FSU SealISC3523C Spring 2011 Syllabus

Requirements:
Prerequisite: SMT1043 INQUIRY APP TO TCHNG and SMT1053 INQUIRY LSN DESIGN

Instructor:

Dr. Stephanie R. Dillon
Office: 324B DLC
Phone: (850) 644-0166
E-mail: sdillon@chem.fsu.edu 
Office Hours:  Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 3:00PM - 4:30PM or by appointment

Recitation TA: 

Sections and Contact Information 

 

Course Schedule

Materials:

(1) Research Methods Student Manual (Available at the Campus UPS store)
(2) A Scientific Calculator
(3) Carbonless Copy Research Notebook

Research Methods will require you to use equipment provided by the TEACH Program. In many cases you will check materials out for use outside the classroom. You are responsible for all items in your care and must return them in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in financial holds.

Lecture Policies:

Cell Phones: All cell phones are to be turned off at all times during the lecture period. Students whose cell phones ring during a lecture will be asked to leave. Please be considerate of both your fellow students and your instructor.  

Course Objectives

Course Objectives and Evidence of Student Learning and Engagement

    Students will:

    Evidence:

create their own experiments to answer scientific questions.
  • Four papers on four separate independent inquiries, designed and carried out by the student: (1) brief home inquiry, (2) laboratory inquiry using high school equipment, (3) survey involving human subjects, and (4) extended laboratory inquiry

design experiments to reduce systematic and random errors and use statistics to interpret the results.
  • Papers on inquiries 2, 3, and 4
  • Proposals for inquiries 2 and 4

use probes and computers to gather and analyze data.
  • Instructor observations during inquiry 2 or 4 or both

use statistics to interpret experimental results and deal with sampling errors.
  • Two homework assignments
  • Two brief in-class papers
  • Class performance
  • Write-ups for inquiries 2, 3, and 4

treat human subjects in an ethical fashion.
  • Certificate demonstrating completion of human subjects training
  • Satisfactory completion of inquiry 3, which involves human subjects

apply safe laboratory procedures.
  • Instructor observations during inquiries 2 and 4

find and read articles in the scientific literature.
  • Two homework assignments
  • Performance assessment during debate

create mathematical models of scientific phenomena.

  • Two homework assignments
  • Personalized modeling assignments as part of inquiries 2 and 4

apply scientific arguments in matters of social importance.
  • Student presentations of open questions

write scientific papers.
  • Four written inquiries, with inquiries 2 and 4 involving at least two drafts

give oral presentation of scientific work.
  • In-class oral reports on inquiries 2 and 4

 Grading:

Assignment Points
Class and laboratory attendance, as determined by checks of active participation and submission of in–class assignments. 10
Homework assignments 25
Inquiry 1 5
Inquiry 2 proposal 2
Inquiry 2 draft. The draft need not be accepted if the proposal was not turned in on time. 3
Inquiry 2 oral presentation 3
Inquiry 2 final writeup. The final writeup need not be accepted unless the first draft was turned in on time, the presentation was delivered, and the student participated in partner grading. 10
Inquiry 3 writeup 10
Inquiry 4 proposal 2
Debate presentation 5
Inquiry 4 draft. The draft need not be accepted if the proposal was not turned in on time. 5
Inquiry 4 oral presentation 5
Inquiry 4 final writeup. The final writeup need not be accepted unless the first draft was turned in on time, the presentation
was delivered, and the student participated in partner grading.		 15
TOTAL 100

Research Methods is a Substantial Writing Component course. Therefore, your inquiries will be evaluated both on content and the quality of written expression. There will be no formal examinations.

    Grading Scale:
    Final grades in the course will be assigned based on the percentage of total possible points in the course, according to the following percentile scale:


90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
Below 70% D/F

Academic Honor Policy
The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s expectations for the integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to their pledge to “. . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State University.”
See Academic Honor Policy  for more details.

Important Campus Resources

  • Dirac Science Library:  The library is located directly across from the Dittmer laboratory of Chemistry and directly in front of Fisher Lecture Hall. It provides a rich source of instructional materials, including books, journals, reference texts, and online databases.  Students must have a campus ID card to check out materials.  Students can access the online databases from off-campus.  Bring a current student ID card to get the passwords and authorization numbers.  Further information can be found at http://www.fsu.edu/~library/
     

  • Computing Services:  All current FSU students have free acns accounts and free email accounts at the campus. Directions for logging into your acns account and for registering for your free email account can be found at http://www.acns.fsu.edu/students/index.html.  If you have any problems with your account or forget your password, call the Help Desk at 644-8502.
     

  • ChemSketch from ASD Software can be downloaded for free. Click here to go to the download site.  Tutorials can help you learn to use this program.  Click here to go to the tutorial site.
     

  • AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class. This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request. For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the: Student Disability Resource Center .  97 Woodward Avenue, South.  Florida State University.  Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167.  (850) 644-9566 (voice).  (850) 644-8504 (TDD) sdrc@admin.fsu.edu .