General Science 190 and 191
Fall 2025
Instructor Information
Instructor’s Name: Eric Baer
Instructor’s Office: 29-3??
Student Drop-In Hours (when I will be in my office): TBD, Saturday classes.
Instructor’s Email Address: ebaer@highline.edu
Instructor’s Office Phone: 206-592-3513
The best way to contact me is by email. I will respond within 1 business day except in
extraordinary circumstances or when an out-of-office reply indicates otherwise.
What are Office Hours/Drop-In Hours
Office hours are times for one-on-one conversations about anything on your mind, be it class
assignments, questions about class material, feedback you have about the course, degree
planning, career choices.
Course Information
Class meets Monday 2:00pm - 3:10pm
This is a late start class so we only meet Sept 29- Dec 1
Class Location: Bldg. 29, Room 106
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Course Description
Do you want to learn more about recent discoveries and exciting topics in science and technology?
Are you curious about black holes, the chemistry of chocolate, the science of sleep, ocean
acidification, and more? These are just some of the topics that have been covered in science
seminar. The class is a series of Interactive workshops on the latest exciting news and research in
STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) presented by experts in the field. Presenters pick
topics interesting and accessible for audiences of all ages, with or without a science background.
Come learn about a wide range of current and emerging issues in science that touch our everyday
lives!
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will identify the scientific significance of the topics presented.
2. Students will discuss the relationship of the scientific topics presented to their own lives or
fields of study
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Text(s) and Other Required Materials
None
How to Succeed in this Course (Expectations for Students)
Regular Attendance - Attendance is required at all science seminars. If you have an illness or
family emergency please e-mail me so that it does not affect your grade.
Be Present and Mindful - The speakers have taken time out of their busy schedule to prepare an
interactive talk for you. Give them your full attention.
Take notes - You will need these for the weekly discussions which are 35% of your grade. You
will also need these later when you choose one seminar to give your 'final exam' infographic on.
Ask Questions - This is your chance to ask experts in the field! Take advantage of this
opportunity. You also show appreciation for the speaker’s talk by asking them questions which
show that you listened. It does not have to be the most advanced question in the world 😊 but
ask them to say more on something that you found interesting or to clarify something you
found confusing or even ask them to share something about their career path.
Do the Assignments on Early – the weekly discussions are best done soon after the seminar
when the talk is fresh in your memory. You also have to respond to other students’ posts so
submitting late hurts the whole class.
Challenge Yourself To Reflect Deeply - this is a unique class in that you are not mastering a set
of content but exploring new modern topics in STEM. Be curious, research the topic, learn
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more, draw connections to your own life, goals and interests. Pay attention to STEM in the news
and bring your questions to everything in the world around us.]
Our Course Assignments and weight:
Attendance: 50%. You are expected to be present at all seminars. One absence will be excused,
but more than that will impact your grade.
Canvas Discussions: 50%. These are due Fridays at 11:59 pm. Weekly discussions are a way to
synthesize what you have learnt that week as a community. Each Canvas discussion will ask you
to reflect on what you learnt from that week’s science seminar. Each discussion is 10pts. To get
full credit you have to post and comment on 2 other students' posts. Posts should be
thoughtful, respectful and in full sentences. The original post is worth 8 points and each reply is
worth 1 point.
No late work is accepted.
General College Grading Policy
Only grades of a 0.7 or above will earn credit at Highline College. Below 0.7, the assigned grade
is a 0.0.
Program Specific Grading Policies
Grade Table
>94% = 4.0
94% = 3.9
93% = 3.8
92% = 3.7
91% = 3.6
90% = 3.5
89% = 3.4
88% = 3.3
87% = 3.2
86% = 3.1
85% = 3.0
84% = 2.9
83% = 2.8
82% = 2.7
81% = 2.6
80% = 2.5
79% = 2.4
78% = 2.3
77% = 2.2
76% = 2.1
75% = 2.1
74% = 2.0
73% = 2.0
72% = 1.9
71% = 1.9
70% = 1.8
69% = 1.8
68% = 1.7
67% = 1.6
66% = 1.5
65% = 1.4
64% = 1.3
63% = 1.2
62% = 1.1
61% = 1.0
60% = 1.0
<60% = 0.1
0.0
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