SCIENCE 20 COURSE OUTLINE

Program Overview

Change is the theme common to all the units in Science 20. Analysis of change is essential for understanding what is happening and for predicting what will happen; and control of change is essential for the design of technological systems. Diverse forms of matter, energy, life forms and climatic conditions characterize the systems found on Earth. The principles of conservation of mass, energy and momentum and the concept of equilibrium help to predict and explain the changes that occur in a closed system.

Science 20 consists of four units of study:

• Unit 1: The Changing Earth - there is an examination of the evidence indicating that diverse climatic conditions and life forms have existed on Earth. Geologic evidence is used to study the patterns of change that have occurred in the biosphere over the entire span of Earth's history.
• Unit 2: Changes in Living Systems - examines ongoing change in the biosphere, focusing on the flow of matter through biogeochemical cycles and the flow of energy through the trophic levels of an ecosystem.
• Unit 3: Chemical Changes - the principles of chemical change to matter and the role of energy in these changes are investigated and their application in the chemical industry is examined.
• Unit 4: Changes in Motion - investigates the relationship between force and the motion of objects, using Newton's laws of conservation of momentum to explain and predict changes in motion to systems and the attainment of equilibrium.

Prerequisites

• Successful completion of "Orientation to Online Learning"
• 50% or greater in Science 10.

Required Resources

• "Visions 2" by Austin, Braaten, Edwards, Miller & Miller - Provided
• Calculator
• Numerous internet links

General Expectations

• Students must complete their course with in the time limits specified by their instructor.
• Instructors will provide completion dates for assignments, quizzes, and exams on the calendar within each course. Since these dates reflect the time needed to complete each section of the course, it is critical that meet all deadlines. Students are required to contact their instructor regarding any changes to these deadlines. Assignments that are not submitted by the deadline will be assessed a mark of 0 (zero).
• Students that fail to meet their course deadlines, even for a short period, may be required to meet with the administration to discuss their progress.
• Students must maintain regular contact with their instructor via the communication tools provided in their course. A minimum of two contacts per week is expected.
• Revelation Online is a "virtual" school. Students are expected to participate in chat and discussion sessions designated by the instructor. Chat sessions will be posted on the course calendar.
• Technical issues will occur and are not an excuse for late or missing assignments. Students are expected to manage their time so that minor delays due to technical problems do not result in missing deadlines. Students are expected to contact Technical Support if they experience technical problems.

Technical Skills and Equipment Requirements

• Students must have internet access. A high speed connection, either ADSL or cable, is necessary in some courses.
• Skill in using a web browser to navigate the web to locate educational resources and download files.
• File management skills necessary to create directories, save files, and retrieve files.
• Ability to use email to send messages and attachments.
• A Java enabled browser, either Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Communicator 6.0 or higher.
• Word processor such as Microsoft Office or OpenOffice.

Face-to-Face Requirements

• Students are required to write two exams (mid-term and final) at the testing centre located at the Revelation Online Centre.
• Students may be required to attend appointments with the school councilor if their progress becomes a problem.

Evaluation

• 30% for Unit Work (quizzes, assignments, online tests)
• 30% Midterm
• 40% Final Exam