Syllabus¶
GEOSC 597-003
Fall 2016
Tuesday, Thursday 12:05-1:20 PM, Deike 240
Instructors: Chris Marone, John Leeman
Offices: Deike 536, 439
E-mail: marone@psu.edu, jleeman@psu.edu
Course Description¶
Hands-on introduction to the principles of measurement, control and experimental design. Digital formats and representation, file structure, practical aspects of sensors. Introduction to transducers and digital representation of analog measurement. Design of reliable and effective measurements of physical variables including force, displacement, temperature, stress and strain. Analog to digital conversion, real-time data display, practical introduction to analog electronics including buffers and differential amplifiers, offsets and voltage dividers. Transducer calibration, instrument testing, and documentation. Basics of mechanical design for laboratory and field-based hardware, including communication with machine shops. Introduction to 3D printing and practical experience with 3D printers at Penn State.
Much of our work will be based on the Arduino platform via the Sparkfun Inventors Kit . Hands on classroom activities and class projects will use this kit. Students will develop approaches for signal measurement, experiment control, and data logging. A course research project will be completed with the inventor’s kit.
Course Goals¶
- To learn how to design and build basic mechanical and electrical devices for laboratory measurement work.
- Gain hands-on experience using real equipment, sensors, and machines.
Course Materials¶
Text: We will be providing excerpts from a variety of texts. See the course website for a list of useful reference and learning materials.
Other Supplies: SparkFun Inventors Kit , Laptop
Laboratory Expectations¶
Each student is required to do his or her own lab. Discussion of the lab concepts amongst your classmates is encouraged. Late lab reports will not be accepted unless there are extenuating circumstances that have been brought to our attention and cleared prior to the deadline. If extenuating circumstances arise and have been cleared, the lab must be made up within a week of the missed class period.
Attendance¶
To learn from the lectures and activities you must be present. Attendance will count towards the class participation portion of the final grade.
If you need to miss class due to athletic or religious reasons please inform us as soon as possible, but by no later than one week prior to the missed class. We understand that sometimes you will need to miss a class due to illness or unavoidable circumstances (ex. a death in the family) and will not be able to provide the required one-week notice. Please let us know as soon as possible and arrangements can be made.
Grading¶
| Exercises | 40% |
| Final Project | 50% |
| Class participation | 10% |
Grade Scale¶
| A | 92-100% |
| A- | 89-91% |
| B+ | 86-88% |
| B | 81-85% |
| B- | 77-80% |
| C+ | 74-76% |
| C | 65-73% |
| D | 60-64% |
| F | <60% |
| X | Unsatisfactory (student did not participate) |
Course Website¶
We will be using Canvas for posting grades and copyright class material (book chapter scans, etc.). The course material, topic summaries, labs, and other information is on the course website . Please check it regularly for announcements and to explore the embedded videos and content. Video recordings of the lecture will also be posted.
Accommodation of Students with Disabilities¶
The Office of Disability Services requests and maintains disability-related documents; certifies eligibility for services; determines academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services; and develops plans for the provision of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services as mandated under Title II of the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A list of these services is provided .
Academic Misconduct¶
Cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Cheating is unfair to your classmates and is an insult to curiosity and intellectual inquiry. In the context of this class, cheating includes using a clicker for another person, copying from another student’s exam or assignments, plagiarism, and other activities. Students caught cheating will be reported to University officials and receive an automatic failing grade on the activity. General guidelines are covered here and in the Senate Policy 49-20 on Academic Integrity. This course follows the guidelines set out for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences for offenses and appropriate punishments –please read these .
Plagiarism is cheating. This includes cutting and pasting material from sources on the web. All work and wording of assignments should be your own. Limited quotation of sources is acceptable and should be referenced accordingly. All written work will be subject to electronic plagiarism checking with Turn It In . Submitted computer code and other products will be automatically compared to ensure that two submissions are not the same.