2pages report of any topic discussed on this subject
the name of the class is “Conceptual Physical Science”
MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE – WOLFSON CAMPUS
ENERGY AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – PSC1515
SPRING 2019 – REF#7269
INSTRUCTOR
Professor Javiera Hernandez
e-mail: jhern37@mdc.edu
MEETINGS
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:25 AM- 09:40 AM, ROOM 2307
OFFICE HOURS
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:40 AM- 10:10 AM, ROOM 2221
TEXTBOOK
Title: Energy and the Natural Environment 4th Edition,
Author(s): PSC1515 Custom Edition
Publisher: Pearson
ISBN: 9781323109205
COURSE CONTENT
The course is organized as follows:
Module One: Chapter 1: About Science
Chapter 3: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity
Chapter 4: Heat
Module Two: Chapter 6: The Solar System
Chapter 7: Rocks and Minerals
Chapter 8: Plate Tectonics
Module Three: Chapter 9: Earth Surface, Land and Water
Chapter 10: Weather
Chapter 11: Environmental Geology
Module Four: Chapter 15: Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts and Energy Conservation
Chapter 16: New Renewable Energy Alternatives
Course Work Requirements
To successfully complete this course, you need to spend at least an average of 6 to 8 hours per
week on the course, which includes readings, postings, exams, etc. Set up a weekly time schedule
that allows you sufficient time to complete the assigned coursework by the required due dates. Plan
to check-in and complete assignments at least three times a week. Do not procrastinate! Turn your
work in early or by the due date.
The grade for PSC 1515 will depend on your performance on four online exams, a proctored
midterm and a proctored final. The tentative coverage and point distribution for each exam are as
follows:
Attendance: I encourage every student to come to class regularly. I will call attendance or
circulate an attendance sheet at the beginning of each class session. It is the
student’s responsibility to sign the attendance sheet. If you are 10 minutes late, you
will be considered tardy and four tardies constitute one absence. Students who are
absent the first meeting or two classes during the semester may be subject to being
dropped at the discretion of the instructor. Students must not assume that the
instructor will automatically drop them for absences. If you miss two lectures during
the semester you might be dropped from the class and a grade of “W” will be
recorded in your academic records. However, it is the student’s responsibility to
withdraw by the deadline (March 20th). If you are failing the class and you remain
enrolled after the withdraw date, you will receive an F as your final grade.
Online Exams: There are 4 online exams.
• Exam 1 is on Module 1.
• Exam 2 is on Module 2.
• Exam 3 is on Module 3.
• Exam 4 is on Module 4.
Most questions will be multiple choice; there may also be a few true/false questions.
Midterm
(proctored):
The proctored midterm covers material in Modules 1 and 2. Questions will be
multiple choice.
Final
(proctored):
The proctored final covers material in Modules 3 and 4. Questions will be multiple
choice.
Extra Credit
Assignment:
Must be completed
on or before April
30th.
There is 1 Extra Credit Assignment. (Up to 10 Points)
The Periodic Table
Late and Make-up
Policy:
(Important)
Late work is not accepted. Make-ups are not available
Grading Criteria
Re quirem ents Po ints
Module Exams (20×4) 80
Midterm Exam 60
Final Exam 60
Extra Credit 10
Total Points Possible 210
Miami Dade College’s Letter Grades
Range Grade
min. 180 pts A
160-179 pts B
140-159 pts C
120-139 pts D
119 and below F
COURSE SCHEDULE (Tentative)
Tuesday April 30th, Extra Credit Due.
†Announcements made in class supersede the content of this schedule
WEEK DATE ACTIVITY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1 T-1/8 Syllabus and Introduction
1 R-1/10 Units and Scientific Notation 1/14 last day to drop with refund
2 T-1/15 Units and Scientific Notation
2 R-1/17 Chapter-1 About Science
3 T-1/22 Chapter-1 About Science (Continued)
3 R-1/24 Chapter 3: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity
4 T-1/29 Chapter 3: The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity (Cont.)
4 R-1/31 Chapter 4: Heat
5 T-2/5 Chapter 4: Heat (Continued)
5 R-2/7 Chapter 6: The Solar System Module Exam-1 Due
6 T-2/12 Chapter 6: The Solar System (Continued)
6 R-2/14 Chapter 7: Rocks and Minerals
7 T-2/19 Chapter 7: Rocks and Minerals (Continued)
7 R-2/21 Chapter 8: Plate Tectonics
8 T-2/26 Chapter 8: Plate Tectonics (Continued)
8 R-2/28 Midterm Exam Review
9 T-3/5 Midterm Exam Review
9 R-3/7 Faculty Retreat College is Open but No Classes
10 T-3/12 Independent Study for Midterm Exam – No Class Module Exam-2 Due
10 R-3/14 Proctored Midterm Exam Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8
11 T-3/19 Chapter 9: Earth Surface, Land and Water March 20th, Last day to withdraw
11 R-3/21 Chapter 9: Earth Surface, Land and Water (Continued)
12 T-3/26 Chapter 10: Weather
12 R-3/28 Chapter 10: Weather (Continued)
13 T-4/2 Chapter 11: Environmental Geology
13 R-4/4 Chapter 11: Environmental Geology (Continued)
14 T-4/9
Chapter 15: Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts and Energy
Conservation
Module Exam-3 Due
14 R-4/11
Chapter 15: Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts and Energy
Conservation (Continued)
15 T-4/16 Chapter 16: New Renewable Energy Alternatives
15 R-4/18 Chapter 16: New Renewable Energy Alternatives (Cont.)
16 T-4/23 Final Exam Review
16 T-4/25 Final Exam Review Module Exam-4 Due
Finals W-5/2 Proctored Final Exam Chapters 9, 10, 11, 15, 16