hand the form in to me at my office.
Please don’t hesitate to communicate with me directly, because most needs vary
from student to student and sometimes I need a little more information to
understand what works for you. If you require extra time for the exam, you need to make
an appointment with disability services and have them arrange a test place and
time for you. Do it early, spots fill up very quickly and students have been
turned away if they miss the deadline!
Policies and
FAQ
Academic
Dishonesty Policy
If you are caught cheating looking at your neighbor’s
test or with notes either on your phone, mp3 player, a piece of paper, hat,
arm, water bottle or whatever, you get an automatic 0 on the test. Therefore,
no headphones, sunglasses, hats or phones during test time.
Plagiarism and
the web: Many students just cut and paste text from the web to answer homework
questions. It is usually very obvious and easy to catch, even if you change a
few words around. The University
is cracking down on plagiarism by investigating students’ work in all of their
classes if there is reason to suspect their work. I’ve already been asked a few times to provide evidence of plagiarism
for students who got caught doing this in other classes. Don’t be
one of them!
Common Myths
about Astronomy Courses
Myth 1: “It is easy to ace this course”
Truth 1: No, the average is typically 70%.
Myth 2: “Astronomy classes consist of pretty pictures and
studying constellations.”
Truth 2: Some lectures have pretty pictures, but the focus is
on learning how we know what we know about stars.
Myth 3: “This is a 100 level general science requirement,
therefore I don’t have to put too much work into it.” or you start the homework
5 minutes before it’s due.
Truth 3: It’s up to you how much work you want to put into it.
But, if you don’t do the homework, attend class, study for the exams or read
the notes, you will not pass. You can only blame yourself if you don’t put the
time into studying for tests and fail the tests.
Myth 4: “I can’t do math”
Truth 4: Yup, I consider this a myth, because you can. Your
success at solving any problem depends on how much work you are willing to put
into it. This course doesn’t cover a lot of math, but I find that students
panic when they see any equation or relation and mentally shut down. It is too
bad because math is needed in everyday life. Again, seek out help if you are
stuck and believe that you will eventually figure it out!
FAQs and
Rules for this class
Late Policy: Late homework is accepted but loses 10% of the total
assignment points for each day they are overdue, and yes this includes
weekends.
Extra Credit: There is no extra credit in this class.
Make up tests: Make up tests are only given to those who
had a serious illness and provide a note from a doctor. As
of last year, the Student Health Center is no longer providing doctor’s notes.
You can’t make up a test due to
vacation, etc.
However,
you are graded on the best of two midterms. So for example, if you take the
first midterm and then miss the 2nd midterm it won’t count against you, but you
won’t have a chance to improve your midterm score. If you do need to make up a test and have the proper documentation, it
will be an essay-question exam. Traditionally, students get lower scores on
these than the in class tests.
Redos: There are no “redos” for any homework or test.
Laptops/phones/Distractions: If you are distracting me because you are either
talking, texting or watching videos on your computer, I will let you know and
ask you politely to stop or leave.
Even though laptops are useful, especially when following the lecture
notes, I’ve noticed in the past that students rarely used them for tasks
pertaining to the lecture (youtube videos, facebook, etc). They are a major
source of distraction for you and everyone around you unless you are using them
for lecture. Yes, you are effecting others ability to learn the material as
well. If you need to check your Facebook status constantly or watch/play games,
then don’t bother coming to class. I really hate texting and surfing on phones
as well. If you need to text, do it as discretely as possible. Also if someone
is bugging you with aforementioned items, I support you telling them to stop
it. I can’t police every person in the class and I shouldn’t have to because
this is college and you’re all adults who are responsible for your own academic
success.
Coming and
Going: I understand if you have to get up
and use the restroom or get some water because you are coughing. But having
people get up, leave and then come back and then leave and return is really
annoying. Please try to keep this at a minimum.
Final Test
Date: The test will be offered at the
scheduled time (Willamette 100; 3:15 pm
Thursday 6/14). You can’t take it earlier or later, so make your
vacation/work plans accordingly. According to school policy, if you have more than 3 (read 4) finals in
one day you can reschedule the final. If this is the case for you, and you
asked your other professors first and you have proof of having 4 finals (copy
of transcript or schedule) then I will reschedule the test for you only. This
will also be an essay-type exam.