CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE Geo 120, Environmental Geography

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1 CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE Geo 120, Environmental Geography Please use this document to access class policies, evaluation criteria, and due dates for lab assignments, and exams. Instructor Information: Liann Yates Phone: (989) Office: Dow Science Complex 288 Virtual Office Hours: TBD, and by appointment Course Information: Course: Geography 120 Environmental Geography Course Reference #: Course Credit: 3 (3-0) Term: Spring 2016 Course Description: An introduction to the human use of earth resources, and quantitative examination of select environmental issues from the societal use/misuse of our planet. Satisfies University Program Group IIA: Descriptive Sciences. Prerequisites: None Course Objectives: At the end of Geo 120 you will be able to: Discuss the natural processes that operate within the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Discuss these four spheres as life support systems for human, plant, and animal life. Recognize the global distributional patterns of precipitation, winds, and ocean currents as relating to environmental quality issues. Comprehend the global distributional patterns of soils, climatic zones, and biomes as relating to environmental quality issues. Explain the impacts, both negative and positive, that human activities have on the four spheres. Evaluate the need for global conservation of resources and the concept of sustainable development. Establish a foundation of effective quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills while examining environmental issues. Participate and respond to online discussions or chats in an analytical, courteous fashion. Required Textbook: Cunningham, W. P., and M. A. Cunningham, Environmental Science: A Global Concern, 13th Edition, McGraw Hill Education

2 Student Purchase options: 1. CONNECT Plus/Smartbook stand alone ISBN: (you may purchase directly from McGraw Hill Education) 2. Looseleaf text with CONNECT Plus/Smartbook purchased at the bookstore To Register: click on the Course Modules folder in your Blackboard course, and then click on the Module 1 folder. Click the first LearnSmart reading assignment (Chapter 1). You'll be prompted to either login with an existing Connect account username and password, or to create a new account. Then enter your access code, purchase access online, or begin a free trial period (this is a three week period). Once you've completed your selection, you'll arrive at the start of your first Connect assignment. to register. You are required to register in order to complete this course.*** *Be aware that assigned readings must be completed through McGraw Hill s Smartbook. You are welcome to purchase the looseleaf option if you are more comfortable with a hardcopy. However, you will still need to access the Smartbook in order to complete the readings each week. In order to test understanding and comprehension, the Smartbook will ask you a series of questions. Once you ve successfully completed all questions for that chapter, you will receive 2 points for completion. Although 2 points might not sound like much, you are asked to read 23 chapters over the course of eight weeks. This adds up to just over 7% of your course grade. You can access Smartbook through Blackboard as well as the website listed above. Assigned readings are due at the end of each week. Course Schedule: Module 1 (Week 1): The State of the Planet Today and Concepts of a Sustainable Society Read: Learning Module 1 Introduction, Fundamental Concepts in Environmental Geography Read: Book Chapters 1, 2, and 3 through Smartbook Read: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Syllabus Quiz: Read through syllabus and course website, and complete quiz (15 points) Due: before 11:59PM Friday March 11, 2016 Lab Assignment 1: Using Google Earth (20 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday March 13, 2016 Module 2 (Week 2): Biosphere: Living Organisms, Human Population and Their Environment Read: Learning Module 2 Sustaining Biodiversity, Human Population and Urban Growth Read: Book Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 through Smartbook Read: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Lab Assignment 2: Evaluating Uncertainty, Inspect the Chesapeake s Report Card, Experimenting with Population Growth, Population Change Over Time (46 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday March 20, 2016 Module 3 (Week 3): The Hydrosphere and Humans Read: Learning Module 3 Physical Nature of the Hydrosphere, Water Consumption Read: Chapters 17, and 18 through SmartbookRead: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Lab Assignment 3: Graphing Global Water Stress and Scarcity, Examining Water Pollution (20 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday March 27, 2016

3 Lab Assignment 7 Part 1: Get to know your Partner (8 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday March 27, 2016 Module 4 (Week 4): The Lithosphere and Humans Read: Learning Module 4 Physical Nature of the Earth s Crust, Soils, Energy Read: Chapters 9, 10, 14, and 19 through Smartbook Read: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Lab Assignment 4: Mapping and Graphing Pesticide Use (16 points) Due: before 11:59 PM Sunday April 3, 2016 Lab Assignment 7 Part 2: Get to know your environment (10 points) Due: before 11:59 PM Sunday April 3, 2016 Exam 1 Complete Exam 1 by 11:49PM Sunday April 3, 2016 Exam 1 covers modules 1-4 (100 points). Note: There is a 2-hour time limit, and only one try to take the exam. Please see Online exam tips before taking this exam. Module 5 (Week 5): The Atmosphere and Humans Read: Learning Module 5 Atmospheric Composition, Climate Change Read: Chapters 15 and 16 through Smartbook PowerPoint: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Lab Assignment 5: Reading Climate Graphs, How do we describe climate regions?, Examining the IPCC Assessment Reports, How Is the Air Quality in Your Town? (69 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday April 10, 2016 Module 6 (Weeks 6, 7 and 8): Major Environmental Issues in the U.S. and World Read: Learning Module 6 Sustaining Biodiversity Toxicity and Human Health Waste and Recycling Urban Sustainability Read: Chapters (week 6), 8 and 21 (week 7), 20, 22, and 25 (week 8) through Smartbook PowerPoint: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Lab Assignments: Week 6: Lab Assignment 6: Mapping Geologic Hazards, Energy Use and Standards of Living, Confidence Limits in the Breeding Bird Survey (46 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday April 17,2016 Lab Assignment 7 Part 3: Scientific Report on your impact on your environment (45 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday April 17,2016 Week 7: Lab Assignment 7 Part 4: The Environment in your Backyard Partner Presentation (20 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday April 24,2016 Week 8: Lab Assignment 8: Energy Calculations, Plotting Urban and Economic Indicators, Evaluating the Limits to Growth (39 points) Due: before 11:59PM Friday April 29, 2016

4 Exam 2 Complete Exam 2 by 11:49PM Friday April 29, 2016 Exam 2 covers modules 5-6 (100 points). Note: There is a 2-hour time limit, and only one try to take the exam. Please see Online exam tips before taking this exam. Assignments and Due Dates 1. Syllabus Quiz (15 points Week 1) The purpose of this quiz is to familiarize you with the course structure, due dates, and graded assignments. There will be 10 questions and contains a mixture of true/false and multiple choice answer questions. Due: Friday March 11, Smartbook Readings (2 point each, 46 points total) You are assigned 2-4 chapters to read each week. To ensure that you complete the readings for each week, you ll need to access McGraw Hill s Smartbook. Smartbook creates a personalized reading experience. As you use Smartbook, it will adapt content based on what you know or don t know and will help you focus on the content you are weak in. As you read through the material, Smartbook will ask you questions. Once you finish the reading and successfully complete the questions, you will be awarded a point for completion. Allow approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete a chapter. Due: Sunday of each week. 3. Lab Assignments (16 69 points each, 339 points total) This course is designed to introduce you to environmental geography issues with a quantitative reasoning component. There will be a lab assignment due at the end of each week designed to provide students the necessary skills to understand and relate to realistic problem that affect everyday life. With the exception of Lab assignment 7, you will be working on your own answering questions to be submitted via Microsoft Word documents that will be graded online through Blackboard. For lab assignment 7, you will be randomly paired up with another classmate to work together to complete the assignment. Please see the instructions and grading rubrics on Blackboard for more details. 4. Exams (100 points each, 200 points total) After you finish the first 4 modules, you will take exam 1. The exam will be a combination of multiple choice, and short essay questions. You will have a two-hour time limit, and only one attempt. The exam will become available 2 days before the due date. Due: Sunday April 3, 2016 Exam 2 will cover modules 5-6 and the format will be same as exam 1. Exam 2 will also become available two days before the due date. Due: Friday April 29, 2016 Criteria for Evaluation: Final grades for this class will be based on your performance on the syllabus quiz, lab assignments, and exams. The assessment scheme is listed below. Please see the course schedule for due dates. Grades and feedback will be posted under Course Grades on Blackboard. Syllabus Quiz Readings (23) Lab Assignments (8) Module Exams (2) Total 15 points 46 points 339 points 200 points 600 points

5 Numerical Grading Scale A C A C B D B D B D C+ Below 360 E Course Policies and Procedures: Expectations for the Student Distance learning is self-directed learning. It requires a high level of responsibility, dedication and selfdiscipline on the part of the student. In this course, you are responsible for your own work, your own progress, and your own grade. In order to succeed, you need to log in to the course regularly to check announcements, do the readings, and access course content. While this course does not require memorization, it does require that you spend time locating relevant course content. More importantly, know how terms relate to other terms, in terms of advantages/disadvantages, how terms might rank, how terms relate to real world examples, and how terms relate to textbook figures. Etiquette: Communication Courtesy Code. All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all messages, Q & A discussion postings, group lab assignments and virtual office hours/chats. Respect each other in discussion board and chat sessions. Indeed, you will be evaluated on the courtesy with which you respond to your classmates. Please write your name at the end of discussion postings/questions and messages. CMU and Blackboard Announcements. It is very important that you access your Central Michigan University (cmich) often, at least several times a week because all the messages sent from this class go to your cmich.edu account. Visit and log in to access Blackboard and your cmich . Alternatively, will direct you to Blackboard, and mail.cmich.edu will direct you to your account. You are encouraged to read the Announcements for any important and updated information regarding this course every day. Expectations for the Instructor Availability. I will check my daily. I will respond to course related questions within hours. I will announce any updates in the course units and reminders through the Announcement page every week. Office Hours. To be announced via the Announcement Portal on the Blackboard site. Grading and Feedback. I will provide feedback of submitted assignments within a week after the deadline. Announcements. I will post announcements and reminders at least once a week to Blackboard. Policies and Procedures How the course is organized and turning in work. There are six units or modules for Geo 120. Each module has two to four chapters of assigned reading each week. Each chapter includes a chapter

6 summary, PowerPoint presentation, and key chapter terms. At the end of each week you will need to complete the lab assignment. There are exams at the end of the fourth and sixth modules (week 4 and week 8). The first exam covers modules one through four; the second exam covers modules five and six. Deadlines. Odd things happen in cyberspace submissions get lost, servers disconnect temporarily, and logins fail. Do not wait until the last minute to do your work. Do not wait until the last minute to order your textbook. I cannot give late exam/assignment extensions because you don't have access to the textbook. Allow time to meet deadlines. Check for feedback on the graded assignments. You are responsible for getting the work to me on time. Late Work. Each week's work must be completed by the required deadline posted in the Course Schedule. Due dates for the lab exercises are prominently displayed in the Course Schedule. There will be 20% penalty per day, including Saturday and Sunday, for submitting assignments or discussion posts after the due date. What Proof Is Necessary to be Excused from the Late Policy or a Missed Exam? Providing a note, with contact information, from 1) physician 2) pharmacist or 3) auto mechanic or tower (in case of car breakdown). Missed assignments or exams cannot be made up without written excuses. Assignment file formats. Please return assignments in the Word document (.doc(x)) or.rtf. format so that I can read the document. If you cannot save your files in Microsoft Word, you can save the file as.rtf. Exams: Two multiple choice/short essay exams are scheduled. Questions will be based on chapter terms and multimedia study questions and lab assignments. Exams are timed: 30 multiple choice questions and seven short essay questions will need to be answered within TWO HOURS. Given the timed format of the exams, spelling and grammar errors will not count against you. Spelling and grammar are evaluated on assignments. Exams will become available to take two days before the date scheduled on the Course Schedule page. Although exams are open book don t count on an open book format to deliver a good grade. Exams are timed and there are challenging questions to be answered within the timed two-hour format. Know exactly where to find the concepts listed on the study guide, allowing you the opportunity to quickly write up a correct response to the short essay questions. Rarely will you simply have to define a term. The short essays involve that you provide examples, evaluate advantages/disadvantages, list locations, justify a ranking, compare/contrast, and show relationships between terms and for terms. In the past, many students waited until the last two hours to take the exam. Some ran into computer problems. Most of those taking exams at the last minute did poorly. Please do not wait until the last minute to take the exam. Allow enough time to correct any computer malfunction that might occur. Only questions submitted before the deadline will be evaluated. ADA Statement CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities, or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should contact the instructor as early as possible. Academic Integrity Statement Written or other work in which a student submits in a course shall be the product of his/her own efforts. Plagiarism, cheating, and all other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Student expected to adhere to the ethical and professional standards associated with their programs and academic courses. Copies of the Policy on Academic Integrity may be accessed at

7 Technical support information: The CMU Help Desk: Phone: (989) Chat: In person: Park Library 101. Available: Mon-Thu 7AM-12AM, Fri 7AM-6PM, Sat 12PM-6PM, and Sun 12pm. What They Help With: Global ID's, Central domain passwords, cmich accounts and Blackboard access problems. Self help materials are also available at: Computer Software Requirements to Take this Class: Updated web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari) Microsoft Office applications including PowerPoint Adobe Reader Google Earth: Video players such as Quick Time, and Flash Here are the web addresses for receiving the free players: a. Quick Time: b. Flash: c. Adobe Reader: Distance Learning Resource Center: Please go to this website for Blackboard Tutorials, technical requirements and FAQs from online learners