Natural Science 10-806-167
The Science of Technology
Generic (on-line) Course Syllabus

Course Summary
This course is a new way to learn science by exploring items and devices all around you.  An alternate title for this class could be "How Things Work", because it focuses on many of the things we commonly use each and every day, but tend to take for granted.

Instructor: Jim Mihal

Contact information:

E-Mail: natsci167 followed by @gmail.com (sorry but I do it this way to avoid spammers). Email me anytime. I will try to respond within 24 hours.
Phone: Please see the "Contact Teacher" icon in Blackboard for my cell number and suggested times.
Skype: My ID is jim_mihal (please call me first to coordinate a session)

Prerequisites: None
Credits: 3
Due Dates: Please see the "Daily Schedule" link in the announcement page of Blackboard for exact dates

Text:

The textbook for this course is The Science of Technology - a conceptual approach to understanding technology by Jim Mihal.  This book is an electronic eBook.   There are two reasons for presenting the course material with this paperless approach - to minimize the impact on the environment and to take advantage of technology not available from a traditional textbook (view animations / applets, hyperlink to supplementary sources, etc).  This textbook if available to you at no additional cost.  You will find it by clicking on the eBook icon in Blackboard

Format: eBook reading, discussion board, homework assignments and evaluations. All class related materials are offered through Blackboard.

Important: Please read the "Welcome Message" for class procedures. This message can be found in the announcements page in Blackboard. There you will find a short survey (worth 10 points) which requests information I need to get you set up in this class. This message also gives details about tests, assignments, discussion topics and information on due dates. There are some things you will need to do immediately. They are:

    ●    Log into blackboard and access this class
    ●    Access your MATC email account
    ●    Send me answers to an initial survey (details are given in the "welcome message" ... worth 10 bonus points)
    ●    Introduce yourself in the discussion board (and also worth 10 bonus points)

• Any student who has not done any work in the class by the 16th day that the semester starts (when general classes start) will be dropped from the course.*
   

• Any student who has not earned at least 100 points by midterm will be dropped from the course.*
  
  * The exact date is found in the "daily schedule" found in the announcement page of Blackboard.

Course Topics - I hope you enjoy this course. You will not be required to do any complex mathematics in this course. However, we will present many ideas and concepts in this class and this is the material I will stress on the evaluations. The course can be broken down into these seven units:

Unit 1 is a conventional overview of the basic principles of physics - forces, work, energy, power, torque, etc. It also provides an outline of simple tools and machines as well as a short history of technology including great inventors and their inventions.

Unit 2 demonstrates that the physical properties of materials may be exploited to accomplish a specific goal. For example, the expansion of a liquid may be used to measure the temperature (mercury thermometer). The world of sensors and actuators is explored in this context. Many common objects we use have feedback mechanisms built in which keep the device working properly, warn (and possibly correct) if it is exceeding its design limits, or shut the device off if it becomes dangerous. This unit explores many of these non-electrical applications.

Unit 3 deals with electricity including what it is, ways it is generated, how it's used and converted to/from other forms. Like it or not, most of our technology uses some aspect of electricity to make it work. In addition, the connection between electricity and magnetism is explored in devices such as solenoids, electric motors, CRT and televisions, Hall sensors, etc.

Unit 4 is a continuation of unit 3 and explores photovoltaic cells, transistors, capacitors, and piezoelectric crystals.

Unit 5 branches out to individual items we commonly use and focuses in on the science behind them. Items such as engines, airplanes, refrigerators, etc. are explored. The nature of fiber optics and common optical devices (telescopes, projectors, etc) are also included in this unit.

Unit 6 examines how waves become useful tools as probes including MRI imaging and ultrasound. Waves also interact with matter in interesting ways to give us all kinds of devices including microphones, speakers, microwave ovens, etc. A basic understanding of wireless communication is also explored.  Finally, the world of the very small is investigated - nanotechnology and the nucleus of the atom.

Unit 7 is dedicated to one tool - computers. We explore individual parts and peripherals, the nature of digital information, how digital information is stored, manipulated and used. Aspects of the internet are also included in this unit.

Method of Evaluation

Discussion Board - 150 points required (50 bonus points are available as extra credit)

Please look over the discussion board in Blackboard.  You will be required to post 15 answers @ 10 points each.  In addition, you may complete an additional 5 posts @ 10 each for 50 bonus points for extra credit.  The maximum number of points I will accept from the discussion board is, therefore, 200 points.  Keep track of the points you earn in the discussion board.

As soon as a test becomes available, all discussion topics pertaining to that unit are closed.  After the due date, I will post all the correct answers and that material may appear on the unit test. Please pay close attention to the due dates because once I post the answers, I can not accept any late discussion.  The day after one unit closes, I will make the discussion topics for next unit available for your posts.

Beware: Some of these questions have only one answer, so they become first come - first serve. That is, once answered (correctly), they are no longer available. Also, you can not post more than one answer in any one topic. Don't worry!  There are plenty of topics and questions per topic to go around. However, always remember there are due dates for posting your answers.    See the discussion board for details.

Assignments - 200 points

Look in the assignments icon of Blackboard to find 2 mandatory 100 point assignments.  You can also find a 50 bonus point extra credit assignment in the same place.

6 Unit Tests - 600 points

There will be 7 tests worth 100 points each (one for each unit).  All tests will be offered online through blackboard (including the final exam).  I will drop the lowest score of the 7 unit tests.  If you miss the due date for any test, don't worry - I will reopen all tests during the same dates the final exam is available.  To help you prepare for tests, I will offer a practice quiz for each unit (for no points).  Please look in the Quizzes and Tests folder in Blackboard to see when tests are available.

Final Exam - 200 points

In addition, there will be a 200 point comprehensive final exam.  Students missing the final exam will receive a zero.
 

There are 1150 possible points to be earned in this class (with a possibility of many extra credit bonus points).  Your grade is based on a percentage of this total.

I hope you enjoy this class...Good Luck!