Astronomy 1 - Spring 2008
(February 4 – April 6)

Instructional Television Office L.A. Mission College Campus Center Building 1st Floor (Lower Level) Room 1523
Course Title/Section Class Schedule
Morning: 9:00am-12noon OR
Afternoon: 1:30pm-4:30pm
 Broadcast Schedule
Astronomy 1 (7918)
 Saturdays
LACC(C) & LASW(SW)
Sundays
LAVC (V) & LAPC(P)

LA Channel 36 (http://www.la36.org/)

Morning
 Afternoon
 Morning
 Afternoon
 Starts Ends
 Time
C SW
 P V
 2/13 3/12
 Wednesday 8 AM - 10 AM
(Click here for Schedule)

Astronomy 1 (7918)
Elementary Astronomy
(UC:CSU) 3 Units
Acceptable for Astron. 151, CSULA

An introductory astronomy course that covers the latest astronomical discoveries and astrophysical theories.

Instructor: Mr. Phi Vu
ITV - L.A. Mission College
Campus Center Building 1st Floor (Lower Level) Room 1523
Office Hours:Thursday 1-8 pm
E-Mail:philaccd@yahoo.com
Phone: (818) 364-7600, ext. 7160

Students with disabilities who need any assistance or accommodations should contact the me as soon as possible. To learn more about the general format of an ITV course, click here. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, you can contact our webmaster at:

Website: www.lamission.edu/itv
Tech Support Phone Number: 818-833-3596
Tech Support Phone Hours: Monday through Friday 8AM - 4PM.


 VIDEO SERIES - Astronomy: Observations & Theories [CC]

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK*
TITLE: Horizons: Exploring the Universe
AUTHOR: M.A. Seeds
EDITION: 10th ed., 2008
PUBLISHER: Thomson Learning
ISBN: 0-495-11358-1

*Please note that for those of us who cannot afford the latest 10th edition, using the older editions of the text is acceptable to me.

RECOMMENDED STUDY GUIDE
TITLE: Telecourse Student Guide for Universe: The Infinite Frontier
AUTHOR(S): S.P. Lattanzio, J.M. Levine, and V.L. Lee
EDITION: 2/E, 2006
ISBN: ISBN: 0-495-11365-4
PUBLISHER: Thomson Learning


Course Objective:

Upon completion of this course, students will have an understanding of, or be able to apply the following principles
and concepts:

  • Sketch the structures of the major objects in the universe, including comets, planets, stars, and galaxies.
  • Describe the astronomical techniques of measuring distance, velocity, temperature, brightness, composition,
    etc., of the stars and galaxies.
  • Explain the major physical processes that operate in the cosmos, including planetary and stellar evolution.
  • Describe environmental conditions on other planets, including atmosphere, temperature, terrain, and the
    possibility of life.
  • Explain the major concepts of modern physics, including Newtonian physics, relativity, and quantum mechanics,
    and their bearing on our understanding of the universe.
  • Evaluate and compare the latest competing theories about:
    • the origin of the universe
    • the formation of galaxies
    • the nature of black holes and neutron stars
  • Formulate new hypotheses concerning the unsolved question of our time, including:
    • the origin of cosmic rays
    • the missing neutrino problem
    • the nature of Dark Matter in space
  • Distinguish between true science and pseudo-science, such as Vellikovsky, Von Daniken, Astrology, etc;
  • Relate the stories of the more dramatic astronomical discoveries, including the discovery of neutron stars, quasars,
    and the cosmic background radiation.
  • Interpret the appearance of the sky in terms of understandable analogies.

Grade Contribution:
Out of 1000 points
Discussions 070
Online Quizzes 300
Research Paper 120
Midterm Exam 255
Final Exam 255

Total
1000

Letter Grade
 Out of 1000 points
A 1000 - 870
B 869 - 730
C 729 - 570
D 569 - 450
F 449 - 0


Note: There are five discussions. on-line discussions address material from the video and textbooks. Each discussion is posted under "Class Discussions" in the forum is opened on Monday 11 A.M. For each discussion: (1) You need to reply to my original posting (4 points). (2) You need to answer another posting (4 points), and (3) answer another posting (4 points) OR start a new thread (4 points). Completing the three steps above gives you 12 points for that particular discussion. The remaining points depend on the frequency of your participation and the quality of your posts.

There are 10 online quizzes, each relating to a module containing the materials (videolessons, reading assigment, etc.) recently covered. The quizzes are opened throughout the semester and remain open until the end of the semester. The duration of each quiz is a single session. Each question is worth 1 point. There are 300 points for these quizzes. Any points you earn beyond 300 are counted as extra credits. The online quizzes can be found by clicking on "Assignments" in Etudes. The review questions for the quizzes can be found be clicking here. I strongly encourage you to work on the questions before attempting the quizzes in Etudes.

The research paper is worth 120 points. You are supposed to write a 5-6 pages double-spaced paper on any topics of astronomy. The paper should have at least 3 references cited. The references could be from the internet. You need to email me the research topic before writing your paper. You can browse the book's "Study and Review Tools", bookstore, library, and astronomy sites such as JPL, Astronomy, Sky and Telescope, Yahoo's Space and Astronomy News for ideas. The research paper is due before the end of class. Please notice that you need to submit the paper as attachment through Etudes. You can go there by clicking on "Assignments" in Etudes, then click on "Research Paper Dropbox." If have technical difficulties, you can submit the hard copy version in person or email the electronic version to my yahoo email account.

The Midterm and Final exams are worth 255 points each. Each exam has 10 true/false, 15 matching, and 50 multiple choice questions. Each exam also has five short essay questions; you can chose to do any three of the five. The exams are opened notes and books. You can take the exams at any of the four campuses. You need to bring a photo ID to the exam. You can refer to the calendar and class schedule below for the exam dates, times, and locations. The duration for each exams is 2 hours. The reviews for the Final and Midterm are posted in etudes under Classroom. You can also find the exam reviews by clicking here. Study the reviews carefully before taking the exams. If you could not take the Midterm or Final on the assigned dates, please email to let me know that you intend to take the makeup exam to avoid being dropped from the class. You can take the makeup exam during any of my office hours. The location for the makeup exams is:

Instructional Television Office
LA Mission College
13356 Eldridge Avenue
Campus Center Building 1st Floor (Lower Level) Room 1528
Sylmar, CA 91342
Phone: 818-833-3594

Extra Credits: Student can also earn up to another 50 extra points by completing on time a 4-pages, double-spaced report on a field trip or a book report relating to the subject of astronomy. Please notice that you need to submit the paper as attachment through Etudes. You can go there by clicking on "Assignments" in Etudes, then click on "Extra Credit Report Dropbox." If have technical difficulties, you can submit the hard copy version in person or email the electronic version to my yahoo email account. Attending class on specified dates can alsol earn student 10 extra credit points .

Online Class Website


Step 1. Where do I go to log on to this course?

• Go to http://etudes-ng.fhda.edu/portal
• Bookmark this page!
• Enter your user ID

Step 2. What is my User ID?

In lowercase letters and with no spaces:
• use the first 2 letters of your first name
• and the first 2 letters of your last name
• and the last 5-digits of your student ID #

Example: Donna Smith:
Student ID #:  88 455 6789
User ID: dosm56789
My ID is: _________________

Step 3. What is my Password?

Using four numbers together with no spaces:
• use two numbers for your birth month
• and use two numbers for the birth day

Example: if your birth date was January 3
Password: 0103
My Password is: _________________

 

Videos

Observations and Theories
Four Ways to Watch the Videos

1. Watch the lessons on the Los Angeles Educational Channel, LA 36. The broadcast schedule is:
Wednesdays, Feb. 13 – March 12 @ 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
2. Purchase a complete set of the DVD’s from the L.A. Pierce College Bookstore:
www.piercebookstore.com or 818-347-0313
3. Available in Broadband at: www.lamission.edu/ITV
4. Watch the video lessons in the Learning Resource Centers at any of the LACCD Colleges. You must bring your fee receipt to view the videos.

 

Important Dates and Deadlines

Last Day to Add classes by STEP or Online......... Feb. 3
Semester Begins......... Feb. 4
Last Day to Drop or Change Classes......... Feb. 10
(without Incurring Fees)
Cablecasts Begin on Cable Channel LA 36......... Feb. 13
Last Day to ADD by FAX or in-person......... Feb. 14
Last Day to Drop Classes Without a “W”......... Feb. 22
(no refund)
Last Day to File for Credit/No Credit......... March 5
Last Day to Drop with a "W"......... March 22
(After this date a grade must be issued)
 Class Meeting Schedule

Class Meeting.........Feb. 9 & 10
No Class Meeting......... Feb. 16 & 17
Class Meeting......... Feb. 23 & 24
Class Meeting......... March 1 & 2
Midterms Exams March.........8 & 9
Class Meeting......... March 15 & 16
Saturday Classes Meet......... March 22
Spring Break......... March 23 – 29
Sunday Classes......... Meet March 30
Final Exams......... April 5 & 6

 

Saturdays Class Schedule
9:00 AM– 12 Noon
1:30 PM–4:30 PM
Holmes Hall, Room 106
Lecture Lab, Room 111
Sundays Class Schedule
9:00 AM– 12 Noon
1:30 PM–4:30 PM
Business Bldg, Room 3201
Foreign Language Bldg, Rm. 102


Student Conduct:

A student enrolling in one of the Los Angeles Community Colleges may rightfully expect that the faculty and administrators will maintain an environment in which there is freedom to learn. This requires that there be appropriate conditions and opportunities in the classroom and on the campus. As members of the college community, students should be encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgments; to engage in sustained and independent search for truth; and to exercise their rights to free inquiry and free speech in a responsible, non-violent manner.

Students shall respect and obey civil and criminal law, and shall be subject to legal penalties for violation of laws of the City, County, State, and Nation. Student conduct in all of the Los Angeles Community Colleges must conform to District and College rules and regulations. Violations of such rules and regulations, for which students are subject to disciplinary action, include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Dishonesty, such as cheating and flagarism, or knowingly furnishing false information.
  • Forgery, alteration, or misuse of College documents, records or identification.
  • Obstruction or disruption of classes, administration, disciplinary procedures, or authorized College activities.
  • Assault or battery, abuse, or any threat of force or violence directed toward any member of the College
    Community or campus visitor engaged in authorized activities.

Instructional Television: Los Angeles Mission College 13356 Eldridge Avenue, Sylmar, CA 91342
Program of the Los Angeles Community Colleges