Course Information
Assessment of Student Learning
Exams
There will be two mid-term examinations of one hour’s duration each.
Exams will cover material and concepts from lecture, homework assignments,
laboratory exercises, and out-of-class projects. The final exam will
be comprehensive. In addition to the scheduled exams, there will be four in-class quizzes based on readings from the text and previous lecture material.
Final Exams are scheduled during the last week of the term. The regular class schedule is cancelled and replaced by the Final Exam Schedule. Each class will meet only for the scheduled two-hour session.
The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. Taking the final exam at a time other than the assigned time requires prior approval.
Homework
Assignments are based on lecture and lab material and will come from the
textbook. Assignments involving the use of computers or evening observations
will also be given out and will require work outside of class.
Labs
Indoor Exercises – Several exercises were created in conjunction with
Sky & Telescope magazine and should be read prior to the scheduled lab
period. Additional laboratory exercises may supplement the Sky Publishing
handouts. You will be expected to familiarize yourself with the basic concepts
before bringing them with you on the night the exercise is to be performed.
Outdoor Exercises – Observing the Moon for an extended period of time may be one required outdoor exercise and additional observations will be conducted depending upon astronomical events that occur during the course of the semester. For example, student may be required to observe planetary alignments, eclipses, satellite apparitions, etc. Because of the ever-changing appearance of the sky, the exact nature of these activities will vary from one semester to the next, but clear instructions and due dates will be established well before any exercise is conducted.
All assignments are assigned to coincide with specific material in the course texts. Students should arrive at class prepared to turn assignments in for grading on the nights they are due. In addition, all other projects will have clearly stated due dates. Indoor labs will typically need to be completed outside of class and due dates will typically be two weeks from the night the exercise is started.
Other information
The following items can be purchased with little additional expense and are necessary. The labs cannot be done without these items. Additionally, you are permitted to use a calculator on the exams, so the extra expense may be well worth the investment.
- "Student" scientific calculator (it should cost no more than $12.00). Casio, Sharp, and Texas Instruments all manufacture basic models with trigonometric functions and scientific notation.
- Metric ruler (a clear one is best)
- Pencils
Other Resources
Student Success website: www.kirkwood.edu/studentsuccess
Iowa City Learning Center Services
Student Development & Counseling Services: 887–3947
Learning Services Advising: 887–3620
Testing Center: 887–3642
Tutor Program: 887–3633
Services to students with disabilities: 887–3622
Student Support Services: 887–3658
Computer Lab: 887–3627
Library I.C. Learning Center: 887–3613
Student Life: 398–5685
307 Mansfield Court
Kirkwood Scholarships: 398–5442