Stars & Galaxies Online - Dr. Dale Etheridge

Your instructor in the<br>CSN Planetarium

Your instructor in the
CSN Planetarium

Overview: This course is a general survey of the origin and evolution of stars and galaxies. It is designed for non-science majors with little or no background in science or math. This web version of the course assumes that the student is reasonably familiar with the World Wide Web. The primary purpose of this course will be to give the student enough background and knowledge to read popular articles with understanding and to follow new developments in astronomy long after the course is completed.

Format: The basic format of the course is directed self study. Prior to each week's session the student is expected to read the online assignment for that period available in the WebCT environment. The student is then expected to read the appropriate material from the text. The student should also use the Publisher's Web Site that accompanies the text. It provides a full searchable version of the text as well as sample quizzes and tests and additonal supplementary materials. While not all of the material in the text and Publisher's Web Site will be covered in the online assignments, each student is responsible for all the material in the text, the Publisher's Web Site and in the assignments.

Evaluation: The student's final grade for the course will be based on the following combination of quizzes, exams and special assignments using a 1000 point scale:

QUIZZES	All Sixteen	24%	15 points each
ASSIGNMENTS	All four	31%	30, 90, 100, 90 pts.
EXAMS	All three	45%	150 points each

Quizzes and exams must be taken when assigned. Quizzes assigned for the beginning of a week will be available starting at 6:00 am on Monday and must be completed before 11:00 pm on Wednesday. Quizzes assigned for the end of a week will be available starting at 6:00 am on Thursday and must be completed before 11:00 pm on Saturday. You are allowed two attempts on each quiz with the higher score counting. Each attempt will be a different, but equivalent quiz. Quizzes cannot be taken late and each must be completed during one session. Once you start a quiz you must complete it before ending your session or unanswered items will count as incorrect. Be sure to save each question as you answer it. If you have a computer or communications failure during a quiz, log back on as quickly as possible and resume from the last saved quiz item. Exams will be taken over the internet as well. The exams will typically be available for a period of six (6) days and you will get only one attempt. Assignments are typically two week long projects involving interpretation of real astronomical data. The last assignment will be a writing exercise. There will be no exra credit opportunites. It is your responsibility to complete all of the assessments and assignemnts during the semester in a timely manner.

The course grade will be expressed as a percentage of the maximum score achieved with the following breakdown:

93 - 100%	A	73 - 76%	C
90 - 92%	A-	70 - 72%	C-
87 - 89%	B+	67 - 69%	D+
83 - 86%	B	63 - 66%	D
80 - 82%	B-	60 - 62%	D-
77 - 79%	C+	0 - 59%	F

The above criteria may be adjusted by the instructor depending on the overall class performance and any factors that may occur during the semester that are beyond the control of the instructor or class. The course grade will be rounded to the nearest percent. The lowest passing grade will not go below 50% of the points possible.

Students should also be aware that the last day to officially withdraw from the course is the 10th week of class. After that date a letter grade will be assigned. If you do not believe you can receive the grade you want, then you should withdraw (in person at a Registrar's Office) by that date. Students who have stopped attending, but have not withdrawn prior to that date will receive an F grade. The last day to change from credit to audit is same as the withdrawl date.

Every student is expected to be aware of the various institutional policies and procedures published in the class schedule, college catalog and student handbook.

If you are unfamiliar with the WebCT environment, go to the Distance Education Web site for a list of training sessions on WebCT

Course materials for AST 104, Stars & Galaxies, for the Fall, 2008, semester will be online shortly before the beginning of the semester. The course will follow the same pacing as the campus based courses. The textbook, Astronomy Today, 6^th Edition, by Chaisson & McMillan (ISBN #0-13-240085-5), is available in the College Bookstores. Be sure you get the correct text as there are other, different astronomy textbooks in the Bookstore. The split edition (Stars and Galaxies only - ISBN #0-13-615550-2) is also available. If this is the only astronomy course you are going to take, use the split edition (it is a bit cheaper). If you are also going to take AST 103, then use the full edition. Also, you will need to be certain that you get a copy that includes a viable access code to the publisher's web site (especially if you are buying the book used). or

For those who cannot conveniently get to a campus bookstore, the College's bookstore is also available online (be sure to order early enough to have the book by the time the semester starts):

Follett Books

Recommended browsers are the latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer (PC only), Safari (Mac or PC) or Firefox (Mac or PC). Earlier versions may work if they support Java and JavaScript. If not, consider upgrading before starting the course using one of the links below.

If you are currently enrolled in this course, you can login after August 15. You will be asked for a "WebCT ID" and "Password". For this semester's method of assigning login ID's, go to the WebCT Log On Instructions Page. This page will tell you how to determine your "WebCT ID" and "Password". Once you know your WebCT ID and Password, return to the WebCT Access Page and click on "WebCT Access" or use this link from here: http://www.csn.edu/pages/1814.asp. Once logged in, you should see a list of courses you are enrolled in that also use WebCT.

Do not give your ID or password to anyone else. If you are using a computer in a public area such as the College's computer labs or a public library, be sure to Logout from WebCT or quit the browser when you are through or the next user may have access to your account.

Guest Access: Persons who are not registered in the course may enter the course at times with the username "guest" and the password "guest". Guest access does not provide access to the testing tools. All other aspects of the course are available for review. If this does not work, contact the instructor for access.

A Special Note to Students: This course is designed for the self-motivated student that wants more flexibility in taking a course. It will be just as rigorous as the normal campus based version of the course. In a traditional 3 credit course, the student is expected to spend three hours per week in class and to study independently up to six hours per week out of class. While this section will have no formal in-class component, students are still expected to spend 8 to 10 quality hours per week on the course. Expect to spend at least two to three hours per week online. If you do not have the discipline to make this commitment, then you are likely to find this section of AST 104 more difficult than a traditional section.

Updated: 09/22/2008