2020-2021 Grade Expectation/Syllabus Sheet Department: Science Grade: 11 Teacher: Dr. S. McCalla Course: Independent Science Research Student’s Name: ________________________________________ The Independent Science Research Class in Jericho High School is like no other class offered in the school. Due to the unique nature of this course, grades are calculated using both individual and team contributions. Classroom Rules and Procedures 1. Students should be prepared for class daily with the following items: 5” binder (including the bulk of research project related journal articles), dividers, pens, and a ~100 GB flash drive (with respective cloud storage, as applicable - note WiFi will not always be available, i.e. at competitions, JHS, etc.), unless otherwise directed by the teacher. 2. Please be mindful and respectful of all class members. Students are expected to arrive on time for class (virtually and in person). Arrival to class after the bell is late. Students MUST check room 268 and the science research website calendar (http://web.jerichoschools.org/hs/teachers/smccalla/) for grade level assignment updates/ EQ’s. It is the students’ responsibility to check weekly updates in order to complete all assignments as posted in a timely manner. Students should hand in all assignments including a heading of their name, grade, assignment title, and date of assignment submission. 3. Students must request makeup work the first day they “return to school” from a literal or virtual absence. The teacher shall set the time for the makeup work in conjunction with the student. Assignments will NOT be accepted after the due date for full credit. Please note well: a daily 10% grade decrease will be earned towards any late assignments, until 0 points are acquired. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain and maintain all coursework (i.e. dittos, reports, presentation/assignment critiques, EQ notes and home/class work). Assignments will be placed in 2 locations: Canvas and the Science Research Website Calendar asynchronously. 4. Multiple typed assignments are required to pass this course. All assignments MUST be handed in on time. Late daily assignments and/or skipped Essential Question Reports (EQ’s) will receive no credit. Students must also complete all EQ assignments on the assigned date or lose 100% credit while missing a cycle, barring of a valid excuse. EQ assignments are graded numerically by the student with input of Dr. McCalla. For each EQ assignment question presented incomplete or absent, student scores will be reduced by a letter grade as outlined in the EQ grading policy. NOTE WELL: A printed, detailed summary of the students’ daily activities is required weekly and UNANNOUNCED grading of two assignments will occur weekly when class is devoid of a formal lecture. These summaries must be handed in when announced, before the end of class, for each respective weekly class period, or NO CREDIT will be earned. ALL week day (i.e. Mon. - Fri.) assignments must be dated and contain reviewed EQ question (s), sources (referenced properly) used, and provide an explanation of how this work will be used to support research findings or background information of a given project. Note well: All week day assignments MUST be present for Dr. McCalla to review in order to receive any credit towards the two randomly chosen graded assignments. 5. Students are expected to cooperate with all class and school rules. NO computer games are allowed nor shall be downloaded or played while in the science research course. It should be duly noted that all students follow the Jericho UFSD code of conduct. No FOOD or DRINK is permitted in the science research classrooms. 6. Participation in 4 or more science competitions/fairs is a requirement for this course. Note well: Toshiba ExploraVision and Lexus EcoChallenge Competitions are mandatory for each junior class science research student. Other programs, fairs, and contests may also be completed as announced at later dates. All students must attend and will earn a grade for participating in the end of year Science Research Symposium scheduled for J une 2021. Also, please be prepared to work at a research facility during the summer of 2021. 7. Academic honesty is of the utmost importance in this class. Please be mindful of not copying another student’s work, handing in unauthorized or plagiarized written works, or falsifying information on applications. All written assignments will be submitted to turnitin.com for originality of content assessment. 8. Extra help hours will be held after school on specified days, by appointment. Please see calendly.com/drmccalla to schedule an appointment (appointment times will vary throughout the year). For summer 2021, travel to neighboring research facilities may be required after school and weekends. Grading policy A) Your grade is based on your performance in and outside of class. Your grade is based on a total point system. Your grade is earned through homework, class work, article summaries, digital and library searches, written abstracts/summaries, experiments, scientific projects, scientific papers, PowerPoint’s, class presentations, “hands on” research completed either virtually, at a university, hospital, government lab, etc. and participation in science fairs/contests. Most student grades will be discussed during individual meetings and tabulated from the work completed and determined by the student with the aid of the teacher. Work ethic is also taken into consideration when formulating grades. REMEMBER and note well: a 10% daily grade decrease will be earned towards any late assignments, until no points are acquired. B) Class work is included and weighted as part of the student’s total course grade. C) Science Competition Participation is included in grading. Competitions include (see science research website: http://web.jerichoschools.org/hs/teachers/smccalla/classified/competitions.htm), but are not limited to: Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF) Brain Bee New York State Science and Engineering Fair (NYSSEF) NSPC Health Science Competition Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) Toshiba ExploraVision Competition Research Association Invitational Science fair by WAC lighting The Lexus EcoChallenge Contest CSTL Clean Tech Competitions Long Island Science Congress (LISC) NeuroScience Research Prize BioGENEius Project Green Challenge (PGC) Conrad Challenge International Sustainable World-Energy, Engineering & Environmental Project (I-SWEEEP) D) All grades will be computed using the following number system overall and for EQ assignments: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. 100-97 = A+ 96-93 = A 92-90 = A89-87 = B+ 86-83 = B 82- 80 = B79-77 = C+ h. i. j. k. l. 76-73 = C 72-70 = C69-67 = D+ 66-65 = D Below 65 = F E) July 15th and August 15th: Email update of summer research to Dr. McCalla. Grade 11 - Independent Science Research Syllabus Summary 1. 2. Assignments will vary depending on research conducted by the individual student and competitions entered by either individuals or teams. Assignments will also vary depending on the students’ prior science research experience. Each completely submitted/participated competition will earn the student a grade. An example of a typical junior year would include, but is not limited to the following: 1st Quarter- 2 research assignments, PowerPoint assignments, journal article summaries/dissections, preliminary presentations, EQ meetings, data analysis and correlation 2nd Quarter- 2 research assignments, PowerPoint assignments, 2-4 homework assignments per week, contact and placement with summer 2021 research mentors, the Lexus EcoChallenge Contest, journal article dissections/summaries, poster board preparation/presentations, EQ meetings 3rd Quarter - 2 research assignments, PowerPoint assignments, Toshiba ExploraVision Competition, 1 research paper, presentations and poster revisions, EQ meetings, additional competitions, 1 research paper 4th Quarter - 2 research assignments, PowerPoint Assignment, varied homework assignments, EQ meetings, additional competition participation, final research paper, participation in science research symposium Please note: Students must participate in at least 4 science research fairs/competitions during this school calendar year. Students entering competitions require additional work. It is at the teacher’s discretion how much weight any competition carries towards the student’s grade. In addition, junior students are required to assist and participate in the Jericho High School Science Research Symposium/Recognition Reception- Thursday, June 2021 and should serve as mentors to JHS sophomore students. Expectations: Students will be held responsible for their own work. Extra help is available if needed; therefore students should assume responsibility regarding their attendance in extra help meetings. Students should have the necessary materials everyday and be prepared to discuss, learn, and question any materials introduced in class. I expect a productive year with little problems. Please email any concerns or comments at s mccalla@jerichoschools.org or call 516-203-3600 x3618. ----------------------------- Please sign and return the entire page --------------------------------- _______________________________ Student Name _________________________________________ Parent Signature ______________ Date
