Physical Science 111

General Education Goals Established by Truman College

Taking a course in Physical Science helps a student achieve all of the following general education goals. How this occurs is explained below.

• communicate effectively in both written and oral forms

Students will keep a homework notebook. Students will write short essays after viewing films about volcanoes, caves, floods, hurricanes and other appropriate subjects. Students will keep a cloud journal.

• gather, interpret and analyze data

Students will learn to collect data in the laboratory, create graphs, compare qualitative and quantitative data and draw conclusions about the data obtained.

• demonstrate the ability to think critically, abstractly and logically

The Scientific Method is predicated upon deductive and inductive logical reasoning. Students will study applications of the scientific method to information gathered by the scientific community. Students will use the scientific method during laboratory activities.

• work with a variety of technologies

Students use computers, digital imaging devices, media, the Internet, podcasts, all in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

• exhibit social and ethical responsibility

This very serious goal is addressed on many levels in the physical science course, from the discussion of the factors that brought about the destruction of New Orleans during hurricane Katrina to the problems with disappearing groundwater. Many references are made to the connection between geology, meteorology and astronomy to social and ethical responsibility.

• perform productively in the workforce

Organizational skills are improved in this general education course. Scientific literacy is developed.

• demonstrate the ability to learn independently

Students are given independent projects to complete in the course. They are also given questions to research independently. Reporting these results to the class develops their ability to speak confidently to their peers.

• gain awareness of their role in the global community

By discussing the way that physical science is connected to other occupations and careers we develope student awareness about their career choice and its dependencies on a basic understanding of the general science.

Physical Science and Enginering Departmental Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation with an Associate degree from Truman College a student should be able to:

• Organize, analyze and interpret information and use the scientific method to make inferences.
• Exhibit knowledge of scientific concepts through written and oral communication.
• Demonstrate excellent laboratory skills and techniques including the proper use of relevant instruments and related technologies.
• Use the lexicon of science to explain abstract scientific concepts.
• Relate concepts learned in Physical Science and Engineering Department classes to real world situations.

 

General Student Learning Outcomes for Physical Science 111

At the completion of this course, the successful student will be able to do the following:

In Geology:

• Differentiate between minerals and rocks and identify many of the common rocks.
• Classify types of rocks and draw the rock cycle.
• List causative agents and products of various types of erosion.
• Describe the causes and results of diastrophism.
• Classify earthquake waves, faults and types of unconformities.
• Use the laws of geology to determine the relative age of rock structure.
• Describe the gross structure of the Earth, i.e., crust, mantle, core.
• Sort and identify a mixture of minerals according to their physical properties
• Identify geological land forms and describe their origin.
• Relate diastrophism and land forms to tectonic plate motion.

In Meteorology:

• Describe the structure and composition of the atmosphere.
• Describe atmospheric circulation patterns.
• Read simple weather maps and identify fronts, air masses and wind direction.
• Describe the movement of air about high and low pressure centers.
• Use principles of air mass and frontal movement to predict weather in various parts of the U.S. using maps and weather satellite information.

In Astronomy:

• Give evidence of the sphericity, rotation and revolution of the Earth.
• Use latitude and longitude to identify geographical and time zones on Earth.
• Describe the motions of the Earth and the Moon in their orbits
• State and explain the various cosmological models.
• List Kepler's Laws.
• Use scale models as they relate to astronomical systems.
• List types of stars and describe the process of stellar evolution.
• Describe composition, structure, and possible origin of the solar system.
• Describe the structure and evolution of the universe.

Generally:

• Use laboratory equipment to perform experiments and demonstrations.