COURSE DESCRIPTION

2009 - 2010
Dr. Wafa Khalil

Major Concepts/Contents. This is a second in a two-level course series of an Honor integrated elective science curriculum. Solar II is a student-centered curriculum. It is a product/project-based course. Students are expected to pursue independent and in-depth investigations, comprehensive research, systematic analysis, and explore and use various applications of solar heat, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, solar photochemical detoxification of water, and alternative fuels for transportation. Students identify and analyze important factors that foster energy for sustainability. All concepts and their applications are addressed through exploratory investigations; short and long-tern research projects, debate, forum, conferences, and designing and constructing solar products.

In order to acquire knowledge, to demonstrate comprehension, and to prove ability for the use and application of the principles and concepts of the curriculum’s objectives, students will pursue a wide range of research and activities. The major projects and activities the students will be focusing on, but not limited to, are the following:

Read and analyze current articles related to energy and alternative fuels on a weekly basis and communicate the new knowledge with classmates.
Write articles and send them to policy makers expressing concerns about energy issues. Publish articles in the school news paper (The Beacon).
Design, construct, and conduct short terms and long terms research and experiments related to solar heat, solar electricity, and solar detoxification of water.
Investigate and research, extract, and experiment with Hydrogen energy.
Design and conduct experiments on solar hydrogen-fuel cells.
Investigate and experiment on solar detoxification of contaminated water.
Design, construct, and experiment with solar cookers. Coordinate with Solar Cooker International to send designs to build cookers in developing countries.
Design and construct a working model of a central receiver solar thermal system.
Develop and maintain a web site to describe, communicate, and share our solar energy program and its activities with other students and other schools.
Design and construct a solar hydrogen-fuel cell car to participate in the Florida Solar hydrogen Sprint.
Explore alternative fuels for transportation and the possibilities to use them.
Conduct research on amusement parks. Design and construct a model to scale of a Solar amusement park.
Design, construct, and experiment on a model and/or a full size solar boat equipped with many devices that use solar energy; examples solar cooker, water distiller, water heater, food dehydrator, etc.
Construct a one-person electric car and use solar panels to charge the batteries.
Participate in the Engineering Gala at the College of Engineering-FIU.
Participate in solar and other science competitions.
Assess issues in science: Students will use their cumulative knowledge and understanding of solar energy, other alternative resources, and conventional resources to discuss the impact of energy consumption on the sustainability of future development and the environment. Through a program entitled Contemporary Issues In Science (CIIS), students will organize and conduct a forum, to discuss various aspects of issues related to energy and its implication on the economy, politics, society, and environment.
Conduct a school presentation about advanced solar energy technology.
Organize and coordinate the annual event: Solar Celebration.
Participate in solar energy conferences and symposia.
Monitor and analyze the data collected on the MAST solar system
Other proposals related to the class objectives; students are always encouraged to bring their new ideas for projects or activities.

Solar II requires passing one year of Solar Energy and Alternatives I with a minimum of 3.0 point grade average. This Solar Energy course requires mathematical skills of at least Algebra II and in depth knowledge of the scientific process, investigation and research skills, and critical thinking skills. Students should be able to work in-group as well as independently.

The course requires two term research papers and two major products/models, which emphasize alternative energy technologies.

SOLAR II: COURSE REQUIREMENT AND CLASSROOM PROCEDURE

Annual Fee: $12.00

Instructional Materials: one 2” 3-ring binder, notebook papers and dividers, graph papers, colored and regular pens and pencils, scientific calculator, and a ruler.

Evaluation: Grades will reflect an overall evaluation of the student's performance in the following areas: tests, quizzes, homework, Classwork, projects, class participation, notebook, and lab reports.
Class participation evaluation is given every day.

Tests: Tests usually counts as three letter grades; they usually cover one or more chapters.

Quizzes: they may be given at any time; they are usually short and may cover homework, class discussion or a laboratory investigation.

Grading Scale:

90 - 100 = A	Outstanding	3.5 - 4.0
80 - 89 = B	Good	2.5 - 3.49
70 -79 = C	Satisfactory	1.5 - 2.49
60 -69 = D	Improvement Required	1.0 - 1.49
0 - 69 = F	Unsatisfactory	0.0 - 0.9

Homelearning Policy: Homeworks will be assigned in a regular basis. They may be short-term or long-term assignment. Homework evaluation will vary with the length and the depth of the assignment. All assignments should be completed by due date. Homeworks are very important. They increase students’ academic achievement, expand their horizons, and teach them responsibility as well as self-discipline and independence. It is an integral part of the learning process. They contribute to the continuity and they reinforce understanding of the concepts learned at school.
All homework assignments and regular classwork must be typed or neatly and legibly written in either blue or black ink.

Classwork, participation, and notebook: A daily plan will be written on the board. Students are required to take notes on a daily basis. All notes should be dated and have a title. Notebook for classwork and homework will be randomly checked during each quarter. Completeness, neatness and quality are a must for excellent grade.

Lab Reports: Lab investigations are an integral part of this course. Reading and design of the lab is a must for a good performance. Laboratory grades will usually consist of three letter grades: one assigned for the pre-lab questions or experimental design, one for the lab work and one for the actual complete lab report.

***Absences and make-up policy: All classwork, homework and laboratory information will be posted on the bulletin board. If absent, it is the student’s responsibility to check the board or have a friend get him/her the missed information. I urge every student to develop a " network" of friends to get assignments on time. Upon return to school, all missed assignments should be completed within a week. I will assign one day after school for make-up tests, quizzes and labs.
To compensate for class participation grade, when absent, the student could do one of the following:
1. Contact a friend and learn about what has been covered during his/her absence. Write a summary describing the main materials that were discussed or learned during that time.
2. Read an article about energy or solar energy from any of the solar magazines available in the classroom. Write a comprehensive summary about it and include reflection and comments on the article.
If the student fails to do one of these two options, the class participation grade for the time missed will be zero.

Academic Integrity is expected: The penalty for plagiarism or cheating is an automatic ZERO for the assignment, notification to parents, and full implementation of the disciplinary routine specified in most recent M_DCPS Code of Student Conduct. The first infraction carries a minimum penalty of Parent Notification and Referral to Administration.

STUDENT SUCCESS CODE

Be present, on time, and prepared to work.
Listen and follow directions the first time they are given.
Respect other people and their property.
Work at all time to the best of your ability.

Following these simple codes will guarantee you and all your classmates an excellent educational climate that you deserve. Failure to observe these rules will result in a low conduct grade, detention, and/or parent contact. Continuous disruption will be referred to the assistant principal.

Conduct Grades:

0 - 1 conduct cut per quarter = A
2 - 3 conduct cuts per quarter = B
4 - 5 conduct cuts per quarter = C
6 - 7 conduct cuts per quarter = D
8 or more conduct cuts per quarter = F

* Conduct cuts are given for misbehavior by not following one or more rules of the "Student Success Code" and/or have unexcused tardy or absences.

Looking forward for an exciting, productive, fun and very successful year.

Wafa Khalil, Ph. D.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I, _________________________ , have read and understood the information provided above in the “Course Objectives, the “Class Requirement and Procedures”, and the “Student Success Code”.

Parent/Guardian signature ______________________ Student's signature ____________________

Date _____________________