OSU Extended Campus Syllabus GEO 101: THE SOLID EARTH (4 credits)

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1 Instructor: Rebecca Yalcin OSU Extended Campus Syllabus GEO 101: THE SOLID EARTH (4 credits) Course Description from OSU Catalog: This course will introduce you to solid earth processes and materials. Topics include geologic time, earthquakes, volcanoes, earth structure, rocks, minerals and ores. GEO 101 will also focus on solid earth hazard prediction, planning, and resources. Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. Baccalaureate Core: Successful completion of this course partially fulfills OSU s Baccalaureate Core course requirements in the Perspectives category under Physical Science with Laboratory. To completely satisfy the baccalaureate core requirements for science courses with a laboratory component you also need four credits of biological science with laboratory, and an additional four credits in either biological or physical science with laboratory, for a total of 12 credits. Blackboard: This course is entirely online (including labs) and accessed by logging in to OSU s Blackboard system: Details on how to access Blackboard are available from Ecampus: The course will only appear in Blackboard to those who have registered for it. All course materials (lectures, assignments, exams) are distributed online via the Blackboard system. For technical assistance, go to or call Although every effort has been made to ensure that course materials are compatible with a variety of hardware and platforms, internet access and blackboard compatibility is the responsibility of the student. Extensions for missed deadlines due to personal computer or internet access issues will not be granted. If your computer or internet connection fails, simply go to a campus computer lab or your local library to access the course in Blackboard. Required Course Materials: OSU Geology Online Mineral and Rock Set, sold only through the OSU Bookstore. This custom boxed sample set contains 36 mineral and rock samples as well as a mineral identification kit. The sample set is required to complete the lab exercise for Weeks 3, 4 and 6, so please make sure to place your order with the OSU bookstore in time to receive the set by the third week of the term. Note: Purchasing the sample set is in lieu of buying the geology lab manual and paying the lab fee that students taking this course on campus are charged. Recommended Textbook: Dynamic Earth An Introduction to Physical Geology, Fifth Edition, by Skinner, Porter, and Park, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in This textbook is also used in GEO 102 online. Students looking to save money on their textbooks may be able purchase an older edition of this textbook from Amazon at a good price or check out an introductory geology textbook from their local library. Other excellent introductory geology textbooks include Understanding Earth by Press and Siever and Earth: an Introduction to Physical Geology by Tarbuck and Lutgens.

2 Instructor: Rebecca Yalcin Contact Information: or through the discussion board in Blackboard Outline of Topics Covered: Week 1: Introduction to Geology; Formation of the Earth Week 2: Plate Tectonics Week 3: Minerals; Igneous Rocks Week 4: Magma and Volcanoes Week 5: Volcanic Hazards; Midterm Exam Week 6: Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks Week 7: Folds and Faults Week 8: Earthquakes Week 9: Geologic Time Week 10: Earth Resources: Energy and Minerals Week 11: Final Exam Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course students will be able to: 1. Describe, graphically illustrate, and interpret different types of geologic data 2. Read and interpret topographic and geologic maps 3. Make observations of a mineral or rock s physical properties and name the mineral or rock on the basis of those properties 4. Discuss the evidence for plate tectonics in the context of the scientific method 5. Use plate tectonics to explain the formation of different rock types and the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes 6. Explain relationships between surface topography and internal Earth processes 7. Comprehend the enormity of geologic time 8. Understand geologic rates, durations, scales, and explain differences between absolute and relative age dating 9. Explain the physics, distribution, origin of and damage caused by earthquakes 10. Understand the origin, distribution, and classification of volcanoes 11. Predict type of volcanic eruption and associated hazards based on tectonic setting and lava composition 12. Understand the origin and distribution of fossil fuel resources and their implication for future availability of these resources As a baccalaureate core course in physical science this class: 1. Emphasizes elements of critical thinking. In science we can define critical thinking as the ability to gather evidence or observations, evaluate and analyze that evidence, hypothesize or develop explanations, identify assumptions, distinguish verifiable facts from inference or interpretation, and recognize inconsistencies in evidence and reasoning. Simply put, in geology critical thinking emphasizes HOW we know what we know about the earth and how it works. In particular, the skills need to make observations about the natural world are stressed in lecture and lab, and you will learn how to interpret the observations you make as evidence of how Earth processes operate and the clues these processes leave behind. You will also learn how observations can be used to make estimates or predictions for how these Earth processes affect us or may behave in the future. 2. Focuses on the meaning of the fundamental concepts and theories that characterize basic physical science and illustrates, demonstrates, and analyzes natural phenomena and systems. Plate tectonics is the conceptual framework of geology and you will learn how plate tectonics operate and why it explains the occurrence of

3 earthquakes, volcanoes, and related geologic phenomena. Another emphasis area is the formation of different types of rocks, how the textures and compositions of rocks reflect the geologic processes that formed them, and how geologists study rocks to provide a record of earth processes and change over time. 3. Provides historical perspectives and context on the evolution of major theories and ideas. Throughout the course we will examine changing perspectives with respect to the Earth and the processes that have shaped it. You will learn how modern understanding of geologic processes has led to a shift in the way we view the Earth, the processes that shape it, and the resources those processes provide us. 4. Demonstrates interrelationships or connections with other subject areas. A course of study in geology is an integrated science with widespread connections to the basic sciences (chemistry, biology, and physics). We will see many examples of intersections between these subject areas in this course. 5. Examines the nature, value, and limitations of scientific methods and the interaction of science with society. The critical thinking skills you will develop in this class are grounded in the principles of the scientific method (observe, predict, and test). However, sometimes scientists have to make assumptions about what we know in order to make predictions, you will learn to recognize when assumptions are being made and evaluate whether they are reasonable or not. Throughout the course, we also emphasize the application of geologic knowledge to living with potentially hazardous geologic processes of societal interest in the Pacific Northwest, such as earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone and eruptions of Cascade volcanoes such as Mount Hood and Mount Rainier. Course Organization: Students in GEO 101 will work through 10 one-week lessons. Each lesson includes reading two lectures and assigned portions of the text, completion of a two hour laboratory exercise (there is no lab the first or last week of classes), and completion of a Blackboard quiz. Students will also participate in four discussion boards, each open for two weeks, and take a midterm (end of Week 5) and comprehensive final (during Finals Week) on Blackboard. Important: For the purposes of discussion boards, labs, and quizzes, each week will end on Friday at 5 pm (Pacific Time). All assignments (quizzes, labs, discussion board) must be submitted through Blackboard by 5 pm Pacific time on the Friday of the week they are assigned (see course schedule). You will have the weekends to work ahead on the following week s work if you desire. See the Course Schedule for each term posted in the Course Information folder for all specific deadlines. All deadlines are exact and late work is not accepted. For discussion board participation, no points will be awarded if not completed within the weekly time window for completion; in other words it is not possible to make-up discussion board participation. For quizzes, exams, and labs, permission for an extension must be arranged in advance (i.e., before the due date) with the instructor and will only be granted in cases where circumstances beyond the student s control prevent timely completion of the assignment. Final grades are based on the work completed at the end of term. Students should not expect an incomplete if the course is not completed by the end of the term except in extreme and unusual circumstances. Course Requirements and Grading: There are nine weekly quizzes (no quiz the week of the midterm), eight laboratory exercises, four discussion board topics, a mid-term exam, and a comprehensive final exam. These are weighted according to the following table: Weekly Quizzes 20 points each) 180 Laboratory Exercises 25 points each) 200 Discussion Board Participation 15 points each) 60

4 Mid-Term Exam 100 Final Exam 150 Total Points 690 Final grades are based on your point total according to the following scale: A = 634 to 690 points B- = 552 to 564 points D+ = 469 to 482 points A- = 621 to 633 points C+ = 538 to 551 points D = 427 to 468 points B+ = 607 to 620 points C = 496 to 537 points D- = 414 to 426 points B = 565 to 606 points C- = 483 to 495 points F = <413 points Discussion Boards: Active participation in this course is an essential part of your grade, and is accomplished through the discussion board in Blackboard. Discussion board participation is an opportunity for you to express ideas and information in a forum comparable to a classroom discussion. A discussion board question is posted every two weeks (Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8). You have two weeks to post comments and respond to posted comments. You can earn up to 15 points per discussion board by posting an original contribution, asking insightful questions, or responding to your classmates ideas on the week s topic. The questions should be provocative enough that discussion occurs naturally, but in order to encourage participation every student will be required to (1) post an original response to the question by Friday of the first week and (2) post at least two substantive responses to your classmate s posts by Friday of the second week. You are encouraged to make more than the three required postings for each discussion board to receive the highest grade possible. Your grade for each discussion is based on the degree to which your posts contribute to the class discussion. Although the discussion board is informal, please use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation so that everyone can understand your ideas. Writing quality in the discussion boards is important. This means spelling, punctuation, and grammar count! Remember to always be respectful of the opinions and viewpoints of others. Laboratory Exercises: Each week includes a laboratory exercise that will require about two hours on average to complete. Instructions for the lab are provided through Blackboard and any materials needed for the lab will be provided electronically in blackboard or contained in the rock and mineral sample set for this class sold through the OSU bookstore. A calculator and ruler will be helpful for some labs. You will need a compass (for drawing circles) for the earthquake lab. There is no laboratory manual to buy but you do need to purchase the rock and mineral sample set from the OSU bookstore. Be sure to order the sample set in time to receive it by the third week of class as we will begin using it then. Labs are due on Fridays at 5 pm. Each lab includes instructions in PDF format and an answer sheet in Word document format for you to complete. You will submit your completed answer sheet electronically by uploading it to blackboard. A short tutorial on how to do this is provided in the Week 2 folder. Be sure to save your work using your last name and week the lab was due as the file name (example: Smith Lab 2). Save a copy of your finished lab on your computer in case we have any trouble opening your file. The labs are learning activities, meaning you are not expected to know the correct answer to every question (if you did, you wouldn t be learning anything!). I am available for help on the labs, if you find a question you do not know how to answer after thinking carefully about the question and reviewing relevant portions of the lecture and textbook simply ask questions on the general discussion board. I will respond with help within 24 hours. Make sure you start working on the labs before the due date so you can get help if you need it.

5 Teaching Assistant: Your labs will be graded by our teaching assistant, who will make comments on your labs and return your work to you through the blackboard gradebook. Once your lab has been graded, it will show up as a score in the blackboard gradebook. Access the blackboard gradebook by going to tools and then my grades. Click on the score for your lab, this will bring up a new screen where you can download your graded lab. If you have any questions about the grading of your lab, please direct them to your TA. Your TA will post an announcement during the first week of class with their contact information. Question about any other aspect of the course, such as the lab instructions, lecture material, quizzes, or exams, should be directed to the instructor. Quizzes: Every week (except the week of the midterm) there is a short quiz on the current week's lectures and lab. Quizzes consist of ten multiple choice questions and two short answer questions. The quiz must be taken in Blackboard by 5 pm Pacific Time on Friday of that week. Quizzes are open book/note but have a 30 minute time limit so you must be familiar with the material ahead of time. Make an effort to answer each question without referring to your book or notes; any question you cannot answer on your own indicates material that you need to study before the exam! You do not need a proctor in order to take the quizzes. Turn in only your own work in your own words on all course assignments, including the quizzes. To do otherwise is plagiarism and will not be tolerated. A few students in past terms have chosen to answer essay questions on quizzes by cutting and pasting from the lectures. Because all quiz and exam questions come from the lecture material, this is easy enough to do. However, answers cut and pasted from the lecture slides will receive a zero because they demonstrate no knowledge of the material. You would also be cheating yourself of a valuable learning opportunity to get feedback on your comprehension of the material before the exams. Feedback on Quizzes and Exams: Once all of the quizzes or exams for that week are graded, feedback will be made available through Blackboard. You can see how you did on the quiz or exam and what you missed by clicking on your score in the gradebook. The gradebook is accessed by going to My Grades found under course tools in Blackboard. Exams: Exams are proctored, timed and only available for a limited time through Blackboard (see course schedule). You must arrange for a proctor in order to take the mid-term and final exam. Permission to take an exam outside of the scheduled window must be arranged well in advance. Proctors are not needed for weekly quizzes. Exams are a mix of multiple-choice and short essay. Exams are based exclusively on the lectures. This means that if a topic in the textbook is not covered in the lectures, you will not be tested on it. Instead, the textbook is suggested as a resource to help you understand the lectures. You are not allowed to use any printed material (the textbook, course lectures, notes, etc.), nor will you be allowed to access the internet or any other part of the course in Blackboard (such as the lectures) during the exam. Preparing for Exams: The review questions provided at the end of each lecture are a study guide to help prepare you for the exams. Take the time to answer these questions after reading each lecture. Also, review your weekly quizzes. Post any questions you have to the general discussion board.

6 Exam Proctoring Information: Proctored exams are necessary to ensure the academic integrity of grades in courses such as GEO 101 where students are tested on the information provided in the course lectures. However, the proctoring process is straightforward and flexible. First, identify a suitable proctor in your area and make an appointment directly with that person to take your midterm and final exam. Check the course schedule posted in Blackboard once the term begins for the dates the midterm and final will be open in Blackboard. Exams will be available for a minimum of three days and you may take the exam at any time during that window. Permission may be granted to take an exam on an alternate date in extenuating circumstances if arranged well in advance with the instructor. Acceptable exam proctors include college or university testing centers, college or university instructors, public librarians, school teachers, administrators, or counselors, educational service offices on military installations, and work supervisors (if your employer is paying for you to take this course). Unacceptable exam proctors include co-workers, friends, and relatives. Students who can come to Corvallis can take their proctored exams during testing sessions provided by extended campus, while students elsewhere can use testing centers at their nearest university or community college (see list at Once you have chosen your proctor and made an appointment with them, fill out the exam proctoring form at You will need to include the contact information for your proctor. This step is necessary so that ecampus can send your proctor the information for your exam, such as the access code. When you arrive for a proctored exam, your proctor will verify your identity and check your notes (you are allowed one page of handwritten notes during the exam). You will then login to the course in Blackboard, navigate to the exam, and your proctor will enter the password to open the exam. The exams in Blackboard work the same way that the weekly quizzes do. General Discussion Board: Please post questions about the course, labs, deadlines, content, etc. to the general discussion board. I check the general discussion board on a near-daily basis during the term and will reply by posting answers to your questions. This procedure allows the entire class to benefit from the questions and answers provided- chances are if you have a question others have the same question. Other Questions? Contact your instructor by (yalcinr@onid.orst.edu). Note: In past terms students have reported sending me s from blackboard which I have not received. Students have also inadvertently sent s to the entire class through Blackboard that were best kept private with the instructor (such as grade concerns). For these reasons I have disabled the feature in Blackboard. Use your regular account to send s. I will use your OSU ONID address to contact you should the need arise, such as a problem with your quiz or lab. If you have not done so, set up your ONID account using your OSU ID number and pin at If you do not regularly check your ONID account, set it to automatically forward s to your preferred address (see frequently asked questions on the ONID web page). Students with Disabilities: Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Disability and Access Services (DAS). Students with accommodations approved through DAS are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS immediately at

7 Academic Conduct: Your conduct in this class and in your interactions with your fellow students must promote a respectful and collaborative learning environment. You are expected to submit your own work in all your assignments and communications, and to clearly give credit to the work of others when you use it. All quizzes and exams in this course are individual assessments. Academic dishonesty, which includes aiding or receiving aid from other students on quizzes and exams, is not tolerated. Expectations for Student Conduct: Course Evaluation: We encourage you to engage in the course evaluation process each term online, of course. The evaluation form will be available towards the end of each term, and you will be sent instructions by Ecampus. You will login to Student Online Services to respond to the online questionnaire. The results on the form are anonymous and are not tabulated until after grades are posted.