Last updated: 8/18/03
P120 Provides the physical basis for understanding interaction of technology and society, and for solution of problems, such as energy use and the direction of technological change. In particular we will try to understand some of the physical limits mandated by scientific laws on humankind's use of environmental resources, energy resources in particular.
The
First-Year Seminar portion of the course is designed to introduce you
to the Intellectual community known as IUS and help you adjust to
college life. The material for this part will be integrated into the
other course material. Tests will have questions from both the
content part and the FYS part. You will get the same grade for P120
and S104 and you must pass both parts in order to pass the course.
NOTE:
Every degree-seeking IUS student who is a new first-year student or a
transfer student with fewer than 26 semester hours accepted by IUS
(and has not taken an equivalent first-year seminar at another
university) is required to pass a first-year seminar before becoming
a sophomore. Failure to do so places a person on the IUS
'check-list'; this means that a person cannot register for further
classes or receive a transcript without special permission. Do
everything you can to complete this class successfully so that you do
not have to take another first-year seminar and so that you do not
run the risk of being put on the check-list. If you must withdraw
from the class, the last day to do so is Friday, Nov. 7, and you need
to withdraw from both P120 and S104.You cannot drop either part of
the course without dropping both. All students have to pass a FYS by
the time they become a sophomore so if you drop this course you must
sign up for another one in the Spring.
P120:
By the end of the course students should:
1. have a grasp of some of the fundamental theories which underlie our current understanding of the physical world.
2. be able state why scientists have come to think these few simple ideas accurately explain most physical phenomena in the physical world.
3. be able to analyze a physical situation (described in words and/or pictures) and apply the relevant concepts in a qualitative or quantitative way (whichever is appropriate) to predict or explain the behavior of the system being examined.
4. understand that the science world view is not a belief system but is a very useful tool for understanding, explaining and predicting how many events in the world around us occur.
5. see that the problem solving skills learned in the course are transferable to other venues.
6. have some idea of the limitations of science, that scientific answers do not yet exist for many phenomenon in the world.
S104:
1. To increase the opportunities for success at IUS.
2. To become more acquainted with the services and resources which are available at IUS.
3. To develop supportive relationships with a faculty member and with a cohort of other students.
4. To become more aware of the goals of general education at IUS and to begin to achieve those goals.
5. To improve one's skills in reading, test-taking, research, and critical thinking.
6. To broaden one's awareness of the value of higher education and of career opportunities.
7. To have opportunities to increase one's involvement at IUS.
8. To develop the ability to use several computer resources which are available at IUS (email, Oncourse, Insite, IU Care, etc.).
Hinrichs and Kleinbach, Energy; Its Use and the Environment Brooks/Cole 2002
John Gardner & A. Jewler, Your College Experience: Strategies for Success, 4th concise media ed., Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson.
Indiana University Southeast 2002-2003 Student Planner, Bellingham, WA: Premier. (Provided free of charge.)
We will also spend a few days looking at the latest IUS Bulletin and the Class Schedule for the next semester.
1. Attend class. More than two absences for reasons other than illness, etc., will be reflected in the grade. If you know you are going to miss a class, let the instructor know ahead of time. Please note that regulations now require instructors to report students who have stopped attending; this may require repayment of aid that students have received.
2. Read the assigned reading. The assigned reading is listed on the course web page <http://physics.ius.edu/~kyle/P120/Schedule.html>. Any changes to the schedule below will appear on the web page. We will discuss the material in class as a group; the material will not be presented to the class so it is important that you come to class having read the assignment.
3. Contribute to class discussion. You learn a lot more if you come prepared and speak up about your views of the course material. Class discussion helps you remember course material.
4. Turn in written assignments. There will be short weekly assignments to be handed in (see <http://physics.ius.edu/~kyle/P120/Schedule.html> for updates) as well as homework exercises.
5. Pass the Tests. There will be three in-class tests. You will be allowed to have notes for these tests
6. Pass the Final. There will be a comprehensive final. You will be allowed to bring notes to the final and a list of possible questions will be provided in advance.
7.
Have your passport stamped. One goal of the First Year Seminar
is to familiarize you with the services available to you on campus.
When you visit these offices you will get a stamp in your IUS
passport to show you were there. You should do this within the
first four weeks of classes.
Wed., Aug. 27, 11:30-1:30, IUS Plaza ("SGA Day")
Tues., Sept. 2. 11:30-1:30, IUS
Plaza ("Caribbean Day")
Tues., Sept. 23, 11:30-1:30 and
5:00-7:00, IUS Plaza ("Save the Earth Day")
b. As a class you will visit: Writing Help Center, Ogle Center, Library, Career Services.
c. To be visited individually or in small groups: University Division, Student Development Center, a Computer Lab, Financial Aid, Campus Life, Math Lab, a School (Arts & Letters, Social Science, Natural Science, Business, Education, Nursing, or Purdue Programs) office, Administration area, Registrar's Office, Bursar, Campus Police, and my office.
8. Attend and report on three campus extracurricular activities. During the semester you are to visit three campus events or activities. In each case you are to write a long paragraph (1/2 to 1 page) describing and evaluating the event. These may be done in any order. One of the reports must be submitted by October 2, and the other two by November 4.
a. One of the events is to be a
music concert or recital, a play, or an art show opening (a "cultural
event").
b. One of the events is to be a varsity athletic contest, a campus life
activity, a student organization meeting/event, or a student government
meeting (a "student life event").
c. One of the events is to be speech, panel, or international event (an
"intellectual event").
d. A student may substitute for
one of these a volunteer experience of a type new to the student;
this must involve at least two hours and may be either on or off
campus. Information on volunteer opportunities may be obtained from
the IUS Volunteer Center in the Campus Activities Office. This also
requires a report to be submitted by the date of the group for which
it is substituted.
9. Attend the class social event. As part of the FYS the class will either go out or go to the instructors house for dinner. A convenient date and time will be decided on during the second week of classes.
Your grade will be based on:
1. Class Participation: 5%
2. Class Assignments: 25%
3. Three in class tests (including FYS material): 45%
4. FYS activities (passport, extracurricular, etc.): 5%
5. Final: 20%
If you have specific physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Office of Disability Services in Library Building Room 006, 941-2243. See also: <http://www.ius.edu/SSDis/homepage.htm>.
Please remember to turn off cellular phones and pagers before class.
I appreciate feedback during the semester. Please feel free to give me comments or suggestions. If you want to make these comments anonymously you can do so from the physics web site: <http://physics.ius.edu/cgi-bin/feedback.pl>
Readings,
in-class assignments, homework and any schedule changes will appear
on the Schedule Page: http://physics.ius.edu/~kyle/P120/Schedule.html