DON'T
Honors Biology
You can call me Mr. Gottfried, or Dr. Gottfried. I am not a medical doctor, so don't ask me what to do with a cut, a broken bone or a sprain. I earned my Ph.D. in biological oceanography in the department of Biology and Living Resources at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science(a mouthful, but no one ever asked me; the name of the department has changed since then anyway.-but as a result of learning to say its name I was prepared for "Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus.")
| Teacher final Grade | Final Grade | ||
| EOC Score = 5 or 4 30% as "A" |
EOC Score = 3 30% as "B" |
EOC Score=2 or 1 30% as "D" |
|
| A | A | A | B |
| B | B | B | C |
| C | B | C | C |
| D | C | C | D |
| F | D | F | F |
I am a very verbal teacher. I will provide you with lots of
printed material.
I will talk a lot (Don't
say it is because I like
to hear the sound of my own voice. While it may be true telling me this
is not a
good way to impress me.) You need to listen to all
instructions and to
read everything carefully.
I will do my best to teach you. I work hard for you and I expect you
to work hard
for me. Learning can be fun, but it is also hard work. Like any skill,
thinking
needs practice. In my classes I hope you will get lots of
practice!
All ideas start from preexisting assumptions. In math these
assumptions
are
frequently called axioms, or ideas that don't need proving. In history
they are
sometimes called maxims, things so obvious they don't have to be proven.
In science we like to think that there are no assumptions. HOWEVER,
this is not
true. There are a number of basic assumptions or biases to science that
are so
basic that we forget to think about them.
Science believes (and in this context that means that I
believe) that the
universe is rational, logical, and can be understood by rational and
logical
processes. Science believes (...) that the
universe can be explained in
ways that make sense without resorting to the supernatural or
paranormal.
There are other world views that societies can use as a focus for their
civilizations. The rationalist world view is mine, and has produced the
technology that gives us our standard of living.
Error
Detection
During this year I will be
doing a great deal of
talking (see
above). I will give lectures, answer questions, conduct discussions,
etc. Since
I am an
imperfect scholar and any evidence to the contrary aside, a fallible
human
being, I will inevitably make factual errors, draw some unjustified
conclusions,
and pass along my opinions as facts. I will be very unhappy (not
a good thing)
if you were unaware of these
mistakes. To minimize that possibility I assign you all the following
task. Make
sure none of my mistakes goes unnoticed. If you find an error (and
there will
surely be some) tell me why it was an error, the source of your
authority, and a
truer or less biased way of saying what I was trying to say. (If you do this properly-politely
identify and correct an error-you will
get extra credit.)
I may from time to time
include deliberate mistakes or outrageous opinions to see if you are
awake.
There is no need for you to "test" me alone. Feel free to collectively
review the things I've said. One of the strongest study
techniques is the
study group. Try and set up one.
It is very important you learn, and remember your student ID number.
Course Requirements
Read the fine print.
I give complex instructions. Read them.
Follow directions.
Remind Service- Get SMS text or email reminders of important dates.
Go to "my sign in page" https://www.remind.com/join/drghbio-18 and enter your phone number. OR
Text
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(subject and bodyof the message can be blank)
You can sign up for both text and email messages.
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To opt-out, text 'unsubscribe @HB-DrG-16' to 81010. Standard
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While we will not be going through
the text
book chapter by chapter you will be assigned readings to go along with
the
classwork. Some may be on the internet rather than from a
textbook. Live the future.
Don't waste time! Our class time
is a limited resource. We have many
things to
accomplish and a limited amount of time in class. While each of you is
an
important individual, I must teach you collectively and you must
respect the
rights of the other students and my rights as a teacher.
Many minor crises can be more appropriately
handled if you submit your
problem
(with a grade, an assignment, a group) in writing after class or by
email. I'll
get back to you with an answer as quickly as possible, and you won't
disturb or
interrupt the entire class. In addition, I am more likely to consider
your plea
if it does not interrupt me than I am if you are disrupting the class.
When
it comes to whining
importuning requests
during class time the following witticism is informative: A politician
says
"yes" if he means maybe, "maybe" if he means no, and if he
says "no" he's not a politician. An editor says "no" if he
means maybe, "maybe" if he means yes, and if he says "yes"
he's not an editor. A teacher says "no" when he means no,
"no" if he means maybe, and "no" if he means yes. Anything
other than "no" and he's not really a teacher.
Block
Scheduling - It is not yet (June 2017) how block schedule will be
implemented. I'm guessing we will be having periods 1,3,5
on Monday and Wednesday, period 2, 4, 6
on Tuesday and
Thursday
and Friday will be 1-6. This is subject to
adjustments. For example, I'd guess that the first day of school will
be 1-6 with Tuesday, Thursday being 1, 3, 5 and Wednesday, Friday being
2, 4, 6. Let's see if I'm right. (Email me when you know for
a
potential reward).
In 2015-16 and again in 2016-17 we were forced to go to "full" block to accomidate testing. There was lots of testing.
There will be an assignment on the board, a "DO NOW," in every class, every period. JUST DO IT!
Many days it will be copying the outline of the material for that unit/benchmark. It will probably be timed. Don't waste time.
It may be graded, collected, or simply reviewed. Certainly the notes will be graded when your notebooks are collected.
I hold
my students to a high standard of discipline and good behavior.
I like to take my classes outside the building for some labs on the courtyard and PE field. I can not do this if my students can't control themselves.
I expect you to be able
to walk 100 meters without talking to
anyone else!
I expect you to respond to directions without
argument or debate.
I expect the sound level in the
classroom to
at all times be less than that of a jet airplane on take-off.
You know when you are too loud without being
yelled at by the teacher.
Keep
yourselves under control, or I will be forced to control you! The
school has a
discipline policy which will be adhered to.
The Discipline Plan includes the following
rules:
-Be prepared for class and on task at all times.
You need:
paper
pencil/pen
additional class materials (as required by teacher)
-Be on time and in your seat when the tardy bell rings.
-Be polite and respect others.
raise your hand and wait to be recognized
do not use profanity or obscene gestures
-Accept responsibility by following the rules the first time they are given.
do not disturb the class
do all class and homework assignments
no food in class
adhere to the school uniform and dress code
no radios, cameras, tape players or beepers
-Make a positive contribution to our school.
participate in all grade level, and school activities
take care of your school materials
take care of library books
do not vandalize or deface school
property
Consequences range from verbal
warning and
parent contact to referral to the administration.
You are
responsible for your behavior. Every student starts out each
nine weeks
with an "A" in conduct.
If you interrupt me, or other members of the
class your conduct grade
will
suffer. If you don't know how to behave in class, your conduct grade
will
suffer.
You know what is
appropriate behavior for a
classroom. You must show
respect for me and for every other person in the classroom.
In the past few years the single biggest conduct problem was tardiness at the beginning of the school day. WAKE UP!
While the school board ruling says you can have them in school it specifically says your can't have them on during class. If your phone rings, buzzes, vibrates etc during my class it (or the battery) will be taken away and you will be asked to have a parent come in to pick it up. Do not take them out to use as cameras without permission or, they (or the batteries) will be confiscated and you will be asked to have a parent come in to pick it up. Do not ask to go to the bathroom so you can use your cell phone during class. If you get caught at it, it (or the battery) will be confiscated and you will be asked to have a parent come in to pick it up. If you want to use your cell phone as a camera or calculator remember to ASK first.
Recently I have seen some students actually taking notes on their smart phones. If you want to do this (a) ask first (b) you may be asked to email a copy of your notes to me to verify that you were actually taking notes on your phone, not texting and to allow me to prove to administration that we can "Live the Future."I have a great many electrical outlets in my room. Ask if you want to charge your devices.
Given the district's policy on bringing your own devices, some of this may be revised as needed.
I will need you to have a device (cell phone, tablet, laptop) to participate in Schoology quizzes or quizlet.live games. How things change.
In an interview about education Nobel Prize (physics) winner Carl Wieman said about digital distractions"These new technologies
can be helpful, but generally they are bad in that they distract
people. One of
the things that's very easy to demonstrate in studying learning is a
distraction. Splitting your attention between two things. Your brain
processes
this stuff in very different ways, and the amount of learning drops
precipitously. Basically, when those kids are in that classroom and
they are
switching their attention back and forth between their cell phones and
the
internet and what's happening in the classroom, I can just guarantee
the
learning, as it turns out, is almost zero as soon as that happens."
Think about that before you look at your phone.
One important procedure involves my getting your attention
when you are
too
loud, doing a lab, working on your own etc. It is possible I may need
to get
your attention quickly and efficiently before you do something
dangerous.
I have tried a variety of techniques ranging
from ringing bells,
clapping,
flashing lights and just screaming. I don't know yet what we'll end up
using
this year. BUT, when I want your attention you need to:
(1) stop talking
(2) stop what you are doing
(3) focus on me
If you misbehave when a substitute
is in the classroom, you will earn a
conduct
grade no higher than a C for that marking period. Your parents will be
contacted. You will also be excluded from special activities for a
month.
Subsequent offenses will require a parent conference at which
additional
sanctions will be discussed.
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Class can't start until you get
here. Excessive tardiness will be dealt
with as
a serious conduct violation. Initially I'll call home. After
that it gets
worse.
You will also be assigned to lab and
assignment
groups on a needs
basis. For
labs and group work you will be with the other people in that group for
the
duration of that assignment.
Part of the process of group assignments is
to get you to work with a
variety of
different people. Do not tell me who you want to be in a group with!
You have to
learn to work with people you may not like as well as with your
friends.
Everyone has something to contribute.
If behavior allows, I may allow you to pick
your own seats and dispense
with
assigned seats in the classroom section of the room.
You will need a "lab notebook" for biology. You can use an inexpensive composition book for this purpose. This notebook is subject to collection at any time, but will definately be collected and graded at least twice a month. Additionally, you will need a small 3 ring binder, or a section in a larger 3 ring binder for lab reports, homework, worksheets and other "loose" papes. I suggest a 1" loose-leaf notebook, or a section of a larger one, with a pocket for material that is (a) too big for the binder or, (b) doesn't have holes punched in it.
Tablets-Rumor
has it (yes I love Adele) that all students will have
tablets assigned to them. Once they are distributed I will expect you
to bring them to my class when asked (along with headphones for private
listening). I have plenty of outlets to keep them charged up-so that
isn't an excuse!
You will need to bring a pen and pencil (#2)
to class every day.
You will need a basic calculator (addition, subtraction,
multiplication,
division and square root) for some of our tests and assignments. On
days when we
will need additional supplies (rulers, calculators, colored pencils,
glue, etc)
you will be notified in advance.
If you are completely disorganized see me,
and I can offer some
suggestions.
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Safety in the classroom and when we do labs is the first
consideration.
You will
be required to read and sign a safety contract. Failure to do so will
result in
your forfeiting the right to participate in lab activities.
Violations of lab safety will be considered severe
violations of class,
and school rules! (See link 3).
One of the safety rules is that no food is to be eaten in
science labs (such as room 411). This is a science laboratory and many
unpleasant chemicals
have been
used and are stored here. Please do not violate this rule. Some of the
chemicals
can cause cancer. It would be real pity if 20 years from now you got
cancer
because you put your muffin down on the table in the science lab.
If you are lucky, violation of lab safety
rules will result in severe
disciplinary action. If you are unlucky you or a friend might loose a
limb, an
eye, or a life.
Below is a reference copy of a safety contract.
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of Contents
STUDENT SAFETY CONTRACT and CONDUCT AGREEMENT-
SCIENCE
CLASS LABORATORY
This is to certify that I, _________________________________ have been instructed in the following safety components of this science class:
1) ______Safety Rules
2) Location and proper use of the following safety equipment:
________ a. Fire extinguisher
________ b. Fire blanket
________ c. Eye protection devices
________ d. Eyewash
________ e. Chemical containers
________ f. Master shutoff for gas and water
________ g. Bunsen burners
________ h. Electrical equipment
________ i. Intercom location & Phone
________ j. aprons
3) Safety procedures for the following situations:
________ a. Fire
________ b. Chemical splash to the body
________ c. Eye emergency
________ d. Chemical spill
I am aware that in the laboratory every student's actions can
affect the
safety of others more so than in any other classroom environment.
Every experiment can be performed safely by
each laboratory student
following
recommended safety procedures.
To do my part to provide a safe environment in the laboratory, I agree to:
1) Follow instructions EXACTLY.
2) Perform only authorized experiments.
3) Protect eyes, face, hands, and body utilizing proper safety equipment and procedures.
4) Keep my work area tidy and clean up after each experiment.
5) Know where to get help fast.
6) Know where safety equipment is and how to use it.
7) Report at once all accidents, even minor ones, and any unusual occurrence.
8) Never bring food or drink into the laboratory.
9) Never "play around" - unusual motions are distracting and dangerous.
10) Ask questions if I do not understand what to do.
I am aware that I can look up chemicals I am
to use and their safety in
the
Material Safety Data Sheets that are posted or are available.
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Often
there are "kitchen" chemistry labs that we can do if YOU bring
in the supplies. You do not get extra credit for this (you can't buy a
grade!),
but you do get my gratitude and to do some fairly interesting labs.
We
always need paper towels!
I
assume you have them. Aspirations, hopes, and dreams of what you can
and will
do with your life. I have an acronym for what you need to master to
reach your
dreams. When I used
to teach middle
school I frequently had my students recite this as a mantra. I don’t do
that
in high school, but it is worth at least thinking about what you want
to do with
your life, and what you have to do to achieve your dreams.
D-discipline
R-responsibility
E-effort
A-ability
M-motivation
S-skills
Discipline-not
external discipline, but internal discipline, self discipline to do
what has to
be done and not to do what shouldn't be done. In school we can force
some
discipline onto you, BUT to succeed you need to
have self-discipline.
Responsibility-doing
what is required of you, without excuses or delays. We all want other
people to
trust us and rely on us. They only do when we are responsible.
Effort-to
succeed you need to put in the time and work. No enterprise succeeds
without
effort, and that includes your education. I put in effort to do the
best job I
can for you. I expect you to do the same for me, and for your own
futures. No
one becomes a great basketball player, architect, designer, doctor or
chef
without practice and effort.
Ability-there
is no doubt in my mind that in addition to effort, natural ability
plays a role
in success. A very short Magic Johnson would not have made a great
basketball
player.
Motivation-without
internal motivation you can not learn, and grow into a thinking person.
You may
succeed in school temporarily, but without some drive or motivation you
will not
become all that you can be.
Skills-reading,
writing, math, science, art, music, car mechanics, drafting, typing
(now called
keyboarding), cooking and sewing are all skills. To convert your dreams
into
reality you need to work on your skills.
I believe that scientific thinking is a skill
that can help anyone
(with the
exception of a psychic) in any walk of life. Science is a process that
interprets the world. That is a skill we all need.
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You
are encouraged to create a set of vocabulary flash cards. On one
side you
will have a word, concept, or formula, and on the other a brief
explanation.
There may be listing of words on the web page.
This is not for a specific grade.
Biology is to a large extent
vocabulary! I have shared a file
in
the Google Drive with multiple vocabulary lists, including Latin and
Greek Prefixes, Suffixes and Stems.
Given that this is now the future, a lot of vocabulary review can be done through quizlet.com
It is not yet clear if "working" a quizlet list is the same as/better than/worse than making vocabulary cards. Maybe we'll do an experiment.
I expect each student to be ready to work when the bell rings. In my mind that means that you will be:
1) in your seat
2) be quiet
3) have your notebook out to take notes
4) have any work
to be handed in out and ready
Note taking is a vital skill. It is very
important to be able to write
down what
you are learning as you learn it. To copy from the board, TV, or
overhead is not
enough. We will start with that, but expect more from
yourself!
You need to take an active part in the
process, interpreting what is
said, and
taking notes based on what is said, not just what is written on the
board.
(It is my general observation
that those students who
take notes in
class do better on tests and quizzes than those that don't.)
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Write neatly and legibly. Type if possible. You can submit by email as text files, MSWord files, Open Office, Google Docs, or WordPerfect files.
Use blue or black ink on standard white notebook paper unless otherwise instructed. Do not use paper torn from a spiral notebook. Do not write in red, pink, or purple inks.
Do not use the plastic report covers with sliding plastic binders. (This is not a school rule or policy but one of my own. I HATE those binders!)
Write the correct
heading in the upper
right-hand corner of the paper. There is a correct heading for
individual and
for group work.
Individual Heading-In the upper right hand
corner.
Last name, first name
Science-period number
Dr. Gottfried
Full Date Due
Group Heading-Again in the upper right hand
corner, and including all
the names
in the group.
Last name, first name
Last name, first name
Last name, first name
Last name, first name
Science-period number
Dr. Gottfried
Full Date Due
Return
to Table of Contents
The school
board adopted computer
grade
program allows me to grade on a 0-100 point scale. Thus, an
assignment not done (0) is MUCH worse than one done very
poorly
(55). The system allows
you or your parent/guardian to log into the school's grade system and
look up
your grades.
Check the grades page for information on using the "look up" feature and interpreting the reports (this has not been updated in a long time-you probably know how to use this better than the instructions:-)
In general, you will get the points you earn. For assignments that would normally be graded simply, A, B, C, D, F or Z, the following system will be utilized.A perfect A=100, otherwise A=95; B=85; C=75, D=65; F=0, 25,
45, 55 depending on the degree of "F", Z=0
Year Grades
Your year grade is calculated as 25% each marking period grade. There are no longer mid-term and final exams. You must earn at least 0.5 in the last half of the year or you will automatically fail under what is called the 5 point rule. For more details you should discuss your grades with your counselor or arrange to see me after school.
Sorry, but, if I override your "F" to
a "D" because you
earned a 3 on the EOC, the 30% formula will end up giving you a "C."
Which is not what I want to do. SO, if you are failing my class (F) and
pass the exam you only end up with the course credit if you earn a 4 or
5 on the EOC. (See the section at near the top of this
document
on the EOC.)
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of Contents
In general,
assignments, homework, classwork,
lab reports, quizzes and tests have weighted grades. Weights depends on
how much
I value the assignment. Some minor assignments may be assigned a value
of 0.
That is, I know whether you did it or not, but it has no value to your
average.
Tests will always be announced at least 2 days in advance, usually a week in advance
There may be pop
quizzes
A first cheating offense will result in an F, or 0, on the exam, or assignment, a conduct grade cut and may require a parent conference. Subsequent offenses, will require a parent conference which will discuss additional sanctions.
What counts as cheating? Using someone else's work. Handing in two identical papers, with different names. Copying from someone during a test or quiz. Bringing answers (crib sheets) into a testing situation. Copying word for word from someone or something (encyclopedia) else without attribution. This is especially easy on the Internet. That doesn't make it right.
You know what
cheating is. If in doubt, don't
do it.
In theory, late
work is better than no work.
In practice handing in work late is a sign of poor planning, pathetic
study
habits, and lack of responsibility.
Not only I am
I supposed to teach you
science, but responsibility.
Nothing at all is accepted late without a
really, really good excuse.
And then I
take off tons of points. I
mean this.
That said, since not handing in something is
a 0 (zero), handing in
late work
frequently makes the difference between passing and failing for
procrastinators.
Even an F (55) is better than an F (0). "A" level work handed
in very late
generally earns a "D".
I reserve the right to make exceptions for
specific cases.
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It is your
responsibility
to schedule make-up
tests and quizzes. In general, I administer make-up examinations, by
arrangement, after school from 2:30-3:30. It may be possible, under
special
circumstances, to arrange to make up a test during lunch. I do not in
general
offer make-up tests during class time. You would then have to make-up
what you
missed in class!
I do not
offer a lot of extra credit. In
the past for many people extra credit was the difference between a C
and an A,
or, a D and a B. I don't think that is fair to those who do what they
are
supposed to do on a regular basis.
You can get credit for helping me around the
classroom before or after
school
(when I ask for the help). Cleaning up after labs is a common chore.
There are
also frequent additional assignments that get counted as extra credit.
For
example, you can write a lab or activity report on a lab, demonstration
or
activity when I have said that no report is required.
There is a standing extra credit assignment which I will not refer to in class at all. Your only information on this assignment is right here. (Aren't you glad you're reading this.) You can do this once each nine weeks. The total amount of credit depends on the depth of your analysis and how related the error you discuss is to the work we are doing that nine weeks (Don't go off on tangents-you can discuss your idea with me before you research it.)
Describe one of
the most significant errors scholars and scientists have made
related to this years' course work.
Indicate
why it is an error, who made the error, and what persons are mainly
responsible
for correcting the error. You get even more credit if you can identify
errors
made by the error-corrector and even more if you can suggest an error
in current
thinking about the subject. Lastly you can get even more credit for
indicating a
possible error in some strongly held belief that resides in your mind.
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A significant part of your grade will be based on how well you can write your lab and activity reports. Each report is MORE than a homework assignment. Each lab report is graded and its grade value depends on the amount of work I expect.
It is a combination of what was done in class with a conclusion you develop based on what was observed. Lab reports are the essence of science and they allow me to "see" how you think.
Labs generally involve a problem, in response to which you develop a hypothesis, design an experiment, carry out the experiment, report your results and present a conclusion.
Activities have
problems, but no hypothesis.
They have purposes (usually
mine).
They are sometimes called (by me) "lablets". Activity reports
sometimes consist of only observations and a conclusion.
Your lab reports must have a proper school
heading.
The full scale lab report has several
important parts.
Title
You can be creative or simple here. Your grade will not depend on your title, (unless it is too stupid for words).
Problem
In the form of a
question.
Hypothesis or Purpose
This is important
in my evaluation of how you
think. A hypothesis is a statement (not a question) which your
experiment or
observations will attempt to evaluate. Some experiments we do will not
have a
hypothesis, but a purpose.
Materials & Procedures
To save space and time I encourage my students to abbreviate this part of the standard lab report format. I allow the following statement to replace this section in most cases:
As given in _______. Where the source of the procedure is noted as class, text link, handout etc.
If you do anything that deviates from the instructions you must include that in a "but.." statement after the
"As given in class."
For example you might say: "As given on page 264, but Sarah added 4 drops of dye instead of 2."
This may become
important as I evaluate your
data and conclusions.
Data or observations
This is what you see, what you measure, what you record. It can and should include data tables, graphs and figures when appropriate. It does not include interpretation of what you saw. For example "The flame was orange" is an observation. "The flame was orange because of sodium" is not an observation. You do not observe the sodium.
Analysis
This is where you
have graphs, averages, and statistics. This is where you do the math.
This is where you compare your data to that in other groups.
Conclusions
THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF THE LAB REPORT. Here you tell me whether the hypothesis was correct or not. Then you go on to elaborate on why, how and what it all means. I look in conclusion sections for evidence that you are thinking. That you are drawing conclusions based on the data and based on outside reading, other classwork, common sense, etc. Lab reports in honors biology are frequently more than one page (2-3 pages is not unusual.)
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY, "THE HYPOTHESIS WAS CORRECT."
I
believe that effort is essential to success in life. Whether you have
mastered
the material or not, you must do ALL the assigned work to get a good
effort
grade. It is possible, though difficult, to get an A for an academic
grade in my
class along with a 3 in effort.
In any given 9 weeks there are generally from 20-30 assignments. I generally give effort grades according to the following system:
0-1 missed assignments effort = 1
2-3 missed assignments effort = 2
4+ missed
assignments effort = 3
There are exceptions to this rule. Those in
your favor may involve
hospitalization (yours, not mine). If you make up work late, and end
the marking
period with "zero-zeros" don't expect to get the same effort grade (1)
as someone who did all their work on time. Occasionally I will consider
the
quality of your effort in assigning effort grades. Someone who does a
poor job
on all their work does not deserve the same effort grade as someone who
tries
their best and does a fine job on all their work.
Occasionally
(very rarely-maybe once every
other year) I will reward excellent effort (0 missed
assignments) by
dropping the lowest grade in a marking period. But don't count on it!
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Read all the
signs. Especially those at the
front of the room. Most of the material is also on the web page.
Agenda
I post the general
plan for the week including
agenda and homework on the Internet at my web page (http://www.mdgottfried.net).
I generally go over the agenda for the week on the first day of the
week.
Homework
I post the homework for the week on the
Internet at my web page (http://www.mdgottfried.net).
I review the
week's homework on the first day
of the week (usually Monday).
Written homework is usually
due either on Friday or Monday.
Tests and quizzes
(except pop-quizzes) are
announced on the agenda/homework web page.
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I can be reached electronically with the following caveat:
I do not
necessarily sign on every day or at
least I don't guarantee it.
I
want ALL
student and parent correspondence to go to DrG.ATM@gmail.com
You must be
kidding. I'm not giving you my phone number. You can leave a
message or text to 305-349-3740. No
one answers this phone number, but it does accept SMS text messages or
voice mail (up to 3 minutes), and I do check it at least daily.
If
you have a computer, and modem, you should get yourself an account
that lets
you do research and gather information on the Internet (the information
superhighway as it is referred to in the media).
You can even get
an account without having a
computer or modem. The local public libraries (North Miami, NMB,
Aventura and NW
Dade) are
hooked up with terminals that the public can use.
You can also get a free web based e-mail
account without having your
own
computer from gmail, hotmail, yahoo etc.
I would hope that all my students are
already familiar with
the Internet and
e-mail.
Due to viruses school computers
only offer limited web-mail access. As of summer 2013 you can access
many of the most common at school.
Homework should be
emailed to DrG.ATM@gmail.com
E-mail can be used to submit
homework. However, it is important that
you do not
send me files I can not read. Any plain text e-mail message is
readable. Files
that are attached to a message may or may not be readable. Your best
bet is to
convert everything to ASCII (plain text) and send it that way. You may
want to
experiment with test files before you use this for your homework. In
general I
can open Word (up to Office 2010) or WordPerfect (up to version
13), OpenOffice, and google
documents. There
are
online
converter programs that can change virtually any format (OpenOffice
included) into Word. If you make me do it, I'll deduct points. I do not
have a MacIntosh and many Mac specific formats do not convert. All the
Mac programs have a "Save As" function. If you use a Mac, save your
file as something I can read. Almost every program can save
as Adobe "pdf" and everyone can read that.
I no longer accept floppy disks (most computers no longer even have these drives).
Under
some limited circumstances (time
being the issue) USB/flash pen drives can be used.
In an attempt to reduce the amount of
paper I can misplace
and to reduce the number of trees cut down for my classes I am
instituting the
following policy.
Each assignment submitted via email or OneNote will earn an extra 1-2 points on that assignment.
You can’t lose by submitting via email. The only caveat (warning) is that digital submissions are easier to check for plagiarism.BYOD Policy: Bring your Own Device to ATM (BYOD) Settings
Bring
your Laptop or Tablet and
access the internet at school.
The information below is needed to connect.
After you setup the WIFI settings students will need their Portal
Information to be able to access the internet.
A
Prompt will appear on your web browser asking for your username and
password.
We will
occasionally be using computers with Internet connections. We
will be running simulations as well as doing research. Developing these
skills
is critical to success in the modern world.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools has an
acceptable use policy for
students and
faculty.
This policy
basically says, don't do anything
that you wouldn't want to get caught doing!
The complete text can be found at
http://www.dadeschools.net/aup.htm
In the course of the year I/we will probably take a great number of digital pictures, both still and video. You and your parents need to be aware that these pictures may be posted on the Internet and/or used in press releases etc. for Alonzoand Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus. Student names will not be used in these cases without specific permission.
Start preparing yourself early. We at ATM have a great CAP counselor and program. Get your email on her list!
Take every test that is offered. Take the PSAT in 9th, 10th and 11th grades.
Take the ACT (for reasons that escape me, our students do substantially better on the ACT than on the SAT).
Check out the NYTIMES
- Stanley Kaplan question of the day, daily. Make it a
routine. It is free
help. If you start in 9th grade you can go over 1000 questions by the
time the
SAT counts for you!
Check
out
Free
Rice
You
are not required to laugh at my jokes. But
it helps keep me in a good mood!
Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus
For the 2009-2010 year we were lichens (if you were at ATM). For 2010-2011 we were mosses. For 2011-2012, we were shrubs (maybe ferns.) For the 2012-2013 school year we might be small trees. By 2013-2014 our "trees" are large and beginning to shade some of the young forest. By 2018-19 our forest is looking more mature. In writing, explain that to me by 8/20/2018 (7AM) for a small reward. Do not ask or discuss this with anyone. It is our little secret. (A bigger reward if you email it to me!)
As a hint...it is related to the 2010 AP Biology FRQ-#4 (you can look thesee questions up at the college board site).
In
any document this size there will certainly be errors.
Please point
them out to me politely.
Mostly
harmless
As long as people believe in absurdities, they will continue to commit atrocities. - Voltaire
"Any sufficiently
advanced
technology is indistinguishable from
magic." -Arthur C. Clarke
"Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and
for ability."
"Knowledge itself is power."
"They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea."
"Books must follow sciences, not sciences books."
"I have taken all knowledge to be my province."
Francis
Bacon
"I do not know what I may appear to the
world, but to myself I seem to
have
been only a boy playing on the sea-shore and diverting myself in now
and then
finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the
great
ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."
"If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
Isaac
Newton
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety
nine percent
perspiration."
Thomas
Alva Edison
"The time has come', the walrus said, `to
talk of many things:
Of shoes- and ships- and sealing wax- Of cabbages- and kings-
And why the sea is boiling hot- And whether pigs have wings."
Lewis
Carroll
"It is a capitol mistake to theorize before
one has data."
"..when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Arthur
Conan Doyle
"A likely impossibility is always preferable
to an unconvincing
impossibility."
Aristotle
"Give me but one firm spot on which to stand,
and I will move the
earth"
Archimedes
"Problems worth
of attack-
prove their worth
by hitting back."
"The road to wisdom-
Well is plain and simple
to express:
Err
and err
and err again
but less
and less
and less."
both by Piet Hien
"Sir, you have tasted two whole worms; you have hissed all my mystery lectures and been caught fighting a liar in the quad; you will leave by the next town drain."
William
Archibald Spooner
"The terms and circumstances of human
existence can be expected to
change
radically during the next human lifespan. Science, mathematics, and
technology
will be at the center of that change-causing it, shaping it, responding
to it.
Therefore, they will be essential to the education of today's children
for
tomorrow's world.
-All children need and deserve a basic education in science, mathematics, and technology that prepares them to live interesting and productive lives.
-Scientific habits of mind can help people in every walk of life to deal sensibly with problems that often involve evidence, quantitative considerations, logical arguments, and uncertainty; without the ability to think critically and independently, citizens are easy prey to dogmatists, flimflam artists, and purveyors of simple solutions to complex problems."
AAAS-Science
for All Americans
Progress is made by trial and failure;
the failures are generally a
hundred times more numerous than the successes; yet they are usually
left unchronicled.- William Ramsay
A physicist is an atom's way of
knowing about atoms. George Wald
Valid criticism does you a favor.-Carl Sagan
© M. Gottfried, Ph.D. 2018
Any resemblance
to the title and format of
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams is purely
complimentary, and it is with great sadness I must report that Douglas
Adams
passed away May 11, 2001