Title: Impact of Science (SCI410) Monday night, Woodbridge
INSTRUCTOR: John Bozeman.
E-mail: jbozeman@stratford.edu
OFFICE: First floor, Falls Church campus.
WEBSITE: http://www.oocities.org/stratfordteacher/impact.html
(Keep an eye on this website; the content is revised from time to time.)
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/TEXTBOOKS:
In the Beginning Was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson. ISBN: 0380815931
Killer Germs by Barry and David Zimmerman. ISBN: 0071409262
More Work for Mother by Elizabeth S. Cowan. ISBN: 0465047327
Other handouts will be distributed in class and/or posted to the class website.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of science and future thinking. The content demonstrates how scientific and technological advances have significantly impacted all aspects of contemporary life.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The primary object of this class is to introduce students to a number of fundamental concepts in science, technology, and business. We will also examine several examples in which science and technology have had a profound impact upon American business and industry. By the end of this class students should have an awareness of:
1. How computers have become a major force in American society.
2. How computer networking and the internet further extended the influence of computers.
3. The basics of how infectious diseases spread, and the promise and limitations of antibiotics in controlling them.
4. The social, business, and technological factors leading to the near-universal usage of home appliances.
5. The technological and social history of the space program, and its economic impacts.
6. The puzzle of "fringe science" and the need to think carefully in regard to new and/or avant-garde technologies.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS: Recognizing the diverse learning styles present in any classroom, a variety of instructional techniques will be used to encourage learning. In this class the primary methods will be lecture, discussion, assigned readings, independent and collective research, and film.
(over)
GRADING AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Weekly in-class and homework assignments (40% of the grade), a final exam (15% of the grade), class attendance and participation (15% of the grade), and a group project (30% of the grade) are all required. Also, you need to be able to access the class notes from the website.
Assignments should be turned in by the due date unless prior arrangement is made with the instructor or unless accompanied by a doctor’s excuse. Late assignments will lose up to 10% credit per week overdue. Non-excused assignments that have not been turned in by the day after the final class meeting will receive an automatic ZERO for the missing assignment(s). If some serious event occurs which prevents you from turning in an assignment on time, contact me via e-mail as soon as possible so that other arrangements may be made.
Class participation will be largely graded on attendance. This means actually being in class, not simply signing a role sheet and then leaving, or showing up late!
No absences A+
One absence A
Two absences B
Three absences C
Four absences D
Five or more F
Absences for military, medical or court reasons will be excused as long as documentation is provided. Further exceptions may be possible, but need to be cleared through the Dean before or during the first week of class.
VERY IMPORTANT: Keep copies of all major assignments that you submit. From time to time e-mail and/or server failures occur, along with human clerical errors. In the event that one of these occurs, you need to have copies of your work available so that problems can be straightened out quickly. Also, it is STRONGLY recommended that you keep at least one backup copy of your work, in case of hard drive failure. NOTE, TOO, THAT FLOPPY DISKS TEND TO FAIL OR BECOME CORRUPTED UNEXPECTEDLY, USUALLY WHEN YOU NEED THEM THE MOST.
Generally speaking, final grades of “I” are not allowed except rare cases involving serious medical problems, military obligations, etc. This policy is mandated by the school’s accrediting agency, not by the instructor or Stratford University.
STUDENT MISCONDUCT POLICY:
Please refer to the Stratford University Catalog for complete information on grounds for punishment up to and including expulsion from school. Listed below are examples of unacceptable behaviors and practices that will result in penalties enforced against the offending student. Do not engage in any of these practices personally, and please notify your instructor or the program Dean if you are aware of any other students who have committed any of these offenses.
Grounds for Academic Dishonesty/Misconduct
Ø Plagiarism – presenting the work of another as one’s own in a paper, exam, or other assignment. Acknowledgment must be given for the use of another’s ideas or language.
Ø Cheating on Examinations – copying another’s work or allowing your work to be copied; using unauthorized notes; taking another’s exam or having another take yours.
Ø Computer Use – software is protected by copyright. Students may not copy the institution’s software without permission of the copyright holder. Additionally, students may not place personal software on the institution’s computers or damage or destroy either software or computers.
Ø Other Forms – other forms of academic dishonesty include: selling or purchasing examinations, papers or other assignments and submitting or resubmitting the same paper for two different classes without explicit authorization.
Grounds for Non-Academic Dishonesty/Misconduct
Ø Physical and/or psychological abuse, threat, or harassment.
Ø Initiation of, or causing to be initiated, any false report, warning or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency.
Ø Unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapon, dangerous chemical or explosive element.
Ø Disrupting, obstructing or interfering with University-sponsored events.
Ø Theft of school equipment, products and supply materials.
Ø Unauthorized possession, use, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or any illegal or controlled substance.
Ø Gambling or holding raffle or lottery at the University without proper approval.
Ø Disorderly, lewd, or obscene conduct.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
In the case of inclement weather, campus status announcements will be made on the Stratford University website or tune to Channels 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 or WTOP.
CELL PHONES: I recognize that family or professional obligations may require you to have a cell phone in the classroom. Please set the phone to “vibrate,” and quietly and unobtrusively step out of the classroom before taking a call.
SCALE: 90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
0-59 = F
LIBRARY
INFORMATION: To enhance your educational experience and assist you with papers and projects, Stratford University provides an On-Line Library as well as a library on each campus. To access the on-line resources, use the Internet to open www.stratford.edu. Go to Current Students, then Library On-Line, and look through all materials. To access NetLibrary, go to eBooks On-Line. The user name is student; the password is stratford. Click on NetLibrary. Here you will find the General Collection and the IT Center which provide full-text ebooks on a 24-hour checkout basis.
May 29 (Day One): No Class. (Holiday – Memorial Day)
June 5 (Day Two): Introduction to the class. Read handout "Emotional Design" in class. Write a short essay in class and do homework. For next week, read In the Beginning Was the Command Line, pages 1 - 80. Computer stuff part I.
June 12 (Day Three): Computer stuff II. Groups of 4 are assigned; group topics are chosen. Finish Command Line book.
June 19 (Day Four) The Internet and World Wide Web. Group pre-proposal due; core issues determined. For next week, read Killer Germs pages xi-58, 101-120, and 141-157.
June 26 (Day Five): Germs I. Formal group proposals due. Individual roles in each group should now be finalized. For next time, read Killer Germs pages 149-245.
July 3 (Day Six): Another blasted holiday—NO CLASS!
July 10 (Day Seven) Germs II. Class proposal presentation. Each group presents their proposal. Each group member should be able to comment and answer basic questions about their area. For next week, read More Work for Mother, pages 16-39, skim pp. 69-101, and read pp. 102-216. Individual outlines due.
July 17 (Day Eight): Domestic Science. Group outlines due. Receive article, "Technological Millenarianism in the United States" and read it for next week.
July 24 (Day Nine): Space. “Weird Science”-- assessing avant garde research and technologies. Written portion of the project is due!
July 31 (Day Ten): Group Presentations!
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS:
Group Presentation: See supplementary handout.
Final Exam: The final exam will be made available one week before it is due. The exam will be cumulative, covering the entire course. Students may use any source of written material (class notes, textbook, World Wide Web, other books, etc.). However, each student must work on the exam by themselves.
Field Trip: One Saturday, the class will go on a field trip to a local museum, either the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum (http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/) or the National Museum of Health and Medicine (http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/). A short writing assignment will also be required. Day to be determined in class.