School of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Course Outline for AGSC 132

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN PRECISION FARMING

Fall 2009

WebCT Access of Course Material On-line (for students enrolled in the course)

INSTRUCTOR:

GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION:

AGSC 132 introduces the student to site-specific crop management and precision farming. The course also involves the application of selective computer software and hardware in site-specific crop management.  In addition, the course focuses on providing the student with an overview of the basics of global positioning system (GPS), an introduction to geographic information systems (GIS), and an introduction to remote sensing. Students enrolled in AGSC 132 will be introduced to these important systems through lectures and laboratory exercises. At the successful completion of the course, the student will be expected to have gained practical knowledge of GPS, GIS, and remote sensing technologies an their potential applications in precision agriculture and site-specific crop management.

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES:

OFFICE HOURS:

The instructor has the following designated office hours per week:

• Mondays: 2:00 to 3:50 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. and 3:00 to 3:50 p.m.
• Fridays: 10:00 to 10:50 a.m.

If necessary, students are also encouraged to make appointments to see the instructor at other times. Students with disabilities who require accommodations to fully-participate in the course activities are requested to contact the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester.

CONTACT HOURS AND CLASS SCHEDULE:

AGSC 132 is a two-credit hour course.  It includes three contact hours per week (one for lecture and two for laboratory).  One section of the lecture and three sections of the laboratory are offered during the 2009 Fall semester.  The schedule of the offered sections is as follows:

• AGSC 132 - Section 1 Lecture:  Meets on Tuesdays (4:00 to 4:50 p.m.) in Room 101, Marshall Hall.
• AGSC 132 - Section 01 Lab.:  Meets on Thursdays (2:00 to 3:50 p.m.) in Room 102, Marshall Hall (and at times in the GPS/GIS Computer Laboratory currently located in Room 208 at the Library -- as indicated in the "Laboratory Topics" section of this outline).
• AGSC 132 - Section 02 Lab.:  Meets on Thursdays (11:00 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.) in Room 102, Marshall Hall (and at times in the GPS/GIS Computer Laboratory currently located in Room 208 at the Library -- as indicated in the "Laboratory Topics" section of this outline).
• AGSC 132 - Section 03 Lab.:  Meets on Thursdays (9:00 to 10:50 a.m.) in Room 102, Marshall Hall (and at times in the GPS/GIS Computer Laboratory currently located in Room 208 at the Library -- as indicated in the "Laboratory Topics" section of this outline).

TEXTBOOK(S):

CLASS POLICIES:

• Attendance: First and foremost, students must always plan to be in class on time.  Given the nature of the course, all students are also required to attend all classes and laboratories.  Attendance will be taken during each class session and appropriate actions will be taken when students are absent for more than 20% of the course.  Very few or no absences will be considered during the grading process when the student is close to receiving the next higher letter grade.  No make-up examination will be given without a written medical excuse, family emergency, or prior permission from the instructor.  Students are responsible for all material covered in the class whether presented orally during the lectures (and laboratories) or assigned.

• Student Behavior: As students in a technical program are preparing for a professional career, all students are expected to conduct themselves as professionals (in both manner and dress).Good behavior in the classroom is expected from all students.  Students who engage in unacceptable or disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the class.

  • Eating, drinking, or the consumption of any tobacco products is prohibited in the classroom situation (lecture hall, classroom, laboratory, or field). Doing so may result in the student's dismissal from that class period and will count as an unexcused absence.

  • Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during instruction time. Use of or disruption of class by these devices will result in the student's dismissal from that class period and will count as an unexcused absence. Laptop computers may not be used during the lecture.

• Assignments: This course will include several laboratory exercises and homework assignments (to be turned in electronically, except when otherwise indicated) that will account for 25% of the final grade.  Therefore, it is important that students complete their assignments accurately, neatly, and submit them on time.  Assignments received past the due date will be devalued 5% for each day that the item is late.  No class assignment of any student will be graded (for credit) once the same assignment is corrected and returned to the class.

• Examinations: Class examinations will cover class material, homework and Laboratory assignments, and assigned readings.

• Honesty Policy and Discipline (Due Process): Honesty and integrity are major elements in professional behavior and are expected of each student. Any assignment (including those in electronic media) submitted by a student must be of the student's original authorship. Representation of another's work as the student’s own shall constitute plagiarism. Cheating, in any form, is an unacceptable behavior within all College courses. Students having academic problems should consult with their academic advisor or a college counselor. Instances of cheating will be dealt with in accordance to College policy. Standards of academic honesty and due process procedures for Morrisville State College are located in the Rules, Regulations, and Expectations section of the Student Handbook.

• Things to remember: The material covered in AGSC 132 should be straightforward and easy, only if the student keeps up with this material (understanding earlier lectures and laboratories will be critical to grasping concepts presented in subsequent lectures).  Each student should plan to spend at least three hours per week for every lecture convened in class.  Given the course's focus, students are also urged to spend the time in completing laboratory exercises and course assignments on time (and independently).  Completing assignments well before the due date will give the student a chance to ask questions should s/he encounter problems.  Students also should remember to ask questions of the instructor when they face difficulties, whether inside or outside the classroom.  The instructor has an open-door policy and welcomes the opportunity to visit with students whenever needed.

GRADING/EVALUATION OF STUDENT:

Evaluation is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the student. The purpose of the evaluation is to demonstrate how well the professor has taught and the student has learned specific course materials, the principles, concepts and terms relevant to the covered topics, and to determine the students' ability to apply that knowledge to specific situations.

The breakdown of grading in this course will be as follows:

• Class Participation and Work Ethic ==> 5% of final grade
• Laboratory Exercises ==> 18% of final grade
• Homework Assignments ==> 7% of final grade
• Two Progress Examinations ==> 40% of final grade
• Final Examination (comprehensive) ==> 30% of final grade

The distribution of grades in this course will be based on the A-F College grading scheme. The letter grades correspond to the following percentage scale: A (90-100%), A- (87-89.9%), B+ (83-86.9%), B (80-82.9%), B- (77-79.9%), C+ (73-76.9%), C (70-72.9%), C- (67-69.9%), D+ (63-66.9%), D (60-62.9%), and F (<60%).

OUTLINE OF TOPICS:

*The topics and corresponding dates listed in the tables above are tentative and may be subject to change during the semester.