Syllabus

SCIENCE 110
Introduction to Scientific Thought
Section:8478, F 9:30am to 11:50 am, Rm 38E102
Section:8481, TTh 9:30am to 10:45 am, Rm 38F101
Spring 2010
Instructor: Dr. Richard Albert e-mail: kalium@cox.net
Office: Bldg.30 Rm.3226. Office hours, by appointment.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD:
Science employs the scientific method. No, there's no such method: Doing science is not like baking a cake.
Science can be proved on the basis of observable data. No, general theories about the natural world can't be
proved at all. Our theories make claims that go beyond the finite amount of data that we've collected.
There's no way such extrapolations from the evidence can be proved to be correct. Science can be
disproved, or falsified, on the basis of observable data. No, for it's always possible to protect a theory from
an apparently confuting observation. Theories are never tested in isolation but only in conjunction with
many other extra-theoretical assumptions (about the equipment being used, about ambient conditions, about
experimenter error, etc.). It's always possible to lay the blame for the confutation at the door of one of these
assumptions, thereby leaving one's theory in the clear. And so forth.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Science 110 is a three credit, non-laboratory course fulfilling general education science requirement. The
course presents the history, philosophy and methodology of science as well as the ethics of scientific
research.
Science 110 presents specific examples science such as physics, genetics cosmology to illustrate how
science works today and changes over time. The course covers also such areas of pseudo-science as
astrology and magnetic therapy to help the students apply critical thinking in order to tell the difference
between knowledge confirmed by scientific investigation from that which uses a thin veneer of science to
promote unconfirmed claims.
To understand the nature of science the course presents information in five ways: classroom lectures, take
home experiments, classroom discussions, reading assignments from the class text, and essays.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO):
1. Acquiring critical thinking skills.
2. Comprehending how scientists discover basic laws of nature.
3. Obtaining knowledge of the history and philosophy of science.
4. Gaining ability to distinguish real science from pseudo-sciences.
5. Adding skepticism to your intellectual kit.
SLO performance Determined by means of Tests, Presentations, Projects,
Hands-On-Experiments, Classroom Discussions, & Contests.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
The Scientists (S), John Gribbin, Random House, New York, 2003
The Borderlands OF Science, Michael Shermer. Oxford University Press, 2001
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
For accommodations required due to a disability, I would be happy to help. Please let me
know about this during the first week of the semester.
GRADING CRITERIA:
Your final grade will be based on the total points earned on quizzes, exams, final project, experiments and
essays. If at any point in the semester you have any question about how you are doing, please see me to
inform you of your current grade.
The final grade will be based on maximum of 1000 points earned from following assignments:
1. Four exams based on lecture notes and text are worth 400 points.
2. A project, project report and project presentation illustrating the scientific method worth 200 points.
3. All homework assignments which include essay and done-at-home experiments are worth 200 points.
4. Eight Quizzes based on text reading assignments worth 200 points .
Academic Integrity:
Cheating and plagiarism (using as one's own ideas writings, materials, or
images of someone else without acknowledgement or permission) can result
in any one of a variety of sanctions. Such penalties may range from an
adjusted grade on the particular exam, paper, project, or assignment, all of
which may lead to a failing grade in the course, and under certain conditions,
suspension or expulsion from a class, program or the college. For further
clarification and information on these issues, please consult with your
instructor or contact the office of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
POLICIES:
1. No dropping the lowest exam grade. No make-up exams.
2. Class attendance is mandatory. Students who miss 3 consecutive classes
or who are excessively tardy students risk being dropped from the class roster.
3. Take-home exams are due five days after assignment. Take-home quizzes are due the second day after
assignment. Late exams and quizzes are not accepted.
4. Homework is due the second day or at the subsequent class session if assignment is on a Thursday.
5. Late homework is not accepted.
6. The syllabus schedule is fungible, flexible, and subject to change.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
Experiments: Paper plane, Match Jet, Bathroom, cabbage, number series, Mobius, garbage bag,
sunset color, clouds, color additivity
Ein and Stein. slime, interference, Sky in a Bottle, spoon chimes, flip page movies. Weekly science report
Essays: Shroud, Discoveries, Logical fallacies, Flat Earth, Hollow Earth, Leonard Horowitz,
Bipedalism, Newton, pseudoscience, Jabberwocky, own legend, steel ships, ethics, What’s-In-It?,
Nun’s story, hidden assumptions, connections, “Doubt”
Shermer and Hovind. debate, challenge advertisements, cell phone safety,
Contests: match jet, paper planes, brainteasers, and empty the bottle.
COURSE TOPICS:
The nature of Evidence
History of Science
What is science?
The Art of Observation – Optical Illusions, Modern Art and Gestalt Formation
Philosophical foundations of science
Good Science, Bad Science and Pseudo-Science
Great Ideas in Science
Alternative medicine, medical quackery, and hoaxes
Scientific literacy
The Precautionary Principle
Religion and Science
Ethics and science- Tolerance and intolerance
Observation – art and illusions
Science and art
Technology - applied science
Limitation of Science
Serendipity in Science
SUPERVISED TUTORING TECH MALL:
Grossmont College students must enroll in a supervised tutoring noncredit section to use this general lab.
The Tech Mall provides open computer access to students enrolled at Grossmont College. Students have
access to computer software, Internet, MS Office applications, tutorials and technical assistance.
Additionally, computer-assisted and classroom-assisted instruction products are available as required by
instructors for specific courses. These courses require an add code obtained at the Information/Registration
desk in the Tech mall. Students refer to the following for non-credit non-fee tutorial services:
IDS 198, supervised tutoring in general computer applications in the Tech Mall
English 198W, supervised tutoring in the English Writing Center (room 70-119).
IDS 198T, for one-on-one supervised tutoring in academic subjects (room 70-229, Tel. 644 7387.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Lecture Reading Assignment Week of …
Discuss Syllabus and Science Project. Copernicus pp 1to 32Kepler 33 to 67 1/25
Introductory Lecture First day of class
Shroud of Turin

The universe and the Standard Model Galileo/Descartes pp 68 to 148 2/01

Quiz 1

History of science Newton pp 149 to 241 2/08

Independent, dependent, and control Quiz 2
variables. Pendulum.
History of Science Periodic Table pp 241 to 318 2/15
Rent Movie “Doubt” Exam 1
Rocket Contest
Philosophical foundations of science 2/22
Quiz 3

What is science? Induction/deduction Geology/Darwin pp 319 to 358 3/01

connection between observation and Quiz 4
Theory
The origin life -What is man?
What is Death?
Philosophers of Science- 3/08
Scientific Method Quiz 5
Empty Bottle Contest

Observation – art and illusions Atoms/ molecules pp 359 to 399 3/15

Gestalt Formation Exam 2

Science and art 3/22

Quiz 6

Bad science: BOS 1 - 36 4//5

1.Polywater Quiz 7
2.Cold Fusion

Scientific Literacy 4/12

Applied science Exam 3
Limitation of Science Paper Airplane
Contest
Pseudoscience Plate tectonics pp 442 to 486 4/19
& alternative medicine, BOS 37 - 97 Quiz 7
& medical quackery, hoaxes, ESP

Pseudoscience BOS 53- 56 4/26

&Logical deceptions BOS 64 – 65 Exam 4
Urban Legends BOS 229 - 232 Competition 1

Skepticism Planck, Bohr, Einstein pp 487 to 528 5/3

Ethics and science Quiz 8
Competition 2
.
The Precautionary Principle 5/10
Limitation of Science Science Project
Serendipity review

Religion and Science Life pp 529 to 572 5/17

Anthropic Principle
Tolerance and intolerance
5/24
Science Project
Presented
Assignments*
“My Heart Leaps Up…”
Shroud,
Bathroom
Cell Phone & Cancer
Report one Science article/wk
Match Jet
Discoveries
Number series
Fallacies
Newton
Möbius
Slime
Sunrise/Sunset
Clouds
Horowitz
Spoons
Pseudo-science
Flat earth

Sky-in-a bottle
Bipedalism
Steel Ships
Pseudoscience

Paper planes
Cabbage
Garbage bag
What’s In It?
Ethics
The Nun’s Story
Connections
Hidden Assumptions / Brain Teasers
Jabberwocky
Ein & Stein

Final Project

* Assignments explained in class.