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Course Objectives:
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This course is a nontechnical survey of upper atmospheric phenomena, their
relationship to human activities, and the history of the discovery and
understanding of these phenomena. We will survey the atmosphere from the
stratosphere (beginning about 10 miles above the surface) to the outer
reaches of Earth's influence into space (and conversely, the influence
of the interplanetary medium on the geospace environment). Via the examples
provided by this
subject matter, the real purpose of this course is to give the student
an appreciation of how and why science works to improve our understanding of nature.
This course is in the general education category: natural sciences
and conforms to the characteristics and learning objectives of that category.
Required Text and other materials: -
No text is required (I haven't found one that covers the course material
at the appropriate level). Reading material is available through links
in the Course
Schedule. Please note that these instructional
web pages are not a replacement for regular class attendance.
In-class Response System: An i>clicker remote.
We will be using the i>clicker in-class response system. Bring your
clicker to every class. The bookstore only sells the fancier
i>clicker2, but the original simpler i>clicker may be used as
well.
Register your clicker at www.iclicker.com/registration/
using your first and last name, your NetID for "Student ID" (do NOT use
your 9-digit student ID, but if you have already used your student id
to register your clicker it's not a problem) and the clicker ID number
found on the bar code sticker near the bottom on the back of your
clicker.
If you have a used clicker and can no longer see the clicker ID on the
back, please go to LC-27 (ITS helpdesk) with your clicker. Register your
clicker as soon as possible.
You may use your clicker in class even if it is not yet registered.
Registration is needed in order to match you to your clicker. Go to the
i>clicker homepage for general information about this system.
Course Description: -
Knowledge about the upper atmosphere expanded rapidly with the advent of
the space
age. The word aeronomy was coined in the 1950's to give the study
of the upper atmosphere a specific identity and to differentiate this field
from the science of meteorology,
which has increasingly become restricted to mean the study of the weather in the lower atmosphere.
Indeed most textbooks today on meteorology give scant attention to the upper atmosphere.
This course is an excursion into the fields of aeronomy and space physics which are
concerned with phenomena such as the ozone layer, the Junge layer, the sodium layer,
noctilucent clouds, aurorae, nightglow, red sprites, blue jets,
whistlers, magnetic storms, and the van Allen belts, to name a few. These phenomena
have bearing on issues related to human health, global climate, military defense,
telecommunications, and other aspects of modern life.
Grading & Attendance: -
Grades will be based on the scores from three exams; each contributing
30% to the
final grade and participation (clicker use) that contributes 10% to the
final grade. Course grades are determined using a curve (i.e. my
subjective decision on the requisite scores for each letter grade). As a
rough guide, the grading scale (give or take a couple of percentage
points) is A/A- greater than 80%, B grades 65-80%, C grades 50-65%, D
grades 40-50%.
The median grade is historically near the B-/C+ cusp.
EXAMS: The exams will consist of multiple choice questions, as well as a
couple of brief essay questions.
Exams are open book, open note and you may use your laptop, however no
consideration will be given if you encounter technical difficulties.
To avoid internet connection problems, you are encouraged to download
any materials beforehand.
Any cheating during exams such as text messaging, talking, or copying
answers or allowing others to copy your answers will result in a score
of zero for the exam and filing of a report with the Office of the Vice
Provost for Undergraduate Education. No accommodations for missed exams
will be made unless (1) proper documentation from the Athletic
Department is presented before the exam or (2) notification is received
from the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education that
there is a valid reason for missing the exam. It is the student's
responsibility to contact the instructor, as soon as possible, to make
arrangements for any missed exam. Note that oversleeping, planned
vacations, forgetting or confusing exam dates are not valid excuses
for missing exams. Please review the section on Attendance and Timely
Compliance with Course Requirements in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations for further details.
Extra credit (3 pts) for each exam may be earned by submitting (via Blackboard) two
proposed exam questions at least one week prior to the exam date. The
questions must be multiple choice with four options. Please indicate
which of the options you consider to be the correct answer. Submissions
that are obvious duplications are not acceptable and will result in a 6
point penalty on the exam.
A few other opportunities for extra credit may be available during the
semester as well. These opportunities will be announced only in class.
PARTICIPATION: Your class participation will be recorded by your use of
the clicker.
The clicker questions are useful for several purposes including
assessing your prior knowledge, ascertaining your comprehension of
lecture and reading material, polling your opinions, and adding a bit
more incentive to make it to the morning class.
Clicker points will accrue as follows: 2 points for answering a question
and an additional point for the correct answer (if one exists).
Another two points are earned for each class meeting in which you answer
at least one question.
You must use the clicker that you registered in order to be properly
credited.
Periodically, you should check "My Grades" in Blackboard to verify the
instructor's record for your clicker participation.
Please contact the instructor promptly if you believe there is an
inaccuracy or a technical problem with your clicker.
No appeals to this record will be entertained if problems are not
brought to the professor's attention in a timely manner.
There will be some leeway to allow for the occasional absence, forgotten
clicker, dead batteries, etc. by reducing the total possible points by
approximately 10% before determining your final participation score.
Please note that tardiness and early departures will also impact your
participation
since clicker questions will be distributed throughout the class period
and may occur near the beginning or end of class periods.
Students using two or more clickers in order to record responses for
other students will forfeit all participation points for the semester
and additionally have a one letter grade deduction from the final course
grade. The infraction will also be reported to the Dean's Office for
further disciplinary action.
The clickers used inappropriately will be confiscated and may be claimed
after conferring with the instructor. Also note, in accordance with
University policy,
students who are penalized for academic dishonesty will not be allowed
to withdraw from this course even if the infraction occurs before the
last day allowed for withdrawal.
Attendance is not specifically required, so please do not attend unless
you plan to be attentive and engaged.
Do not attend if you primarily intend to talk to friends, annoy
neighbors, text message, facebook, surf the web, etc.
Attendance is encouraged since emphasis on the important points in the
web pages is provided in class, some classes include material not in the
web pages, and of course you must be present to accrue participation
points. You would be well advised to attend even if you've forgotten
your clicker.
Documentation for excusable absences are unnecessary except for missed
exams (see above) or if special circumstances result in three or more
excusable absences.
If you have or expect to have three or more legitimately excusable
absences, then proper documentation should be submitted in order to
appropriately pro-rate your participation score.
Severe penalties will ensue for submission of "doctored" documents.
Please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin section on "Attendance and
Timely Compliance with Course Requirements" for the University's policy
on absences.
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