ISCI
1121K
Integrated
Science
Course Information:
ISCI 1121K A
– Undergraduate, 4 credits (semester)
Subject: Integrated
Science
Enrollment: 24
Instructor: Dr. Allan A. Gahr
Office: Instructional Complex - Rm 414C
Email: a_gahr@ gdn.edu
Method of Instruction: The course is delivered partially through the Internet and partially on campus.
Required Materials
Required text is Essential Environmental Science, 1st Ed., Botkin/Keller (see http://bookstore.gdn.edu or phone (678) 359-5053). For laboratory/field experiments, handouts will be provided to the students.
Learning Objectives:
1. Give students
overview of the broad 'field' of environmental science.
2.
Expose students to scientific techniques and instruments used to discover the
science of the environment.
3.
Explore the composition, processes, and functions of the lithosphere,
biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
4.
Study population dynamics of humans, animals, and plants.
5.
Expose students to the interactions and interdependence of humans, plants and
animals; and their interaction with the four spheres.
6.
Look at human support systems (i.e. energy, clean water and air, waste
disposal) on the environment.
7. Review basic concepts of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics.
Technical
Requirements
The Internet and GeorgiaView are used in this course. No lectures are scheduled. Reading and comprehending the text material is expected – a quiz for each chapter is offered online to gage comprehension. Saturdays are for hourly exams and experiments, both in the field and in the laboratory. All meetings of the course on campus are mandatory – the first meeting at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, 27 May, in Instructional Complex 103 is crucial.
Course Schedule:
27 May – Wed, 5:00 PM - Course introduction and log onto GeorgiaView
Labs: Sat 8:30 - 4:30 P.M. - Instructional Complex - Rm 410 & Rm 412
30 May – Sat: Experiments 1a, 2, 3, & 5 --- Text: Chap 1-4
6 Jun - Sat: Experiments 1, 1b, 1c, 10 & begin Exp 8 ---Text Chap 5 -8
13 Jun - Sat: Experiments 8, 9, & making soap ---Text Chap 9 - 12
20 Jun - Sat: Experiments 6, 7 & making biodiesel --- Text Chap 13-16
Quiz and Exam Schedule:
30 May – Quizzes Chap 1-4 online; Exam I = Chap 1-4
6 Jun - Quizzes Chap 5-8 online; Exam II = Chap 5-8
13 Jun - Quizzes Chap 9-12 online; Exam III = Chap 9-12
20 Jun - Quizzes Chap 13-16 online; Exam IV = Chap 13-16
Grades: There will be four (4) hourly exams (100 pts. ea.) and 10 experiments (10 pts ea.) Grades will be a straight percent of 500 pts: i.e., 90% of 500 is 450 = a grade of 'A'. Experiments may change due to recent receipt of new equipment.
Total Points available: 500
The final letter grade will be based on the following general scale:
A (500 - 450) points
B (449 - 400) points
C (399 - 350)points
D (349 - 300) points
F (299 - 0 ) points
Hourly Exams: There will be no make-up exams. You will receive a zero for a missed exam.
Laboratory Grade: The laboratory grade will count as 100 points of your overall ISCI 1121 grade. Laboratory reports are to be turned in at the end of each Saturday meeting
Class Conduct: Classes will begin and end on time. To
minimize disruptions to others, students must be on time and plan to stay until
class is dismissed. If you miss any class or leave early for any reason, your course grade
will be an automatic ‘F’.
Academic Dishonesty Policy: Exams and laboratory reports, must reflect your work only. Any form of cheating: i.e., giving or
receiving aid on a test, exam or quiz will not be tolerated and will result in
an F for the course and reporting of the student to the Academic Dean. See the
Gordon College Student Handbook for details on the Academic Dishonesty policy.