Course Syllabus

 

Welcome to A105 - Stars & Galaxies!

This syllabus provides detailed information about the course, including contact information, how to get help, course requirements, grades, and policies. 

Learning Goals

Students who successfully complete Stars and Galaxies will be able to:

• place the stars and galaxies we find in our universe into a hierarchy of time and space
• use analytical and quantitative skills to understand the primary evidence and lines of reasoning that led to scientists’ understanding of time and space.
• demonstrate the ability to model and explain the origin and evolution of  stars and galaxies in the Universe from the Big Bang until today.
• apply their knowledge to interpret data, think critically, and  explore the Universe.

Getting Started

Then click the Modules tab on the left. The course is organized into modules - one for each week of the semester.   The modules contain each week's reading assignment, video links, discussion post, exploration activity, and quiz.

Review each of the topics in the first module - Getting Started - for good advice about taking an online course.  If this is your first online course, take note that you will need to keep up each week with the assigned work and submit all work by the assignment deadline.  Discussion posts are due on Wednesdays, explorations are due on Fridays, and quizzes must be completed by Sunday at the end of each week.

Check the "Fun Stuff" module for technical help and information about astronomy.

Be sure to manage your time carefully and submit all assignments by the posted due dates. The previous and next buttons at the bottom of each page will help you navigate.  Remember - Just because this course is online does not mean there is no work involved.  You can do well in this course, but most students will need to complete all assignments, read the text, and attend to the online content to succeed.

Instructors

Professor Caty Pilachowski   Email:  via Canvas   I'll respond within 24 hours, usually less.

Associate Instructors: 

Your Associate Instructors are both advanced graduate students in Astronomy.  They are both are highly knowledgeable in the field, and are eager to share their excitement about stars and galaxies with you.   We're lucky to have them!

 

Zoom Chats:  Your instructors are available from 2-4 PM  each day, Monday through Friday, for live discussions via Zoom.  Bring us your questions,  or join us just to talk over what interests you (or doesn't!) about astronomy.   If you need help with an Exploration, we're available to help.  Join us with the Zoom link at the left of this page.

We're also available to meet with individual students over Zoom at other times by appointment for a private chat.  Shoot us a message on Canvas to set that up.

 

FREE Textbook!!

Our textbook ASTRONOMY is available for free from openstax.org:

Link - https://openstax.org/details/astronomy

Our free, on-line textbook Astronomy by Andrew Fraknoi, Sidney Wolff, and David Morrison, is published by the non-profit OpenStax project at Rice University.  The authors are some of the most distinguished names in astronomy education.  

You can download the text, read it online, or access the text through a free app.  Links to weekly reading assignments are posted in each week's Canvas module.  You can also order a paper copy from Openstax or from Amazon.

Each chapter includes a summary and review questions at the end to help you.

 

Course Requirements and Grades

Each week you are responsible for 

• A exploration activity submitted via Canvas (40% of grade)
• A post to your discussion group on Canvas (5% of grade)
• An online quiz (30% of grade)

In addition, you are responsible for completing the final exam on Canvas (25% of grade).

Course Activities

Learning Astronomy - Materials for the course include both weekly reading assignments and video presentations.  The videos will include short discussions of current events in astronomy, introductions to the week's exploration activity, and brief lectures highlighting important ideas in the week's main topic.

Discussion Posts - A discussion question will be posed for each of the 15 weekly units in the course.  Students are expected to share their thoughts on each post, and to comment (politely and civilly!) on other students' posts.  Due Wednesdays by 11:59 PM.

Explorations - 15 on-line explorations are to be completed during the course, one for each week.   The Explorations apply concepts we are covering in the reading or in the videos, and are designed to make the concepts more concrete to help students learn. You may want to work in small groups to complete the explorations, but use your own words for all written submissions. Do not quote from the text or copy each other’s words or work.

Explorations are due each Friday by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.   They will be graded on a 10-point scale (10=great job, 7=acceptable job, 5=poor job, 0 = not submitted).  Your work will be evaluated for mastery of the concepts and learning objectives of each exploration.  The three lowest exploration scores will be dropped before your course grade is computed.

Weekly Quizzes -  An online quiz will be available each week covering that week's material, including the reading assignment, posted videos, that week's exploration activity, and that week's discussion post.  All of the quizzes are open-book, open note, open-web, open-friend.  Quizzes will be Sunday night by 11:59 PM Eastern Time at the conclusion of each week.  The three lowest quiz scores will be dropped before your course grade is computed.  Since these quizzes are online, be sure to allow time for computer catastrophes - don't wait until the last minute to take them!  And be sure you have a reliable, high-band width internet connection.  

NOTE - The option of dropping the lowest three Exploration and Quiz scores is specifically to provide a safety net for students who are sick or find they who are otherwise unable to manage coursework due to covid-related responsibilities.  Don't plan to skip the first assignments in the semester.  You may find you need this safety net later in the semester - and if you skip assignments early on, the safety net will not be available.  Be wise.

Final Exam -  The comprehensive final exam must be completed online and submitted before 11:59 PM on Friday, Dec. 20.   The final exam will also be open book, open note, open web, open friend.  Since the final exam is online, again be sure to allow time for computer catastrophes - don't wait until the last minute to take it!  And be sure you have a reliable, high-band width internet connection.

Astronomy Apps - Each week we will also explore smartphone apps and websites to help you access and explore current material in astronomy.

 

Other Important Information

Expectations - Work should be turned in on time to receive credit. If you are unable to attend class, complete work, or participate for reasons of health, family responsibilities, or religious holidays, please contact the instructor (in advance, if possible) to make arrangements. Remember that you can turn in any assignments early if you anticipate a conflict. 

Students and instructors should maintain a high standard of respect and courtesy towards others, especially in online posts and on zoom chats

If you are having difficulty in this class and need extra help, please contact me before you fall behind. It is much easier to keep up than to catch up.

Internet Connectivity Resources - Students with internet connectivity issues should contact vpsa@indiana.edu.  They will triage the best option to help you get online.  Students can access Windows computers in the Student Technology Centers remotely during campus closures using IUAnyWare.  STC Mac labs, however, are not available via IUAnyWare.  See https://kb.iu.edu/d/bfer  for further information. 

Online Course Materials - The instructors teaching this course hold the exclusive right to distribute, modify, post, and reproduce course materials, including all written materials, study guides, lectures, assignments, exercises, and exams.  While you are permitted to take notes on the online materials posted for this course for your personal use, you are not permitted to re-post in another forum, distribute, or reproduce content from this course without the express written permission of the instructor.  Any violation of this course rule will be reported to the appropriate university offices and officials, including the Dean of Students, as academic misconduct.  See IP Policy UA-05 for details.

 Students with Disabilities - Please make sure your instructor receives a copy of your DSS form, especially if you have a hidden disability. We will assist with confidential accommodations for students with disabilities documented with DSS. The sooner we know about your specific needs, the better we can accommodate them.  

 Dates - For important dates (drop, withdraw with automatic W, withdraw with Dean's approval) see the Official Calendar from the Registrar.

Academic Integrity - As a student at IU, you are expected to adhere to the standards and policies detailed in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. When you submit an assignment with your name on it, you are signifying that the work contained therein is all yours, unless otherwise cited or referenced. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. If you are unsure about the expectations for completing an assignment or taking a quiz or exam, be sure to seek clarification beforehand. All suspected violations of the Code will be handled according to University policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment, reduction in your final course grade, or a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities, and must include a report to the Dean of Students who may impose additional disciplinary sanctions, including mandatory attendance at a workshop to be sure you understand plagiarism.

Extra Credit - No extra credit will be awarded for the class. Don't ask. Your best strategy is to keep up with the reading, discussion posts, explorations, and quizzes from the beginning. If you fall behind, it will be difficult to complete enough work to pass the class.

Late Assignments - Assignments must be submitted by the due date and will not be accepted late.  Canvas will automatically enter a score of zero for late assignments.  Please get them in on time.

 

IU Software - Get no-cost access to hundreds of software programs and applications through IUware and IUanyWare. All you need is your IU login to access them.

• Use IUanyWare to stream 400+ apps on your desktop or through the mobile app with your IU login.
• Use IUware to install software directly onto your hard drive.

Visit iuware.iu.edu and iuanyware.iu.edu, or contact the UITS Support Center to learn more.

 

For additional information about IU academic policies that apply to this course, please see 

CampusPolicies.pdf