Course Syllabus
Introduction
to Sustainable Energy Resources
SER-101
MWF 10:00-10:55
Fall 2007
Instructor Name:
Office No: 107A
Phone: (712)362-7364
Fax: (712) 362 8392
Email: gphillips@iowalakes.edu
Office Hours: As posted on
office door
Catalog Description: Introduction to Sustainable
Energy Resources is designed to provide a basic understanding of energy,
current trends in energy consumption, and the role of sustainable energy
resources in today’s society. Topics
covered will include matter and energy laws, the history of energy usage by
humans, the categories of energy resources, and the environmental problems
currently being caused by energy consumption.
Prerequisites: None
Credits: Lecture
(SER-101) – 3 credits
Text & Additional Materials: Energy – Its
Use and the Environment, 4th edition by R. Hinrichs and M.
Kleinbach.
Course Objectives: The objectives of this course
are to provide the student with knowledge of various aspects of the production
and consumption of energy. The student
will become familiar with the various types of renewable, perpetual, and
non-renewable energy technologies as well as the economic, societal, and
environmental aspects of each type of energy technology.
Course Competencies: Upon
completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Define both descriptively and mathematically the following terms; energy, motion, work, power, temperature, and efficiency.
2. List the forms of energy and describe the types of energy conversions which can take place.
3. Mathematically convert energy units using energy equivalencies.
4. State the Law of Conservation of Matter and the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics and describe their implications with regard to energy usage.
5. Define the following terms; electricity, charge, current, conductor, super conductor, circuit, and fuel cell.
6. Describe energy use patterns throughout human history.
7. Describe the impact of energy usage on human population growth and the evolution of human civilization.
8. Describe how the conversion to fossil fuel usage during the Industrial Revolution changed human society.
9. Specify why oil is a critical resource in today’s world.
10. Describe the importance of electricity the today’s technological society.
11. List and describe the three categories of energy resources.
12. List the major perpetual energy resources and describe their current usage.
13. List the major renewable energy resources and describe their current usage.
14. List the major nonrenewable energy resources and describe their current usage.
15. List and describe the three categories of fossil fuels.
16. Define nuclear fission and describe how it is used as an energy resource.
17. Outline how electricity is generated using each of the following energy sources; fossil fuels, solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear fission.
18, Describe the impact to energy consumption of the environment.
19. Describe the properties and motion of the atmosphere.
20. List the various categories of air pollutants and describe their sources
21. Describe
the current status of air quality legislation in the
22. Describe the existing environmental technology used to reduce or eliminate air pollution.
23. Describe the impact of energy usage on global warming, ozone depletion, acid precipitation, and thermal pollution.
24. Describe the environmental risks associated with the usage of nuclear energy.
Units
of Instruction: During the semester the
following units will be covered:
1. Matter and energy
laws
2. History of human energy usage
3.
Categories of energy resources
4.
Environmental problems and
energy consumption
Methods of Instruction:
There are three hours of lecture, demonstrations, discussions, and
Internet research assignments each week.
Guest speakers and field trips will also be included as part of the
course instruction.
Attendance Policies: Students are expected to attend class. Attendance will be taken and used in the determination of the final course grade. Each student will begin the semester with three sick leave/personal days which may be used as needed by the student for any illnesses or personal matters which may arise during the semester. Course work or exams missed on those days may be made up if done so within three class days after the absence. If more than three days are missed during the semester, make-up of course work or exams missed on those days will not be allowed. In the case of an extended illness or personal emergency, the above policies may be modified if the circumstances warrant special consideration. Days missed as a result of a school related activities (i.e. participation in course field trips, athletic events, etc.) will be considered as an excused absence only if a memo from the faculty member sponsoring the event is received by the instructor prior to the absence. If such a memo is not received, the absence will be considered as a missed class period.
Grading Policies: Grading
is determined by a percentage of total points for the semester.
Scale: A = 90 to 100%
B = 80 to 89%
C = 70 to 79%
D = 60 to 69%
F = Less than 60%
Four 1-hour tests of 100 points each will be given during the semester. These tests will include multiple choice and essay questions. Four quizzes of 10 points each will also be given during the semester. These quizzes will consist of 10 multiple choice questions. Class reports and projects will be assigned during the semester and will be graded on accuracy, completeness, proper format, neatness, and academic knowledge. A 100 point research paper is also required for this course.
Tests = 400 points
Quizzes = 40 points
Class Reports and Projects = 180 points
Research Paper = 100 points
Attendance = 80 points
TOTAL POINTS = 800 points
Other Expectations: Students are expected to arrive on time and have the necessary course materials and supplies required for the days activities. The usage of cell phones by students during class is prohibited. Failure to abide with this policy may result in the ejection of the student from the classroom. Students ejected from the classroom will also forfeit one of their sick leave/personal days as a result of violation of this policy.
STUDENT ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Actions
contrary to academic integrity will not be tolerated. Activities that have the effect or intention
of interfering with learning or fair evaluation of a student’s work or
performance are considered a breach of academic integrity. Examples of such unacceptable activities
include, but are not limited to:
·
Cheating (intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized material,
assistance or study aids in my academic work).
For example, using a cheat sheet for a test, looking at another
student’s paper during an exam, stealing or buying all or parts of an exam or
paper, altering and resubmitting work for a better grade without prior approval
to do so, etc.
·
Plagiarism (representing another’s ideas, words, expressions or data in writing
or presentation without giving proper credit, failing to cite a reference or
failing to use proper documentation, using works of another gained over the
Internet and submitted as one’s own work).
·
Falsification and/or misrepresentation of data (submitting contrived or
made-up information in any academic exercise).
For example, making up data, citing non-existent sources, etc.
·
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty (knowingly helping or attempting to help another
violate any provision of the academic honesty policy). For example, working together on a take-home
exam or other assignment when the option has not been made available, giving a
paper/assignment to another student for his/her use, etc.
·
Multiple Submissions (submitting, without prior approval from the instructor involved, any
work submitted to fulfill academic requirements in another class). For example, submitting the same paper for
two different classes, etc.
·
Unfair Advantage (trying to gain unauthorized advantage over fellow students). For example, gaining or facilitating
unauthorized access to exam materials (past or present); interfering with
another student’s efforts in an academic exercise; lying about the need for an
extension on a paper or assignment; destroying, hiding, removing or keeping
library materials, etc.
Any
violation of this policy will be treated as a serious matter. The instructor has primary responsibility
over classroom behavior and maintaining academic integrity. Depending on the nature and severity of the
offense,
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It is Iowa Lakes Community College policy to
not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities and to provide reasonable
accommodation(s), as required by law, to otherwise qualified applicants for
admission or to students with disabilities in all education programs,
activities, services and practices, including application procedures,
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dismissal. Educational opportunities
will not be denied to an otherwise qualified application or student because of
the need to make reasonable accommodation(s) or modification(s) for the
physical and mental impairment(s) of any such individual.
It
is the policy of Iowa Lakes Community College not to discriminate on the basis
of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status or disability in its
education programs, activities, or employment policies, as required by Titles
VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational
Amendments, Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II
of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, or Section 504 may be directed to Kathy Muller, Human Resources, Iowa Lakes Community College, 19 S. Seventh Street, Estherville, IA 51334, telephone (712)362-0433; to the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Des Moines; or to the Director of the Region VII Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education, Kansas City, Missouri.