Class handbook and Manual

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY PROGRAM

College of Science

UP Diliman

Class Handbook and Manual for STS Classes THX and THY - 2nd Semester 2013

PART I. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

The study of how Science and Technology affect Society - its culture, values and institutions; And how Society - its culture, values and institutions - shape Science and Technology.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

First,  To enable the student to be familiar and understand science and technology; including its functions and roles in society from a HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Second, To enable the student to comprehend IMPLICATIONS of Science and Technology

Third, To familiarize the student with the sociological, cultural, ethical, environmental, economic, political and gender ASPECTS of Science and Technology and

Fourth, To enable the student to APPRECIATE the role of Science and Technology in national development and its policy implications.

CONDUCT OF THE COURSE

The course will be using multiple approaches ranging from lectures, discussions, reports, video showing, unconference, audio plays to deliver the course. Participation and requirements will be both online and offline. The course will focus on four thematic approached to STS. These are the following:

First, History and Philosophy of science and technology;

Second, Science and technology in daily life;

Third, Science and technology, in the arts, law and social sciences;

And Fourth, Science, science policy and national development.

Note:

AFFILIATE LECTURERS: The instructor of the course may invite affiliate lecturers to complement activities and learning objectives for four thematic areas.

PART II. ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

Class will start 10 minutes after the scheduled time and end 15 minutes before the scheduled time. It is understood that the 25 minutes will be used by the students to check online via email, blog, twitter, or website for announcements, updates and news.

Attendance in this class is expected and you are not allowed to have more than 2 INEXCUSABLE absences.

If you incur 2 to 3 inexcusable absences we will, deduct 5% from your final grade computation.

If you have 4 to 6 inexcusable absences, we will advise you to drop  from the course. 

If you have 6 inexcusable absences or more, you will get a 5.0

WHEN CAN ABSENCES BE EXCUSED

Illness/medical/dental condition (next time you show up for class, present a medical certificate from the UP Infirmary)

Family emergencies (e.g. illness of immediate family member.  A letter from your parent or immediate family member is needed explaining your absence)

NOTE: Social obligations are not excusable reasons .

Official business for the university/college/department/Philippine government (attending a conference, meeting etc. Need letter from organizer or sponsor and your dean/chair/professor authorizing you to attend)

Competing for the UP in a recognized sports event. (e.g. UAAP, invitational meets etc. Need letter from your coach)

A religious obligation. Need a letter from you and a letter from your religious minister/congregation on your attendance. 

POLICIES ON EXCUSED AND UNFORESEEN ABSENCES

If you are going to be absent for any reason, please inform the lecturer well in advance.

If you are absent, excused or not excused, it is your responsibility to make up for the absences - 

PART III. CLASS REQUIREMENTS AND GRADE PERCENTAGE

Group Project - Term Paper and Presentation (30%)

Pub Quiz (10%)

Individual Project (10%)

Reaction Papers (10%)

Final Exam (40%)

REQUIREMENTS

GROUP REQUIREMENTS

Each team would by the end of the semester have a science blog and that will be evaluated by the lecturer and a panel. The best science Blog will awarded in recognition ceremony at the end of the event.

The class will be organized into teams of 10 students. The members of each group will elect from among themselves a team leader. The leader will be responsible for management of individual outputs, attendance and dissemination of announcements and compliance to class policies.

A. Group Project - no more than 1000 words in the actual text.

B. Pub Quizzes - group quizzes to be given four times during the semester.

INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Seven (7) Reaction Papers - between 300 to 500 word essay, photo essay, audio or videocasts. (Note: photos and videos must be accompanied with transcript of interview - not more than 500  words.

B. One (1) Individual project:Interview - between a 500 word essay, photo essay, audio or videocasts. (Note: photos and videos must be accompanied with transcript of interview - not more than 500 words.

C. One (1) Final Exam

Examination: There will be only one examination.

Students who miss examinations will have to explain in writing the reason for their absence and if this is health related, they are required to present a medical certificate. If they miss the examination for other reasons, they are required to meet the criteria for reschedule of examination as  enumerated in the SSP policies on absences.

IV. DIGITAL RESOURCES

Each group will maintain a blog wherein students will post the following requirements : Reaction Papers minimum 300 - 500 words  in the forms of blog post maximum 7; individual and group projects. 

Groups are required to work on their project via Google Drive. With documents, being shared and worked on by all members. These documents will also be shared to the lecturer.

The lecturer will maintain a blog and a website dedicated to the class. Lectures, presentation and online resources will be provided there. 

Learning resources:

Selected writings will be posted on the online resource center and the STS blog.

PART V. CLASS STYLE GUIDE AND FORMATS

Projects, term papers and reaction papers will be submitted in digital format. They shall be submitted by:

First, being published in the group blog 

and Second shared with the lecturer via the Google Drive

A. Length

Term Paper: Text excluding list of references must not exceed 1000 words.

Reaction Paper: Text excluding list of references and other non main text parts must not exceed 500 words.

B. Language

English or Tagalog might be used. If Tagalog is used it should accompanied by a three sentence descriptive abstract or summary written in English.

C. Format

Projects, term papers and reaction papers can be in text, image, video and audio or in multi media. Video, audio and photo essays needs to be accompanied by a two sentence descriptive abstract or summary and a transcript.

D. File Naming

While all papers and projects will be posted on line. You are required to submit a copy to the lecturer via sharing it via the Google Drive.

File name should include the following:

1.  Section

2.  Initials/Group Name

2.  Element/s of title

For example:

Reaction Paper

thxegsrclaw

Term Paper/Group Report

thynirvanaeinstein

E. Plagiarism and Citing Reference

Plagiarism and Attribution

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. 

Statements, phrasesa and paragraphs taken from references must be differentiated from the rest of the text by enclosing it in quotes or block quotes followed by parenthetical references which includes the author's name, date of publication and page numbers:

Loren ipsum (Surname, year, pp)

loren ipsum (Surname, year)

Loren ipsum ( Title of book)

Reference List

In compiling Reference List follow the guidelines based on guide set down by Kate Turabian.

Simply put it should include the following in order:

1. Author or editor or blogger;

2. Year of publication;

3. Article Title;

4. Periodical Title;

5. Title;

6. Compiler, translator or editor;

7. Edition;

8. Name of series, including volume or number used;

9. Place of publication and publisher;

For online references add

10. URL;

11. date accessed.

PART VI. DIGITAL CHANNELS, GROUND RULES, AND PERSONAL CYBERSECURITY

A. For Sharing Documents and Interactions

Google Drive

B. For submitting reaction papers, terms papers and projects

Blog and Google Drive

C. For collaborative work 

Google Drive

D. Announcement, Feedback and Comments

Google Forms

Lecturer's Blog

Class Website

E. Setting up a blog

One, Agree upon a group name and title of your blog;

Two, Go to blogger/blogspot to open a blog -  Using your gmail you can do this;

Three, Set comment moderation on to allow you to scan, approve and disapprove comments;

Four, Set the date and time;

Five, Invite members and lecturer via gmail.

Online form to Register your group blog - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1cNNEaKOBR52KEJX16Ikpe-XkbaXQxFuYW3jfQLK4UjI/viewform

F. Ground Rules on Blogs and Blogging

Do not post anything libelous or factually incorrect.

Always attribute your source - No plagiarizing and no copy paste

No posting of other person's photos, videos, audio on the blog post without permission. Better yet use your own image, audio and video.

Only registered users can comment

All comments are moderated

Delete comments that are off topic, spam, hate speech, ad hominem attacks or slander

G. General Rule on Internet Security

Ensure that all security patches are updated

Use a good anti virus

Back up your files every week

Protect your device

Do not open attachments to click on links in email messages;

Never enter your password into a site accessed from a link in an e-mail;

Never provide your online account login credentials to third parties;

Don’t click on links sent to you from Facebook, Skype or Twitter friends/feeds;

Don’t transmit personal data via unpassworded wifi hotspots