Course Syllabus

Here is the Word Document if you'd like to take a look here! PLM Syllabus 24-25 (1).docx

 

Welcome to Physics lab Methods! I’m so excited to have you all in my class this semester! This syllabus will give you the lay of the land for this course, and it is also available on Canvas with live links.

Course Description: (link to course guide for 24-25) 

Course Goals:   

Physics Lab Methods is a semester long laboratory course which fulfills .5 credits for high school graduation and meets the criteria set by the HEC Board as a college prep, lab-based course.  In this course students explore through inquiry the fundamental concepts of physics – such as kinematics, dimensional analysis, applications of Newton’s Laws and energy transformations.  Skills taught in this course will provide students with the content and lab techniques necessary to move into higher level physics courses.   

Additionally, students will use data collection devices and provide quantitative and qualitative analysis of major concepts.  This approach fulfills a critical need for students to take a lab-based science course and prepares them to take an algebra-based science course to fulfill the HEC Board requirement.    

My biggest hope for the year is that you will leave my class having an increased appreciation for science and problem solving.   

Course Outline (one semester course):  

• Unit 1: Physics Foundations
• Two-dimensional motion
• Forces
• Energy, systems and energy transfers  

Required Course Materials and Supplies 

- A binder and dividers will be provided to you to use for this semester  

- Calculator

- Pen, Pencil, Colored Pencils  

Grade Percentages: 

Letter Grade    Range 

A                      93-100 

A-                    90-92.99 

B+.                   87-89.99 

B                      83-86.99 

B-                     80-82.99 

C+                    77-79.99 

C                      73-76.99 

C-                     70-72.99 

D+                    67-69.99 

D                      60-66.99 

F                       0 -59.99 

S,U,P - Override Grades 

Assessment Criteria 

Grading categories and types of work: This is called Assignment Groups in Canvas, Assignment Group Weights 

The purpose of a grade is to report, to students and families, a student’s current level of academic proficiency. All assignments, labs, quizzes, and tests are assigned point values according to their relative value. A typical Unit will be comprised of 1 Test, 2 Labs, 2 quizzes and other  activities totaling approximately 90 points.   

Assessments: Assessments will come in several forms in this class but will generally consist of a multi-section test, lab quizzes and performance tasks, including writing lab reports in Word that will be turned in through Canvas. The purpose of assessment is to provide the student with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of a concept or skill.  

Classwork: Any individual practice or other activities completed during scheduled class time not already in another category. All classwork will be turned in through Canvas by uploading a photo of the work using a laptop in class or phone outside of class.

Labs: We will do many labs in class. Some of these will require a formal write up, some will require your group to display their findings on a poster or digital presentation. Lab work is meant to be collaborative. This means that you participate in the discussion & processes that your group develops in order to carry out the investigation. If it appears that you are not collaborating with you group then you may be asked to turn in a separate lab report. As collaboration is an integral part of science, you will receive a grade based on your collaboration during labs. All labs will also be turned in to Canvas.

Category weights: 

All work is entered into a single category in the gradebook. There is no weighting of points. All the points have the same value, with comparable points in classwork and assessment ensuring ability to show success through various methods.

All assignment scores and your current overall grade will be recorded only in Canvas. Skyward will only be used to post your quarter and semester grades. If you ever have a question about how something was graded or notice a discrepancy, please bring it to my attention and ask for clarification. 

Recovery Plans: 

In this course there is an opportunity recovery on large assignments/assessments that substantially impact the student's overall grade (at the transcript level). The intention behind these opportunities is to allow you more opportunities to learn the physics content and show your new learning.  

Students will be provided the opportunity to recover from sub-standard work on these assignments/assessments. Any student earning below 80% can retake a unit exam and earn up to 80%. Recovery is a one-time attempt within guidelines set by the teacher. To be eligible for a retake/recovery, students may be required to do one of the following based on teacher discretion and student situation: complete test corrections, complete an additional review assignment, and schedule a time for the recovery/retake to be due. However, at their discretion, the teacher may also choose to assign a reflection assignment or test corrections in the place of a retake.  

Homework type/purpose/volume/frequency:  

If students are fully engaged during class time they should expect to spend approx. 0.5-1.0 hours per week working on physics outside of class. If you are consistently exceeding 1.5 hours outside of class (and are attending all classtime every week), please reach out for support. Homework is most often going to be wrapping up assignments and labs that we have already spent time on in class and turning them in on Canvas. However, some homework may be an entire assignment due at a later date. The purpose of Homework is to practice skills to prepare you for opportunities to demonstrate your learning.  

We strive to offer adequate class time for students to complete almost all work during class. Efficient and undistracted (phones, other course work, etc) use of class time will minimize classwork that needs to be completed at home.  

Students who are engaged in non-physics work during physics class time without teacher permission may have that work confiscated. 

Grading Adjustments (Rounding, Bumping, etc.): I will not round grades, nor will I provide grade bumps. Please, do not ask. Additionally, extra credit is not available. 

Late Policy:  

In order for the graded work that you produce to be most useful for you as a learning tool, you should turn in work on the day that it is due. However, you may turn in work, without penalty, up to beginning of class on the date of the end of Unit Test. No late work from that unit will be accepted after that time, with the exception of student accommodations. Additionally, work for the last unit in the semester will have an explicitly communicated due date that may be different from the unit end or test date. 

Classroom Values and Expectations 

How is SEL embedded into the course:   

• Self-efficacy:  

• The physics retake policy gives students the opportunity to complete test corrections in order to retake the test. To do so they will practice advocating for themselves to complete these corrections and schedule a time to come retake the test.

• Self-management:  
• To turn in online work and utilize the physics late policy, students must learn to manage their time well. While work can be turned in for full credit up until the unit test, students will get the most value out of turning in their work when it is initially due for their own learning. This is an excellent opportunity to practice self-management. 

• Social-awareness:  
• Physics is a collaborative science. Group consensus is required for coming to conclusions in the context of labs, group posters, and all-class discussion. We will discuss the importance of how this discussion happens and the social awareness needed to allow it to go smoothly. 

 

• Self-awareness:  
• Collaboration also requires an understanding of oneself. We often allow students the opportunity to answer questions individually before group discussions so they can be aware of their own answers and feelings before entering group discussion. In this way social-awareness and self-awareness fuel and inform one another in the classroom. 

Academic Integrity: 

Physics is a collaborative subject, and so working together to learn will be an important part of our class. However, do not copy or take credit for work that is not yours. In addition it being against the rules (see below), it will also hurt your own learning. Completing course material is how you learn the content so that you can be successful on assessments. 

Here is a summary of academic dishonesty: Cheating on tests and quizzes is a clear example of academic dishonesty. However, you should also be aware that copying or falsifying lab data or copying any other assignment (including an assignment for another class) is also a violation. All students involved in academic dishonesty, those cheating and those allowing the cheating will receive the same penalties.  

For additional information on consequences or any other student expectations, please refer to the IHS student handbook. It can be found HERE 

Expectations: 

Be kind and respectful to everyone. Don’t break the lab equipment. If you break the lab equipment you will pay to replace it. 

I expect you to come to class prepared with materials and ready to learn. I expect you to be in class on time. Attendance will be taken each class period in accordance with OSPI and ISD policy. I expect you to take ownership of your academic process and work on self-advocacy. Please be proactive in informing me of any absences or if you will not be able to meet any deadlines. All work is available in Canvas. If you are absent it is your responsibility to  

Cell Phone Policy: All phones and devices not needed for class activities will be placed in bags or backpacks during class. See the student handbook for the consequences of violating this policy.