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Syllabus 1. Course Description AST 101L is a laboratory course meant for non-science majors who either are taking or have taken AST 301. In it you will work in groups to learn more about some of the experimental and observational topics you have heard and read about in AST 301. The class will be divided into groups of 4-5 students. Each group will work together to carry out three 3-week projects. The groups are selected based on which nights you have free to do the observing and on which three segments you want to do most. If you are in the class with 3 or 4 friends, you can choose to form a group. If you do not make up a whole 4 or 5 on your own, however, we may choose to split you up. 2. Schedule There is one scheduled class hour each week of the semester. In addition, the groups will also have to meet at other times to work on the projects. In some cases, you will need to gain access to restricted equipment; the TA will be available during certain periods to allow this. At the end of each three week period, your group will meet with the TA and/or the Prof. to discuss and evaluate the completed project. The observational projects will work a bit differently than the others. For one thing, you will be expected to devote some evening hours to the projects. Because these projects are so dependent on the weather, they will be scheduled independently of the 3-week blocks. If your group chooses an observing project for one of its three, you will need to come to class at one additional time during the first 3 weeks of the semester to do the prep work. After that, you will need to carry out your observations on the first clear nights for which your group has a slot available. WARNING: It has often turned out in the past that there were entire three-week stretches without a clear weeknight. You MUST "make hay while the moon shines" and get your observing done when you can. The upside of this is that you may be done with this course early. If observing will occur on a given night, the TA will email the class, so be sure to check your email each afternoon. For this course, the semester will be divided into three 3-class periods during which you will work on projects:
3. Grading A grade will be assigned for your performance on each topic. It will be based on material you will hand in, a group presentation or report, and your demonstration of what your group has done in a meeting with the TA at the end of each 3-class period. You will work together to learn the material from each topic and produce a report or presentation, but each of you must understand what is in the report and what was done in your experiments. Members of a single group will not necessarily all receive the same grade based on the discretion of the professor and TA. Individually, for each completed segment, the student will be assigned a letter grade based on the materials and presentations.
With an excused absence, students can make up two classes by arranging with the TA to attend at one of the alternate times. Students doing the unaided eye observing must obtain one "night participation credit" and students doing the telescope observing two such credits from the TA. Failure to participate at the required level will lower your final grade by one full letter. Be aware also that actual active participation in your group's activities counts as part of your performance on the segments. 4. Topics There are currently five discovery kits, of which each group will choose three.
The TA will be available during the following times (office: RLM 16.212):
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31 August 2006
Astronomy Program · The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, Texas 78712
prospective student inquiries: studentinfo@astro.as.utexas.edu
site comments: www@www.as.utexas.edu
Astronomy Program · The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, Texas 78712
prospective student inquiries: studentinfo@astro.as.utexas.edu
site comments: www@www.as.utexas.edu