OER AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE

 

OER for SCI 110: Origins

From the Big Bang to Life on Earth

 

                                                         

 

Part I: Fundamentals of Science

Reading Modules

• The Practice of Science

• Scientific Controversy

• Theories, Hypothesis and Laws

• The Metric System

• Scientific Notation and Order of Magnitude

• Introduction to Descriptive Statistics

Additional Readings: Part I

• Alternative Open Source Chapter on Converting Units
  • ​https://opentextbc.ca/introductorychemistry/chapter/converting-units-2/
• Scientific Controversies by Pioneer Works (For Scientific Debate in Class as Optional ICA
  • ​https://pioneerworks.org/series/scientific-controversies/
• Broad article on Implications of Science on Everyday Life
  • ​https://undsci.berkeley.edu/lessons/pdfs/
    what_has_science_done.pdf
• College Physics. OpenStax. Author: Urone, P. P.

  • Read Chapter 1: pgs. 5-24

• Density Reading 

LAB Manual SCI 110

• LAB Manual 

Presentations / Lectures

• Presentation I: Introduction to Science 

  Overview of what to expect in SCI 110,

• Presentation 2: Science Measurements and Metric System 

  * Become familiar with different types of lab equipment
  * Understand how to properly measure volume and weight in lab.
  * Learn the difference between precision and accuracy
  * Understand how to calculate % error and uncertainty
  * Prepare for our first lab, Lab Equipment and Measurements

Homework

• Homework 1A: "Measuring Units" 

• Homework 1B: "Converting between metric and imperial units" 

Vision Learning Links 

• The Practice of Science 

• Scientific Controversey 

• The Metric System 

• Scientific Notation and Order of Magnitude 

• Introduction to Descriptive Statistics 

• Theories, Hypotheses and Law

Part II: Physical Systems

Presentations / Lectures

• Presentation 3: Matter, Energy and Thermodynamics 

  * What is Matter?
  * What is Density?
  * What is Energy? The Types?
  * What is Thermodynamics? The Laws?

• Presentation 4: Atomic Theory 

  * Understanding atomic theory and the idea of matter as particles.
  * Identifying how pure matter (elements) is classified.
  * Learning the difference between the types of matter derived from pure substances.
  * Preliminary Introduction to Chemical Naming and Reactions

• Presentation 5: Energy and Light 

  * Understanding the three definitions of light.
  * Identifying properties of a wave.
  * Being able to classify the different types of light.
  * Describe and provide examples of properties of light.
  * Introduction to applications in science/everyday life.

Vision Learning Links 

• Early Ideas About Matter

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Early-Ideas-about-Matter/49

• Energy

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Physics/24/Energy/199

• Thermodynamics I

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Physics/24/Thermodynamics-I/200

• Atomic Theory I

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Atomic-Theory-I/50

• Atomic Theory II

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Atomic-Theory-II/51

• The Periodic Tables of Elements

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/The-Periodic-Table-of-Elements/52

• Light I

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Physics/24/Light-I/132

• Light and Electromagnetism

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Physics/24/Light-and-Electromagnetism/138

• Waves and Wave Motion

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Physics/24/Waves-and-Wave-Motion/102

Homework

• Lecture Homework 3: "I'm so Wavy" 

Additional Readings

• Atoms and Periodic Table Reading 

• Matter and Energy Reading 

• Physics Interactive Activities 

  • This website includes interactive activities on physics concepts. There are also potential lab activities for distance learning using an online format.

• College Physics 

  • The text is grounded in real-world examples to help students grasp fundamental physics concepts. It requires knowledge of algebra and some trigonometry, but not calculus. College Physics includes learning objectives, concept questions, links to labs and simulations, and ample practice opportunities for traditional physics application problems.

    Read:
    Chapter 15: pgs. 555-574
    Chapter 27: 1057-1066

Lab Manual

• LAB MANUAL for SCI 110

 

Part III: The Universe & Early Earth

Presentations / Lectures

• Presentation 6: Universe 

  * What is the Big Bang Theory (BBT)?
  * What is the evidence behind the BBT?
  * How do stars and astronomical systems develop?
  * How are they classified?
  * How do we classify other astronomical bodies such as
  asteroids, meteors, and comets?

• Presentation 7: Earth and Gravity 

  * To understand the development of the Earth, its moon and the rest of the planets in the solar system.
  * How we postulated these theories and the evidence behind it.
  * To understand the law of gravity.
  * To explore the mechanical and compositional
  layers of the earth.
  • Introduction to seismic waves

Vision Learning Links 

• The Nature of Scientific Knowledge

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Process-of-Science/49/The-Nature-of-Scientific-Knowledge/185

Homework

• Lecture Homework 4: "Spaced Out" 

LAB Manual for SCI 110

• LAB Manual 

Additional Readings

• ​Astronomy. 2016. OpenText. Fraknoi, Andrew, et. al.
  • Chapter 26: Pages 935 - 945
  • Chapter 29: Pages 1047 - 1089
• A Quarter-Century of Discovery with the Hubble Space Telescope.
  • Introduction; Pages 3-8

 

Part IV: Modern Earth

Lectures / Presentations

• Presentation 8: Atmosphere 

  * To learn the importance of the atmosphere.
  * To distinguish the properties and composition between the different layers of the atmosphere.
  * To understand the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere that
  causes the observable phenomenon.

• Presentation 9: Plate Tectonics 

  * Understand what Continental Drift Theory is.
  * What is the evidence from when first proposed to what we understand today?
  * Understand the mechanism behind Volcanoes and Earthquakes.

• Presentation 10: Geology 

  The study of the solid physical characteristics of Earth.
  * Earth’s Structure
  * Plate Tectonics
  * Minerals
  * Rocks
  * The Rock Cycle
  * Soil
  * Topography & Geomorphology

• Presentation 11: Meteorology 

  * Understanding the difference between weather and climate.
  * Identifying the reason for various weather phenomenon.
  * Variables that inherently lead to weather.
  * How they influence individual weather conditions.

Vision Learning Links 

• Composition of the Earth’s Atmosphere

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Composition-of-Earths-Atmosphere/107

• Plate Tectonic Theory

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Origins-of-Plate-Tectonic-Theory/65

• Plate Boundaries and Driving Forces

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Plates-Plate-Boundaries-and-Driving-Forces/66

• The Rock Cycle

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/The-Rock-Cycle/128

• Defining Minerals

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Defining-Minerals/119

• Properties of Minerals

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Properties-of-Minerals/130

• Factors that Control Regional Climate

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Factors-that-Control-Regional-Climate/255

• Factors that Control Earth’s Temperature

  • https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Factors-that-Control-Earths-Temperature/234

Lecture Homework

• Lecture Homework 5: "Earth has Layers...Like an Onion" 

• Lecture Homework 6: "Rocky Weather" 

Part V: Life Origins:

Lectures / Presentations

• Presentation 12: Chemistry of Life 

  • Examining the definition of life.
  • Exploring the main components of life through an introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry.
  > The Elements
  > The Importance of Water
  > Types of Macromolecules
  a. Proteins
  b. Lipids
  c. Carbs
  d. Nucleic Acids
  • Identifying the main two types of reactions that occur in living things.

• Presentation 13: Cells 

  * To understand the importance of studying DNA structure and function.
  * To identify the details of the processes in the central dogma of biochemistry.
  * To Identify errors that may occur in the central dogma or the cell cycle that lead to DNA and protein changes.
  * To understand the basics of phylogeny.

• Presentation 14: DNA & Phylogeny 

  * To understand the the importance of studying DNA structure and function.
  * To Identify the details of the processes in the central dogma of biochemistry.
  * Identifying Errors that may occur in the central dogma or the cell cycle that lead to DNA and protein changes.
  * Understanding the basics of phylogeny.

• Presentation 15: Genetics 

  * To understand the difference between of genotype and phenotype.
  * To identify and understand the laws and principles surrounding heredity.
  * Mendelian Genetics
  * Non-Mendelian Genetics.
  * Using punnett squares and pedigree charts to determine hereditary information.

• Presentation 16: Evolution 

  * To understand potential theories surrounding the origin of life.
  * To understand the theory of evolution.
  * To understand and identify taxonomy and comparative anatomy terminologies.

LAB Manual for SCI 110

• LAB Manual

Homework

• Lecture Homework 7 

• Lecture Homework 8 

• Lecture Homework 9 

• Lecture Homework 10 

Additional Readings

• The Polarity of the Water Molecule 

• ​​Clark, M. A., Choi, J. H., Douglas, M. M. & OpenStax: College Biology.

          Chapter 3; pages 69-96

 Vision Learning Links 

• Water

• The Carbon Cycle

• Carbohydrates

• Fats and Proteins

• Lipids

• Origins of Life I

• Origins of Life II

• Discovery and Structure of Cells

• Cellular Organelles

• Cell Division I

• Cell Division II

• Membranes I

• Membranes II

• DNA I

• DNA II

• DNA III

• Gene Expression

• Mendel and Independent Assortment

• Mendel and Inheritance

• Charles Darwin II

• Charles Darwin III

• Adaptation

• Taxonomy I

• Taxonomy II