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ASTRON-100 - Survey of our Universe - Prof. Jobe

Course:Survey of our Universe
Professor:Prof. Jobe
Email:corinna.jobe@canyons.edu
Format:
  • Online
Course Length:
  • Applies to All Course Lengths

Introduction

First Image from the James Webb Space Telescope

            Hello and welcome aboard! My name is Corinna Jobe and I will be your online guide as we navigate the amazing science of astronomy. We will have lots of exciting things to discuss and learn about! Astronomy is a rich and dynamic field that includes topics such as stellar life cycles, planetary formation, the Big Bang, galactic dynamics, exoplanets, and the ultimate fate of the Universe. Hopefully you are as excited about this journey through the stars and galaxies as I am!

Course Description

            While we may not fully answer the big philosophical questions of "how did we get here?" and "are we alone?", we'll definitely discuss them. Really, the purpose of this course is to give you not just the specific knowledge of what's out there in our universe, but how we figured it all out and even how we think it came to be there in the first place-- and that includes us!

            More specifically, we will survey the content and dynamics of the solar system; the earth and its motions; time and the calendar; moon, eclipses, and tides; physics of the sun, planets, comets and meteorites, including their dynamical aspects and motions. We'll cover the principles, logic, and development of stellar astronomy, as well as physics of the stars, stellar type populations, stellar evolution, black holes (a student favorite!), supernovae, and other fascinating phenomena in the universe. Stellar organizations, galaxies, and cosmology are also included.

What to Expect in this Course

            This journey of ours is a fully online course. This means that all course materials and all interaction will be through the Canvas course site. If you have not used Canvas before, don't worry. Canvas is fairly easy to navigate and COC has online videos and help to get you started. Please see the end of this letter if you need more information about Canvas.

            The biggest thing you need to bring is your curiosity, but of course we'll need more than that. Be sure to pack the following:

  • OpenStax: Astronomy, by Fraknoi, Morrison & Wolff (this is a FREE online text)
  • Note-taking materials such as a computer, paper, pencils or pens
  • Regular access to a computer with Internet access

            We will be learning about some truly beautiful astronomical phenomena, so we will of course be looking at lots of lovely photos and illustrations. But we'll have to do work as well, so along the way we will be doing weekly readings, homeworks, and activities. You will be helping each other through the assignments via the course discussion boards (with my supervision of course.) Because of this, I expect all students to be active learners, to answer questions posed to them, to help fellow students, and to work in cooperative groups as assigned.

            To check your mastery of the material, we will have weekly quizzes and approximately monthly midterms. Please see the course syllabus for a detailed outline of the weekly course expectations and overall course schedule.

Types of Assessments

Online Midterm and Final exams, weekly quizzes, and online discussion boards covering activities

Textbook Information

Our textbook is the OpenStax Astronomy textbook that can be found FREE here: https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy.

Other Relevant Course Information

If you are on the waitlist or need to add the class, please email me for help adding the course.


Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

  • CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
  • CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 01/18/2023 Sub#: 1457