Welcome to College Physics I !

Instructor: Prof. Lauren Rast

UAB Distance-Accessible Physics Education Project

Course Syllabus

How to contact Dr. Rast:

• Virtual Office Hours 

  • Wednesday, January 11th from 9-10 AM.
  • Wednesdays, from 9-11 AM, beginning the second week of class.
  • By appointment: please contact me to schedule a personal Zoom meeting at a mutually agreeable day/time.

  Please include course number, and section number (PH 201-QL) in the subject line of your email.

  Email: laurenr@uab.edu

  I love to hear from students! I highly encourage every student to contact me as needed.
  

• Instructor Response Time: I respond within 24 hours on weekdays (excluding UAB holidays). Emails sent after 4:59 PM (CST) on Friday will be returned the following Monday before 5PM (CST). 
• How to contact your Course TAs:

• Expected turn-around time for grading: 
  
  • Quiz scores will be available immediately after submission.
  • Written assignments (including your A Mind for Numbers Essay, labs, and group projects) will be graded within 1 week of the due date. 
• Studying for this course: Physics is an active-learning discipline, which requires significant time to master. It is recommended that you study and work on course materials a little each day, rather than "cramming" at the last minute before a quiz is due. A minimum of 14 hours per week of time is recommended for reading, studying, and completing PH 201 - QL course assignments. 

Course Prerequisite: MA 106 [Min Grade: C] or MA 107 [Min Grade: C] or MA 125 [Min Grade: C] or PH 100 [Min Grade: C]

Co-requisites:

1. Recitation: PH 201R-QL College Physics I Rec - Online The recitation component of this course is represented by the ALEKS and A Mind for Numbers course components. You must sign up for the online recitation that accompanies this course. Recitation will consist of online enrichment exercises that may involve group work, and will be completed within the main Canvas course site, rather than on a separate recitation Canvas site. Recitation covers: First term of non-calculus based physics. Linear and planar motion, Newton's Laws, work and energy, gravitation, momentum, rigid body motion, statics, elasticity, oscillations, waves, sound, fluids, ideal gases, heat,and thermodynamics. Lecture, laboratory, and recitation must be taken concurrently.
2. PH201 Lab: PH 201L-QL College Physics Lab I-Online: You must sign up for the lab that accompanies this course. Lab assignments will be delivered within the main Canvas course site, rather than on a separate Canvas lab course site. 

Required vs. Optional Materials: Optional course materials will have the word "Optional" in their title within a module. Otherwise, the material is required. All graded items listed in the Grading Scheme below are required. Required materials for this course are listed in "Required Course Texts/ Required Resources" below. Required module items are listed on each Learning Goals page for that module.

Grading Scheme:

All calculated grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number point value (at or above .5% will be rounded up). Letter grades will be assigned according to the following rubric:

Group work :

• Labs and projects will be assessed through an instructor-graded content assessment, as well as assessment of group collaboration.
• IMPORTANT: Students who do not submit their individually-collected data before the posted deadline will receive a zero for individual data and the final group report. Two such incidents will result in removal from the Lab Group and a grade of zero in subsequent labs. Exceptions must be documented and in accordance with UAB Academic Handbook policies. See below: III. Course Policies 2. Late Assignments for more information.
• In addition to submission of individual data in a timely manner, students are also expected to communicate and collaborate in order to develop final group lab reports. Students who do not participate in formulating final group responses to group lab questions may lose up to 100% of the credit for that lab. 
  

Course Description:

I. Course Texts/ Required Resources:

1) College Physics (OpenStax)¹

How to Download your free textbook from OpenStax ¹:
The textbook and student study guide for this course are free. To download your free books:
- Click the "Modules" tab on the left side of this screen
- Click "Free Textbook License Agreement" and agree to the license terms
- Go back to the "Modules" page, click "How to get your free textbook" and follow on-screen instructions

2) A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley ²

2. Oakley, B. A. (2014). A mind for numbers: How to excel at math and science (even if you flunked algebra). New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin.

Get a copy of "A Mind For Numbers^"2
"A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel At Math And Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)"² is an easy to read, but content-filled book that helps students learn how to study and master complex scientific material. Reading this book is required for this course and will effect your semester grade.
- You can buy "A Mind For Numbers^"2 from many online booksellers and from some bookstores near UAB
- You should also click the "AMFN Instructions" link on the Modules page so that you will understand what you have to do to complete this assignment

3) ALEKS³

3. McGraw-Hill Education. (n.d.). ALEKS Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.aleks.com/

ALEKS³ is an interactive Math learning system which adapts itself to your knowledge base and is designed to bring your math skills up to the level you need to do well in this course. Your completion of the ALEKS³ assignment is required for this course and will affect your semester grade. This credit is "all or nothing". You need to complete (learn or master) 90% of ALEKS (135 topics) in order to receive credit. To sign up for ALEKS ³:
- Click the "Modules" tab on the left side of this screen
- Click the "ALEKS ³ Instructions" link and follow on-screen instructions

4) Lab/Lab Kit

There is some equipment that you must provide so that you can do the labs. This equipment is described on the "Lab Procedures And Rules" page. 

In addition to the equipment that you must provide, the UAB Physics Department will mail a lab kit to you early in this course.  You should begin Lab #1 before you receive this kit, because Lab #1 tells you how to test and set up the equipment that you have to provide. 

Group participation is very important. Students who do not fully participate in the lab by maintaining group communication throughout the process of completing the lab, and who do not provide data before the deadline will be removed from their lab group and will receive zeros for all remaining labs. The only exceptions are reasons excused by the UAB handbook. You cannot submit individual lab reports, they are a group activity, so please make sure to reach out right away and work together.  This policy also applies to your final group projects.

To get started on Lab #1:

All of our labs are group labs, but Lab #1 also requires a lot of individual effort because you will be setting up your computer so that it can do what you need for the other labs. 
- Read and understand the "Lab Procedures & Rules" document. There is a link to this near the top of the Modules page.
- Contact the other members of your lab group. You can find your lab group using the Group Discussion page for each lab within the Lab Module OR by clicking the "People" link on the left of this screen, then scrolling to your "Lab Group".
- Navigate to the Lab Module and get started

5) Summary Sheets

Summary sheets are a document that you'll fill out for each module of this course - they're designed to help you condense the material for your own learning.  One really helpful aspect of this exercise is that in our course, you're encouraged to keep these sheets at your side during the quizzes. In this way, not only will you distill the material as you read through the textbook, you'll have a handy document ready to assist you work through the quizzes more effectively and efficiently. Another added benefit is that if you need help with a topic, these sheets will allow us to quickly pinpoint any areas of misunderstanding and get you quickly back on track and making progress through the course. Filling out these sheets is a requirement for every module that you complete in this course. Instructions for these, and a template, are on the the Summary Sheet Template page. A link to this page is near the top of the Modules page.

II. Course Description and Objectives:

Overview:

This is the first term of a two-semester non-calculus based physics sequence. Topics covered in this fully online course include linear and planar motion, Newton's laws, work and energy, gravitation, momentum, rigid body motion, elasticity, oscillations, waves, sound, fluids, ideal gases, heat and thermodynamics. Quantitative Literacy is a significant component of this course. This course meets the Core Curriculum requirements for Area III: Natural Sciences.

Objectives: 

The course objectives for PH201-QL align with UAB's Quantitative Literacy Learning Outcomes.

Learners will be able to:

• CO1: Translate nonscientific prose into the language of physics. SI(2), SI(3), QL(1), QL(3),
• CO2: Identify key physical variables that point to a solution. SI(2), SI(3), QL(2)
• CO3: Arrangement a figure or diagram to assist in analyzing the problem. QL(3)
• CO4: Determine a relationship between the given physical quantities and the ones to be found. QL(2), QL(3)
• CO5: Calculate mathematical operations to arrive to a solution. QL(2), QL(3)
• CO6: Demonstrate in both the course and laboratory section, the ability to collect, evaluate and communicate scientific information. SI(1), SI(2), SI(3)
• CO7: Use scientific reasoning.  SI(1), SI(2), SI(3)

Content:

Online exercises, lab exercises, and group projects will be used to measure student understanding of fundamental concepts and the development of problem solving skills. Grading of these assignments provides the opportunity to assess student progress during the course.

III. Course Policies

1. DSS Accessibility Statement: Accessible Learning: UAB is committed to providing an accessible learning experience for all students. If you are a student with a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and you require accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services for information on accommodations, registration and procedures. Requests for reasonable accommodations involve an interactive process and consist of a collaborative effort among the student, DSS, faculty and staff. If you are registered with Disability Support Services, please contact me to discuss accommodations that may be necessary in this course. If you have a disability but have not contacted Disability Support Services, please call (205) 934-4205 or visit the DSS website (Links to an external site.).
2. Late Assignments: There are penalties for turning in assignments late. It is your responsibility to submit the Canvas survey for extra tries on practice quizzes as soon as you need them, so that you do not fall behind. Up to a 10% deduction will be applied for late assignments. This penalty will be deducted at the end of the term for all late assignments, unless you have discussed the reason for lateness with an instructor ahead of time, and if these reasons are in accordance with the UAB Academic Handbook policies, made arrangements with an instructor for extra time to complete the assignment.
3. Honor Code: All students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the academic honor code as well as UAB’s official policy on the appropriate use of technology in the classroom. Any student that violates the honor code may be subject to immediate failure in the class and possible expulsion from UAB. Cheating on an exam will be handled according to UAB's academic misconduct policy.  However, you are encouraged to use the "Summary Sheets" that you personally created for this module and any other modules in this course, when you take this exam. Also, you are allowed to make a "screen capture" of an exam's questions/problems and work on them after the exam is over, if desired, and use those screen captures and any of your personal notes related to them, on re-takes of this exam. (Remember, though, that  this course has a large "question bank", so the questions/problems may be different on repeated attempts. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you develop a deep and thorough understanding of the concepts necessary for solving each problem; do not simply memorize how to solve it.) You may also use the textbook, personal notes, other materials in this course, or search the web to help you understand how to work these problems. But you ARE NOT ALLOWED to get help for any of this exam's problems/questions from any person except the Instructor or Teaching Assistant for this course, and you are NOT ALLOWED to share your screen captures of an exam's questions/problems, or notes related to those screen captures, with other students. 
4. Early Alert System (EAS): The early alert system is a notification I will use during to indicate that your performance is at or below a “D” in this class. EAS is designed to help students be more successful academically at UAB. If you receive an email with EAS in the title, please open it, read it and take advantage of the support that UAB offers to all students. UAB is committed to ensuring that students receive academic support and are aware of the resources available that will help assist them in successfully completing their degree program.
5. Grade questions and FERPA: Due to FERPA rules, I cannot answer questions about your grades over email. Please make an appointment with me if you would like to discuss your grade at any time. Grade questions will typically be addressed within the Canvas gradebook unless further discussion is required.
6. Title IX Statement: The University of Alabama at Birmingham is committed to providing an environment that is free from sexual misconduct, which includes gender-based assault, harassment, exploitation, dating and domestic violence, stalking, as well as discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you have experienced any of the aforementioned conduct we encourage you to report the incident. UAB provides several avenues for reporting. For more information about Title IX, policy, reporting, protections, resources and supports, please visit the UAB Title IX webpage (Links to an external site.) for UAB’s Title IX Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Violence Policy; UAB’s Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment Policy; and the Duty to Report and Non-Retaliation Policy.

7.  Misconduct: 

   • Honor Code: All students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the academic honor code as well as UAB’s official policy on the appropriate use of technology in the classroom. Any student that violates the honor code may be subject to immediate failure in the class and possible expulsion from UAB. Cheating on an exam will be handled according to UAB's academic misconduct policy. You ARE NOT ALLOWED to get help for any quiz from any person except the Instructor or Teaching Assistant for this course, and you are NOT ALLOWED to share your screen captures of an exam's questions/problems, or notes related to those screen captures, with other students.
   • The University of Alabama at Birmingham expects all members of its academic community to function according to the highest ethical and professional standards. It will be important that you review and become familiar with the University’s Academic Integrity Code.

   Student Resource

   Academic Integrity Code - One Stop Student Services | UAB

8. Course Netiquette:

   There are course expectations concerning etiquette on how we should treat each other online. It is very important that we consider the following values during online discussions and email.

   • Respect: Each student’s opinion is valued as an opinion. When responding to a person during the online discussions, be sure to state an opposing opinion in a diplomatic way. Do not insult the person or their idea. Do not use negative or inappropriate language.
   • Confidentiality: When discussing topics be sure to be discreet on how you discuss children, teachers, and colleagues. Do not use names of people or names of facilities.
   • Format: When posting use proper grammar, spelling, and complete sentences. Avoid using ALL CAPITALS. This signifies that you are yelling. Avoid using shortcuts/text abbreviations such as 'cu l8r' for 'See you later.'
   • Relevance: Think before you type. Keep posts relevant to the discussion board topic.

9. Health and Safety:

   UAB is very concerned for your continued health and safety. Please consult the Students section of UAB United (Links to an external site.) for up-to-date guidance, because the following information is subject to change as circumstances require.

   Know the resources available to you to be successful:

   • Student Assistance and Support (Links to an external site.) provides individualized assistance to promote student safety and well-being, collaboration and resilience, personal accountability, and self-advocacy. The Care Team consults and collaborates with campus partners to balance the needs of individual students with those of the overall campus community. The UAB Care Team (Links to an external site.) helps find solutions for students experiencing academic, social and crisis situations including mental health concerns.
   • Disability Support Services (Links to an external site.) assists students with in reaching accommodations for their educational experiences at UAB that ensure that they have equal access to programs, services, and activities at UAB.
   • The Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center (Links to an external site.) provides tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other services that encourage goal achievement and degree completion.
   • UAB Student Health Services (Links to an external site.) delivers comprehensive, high quality, confidential, primary healthcare to students. Student Health provides testing services and vaccination clinics.
   • Student Counseling Services (Links to an external site.) offers students a safe place to discuss and resolve issues that interfere with personal and academic goals. UAB has created a new app (available in the App Store and Google Play) called B Well (Links to an external site.), that is designed to easily access resources on mobile devices and build a self-care plan.
   • eLearning and Professional Studies (Links to an external site.) provides numerous academic technologies and learning resources for students whose learning may be affected by COVID.

IV. Important Dates

UAB Policies and Resources:
•    Add/Drop and Course Withdrawal
Drop/Add: Deadlines for adding, dropping, or withdrawing from a course and for paying tuition are published in the  Academic Calendar  (Links to an external site.) available online. Review the Institutional Refund Policy for information on refunds for dropped courses. 
Withdrawal: To avoid academic penalty, a student must withdraw from a course by the withdrawal deadline shown in the academic calendar and receive a grade of W (withdrawn). Failure to attend class does not constitute a formal drop or withdrawal. 

Due dates for graded items in the course are listed below. Note that failure to submit individual lab data by the deadlines shown may lead to removal from your lab group and a score of zero for all subsequent labs. If you have trouble with a lab, contact Prof. Rast or a TA right away by email. We are here to help you!