Nature of the Course
Meeting days
Meeting places
Course materials
Communication
Absences
Late Work
Individual and Group Work
Evaluation

See this document for the safety, academic honesty, tardy, and computer use policies of the NCSSM Physics Discipline.

Nature of the Course

In this course, you'll develop and carry out a project using the techniques of high-speed imaging. As part of that process, you'll study the fundamental skills of photography, electronics, and experimental design that you need and you'll practice using some of the specialized tools for high-speed imaging. There are both teacher-directed and student-directed components to the course work. The former is aimed at teaching you fundamentals and skills.  The latter provides you the opportunity to apply the skills you've learned in carrying out a research project. These projects are primarily directed by students in small groups.  Limitations on equipment and space preclude the possibility of each student having their own individual project.

In the teacher-directed portion of the course, you'll work through the activities in a linear fashion. Completing an activity successfully usually includes doing a a prelab assignment before carrying out the activity. If a pre-lab is required, you have to complete that successfully before doing the activity. A weekly schedule is posted on the course web site. In order to keep to that schedule, you'll need to do the prelabs as well as some reading assignments and related reading questions as homework. Otherwise, you won't be able to make efficient use of class time. I expect you to plan ahead each week to make sure that you can complete the activities for the week.

In the project-based portions of the course, weekly planning is also important. However, you have more responsibility to make sure that you're doing what needs to be done in order to complete your project in the allotted time.  You'll need good planning over several weeks to make sure that you have time to complete all aspects of the project well. Those aspects include design and set up, taking and analyzing data, and preparing written and oral reports.

Meeting days

Class generally meets Monday through Friday, including the two F-block lab periods on Thursday and Friday.  The advantage of having two lab periods is that High-Speed Imaging is primarily lab and project work, and that kind of work is done most efficiently in longer blocks of time than a 50-minute class.

In some weeks, one day of the week will be designated as time for individual work or consultation with me, and full class attendance won't be required. These days will be announced in advance and posted on the course web site. Assume that we'll meet if you don't see or receive an announcement to the contrary.

Meeting places

We have two meeting places:  BR442 or the GRL (Ground Reynolds Laboratory).  Meeting places for each class day will be posted on the course web site. Being late to class because you went to the wrong meeting place isn't an acceptable excuse.

Course materials

There is no single textbook for High-Speed Imaging...anywhere. One hasn't been written. Our written resources will include web-based documents and library resources. I expect you to study assigned materials as given on the course website and print out pages as needed.  Bring to each class or lab period:

1. a lab journal (Purchase the quadrille type from the student store.)
2. a binder for loose papers
3. any assigned printouts
4. a blue or black pen for recording in your journal
5. a calculator

Optional items:

1. Laptop: This will be useful for uploading and examining digital photos.
2. USB key (flash drive): This provides a handy way to store images.
3. Digital camera:  You may take photos using your own camera if it's suitable for high-speed imaging.

Communication

Communication outside of class will be electronic. I expect you to check your email daily and to check the High-Speed Imaging course web site for assignments and documents.  My office is BR453 in case you need to see me personally.

Absences

If you're absent from a class, that obviously affects your ability to complete the weekly schedule.  You can always find out what needs to be done, since the weekly schedule is posted on the course web site.  Thus, it's up to you to make sure you take the time to catch up. If you're working with a partner, you may need to arrange with the partner (and the teacher) for such makeup. 

If your absence is unanticipated (such as for an illness), see the teacher as soon as possible after you return to your classes. If you know that you're going to be absent for such things as sports events, doctor's appointments and college trips, make arrangements to make up work in advance of your absence. For such absences, I expect notice from you a week in advance of the absence so that arrangements for you to keep up with your lab work can be made.

Late Work

Unless stated otherwise, assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date. Credit is not given for daily assignments that are submitted late.

For major assignments, a late penalty of 20% per day late will be applied. This will be specified when the assignment is made.

Individual and Group Work

You'll often work with a partner on activities and projects. Such collaboration is beneficial when it truly is a collaboration between all the individuals involved. You're expected to participate fully and productively in such partnerships and not engage in behavior that will impede the group's progress. Examples of the former would be doing your share in setting up and taking down equipment, designing experimental methods, and using the equipment.  An example of behavior that would inhibit progress is not completing a prelab that must be done as a prerequisite to the corresponding activity.

There will be times when you'll need to work with a group outside of regular class periods. In those cases, all members of the group need to agree on a time when they can meet. If laboratory work is involved, then the group will also need to check that the teacher can be present. It's important to meet these out-of-class commitments just as it's important to participate in class-time activities.

While collaboration is expected in the laboratory, your written work must be your own unless the teacher specifically notes an exception.  Examples of such independent work include but are not limited to homework assignments, calculations in your lab journal, answers to questions posed in the activities, and quizzes. In general, if the teacher doesn't state whether an assignment is independent or collaborative, you should assume that it's independent.

Evaluation

Your work is evaluated in the following categories with the given percentage weights.

Participation:  This includes items such as the following.

1. arriving to class on time ready to participate with the required course materials and having done any required readings or assignments
2. observing safety and computer use policies
3. taking care of the equipment
4. contributing productively to the class, either in discussion or lab

Daily Assignments:  This category primarily includes assignments during the instructor-directed portion of the course. Here are the types of assignments.

• Reading and prelab assessments: These are checks on the thoroughness of your reading and prelab preparation. These assessments will usually be online and will be done as homework. They will be due at the beginning of the class period unless announced otherwise.
• Oral presentations: There will be several opportunities throughout the trimester to give brief oral reports on course readings and progress on projects work.

Lab reports and journal: In the teacher-directed portion of the course, you'll do several labs to learn how to use equipment and take measurements and photos. The evaluation of your work will be based on your techniques, your data-taking procedures, your photographic results, any associated reports, and proper use of your lab journal.

Major project:  You'll carry out your trimester project in phases throughout the trimester. These phases include i) planning and preparation, ii) design and execution, iii) analysis and interpretation, and iv) both oral and written reporting. The evaluation of your project is based on i) the timely completion of preparatory assignments, ii) the thoroughness of your planning as well as the execution of your plan, iii) the thoroughness and accuracy of your analysis and interpretation, and iv) the quality and completeness of your reporting. The final oral report on your project, which you'll give during the exam period, will count as the final exam.

Course grading scale