Welcome to GISAT 160 - Problem Solving in Science and Technology

Meets Tuesday and Thursday in CS/ISAT Room 148.  

Links

One page syllabus

Course
Schedule

Instructor
Policies

Course Description: What is critical thinking?  Don't students already know how to think?  While critical thinking skills are general and can be applied to any discipline, this course examines issues in modern science and technology as a means to introduce, develop, and enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills. Our focus will be on issues dealing with computing and computing technologies and their impact on society. Current scientific and technological research and applications will be introduced to reinforce problem solving, instruction in systems thinking, and critical inquiry. The course provides opportunities for using both oral and written communication in a variety of learning activities.  

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites to this class.

Overall Objectives Cluster 1:

• Evaluate claims in terms of clarity, credibility, reliability, and accuracy;
• Demonstrate the ability to identify, analyze and generate claims, arguments, and positions;
• Identify and evaluate theses and conclusions, stated and unstated assumptions and supporting evidence and arguments; and
• Apply these skills to one's own work and the work of others.

• Apply critical thinking in everyday life
• Become a more savvy consumer of information
• Think about your own learning and apply what you learn to other classes and learning situations
• Experiment with activities that can inhibit and enhance your ability to think and process information
• Use the result of that experimentation to make changes in the way you study and learn in general
• Use new tools in your work with groups, your work on projects, and other aspects of your academic life
• Become a more thoughtful, reflective learner

General Policies for this class (See link at left for a full list of instructor policies):

• Much of this class will involve in-class activities. Participation in class (not just attendance) is mandatory.
• Preparation outside of class to be ready to do the in-class activity is crucial.  Be sure to read the calendar for this class and be prepared for class each day.
• We may discuss issues that are controversial to some. Always treat your colleagues in the classroom with respect.
• Missed or late work cannot be made up for credit, unless PRIOR arrangement is made and confirmed by me. Do not assume an e-mail explanation of your absence is sufficient...always get confirmation.
• You are responsible for any class lecture or activity material. Review the day's posted notes and see me or a colleague for missed work.
• Office hours are a good way to get extra help with any material with which you feel a weakness. They are not the only time. I also use IM and e-mail to "converse" with students during off times.
• You will get the most out of this class by coming to class each day prepared with the day's reading or other assignments.
• Blackboard is where you will find class notes, grades, and all assignments posted.
• Some kinds of assignments are "free choice" while others will be "required".  

Course Schedule: See link at the left for the course schedule. This schedule will be updated periodically to reflect adjustments based on class needs.

• Participate (not just attend) class each day and do assigned in-class and homework activities.
• Complete all assignments before the start of class.
• Submit assigned papers, journals, and other activities on time.
• Participate in free choice assignments.
• Take both exams, the midterm and the final.
• Be willing to take some personal risks in exploring wh you are and how you think and act within this university.

Textbook and Required Material

Browne, M. Neil and Keeley, Stuart M. (2007): Asking the Right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking, Eighth Edition.ISBN:0-13-220304-9

Reference books (that will be placed on reserve at appropriate times) include:

• TBD - More to come

Grading

My grade ranges follow a traditional 10 point scale. For example, an A is anything from 90 - 100, B is 80 - 89.999, F is less than 60. +/- grades may be awarded within those ranges for high or low performance.  In all cases, I reserve the right to award a student a higher or lower grade than their final average might dictate.

The activity grade will be composed of a combination of in-class activity, homework, and outside of class learning experiences.  The sum of these activities will make up your final activity grade.  While I hope that you will do all of the proferred activities, the reality is that some items will pique your interest more than others.  Therefore, there will be activities that are intended to be "optional".   See the detailed grading rubric below:

Individual actities - Total points 200

Specified activities - Total points available, approximately 175

Free Choice activitiy - You may earn up to 50 points for Free Choice activity.  There will be many opportunities, and you are ceertainly welcome to participate in more than 50 points worth of Free Choice.

Notice that the total number of points for a perfect score is 200 while you have opportunities to do up to 225 points in activities.  You may choose how you want to structure your work in this course.  The Free Choice activities will be tied to lectures or other events on campus, extra reading and reporting on a subject of interest, or you may propose a project for getting credit for out of class study pertinent to this course.  This 225 points represents your "extra credit" opportunity.

Course organization: This course is loosely organized into three primary areas of study. They are:

Critical Reasoning/Logic - Students learn basic practical critical reasoning skills and methods primarily through the analysis of language in scientific and technological articles, and how this approach to thinking is central to application in science and technology.

• Clarity of writing, ambiguity and vagueness, accuracy, detail, specificity, authorial intent
• Analysis of arguments
• Constructing arguments

Evaluating Non-Print Media - This section will apply critical reasoning skills to examine non-print media, focusing especially on the web. Students will learn how to evaluate web sites for legitimacy and appropriate use in other academic work. Video, audio, and other related media will be explored.

• Web "information"
• Evaluating advertising claims
• Evaluating lectures, radio and other audio information
• Exploring the public "persona" on the web including chat, blogs, and facebook entries.

Problem Solving Techniques and Problem Solving with Technology - This section will include a formal treatment of problem solving techniques and explore the use of computers in solving problems. Differentiation between the kinds of problems computers can solve and those they cannot solve will be explored. Problem solving techniques will also be woven throughout the other two sections.

Problem solving techniques include but are not limited to:

• Structured problem solving
• Algorithm development
• Brainstorming
• Writing as thinking
• Free writing
• Reflection
• Modeling and Simulation
• Decision trees

Problem solving and technology will also include:

• What is information vs. data?
• How does one use data to form conclusions?
• Data storage, usage, safety.

A thread throughout this course will be meta-cognition or thinking about thinking. As such, we will be conducting experiments throughout the semester designed to help you to think about how you think and to understand impediments in your own lives to deep thinking.

Students with Disabilities:If you are a student with a documented disability, who will be requesting accommodations in my class, please make sure you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, Wilson Hall, Room 107 (568-6705) and provide me with a copy of your Access Plan letter outlining your accommodations. I will be glad to meet with you privately during my office hours to discuss your special needs. The sooner you can do this, the better I can assist you in meeting your learning goals in this course.

Student Responsibility: Student are responsible for adding and dropping courses via e-campus. The last day to add a course for the Fall 2007 semester is Thursday, Sept 13, 2007 (signatures required after Tuesday, Sept 4). The last day to drop a course for the Fall 2007 semester with a "W" grade is Thursday October 25 (free drop until Tuesday, Sept 4). I do not give "WP" or "WF" grades to students requesting a drop after the deadline except in extra-ordinary circumstances.

Religious Observance: Students who are unable to attend class due to religious observance may request deadline extensions BEFORE the expected absence. I will do my best to accommodate your special circumstances.

Honor Code: All work turned in for credit must adhere to the JMU honor code provisions. Most work done outside of class will be individual assigments. Assignments on which you may collaborate with others will be identified as such in the assignment. Proper citation of references is required on all written work. If you have any question about application of the honor code to work in this class, please see the instructor before turning such work in for credit.

For clarification of these and other instructor policies please refer to the policies link.