CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE"

Irma Bell
6 years ago
Views:

1 CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE Geo 120QR, Environmental Geography Please use this document to access class policies, evaluation criteria, and due dates for assignments, and exams. Instructor Information: Austin Jena Krause Phone: (989) Office: Dow Science Complex 237C Office Hours: Tuesdays 1pm-3:30pm, Wednesdays 9:30am-12pm, and by appointment Course Information: Course:120QR Environmental Geography Course Reference #: Course Credit: 3 (3-0) Term: Fall I (1/11/2016 3/4/2016) 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 120QR 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. 1

2 Required Textbook: Cunningham, W. P., and M. A. Cunningham, Environmental Science: A Global Concern, 13 th Edition, McGraw Hill Education Student Purchase options: 1. CONNECT Plus/Smartbook stand alone ISBN: (you may purchase directly from McGraw Hill Education You will have the option to purchase the looseleaf text to accompany Connect through McGraw Hill s website for an additional $15 after you initial Connect purchase. Please me if you have questions. 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 two week period). Once you've completed your selection, you'll arrive at the start of your first Connect assignment. 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 or hardback 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 a given 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. Again, you access Smartbook readings and assignments through Blackboard. Please me as soon as possible if you are having trouble with registering. Assigned readings are due at the end of each week (Sunday). 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 January 15, 2016 Assignment 1: Using Google Earth (20 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday January 17, 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 2

3 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 January 24, 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 Smartbook Read: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Assignment 3: Graphing Global Water Stress and Scarcity, Examining Water Pollution (20 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday January 31, 2016 Assignment 7 Part 1: Get to know your Partner (8 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday January 31, 2016 Module 4 (Week 4): The Lithosphere and Humans Read: Learning Module 4 Physical Nature of the Earth s Crust, Soils, Energy Read: Chapters 10, 11, 14, and 19 through Smartbook Read: PowerPoint presentations for each chapter Assignment 4: Mapping and Graphing Pesticide Use (16 points) Due: before 11:59 PM Sunday February 7, 2016 Assignment 7 Part 2: Get to know your environment (10 points) Due: before 11:59 PM Sunday February 7, 2016 Exam 1 Complete Exam 1 by 11:49PM Sunday February 7, 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 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 February 14, 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 3

4 Assignments: Week 6: 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 February 21, 2016 Assignment 7 Part 3: Scientific Report on your impact on your environment (45 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday February 21, 2016 Week 7: Assignment 7 Part 4: The Environment in your Backyard Partner Presentation (20 points) Due: before 11:59PM Sunday February 28, 2016 Week 8: Assignment 8: Energy Calculations, Plotting Urban and Economic Indicators, Evaluating the Limits to Growth (39 points) Due: before 11:59PM Friday March 4, 2016 Exam 2 Complete Exam 2 by 11:49PM Friday March 4, 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 January 15, 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 two points for completion. Allow approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete a chapter. Due: Sunday of each week. 3. 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 an assignment due at the end of each week designed to provide students the necessary skills to understand and relate to realistic problems that affect everyday life. With the exception of assignment 7, you will be working on your own answering questions to be submitted as Microsoft Word documents that will be graded online through Blackboard. For 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

5 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 February 7, 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 March 4, Extra Credit (up to 20 bonus points) Extra credit will be available for coming to office hours or setting up an appointment. Additionally, a Q & A discussion board thread will be available for you to post questions regarding material and assignments. Extra credit will be given if you post a thoughtful question regarding class content, and or you answer another student s question. Extra credit will not be awarded if questions are too closely related to assignment questions (what s the answer for question X) and if answers explain how to fully answer a question (This is how you get X). Hints are okay (Ex: Look on page because it helps explain X.) Criteria for Evaluation: Final grades for this class will be based on your performance on the syllabus quiz, 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 15 points Readings (23) 46 points Assignments (8) 339 points Module Exams (2) 200 points Total 600 points Extra Credit available: 20 points 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 self-discipline 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. 5

6 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 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 page 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. Tuesdays 1pm-3:30pm, Wednesdays 9:30am-12pm, and by appointment. Dow 237C. 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 120QR. Each module has two to four chapters of assigned reading each week. Each chapter includes a chapter summary, PowerPoint presentation, and key chapter terms. At the end of each week you will need to complete the 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 assignments are prominently displayed in the Course Schedule. There will be 20% penalty per day for submitting assignments after the due date. 6

7 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.pdf format so that I can read the document. If you cannot save your files in Microsoft Word, you can save the file as a.pdf. For assignment 7 part 4, you will be returning your assignment as a PowerPoint with audio. Exams: Two multiple choice/short essay exams are scheduled. Questions will be based on chapter terms and multimedia study questions and 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 Technical support information: The CMU Help Desk: Phone: (989) Chat: helpdesk@cmich.edu, In person: Park Library 101 Available: Mon-Thu 7AM-12AM, Fri 7AM-6PM, Sat 12PM-6PM, and Sun 12PM-12AM. 7

8 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 8

Connect Microbiology. Training Guide

Connect Microbiology. Training Guide 1 Training Checklist Section 1: Getting Started 3 Section 2: Course and Section Creation 4 Creating a New Course with Sections... 4 Editing Course Details... 9 Editing Section Details... 9 Copying a Section