Goals
Upon completion of the course, civil engineering students will be able to solve civil engineering systems design and analysis problems, including:
Scheduling projects using the critical path method
Assessing projects based on economic criteria
Using probability and statistics to solve engineering problems
Course Learning Activities
Learning activities help students meet the course goals. They include preparation, listening and participation, and practice.
By preparation, I mean reading technical information before class, primarily by reading assigned material. This activity provides students with three benefits. First, students arrive in class with some introduction to the material they are expected to learn. Second, assigned readings often cover course topics in greater breadth and/or depth than in class. Thus, students learn more. Finally, learning how to effectively read technical information takes practice, just like learning how to play a sport or musical instrument. Many of the students taking this class will, as part of their careers, create and read technical information. By struggling through difficult readings in college, students are better prepared for this type of work.
You will listen to some lecture, as this is an effective way to transmit information; however, you are expected to participate in class discussions.
Finally, you will practice. This will be done by working problems in and out of class.
Evaluation Activities
The evaluation activities used in this class are linked to the learning activities.
Preparedness Assessment Tests (PATs) are used to evaluate your preparation for class. They occur before topics are covered in class and are based on knowledge gained from assigned readings. The goal is for students to learn important concepts by carefully reading assigned material. When I design PATs, I assume that each student has carefully read the assigned material (but not memorized it). PATs generally contain conceptual problems, but simple calculation problems may also be included (no calculator needed). In-class PATs are given twice: once to individuals (60% of grade), then to small groups of students (40 % of grade). This helps students learn all of the topics covered on a given quiz and provides an opportunity for discussion. When taking a group PAT, make sure that each student in your group understands the questions and answers. PATs are closed books and notes. It is OK for students completing a group PAT to give separate answers to a question, if they cannot agree to one correct answer. Some PATs may be replaced with on-line PathFinder problems. PATs are posted on the schedule page. They are also announced via email and/or in class with sufficient time to prepare.
Assigned problems are used to evaluate all of the learning activities. Specifically, they help professors evaluate your ability to define and solve problems. Your work must be your own; however, I encourage students to work together and even compare answers. If you discover different answers, study each others' work, then rework and discuss the problem until you agree on an answer (or agree to disagree). However, DO NOT COPY. Use the Policy page to find more homework guidance. Please email, phone or stop by my office if--upon reviewing course materials and discussing with other students in the class--you are unable to complete a problem. Except when I note otherwise, you will receive full points on each HW assignment turned in on time that (1) follows the accepted homework format (see student resource guide), (2) is not copied from (or to) another student's assignment, and (3) that demonstrates a good faith effort to complete each problem. Note: you do not need a correct answer to get full credit. I recommend; however, that you actually do the HW as this is the best preparation for the semester exams and final. I will grade some assignments for correctness and format; they are identified on the Assignment page. Some assignments may be replaced with PathFinder problems; these will be automatically graded. Assignments are posted on the Assignment page. They are also annouced by email and/or in class before the due date.
Semester exams and a final will be used to test your ability to independently solve problems. Exams are closed book, handouts, and notes: however, you may bring up to 4 "cheat sheets" (double-sided means eight pages of information!). A "cheat sheet" can have equations, variable definitions, figures and solution steps. It may not include solved problems. Here is an example which you may use as a starting point.
Grading
Grades are based on the ten point scale (90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, etc.). Depending upon class performance, the scale may be adjusted down slightly for the final grades, e.g., an 89.5 might be an A-. The maximum score in each category is:
Professionalism - 4
Assignments - 24 (Both in and out of class activities, including assigned problems)
PATs (7) - 24
Semester Exam 1 - 24
Semester Exam 2 - 24
Comprehensive Final Exam - 24
Professionalism is primarily associated with showing the proper respect for the professor and your classmates. Arriving late, leaving during class, talking when the professor or other students "have the floor", or other disruptive activities will result in deductions.
Your final score in each category is calculated by dividing points earned by total possible points and multiplying that fraction by the maximum score for each category. For example, a student obtaining 126 points out of 140 total possible points in a category with maximum score = 24 will obtain (126/140) x 24 = 21.6 points.
I am experimenting with running PATs and Assignments online. In this case the online points will be summed and scaled to the score of the replaced PAT or Assignment. For example, if you scored 124 out of 155 points in an online activity that replaced an Assignment worth 100 points, you would score 124/155 x 100 = 80 points.
Your final grade will be your Professionalism score plus the highest 4 scores in the remaining 5 categories.
Disabilities
Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me as soon as possible so that we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunity.
Academic Misconduct
You are encouraged to work together on assignments. However, copying is not acceptable. Copied assignments will receive a zero grade (both original and copies). Cheating on a test will cause the student to receive a zero grade on the test, at a minimum. If you are to miss an assignment due date, exam, quiz, field trip, or laboratory session you must have a valid excuse and notify me prior to the event (except in case of an unforeseeable emergency). |
