ut dallas syllabus for nats4390.002.11f taught by homer montgomery (mont)

8/4/2019 UT Dallas Syllabus for nats4390.002.11f taught by Homer Montgomery (mont)

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Exercising a brilliant scientific mind

The Sand Walk at Down House,

Charles Darwin's home near London

Photo by HM

Syllabus

NATS 4390, Research Methods

PROFESSOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION Office 972.883.2480

Cell 469.951.8110

Office Location FN 3.308L

Email [email protected]

Office Hours in person Tue 2:30-5:00 / Other times by appointment

Other Information Please get in touch whenever you have questions

TA'S CONTACT INFORMATION

Cell 512.431.6257

Email [email protected]

Office Hours TR 11:15 – 12:15 or by appointment

Other Information Please get in touch whenever you have questions

COURSE INFORMATION

Pre-requisites, Co-requisites

Step 1, Step 2, Knowing and Learning

Acknowledgment

This course is a high-fidelity replication of a similar course taught at UT Austin. Much of what you read this

semester was written by Dr. Michael Marder at UTAustin. Most of this syllabus is also the work of Dr. Marder

although it has been adapted for the UTeach Dallas program.

About This Course

Most scientists agree that learning about science has two aspects: learning material that has already been established

(for example, the structure of DNA, how to find forces on blocks being pushed up a ramp, the definition of an acid)and learning how scientists gained this knowledge (for example, how new discoveries gain authority and are adopted

by the scientific community, how to evaluate scientific claims when they conflict, how to design and carry out

investigations to answer new questions). Most high school and college science courses are mainly devoted to

presenting the first type of knowledge. Education in the second aspect of science has traditionally been left mainly to

graduate school. UTeach believes it should become part of high school and college curricula as well because this

second aspect of science is the most important in the long run for most citizens to know. Research Methods

simultaneously provides students specific techniques needed to address scientific questions and an example of how

to provide this sort of training for students through individualized instruction.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



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The class is divided into classroom sections and lab sections.

Instructional Emphasis

Research Methods is primarily a laboratory course, and most of the topics covered are developed in connection with

four independent inquiries that UTeach students design and carry out. Students design experiments to answer

scientific questions and to reduce systematic and random errors. They incorporate statistics to interpret experimental

results and deal with sampling errors, and do mathematical modeling of scientific phenomena. They present theirscientific work orally. Thus, the course content is organized into five units that correspond to the development of

their inquiries and a presentation on a scientific topic of choice:

Curiosity and Scientific Inquiry

Experimental Design and Analysis

Statistics

Modeling

Presenting Scientific Information

Research Methods is also a substantial writing component class, and the written inquiries students produce are

evaluated as examples of scientific writing.

Research Methods is cross-listed between the Physics, Chemistry, and Biology departments. Math students areencouraged to take the Physics section because connections between math and physics are particularly strong, and

the chances of finding a project with substantial mathematical content increase. All cross-listed versions are

identical, except that each student must perform the final inquiry in the discipline for which she or he signed up.

Assessment

The majority of a student's grade, roughly 65%, is based on four independent inquiries that are designed and carried

out by the student. The final inquiry must be related to the subject for which students have signed up for the class.

For example, if a student is registered in biology, his or her final inquiry must be a biology inquiry. Research

Methods is a Substantial Writing Component course. Therefore, inquiries are evaluated both on content and the

quality of written expression. There are no formal examinations. Another 25% comes from homework assignments.

Student participation is tracked and accounts for 10% of a student's grade. Detailed information on homework and

inquiry assignments, including assessment rubrics can be found in the resource tables below.

Course Description

Research Methods is a one-semester three-hour course in the required UTeach sequence. It is one of several content

courses specially designed to meet the needs of future teachers (others include Perspectives on Science and

Mathematics and Functions and Modeling). It also fulfills multiple degree requirements. At UTD, the course fulfils

both a science and a university substantial writing component requirement. Sections are limited to 20 students, who

meet two hours per week for non-traditional, interactive lectures and two hours per week for lab. The course is

cross-listed between Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

The goals of the course are:

To provide UTeach students with the tools that scientists use to solve scientific problems;

To give students the opportunity to use these tools in a laboratory setting;

To make students aware of how scientists communicate with each other through peer-reviewed scientificliterature;

To enable students to understand how scientists develop new knowledge and insights, the most important of

which are eventually presented in textbooks and taught in conventional science classes.

Students design and carry out four independent inquiries, which they write up and present in the manner that is

common in the scientific community. Because the inquiries incorporate math and the various science disciplines, it

is essential to build a team of instructors who have expertise in different disciplines and are available to supervise



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students as they work on their inquiries in the lab. Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Master Teachers are members of

the instructional team.

The combination of Research Methods and Perspectives on Mathematics and Science provides prospective science

and mathematics teachers with an in-depth understanding of how the scientific enterprise works. Students imbed

their understanding of the nature of science and mathematics into their Project-Based Instruction curriculum unit.

Core Components

The course is taught by an instructional team with a broad mix of scientific expertise. A Ph.D. in ascientific discipline is essential for anyone who evaluates the inquiries.

The course is primarily a laboratory course where students develop and practice skills that arefundamental to the scientific enterprise.

The Course is organized around four independent inquiries that UTeach students design and carry out. The course emphasizes the use of mathematics to model and explain both the natural and man-made

worlds. The course requires a substantial amount of writing. The written inquiries that students produce are

evaluated as examples of scientific writing. The course emphasizes the development of skills that are directly applicable in teaching secondary

science and mathematics (e.g. use of equipment, preparation of lab materials, safety issues, use oftechnology).



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Course Requirements and Expectations You will need to purchase the book Surely You are Joking, Mr. Feynman.

Some course topics will be covered only in class, and you must be present to receive credit. If you turn

assignments late without approval, you will lose 10% of the value of the assignment for each day it is late.

Your final inquiries write-ups will be graded according to a rubric you will find in your course packet and

checklists you can find on the course Website.

Inquiry drafts will be graded by checking whether the major sections of the report have been completed

(Abstract, Introduction, Design, Analysis, Conclusions).

Rewrite policy: Final drafts of Inquiries 1, 2, and 3 that have been turned in on time can be rewritten for

additional credit. Contact your lecture instructor for details of the policy.

Please note that the final inquiry must be related to the subject for which you have signed up for the class. For

example, if you are registered in biology, your final inquiry must be a biology inquiry.

Research Methods is a Substantial Writing Component course. Therefore, your inquiries will be evaluated

both on content and the quality of written expression. There will be no formal examinations.

Books Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character), provided.

Course Objectives and Evidence of Student Learning and Engagement

Students will: Evidence: Create their own experiments to answer scientific

questions.Four papers on four separate independent

inquiries, designed and carried out by the

student: (1) brief home inquiry, (2) laboratory

inquiry using high school equipment, (3) surveyinvolving human subjects, and (4) extended

laboratory inquiry

Design experiments to reduce systematic and random

errors and use statistics to interpret the results.Papers on inquiries

Proposals for inquiries

Use probes and computers to gather and analyze data. Instructor observations during inquiry 2 or 4 or

both

Use statistics to interpret experimental results and deal

with sampling errors.Two homework assignments

Two brief in-class papers

Class performance

Write-ups for inquiries 2, 3, and 4

Treat human subjects in an ethical fashion. Certificate demonstrating completion of human

subjects training

Satisfactory completion of inquiry 3, which

involves human subjects

Apply safe laboratory procedures. Instructor observations during inquiries 2 and 4

Find and read articles in the scientific literature. Two homework assignments

Create mathematical models of scientific phenomena. Two homework assignments

Personalized modeling assignments as part of

inquiries 2 and 4

Apply scientific arguments in matters of social

importance.Student presentations of open questions

Write scientific papers. Four written inquiries, with inquiries 2 and 4involving at least two drafts



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Grading Policies

(credit out of 100 total possible points)

Activities Points

Class and Laboratory Attendance. as determined by checks of active participation and

submission of in-class assignments.

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Homework Assignments. 20

Inquiry 1 5

Inquiry 2 Proposal 2

Inquiry 2 Draft. The draft may not be accepted if the proposal was not turned in on time. 3

Inquiry 2 Oral Presentation 3

Inquiry 2 Final Write-up. The formal write-up may not be accepted if the first draft was

not turned in on time, the presentation was delivered, and the student participated in

partner grading.

10

Inquiry 3 Proposal. 2

Inquiry 3 Draft 3

Inquiry 3 Write-up 10

Inquiry 4 Proposal 2

Subject Matter Knowledge 5

Inquiry 4 Draft. The draft may not be accepted if the proposal was not turned in on time. 5

Inquiry 4 Oral Presentation. 5

Inquiry 4 Final Write-up. The formal write-up may not be accepted if the first draft was

not turned in on time, the presentation was delivered, and the student participated in

partner grading.

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TOTAL 100

Course ComponentsStudents will be able to perform the following.

Pose scientific questions and create experiments to answer scientific questions.

Design experiments to reduce systematic and random errors.

Use statistics to interpret experimental results.

Use probes and computers to gather and analyze data.

Treat human subjects in an ethical fashion.

Apply safe laboratory procedures.

Create mathematical models of scientific phenomena.

Find and read articles in the scientific literature.

Apply scientific arguments in matters of social importance.

Write scientific papers.



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Review scientific papers.

Give oral presentations of scientific work.

The topics in the syllabus are color-coded to correspond with the above course objectives.

UTeach Research Methods - Fall 2011 Calendar

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8/25 – Introduction

8/30 - LAB: Skulls 8/31 – HW 1 Due 9/1 – I1 Work Day

9/6 - LAB: Balloons 9/7 – HW 2 Due 9/8 - I2 EHS Training 9/9 - I1 Due

9/13 – IRB/Intro

Statistics9/15 - I2 Work Day 9/16 - HW 3 Due

9/20 – LAB:

Balloons

9/21 - I2 Proposal

Due9/22 - I3 Work Day

9/26 - I3 ProposalDue

9/27 - LAB: SpinyFish

9/28 –

HW 4 Due 9/29- I2 Checkpoint 9/30 - I3 IRB

10/4 - Statistics 10/5 - HW 5 Due 10/6 - I3 Work Day 10/7 - I2 Draft Due

10/10 – HW 6 Due10/11 - LAB: Rubber

Bands

10/13 - I2

Presentations10/14 - I2 Final Due

10/18 - I3

Checkpoint10/19 – HW 7 Due 10/20 - I4 Work Day

10/21 - I4 Proposal

Due

10/25 - Statistics 10/26 – HW 8 Due 10/27 - Modeling 10/28 - I3 Draft Due

11/1 - LAB: Beads 11/3 - I3 Work Day 11/4 - I3 Final Due

11/8 - Statistics 11/9 – HW 9 Due 11/10 – I4 Work Day

11/15 – Subject

Matter Knowledge11/17 – I4 Work Day

11/18 – I4 Draft Due

11/22 - Modeling 11/23 – HW 10 Due 11/24 - Thanksgiving

11/29 - I4

Presentations Work

Day

12/1 – I4

Presentations

12/6 - I4

Presentations Due

12/14 – I4 Due

MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS None without prior approval of instructo



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EXTRA CREDIT

None

LATE WORK

Accepted only with appropriate written excuse

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTSNone

CLASSROOM CITIZENSHIPRespect should be shown at all times.

STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly

and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be

knowledgeable about the rules and regulations that govern student conduct and activities. General information on

student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z. Guide, which is provided to all

registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and establisheddue process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University

of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the

university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the

Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and

regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is

expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents' Rules, university regulations, and

administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct

takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of anacademic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative

that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for

enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's own work or material that is not one's own. As a

general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and/or

falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the Web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is

unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university's policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This

course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90%

effective.

EMAIL USE

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and

students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of

each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent

only to a student's U.T. Dallas email address, and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if

it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the

identity of all individuals corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student

with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of



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Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to

other accounts.

WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and

times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's

responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw anystudent. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of F in a course if you

choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the university's

Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic

responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor,

supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot

be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy to the

respondent's School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, thestudent may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean's

decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the dean

will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The

results of the academic-appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff

members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester's end

and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8)

weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove

the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a

grade of F.

DISABILITY SERVICESThe goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of

their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday

and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30

p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22

PO Box 830688

Richardson, Texas 75083-0688

(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate

discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against

tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment

requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is

hearing impaired). Classes enrolling students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible

facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or

mobility assistance.



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It is the student's responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability

Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and

needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or

during office hours.

RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to andobservance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under

Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence,

preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the

assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum

of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be

penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may

receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the

absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the

student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or

the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The

chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student

and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

Off-campus instruction and course activities that are off-campus, out-of-state, or foreign are all subject to state law

and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding these rules

and regulations may be found at www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm. Additional

information is available from the office of the school dean.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.

ut dallas syllabus for nats4390.002.11f taught by homer montgomery (mont)

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