SCIENCE 30 COURSE OUTLINE

Program Overview

The major science themes developed in this course are energy and systems. Thinking of any collection of objects, cells or processes as a system draws attention to how the parts of the system interact with one another as they undergo change. The components of a system influence each other not only by transfer of energy and matter but also by transfer of information.

This diploma level course is the third and final course of a program designed for students intending to pursue further academic studies at the postsecondary level. Science 30 consists of four units of study:

• Unit 1: Living Systems Respond to Their Environment - uses the human organism to illustrate some of the mechanisms that enable living systems to respond to their environment while maintaining internal equilibrium.
• Unit 2: Chemistry in the Environment - continues the theme of changes to matter and introduces environmental chemistry, focusing on the impact of acids, bases and organic compounds on ecosystems.
• Unit 3: Electromagnetic Energy - the diverse forms of electromagnetic energy are studied, and their uses in communication and scientific research are addressed.
• Unit 4: Energy and the Environment - examines the range of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources available for commercial use and considers the impact of their use on the global ecosystem.

Prerequisites

• Successful completion of "Orientation to Online Learning"
• 50% or greater in Science 20.

Required Resources

• "Visions 3" 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

Final Mark

This is a Diploma Examination course. The final mark for this course is based on: the average of the school-awarded mark and the Provincial Diploma Exam mark. For students with mature status, the final mark is determined by either the blended mark (school-awarded mark plus Provincial Diploma Exam mark) or the Provincial Exam mark only, depending on which is the highest mark.