Howard Payne University
SYLLABUS OUTLINE
Course Information
A. Course name, catalog number, meeting dates, etc.
Meteorology Weather and Climate
PSC 1449 21
Lecture On-Line Spring 2010
Lab-Section Tuesday 2:00 - 04:00 PM W 112
Spring 2010
Office Hours: M-F 9:00 to 9:50 AM
Major text(s) and materials needed.
Texts:
Weather Studies: Introduction to Atmospheric Science, by Joseph M. Moran (American Meteorological Society), 4rd edition, ISBN 1-878220-96-9. YOU MUST HAVE THE FOURTH EDITION OF THE TEXTBOOK!
Weather Studies Investigations Manual, (American Meteorological Society), ISBN 1-878220-92-6. YOU MUST HAVE THE 2009-2010 EDITION OF THE INVESTIGATIONS MANUAL.
You may purchase both of the above as a package ISBN 1-878220-93-4
These two above books are an unfortunately expensive, but a critical component of this course and success in the course will not be possible without purchasing both.
It is the learner's responsibility to have purchased all required course materials before the start of the course. Learners are expected to meet all course expectations even if the shipment of a required textbook or other learning resource is delayed. Be sure to choose the shipping option that will get your text/resource delivered in a timely manner.
Technical and Online resources
A computer with internet access and search engine access.
Access to Excel, PowerPoint and Word 2007 or you may also use Open Office, http://www.openoffice.org/
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files. Acrobat Reader may be obtained for FREE at www.adobe.com.
Learning house will be our primary online resource for this course, and we will use it extensively. You should check Learning House at least three times each week, and preferably more often for announcements and updates to the course calendar, grade book, and other resources throughout the semester.
AMS Online Weather Studies. We have a subscription to the American Meteorological Society’s Online Weather Studies system (OWS), which delivers near-real time weather information as well as a daily weather summary and learning activities. You will be given a login and password for the AMS site.
A printer to print out maps from AMS and Learning House WebPages.
E-mail. I will also send messages to your Howard Payne e-mail account and will assume that you check your e-mail daily. If you use another e-mail account, be sure to set your Howard Payne e-mail account to forward to your most accessed e-mail account.
Scientific Calculator and colored pencils
Purpose
This course is designed as an exploration of the basic physical concepts and principles associated with meteorology for students who will most likely not major in a physical science but will study the weather so they may become more scientifically and technologically literate.
- This course will contain both reading assignments and lab components in a project-based approach to provide both experience and knowledge in the area of meteorology.
- This course should increase student appreciation for scientific advances and the impact it has had on the student’s understanding of the physical world.
- This course should help the student understand the scientific process and how meteorologists hypothesize, test, and validate weather and climate concepts.
- This course should develop the student’s ability to synthesize a group of facts into a conceptual model and allow the student to demonstrate this comprehension using basic meteorological principles.
- This course should actively engage the student in learning through various activities.
- Finally the student should increase the students’ awareness of scientific inquiry and the scientific method and increase Math Skill Bs.
Intended Outcomes for the course
The course considers the basic principles of weather including a study of the atmosphere's origin, composition, circulation patterns, energy budget and its role in the hydrologic cycle. Topics include: instruments for observation, precipitation process, wave cyclones, jet streams, weather forecasting, weather modification and applications of meteorology to air pollution, agriculture and aviation. Students will be able to think critically and reason scientifically about weather issues seen in the news, on the internet or TV, brought up in social conversations or when needed in deciding voting issues or jury duty decisions. Basically students will apply the scientific method to analyze and interpret basic atmospheric data and weather patterns using observations, measurements, maps, charts, images, graphs, and model results.
Assessment of Outcomes—how you will know if the course has achieved its intended purpose and outcomes.
Feedback from students who complete the course; reports on current scientific issues; graded student assignments; written examinations and lab exercises developed with the intended outcome in mind.
Course Prerequisites
The student must be able to set up and solve basic algebraic problems; and do
basic navigation on the Internet. If the student is unable to do these, the
student, in all likelihood, will have some difficulty and should plan to spend
extra time solving problems, and surfing the Web with direction. Additionally,
the student is expected to write grammatically correct responses to some
questions on homework, lab reports and on the final exam.
Methods and Procedures
Exams
Two required ninety (90) minute exams will be given during the semester the first on Tuesday March 2nd during lab time and the second on Tuesday April 27th during lab time. The exams will cover material from assignments, investigations, daily weather maps, textbook, math activities and lab investigations. If a student will miss an exam they must notify the instructor in advance otherwise there will be no make-up exam.
Assignments and activities
Case studies, driving questions, investigations, applications, math skills, current weather and critical thinking skills will be assigned weekly. Each student is personally responsible for working, comprehending and submitting the assigned problems and tasks timely.
Labs
All labs will be conducted during the scheduled lab time each week except when an exam is given. The student will be expected to be at a PC with their lab manual and internet access during each lab session. Each lab will contain part A and B of an investigation with their corresponding application from the Weather Studies Investigations manual. For each lab the total lab grade includes participation and correct completion of the lab questions and results. If a student misses one lab then they will need to attend a make-up lab. Any other missed labs will have a score of zero.
Current Weather Studies and Math Skills
The Current Weather Study and Math Skill for the week will be conducted at the AMS web site.
Teaching methodology.
In many courses you have had before, the professor’s responsibility was to lecture and your responsibility was to take notes and memorize material. Not so in this course. In this course, my responsibility is to find ways to help you learn meteorology, and your responsibility is to actively engage in your own learning of meteorology. My main goals for this course are for you to understand the nature of science through the eyes of meteorology; understand the big ideas and methods in meteorology; and develop a lifelong interest in the weather and climate. To meet these three goals, we will have: active learning activities in the form of worksheets, question and problems which will require reading the text and other material, collecting current issues in meteorology, labs which simulate actual weather research and enough math basic skills to interpret the data collected.
Keeping current with material is an essential activity, points for assignments, weather activities, and labs can no longer be earned 1 week after their scheduled due date. This is a four hour lab class. Students should spend approximately twelve hours per week reading the text, doing the activities, and working on labs.
Help
If a student needs help, send me an e-mail or call me on my office phone, cell phone. Please do not call after 10:00 PM. The instructor’s job is to assist the student’s learning. If difficulties arise that reading the text doesn’t answer, view the PowerPoint for that chapter or topic, if that doesn’t help, email me. I will answer. However you must take the initiative.
Grading System
Two 90 Minute mid-term Exams
The exams are worth 15% of the overall grade..
Do not wait until after the class has taken the exam to make arrangements for a makeup, do so before the exam!
Final Exam
The 120 minute final exam is required, comprehensive and is 10% of the overall grade.
Concept quizzes, and math skills
The quizzes and math skills are 25% of the overall grade.
Lab investigations
The Investigations will be completed during the lab sessions and their corresponding applications and is 25% of the overall grade.
Current Weather Study
The weekly on-line Current Weather Study that corresponds to the lab investigation is 15% of the overall grade.
Critical Thinking Discussion Forum
The weekly Critical thinking discussion forum is 10% of the overall grade.
Below is a list of all the activities that will be graded and due dates. Keep track of when you have done each of the activities on this form and the grade you received.
Each Thursday evening I will update the grades. Please make sure your grades and my grades coincide, If not send me and email. pbryant@hputx.edu.
All items for the previous week are due on Monday by 9:00 AM of the following week unless otherwise specifically specified. For each day late the grade for all assignments will be deducted 20%.
|
Name: |
|
|
||
|
Week 1 Monitoring the Weather (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM January 18th unless otherwise specified) |
Grade |
Your Scores |
total pts |
|
|
Syllabus quiz |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum: Chapter 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 1A with Application 1A Tuesday, January 19th 2:00 – 4:00 PM Investigation 1B with Application 1B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 1A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 2—Atmosphere: Origin, Composition and Structure (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM January 25th unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 2A with Application 2A Tuesday, January 26th 2:00 – 4:00 PM Investigation 2B with application 2B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 2A |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Air Pressure and Wind due Jan 27th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 3—Solar and Terrestrial Radiation (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM February 1st unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 3A with Application 3A (Tuesday, February 2nd 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 3B with Application 3B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 3A |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 3 |
|
|
||
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 3 |
||||
|
Current Weather Study A –Air Pressure and Wind due Feb 3rd |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 4 Heat, Temperature (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM February 8th unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 4A with Application 4A (Tuesday, February 9th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 4B with application 4B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 4A |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Surface Weather Maps due Feb 10th |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 5 Atmospheric Circulation and Air Pressure (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM February 15th unless otherwise specified) |
||||
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 5A with Application 5A (Tuesday, February 16th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 5B with Application 5B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 5A |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Weather Satellite Imagery due Feb 17th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 6 Humidity, Saturation and Stability (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM February 22nd unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 6A with Application 6A (Tuesday, February 23th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 6B with Application 6B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 6A |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Temperature and Air Mass Advection due Feb 24th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MID TERM EXAM TUESDAY MARCH 2ND 2:00 TO 4:00 PM |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 7, Clouds, Precipitation and Weather Radar (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM March 15th unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
||
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 7A with Application 7A (Tuesday, March 16th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 7B with application 7B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 7A |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Clouds Temperature and Air Pressure due March 17th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 8 The Wind and Weather (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM March 22nd unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
||
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 8 |
||||
|
Investigation 8A with Application 8A (Tuesday, March 23rd 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 8B with Application 8B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 8A |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Precipitation Patterns due March 24th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 9— Atmosphere’s Planetary Circulation (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM March 29th unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 9A with Application 9A (Tuesday, March 30th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 9B with application 9B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 9A |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Surface Weather Maps and Forces due March 31st |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 10—Weather Systems of Middle Latitudes (all items are due by Tuesday 9:00 AM April 6th unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 10A with Application 10A ( Tuesday, April 6th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 10B with Application 10B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 10A |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Westerlies and the Jet Stream due April 7th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 11 Thunderstorms and Tornadoes (all items are due by Monday 9:00 AM April 12th unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept quiz Chapter 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
Investigation 11A with Application 11A (Tuesday, April 13th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 11B with application 11B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 11A |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –The Extra Tropical Cyclone due April 14th |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 12 Tropical Weather Systems (all items are due by Tuesday 9:00 AM April 19th unless otherwise specified) |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion Forum Chapter 12 |
||||
|
Investigation 12A with Application 12A (Tuesday, April 20th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) Investigation 12B with Application 12B |
|
|
|
|
|
Math Skill 12A |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept Quiz Chapter 12 |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Weather Study A –Thunderstorms due April 21st |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 13 Catch Up and Exams |
|
|
|
|
|
Makeup investigation (TBA) |
|
|||
|
2nd Mid-Term Exam ( Tuesday April 27th 2:00 – 4:00 PM) |
|
|
|
|
|
Final Exam (during Exam Week as determined by HPU exam schedule) |
|