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MLS 704 The Natural Spring 2016

MLS 704 The Natural Sciences Syllabus

Thursday 6:00-8:40 pm The Course aims to provide students with "scientific literacy" it is designed to give firsthand knowledge of the classic works and great figures of , from to the present. Including hands-on experience to give a practical sense of the difficulties and limitations of and observation in gathering knowledge about . Stresses general philosophical and methodological issues that scientists and non-scientist should confront. (3 hours, 3 credits.)

Instructor

Prof. Heather Sloan Office Hours: Thursday 5:00-6:00 pm or by appointment Office Location: Gillet Hall 307B Telephone: 718-960-8008, Internet: [email protected] (Email is the best way to reach me.)

Academic Objectives

The primary academic objective this course is to develop scientific literacy for a range of disciplines through exploration of the following questions: • What is the Nature of Science? • What are the basic tenets, unifying , and methods for , , , , and ? • What are the most common misconceptions? • What are the Unanswered Questions? • What role does your knowledge of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy and Earth Science play your everyday life?

Upon successful completion of this course students will demonstrate verbally and in writing: • An accurate understanding of the nature of science • An accurate understanding of the basic tenets, unifying theories, methods, and unanswered questions in Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Earth and • The ability to reflect on the role that their own scientific knowledge, thinking and skills play in their everyday lives.

Course Requirements and Grading

Course Requirements • Participation and oral presentations of annotated bibliography and paper – 20% of course grade • Questions: prepare at least 2 questions based on reading for each class – 10% of course grade • Annotated bibliography and review of professional organizations – 20% of course grade • Analysis of Popular Science Article – 20% of course grade • Paper: Science literate approach to everyday topics. – 30% of course grade Details and a grading rubric will be provided for each assignment.

Masters in Liberal Studies 1 Lehman College, City of New York MLS 704 The Natural Sciences Spring 2016

Required Texts

Science – Achieving Scientific Literacy Robert M. Hazen & James Trefil, Anchor (Random House, Inc.), 2009 ISBN 978-0-307-45458-4; $16 new from Amazon, as little as $4 used. Order immediately.

Additional required reading and viewing listed in the course schedule will be available on Blackboard. Reading assignments should be done before the class they are listed for. Doing the reading ahead of time will prepare you to participate in discussion, lab and group exercises in class which are part of your grade.

Power Point Presentations The Power Point presentation from class will be available on the course Blackboard site.

Bad Weather Plan B

If bad weather prevents me from getting to campus even though classes have not been canceled, an assignment will be posted on Blackboard. If the weather looks bad I will post an announcement on Blackboard and send an email to your Lehman address by noon only if I will not be coming in. No announcement means we will meet as usual. If I cannot get to campus or if classes are canceled, check the Blackboard for the required assignment for that day.

In the Classroom

Please help to maintain an atmosphere of acceptance, respect, and engagement in the classroom. You are expected to take responsibility for your learning – after all, no one else can learn for you. Your active engagement in and lab activities is essential to your success in this course. Please arrive on time and be ready to participate at the start of class. If you cannot avoid being a few minutes late, please enter quietly, causing as little disturbance as possible. Please ask questions during class. Food is not allowed in the classroom.

Course Policies

ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES, or other electronic gadgets are permitted in class – that includes recharging. Visible cell phones will result in a warning the first time and in the subtraction of 1 point per sighting from your participation grade after that. It is not acceptable to leave during class to receive or make calls. Repeated cell phone use will result in your being ask to leave the class for the day. The only possible exception to this digital exclusion is a laptop or tablet – but ONLY for note taking. If you are found reading email or surfing a topic not related to the course, you will be asked to put it away the first time and to leave if it happens again.

Accommodating Disabilities Lehman College is committed to providing access to all programs and curricula to all students. Students with disabilities who may need classroom accommodations are encouraged to register with the Office of

Masters in Liberal Studies 2 Lehman College, City University of New York MLS 704 The Natural Sciences Spring 2016

Student Disability Services. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services, Shuster Hall Room 238 and Telephone 718-960-8441.

The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and the Science Learning Center (SLC) The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and the Science Learning Center (SLC) are two of the tutoring centers on campus. The ACE provides appointment-based and drop-in tutoring in the humanities, social sciences, and writing, as well as general writing and academic skills workshops. The SLC provides drop-in tutoring for natural science courses. To obtain more information about the ACE and the SLC, please visit their website at http://www.lehman.edu/issp, or please call the ACE at 718-960-8175, and the SLC at 718-960-7707.

Academic Integrity It is your responsibility to read and understand the Academic Integrity Policy that can be found in full in the Graduate Bulletin. Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy will not be tolerated. Violations typically take the form of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s ideas, , or writing as your own. At the very least confirmed violations of academic integrity will result in a grade of F or no credit for the assignment or exam in question and may result in more serious consequences.

MLS 704 The Natural Sciences: Spring 2016 Schedule

Please complete readings before class. This schedule is subject to minor change. Date Topic and Reading/Viewing – (Sources other than Science Matters are on Blackboard) Science Literacy and The Nature of Science Course Overview and Introduction What is Scientific Literacy? Read: Science Matters | Introduction 4 Feb View: Science Literacy | Neil Tyson & Bill Moyer Why Scientific Literacy is Necessary | Andrew Zwicker What is the of Scientific Literacy? | Irena Borzym The Nature of Science and Scientists Read: Science Matters Chapter 1 NSTA Position Statement: The Nature of Science | National Science Association; pp. 2 11 Feb Understanding the Scientific Enterprise: The Nature of Science in the Next Generation Science Standards | Next Generation Science Standards; pp. 10 The Nature of Science and the | Geological Society of America pp. 11 Science In Our Everyday Life Physics/Astronomy Read: Science Matters | Chapters 2, 3, 5, 8-12 The 11 Greatest Unanswered Questions of Physics 18 Feb http://discovermagazine.com/2002/feb/cover/ View: Does Dark BREAK Physics? | Space Time PBS Digital Studios The True Nature of Matter and Mass | Space Time PBS Digital Studios

Masters in Liberal Studies 3 Lehman College, City University of New York MLS 704 The Natural Sciences Spring 2016

The Origin of Matter and Time | Space Time PBS Digital Studios 25 Feb Progress Report | Research and Writing Workshop Annotated Bibliography Due Today Earth Science Read: Science Matters | Chapters 13 and 14 Climate Literacy | NOAA Energy Literacy | US Department of Energy Materials Flow and | US Geologic Survey 3 Mar Optional Resources Backyard Conservation | US Department of Mineral Resource Sheets | US Geologic Survey http://minerals.usgs.gov/mineralcommodityFS/index.html Recycling Cell Phones | NYS Department of Environmental Conservation http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8818.html Recycled Cell Phones – A Treasure Trove of Valuable Metals Scientific Disciplines Guest Lecturer Series 10 Mar Physics and Astronomy – Guest Lecturer: Prof Mathew O’Dowd 17 Mar Biology – Guest Lecturer: Prof Moira Sauane 24 Mar Chemistry – Guest Lecturer: Prof Pamela Mills 31 Mar Earth System Science – Climate Change: Prof Sloan 7 Apr Progress Report | Research and Writing Clinic More Science In Our Everyday Life 14 Apr Poster Presentations – Popular Science Article Analysis Due Today Chemistry Read: Science Matters | Chapters 4, 6, and 7 The Naked Scientist – read some of these interviews. They are great and focus 21 Apr on cutting edge research. http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/interviews/chemistry/ (Check Blackboard for reading assignment updates.)

28 Apr Spring Recess Biology 5 May Read: Science Matters | Chapters 15-19 (Check Blackboard for reading assignment updates.) Student Discussion Scientific Literacy Topics Papers 12 May All Science Literacy Papers Due Today

Masters in Liberal Studies 4 Lehman College, City University of New York