Welocome to Earth Science and the Environmet

Welcome to Earth Science and the Environment Geology 102 telecourse, Spring 2010

Where did we come from? Are there other ‘Earths’ out there? Is the Earth heating up? Why are gas prices so variable? Are wind farms necessary? Coal fired electric plants in Kansas? Ethanol? Of all those threats to the environment on the news, what do I need to really worry about??

This course will examine the history of the Earth; the prerequisites for planetary life; the formation and description of rocks and minerals; the evolution of human cultural attitudes towards the natural world; methods for finding, extracting, and conserving non-renewable natural resources and energy sources, as well as exploring alternatives. We will learn about the prediction, amelioration, and responses to a wide variety of natural and man-made hazards and disasters. Students who complete this course should have a better understanding of the Earth and especially the science behind many of the contemporary issues and challenges that effect our environment. We will look at how human activities influence the physical world and look at future constraints on having "the Good Life" as we know it….. all this in one interesting and easily digestible package of reading, videos, lecture and discussion! What a deal!

You have opted to take this class as a telecourse. Telecourses are designed to provide students with maximum scheduling flexibility while providing a learning experience as rigorous as traditional lecture courses. In general, telecourses demand extra study time and a high degree of self-motivation. You will be setting your own study time, goals and self-evaluations. We will be meeting on campus only six times for two hours each class. Those hours will be devoted to answering your questions, explaining particular concepts that may need to be expanded, as well as quizzes/exams to check your progress. For this time to be used most profitably, it is essential that you come to class well prepared on the assignments in the syllabus. The remainder of our in-class time will be devoted to lectures related to the course material and/or hands-on activities; occasionally an appropriate video may be shown in class.

Here are some tips for classroom preparation.

1) Keep a calendar of class meetings and assignments- give yourself some slack in preparation and avoid test anxiety by doing the reading and videos well in advance and then reviewing for class (it sinks in better that way than by the traditional night- before- the test- cramming method; and you will be relying on this information more than once.)

2) Make full use of the support material available, including the publisher's website with self-tests, instructor- provided guides, the study questions and vocabulary checks at the end of the text chapters, and – of course – ask questions during on-campus meetings.

3) View and review the video lessons carefully. You are viewing not just for entertainment but for factual content. These video lessons take the place of lectures and the information contained will make up a good part of the tested material. Unlike in-class lectures, important points may not be repeated or emphasized. If you rely on the Media Center broadcasts, be sure to record them. Whatever format you choose, do use the pause and rewind functions to make sure you are ‘getting’ and taking good notes on the essential information.

4) Make a commitment to attend all classroom meetings. If you must miss a class, make prior arrangements with the instructor in person or by e-mail. You are still responsible for lecture material, assignments and handouts from a missed class. Make-up quizzes are discouraged. An un-excused missed quiz will count as your dropped lowest quiz and any make-ups will generally be more demanding than those taken with the rest of the class. These make-up quizzes are given at the Testing Center which charges $8.00 per quiz. There is no make-up for the final.

5) As you learn new facts and concepts, try to relate them to your own life and experiences. What might be the implications for your future?

1 WSU Course Information: Geology 102 Earth Science and Environment Spring 2009 Meeting Days Meeting Time Site Building Room 23113 Saturday mornings 10:00AM – 12:00 PM WSU- Main Geology Bldg. 101 Dates: Jan. 23; Feb. 6; Feb. 20 March 6; March 27; April 10; Instructor Name: (Prof.) Toni K. Jackman Instructor Contact Information: Office: WSU, Geology Building, Room 109 Office hours: Friday afternoons of class weeks; after class or by arrangement. Phone: Messages via main geology office: (978-3140) These are often delayed in getting to me. Email: [email protected] (this is much more efficient than telephone messages) Please make sure you include the class you’re in (Env. Geol. -Sat), as well as the topic in the subject line Discourteous or un-signed e-mails may not be answered (text message abbreviations are frowned on.)

Blackboard: Students may track their exam grades on the WSU Blackboard system. You are strongly urged to check blackboard regularly for announcements and up-dates for the class. This is the main way I have of communicating with you between class meetings.

Course Description: Earth Science and the Environment telecourse 3 Credit Hours. This course will meet for a total of 6 classes or 12 hours including the Final Exam as scheduled. Additional lecture material is presented in a series of video presentations viewed by broadcast, DVD or streaming video.

Required Materials and Supplies: Text: Geology and the Environment By: Pipkin, Trent, Hazlett, and Bierman 5th edition Video: Preserving the Legacy – available for rent on DVDs from the Bookstore, or via broadcast on Cox channel 13 on Sunday 6-7 PM. These lessons can also be viewed by streaming videos direct to your computer for $35.00- go to http://mrc.wichita.edu/ and click on telecourses- follow the instructions

Website: A publisher provided web site: Thomson NOW offers chapter-specific support materials and practice quizzes. See preface to textbook

Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to help you:

► understand how the relationship between humans and their environment have changed through history and why environmental concerns have recently become so prominent.

► become familiar with the scientific processes (i.e. observation, categorization, forming hypotheses, prediction and critical thinking) and how they are applied to phenomena of the Earth.

► learn the basics of Geology including the materials and processes that define Earth.

► visualize the Earth as a "living" planet, which is constantly undergoing both change and stasis; with particular emphasis on the principles of plate tectonics, related dynamic processes, and the resulting landforms.

► appreciate the Geologic time scale of earth history, while also focusing on the more immediate environmental concerns of the recent human period.

► recognize the major environmental challenges we face today and understand the choices and trades-offs these challenges pose; and apply the general concepts and issues raised in this course to local examples.

► understand how the issues and conflicts discussed in the course are connected to the decisions and choices you will make in your personal life.

2 Course Outline Spring 2009 telecourse Note: To accommodate emergent circumstances, the instructor reserves the right to make reasonable changes in the syllabus during the course.

Date and Lesson Topic Text Chapters Broadcast: Sunday 4-5 PM for following week Class 1 Jan 23 Ch.1 Humans, Geology & the Env. →Intro video (Part II) *see notes at the bottom Intro. & course description Ch. 2 Getting around in Geology Jan 24 #1 : The Delicate Balance –Part I (16) Fundamental Concepts: Ch. 3 Plate Tectonics #2: The Delicate Balance -Part II (17) Systems approach Plate Ch. 4 Earthquakes and Human Activities Jan. 31 #3: The Force of Law (18) tectonics, Rock Types; #4: Health Effects of Hazardous Materials (19) Geological time Class 2 Feb. 6 Ch. 5 Volcanoes Questions from students Ch. 6 Soils, Weathering, &Erosion Feb. 7 #5: Ecology (20) lecture/Review: The Unquiet Ch. 7 Mass Wasting and Subsidence #6: Paths of Pollution (21) Earth Feb. 14 #7: Air : (22) Quiz # 1 over Ch.1-4 and videos #8: Water (23) 1-4 Class 3 Feb. 20 Ch. 8 The Surface Water System Questions from students Ch. 9 Hydrologic Hazards at the Earth’s Feb. 21 #11: Waste –Part I (26) lecture/Review: Importance of Surface #12: Waste –Part II (27) Soil Ch. 15 Waste Management and Geology Feb. 28 #13: Sustaining Earth (28) Quiz 2 over Ch. 5-7 & videos →Ind.. Proc Ind. Proc.(part I) 5-8 #1: Introduction to Waste Stream Management

Class 4 March 6 Ch. 10 Coastal Environments and Humans Questions from students Ch. 11 Glaciation and long term Climate March 7 #2 Physical Treatment technologies Lecture/review: Fluid Earth Change #5: Biological Treatment Tech. Systems- Surface and ground Ch. 12 Arid Lands and desertification March 14 #6: Pollution Prevention-Clearing the Air Water; Kansas Aquifers; plus #7: Pollution Prevention-Bridging waters The Problem of Waste Quiz 3 over Ch. 8, 9, & 15 and videos 11-13 & 1

Spring Break! March 15-21 March 21 #11: The Papermaking Industry #13: The Food and Agriculture Industry

Class 5 March 27 Ch. 13 Mineral Resources and Society March 28 #8: Petroleum Production Questions from students Ch. 14 Energy and the Environment #9: Petroleum Refining Lecture: Climate Change April 4 No video lessons Quiz 4 over Ch. 10- 12 and & Videos 5-7 & 11 & 13 Review for final: TBA Class 6 Apr. 10 *Your video segments for this course consists of two series: Questions from students Intro: =Introduction to Environmental Technology (labeled Part II on rented DVDs) Lecture/review: Energy & Ind. Proc.: = Industrial Processes & Waste Stream Management (labeled Part I). Environmental change Discussion of final section and Bold and underlined video programs are the ones I consider most important and the ones that will be closing remarks covered most thoroughly on the exams. These should be viewed carefully and note taking is recommended. Final Exam: Less emphasis will be placed on the other video programs. (If you are a slow test taker, you may wish to plan for a longer The #s in parenthesis refer to the recording sequence in the rented DVDs. Note: you may view the DVDs class as extra time will be for any particular week in any order available) ** Note: the last class meeting is on April 10

College of Education students in teacher preparation programs should go to the web site below for additional needed information: http://webs.wichita.edu/depttools/depttoolsmemberfiles/COEdHome/COEDSyllabusinformation.pdf

3 Methods of Grading and Evaluation:

To encourage students to keep up with the schedule and to allow the instructor to evaluate how well concepts and material is understood, most meeting will include a quiz covering the assignments for that day as well as the previous lecture. We will have a total of four in-class quizzes. Please bring a #2 pencil to class. Students are allowed a ½ sheet of note-book sized paper (both sides) of notes for each quiz and a full sized page for the final. Each student's lowest-of- four test score will be dropped from the final tally (a missed quiz will count as the low score.) These quizzes will serve in place of a mid-term. There will be a final exam given on the date of the last scheduled meeting. While including one section covering the material from the last unit, the majority of the final exam will be comprehensive. Additional time will be available on the Final day for those who need it.

Students are encouraged to submit an optional short term paper dealing with some issue or concern raised in the course. There will be some leeway in choosing a topic to compliment their interests, however all papers must conform to the style and format specified at the time of assignment. Instructions will be provided in class and in Blackboard.

In addition, students will be expected to submit at least three (required) and up to six (3 additional ones for ex. cr.) Environmental/Geology Media Reports. Instructions for these reports will be discussed in class and posted on Blackboard. I encourage you to begin checking the local newspapers, magazines, news websites etc. for stories related to the topics we'll be examining. These can serve as subjects for your Event Reports, suggestions for the optional term paper, or just interesting subjects to discuss in class. Other opportunities for extra credit will be announced throughout the course. Extra credit will prove useful when grades fall just short of a cut-off point

Students will be evaluated on the basis of his/her performance on the following: regular in-class quizzes and a cumulative final exam. Up to 7% of the grade can be improved through extra credit opportunities; 3-6 Environmental Geology Reports; attendance and reports on various lecture events; other projects &/or homework assignments including an optional term paper, and other opportunities announced in class.

In general, the following accepted grade cutoffs for exams- based on the percentage of points earned compared to total possible- will be observed.

Grading Scale 90-100 A Distinguished achievement 75-89 B Superior achievement 65-74 C Average achievement 55-64 D Below average achievement <55 F Failing work

However, some work may be graded with letter grades directly and the instructor reserves the right to review cumulative grades and slightly restructure the grading to better reflect the relative performance of the class.

Students are encouraged to study together for mutual improvement in both understanding and overall grade, however, individual graded projects, papers and reports are to consist of your own work.

Course Requirements You will be responsible for textbook reading assignments; telecourse material, lecture material, and any material handed out during the on-site class meetings or posted on Blackboard, as well as homework. Quizzes and exams may cover any of this material.

Grading will be based on the following breakdown: In-class quizzes------60% (20% each - lowest of 4 quiz grades will be dropped) Final Exam------35% Assignments ------5%

4 General Policies: You should be familiar with WSU Policies and Requirements as outlined in the student handbook.

Academic Honesty: Effective learning may involve differences of opinion and views between the student and faculty. Students are responsible, however, for learning the content of courses of study outlined by the instructor, regardless of how the student feels privately. This level of knowledge must be reached in an honest and forthright manner. Students who compromise the integrity of the academic process are subject to disciplinary action on the part of the college. Violations include: 1. Cheating, in any form, whether in formal examinations or elsewhere. 2. Plagiarism, using the work of others as one's own without assigning proper credit to the source. 3. Misrepresentation of any work done in the classroom or in preparation for a class. 4. Alteration of any documents pertaining to academic records. 5. Disruptive behavior in a course of study or abusiveness toward faculty or fellow students. Students violating such standards must accept the consequences, which may include a failing grade, suspension or dismissal from school.

In this class- students are encouraged to study together for mutual improvement in both understanding and overall grade, however, individual projects, papers, reports and exams should be your own work.

People define who they are by the decisions they make. I trust that all my students will decide to try their best, take no unethical shortcuts, and accept the grade they earn through their own efforts.

In-Class decorum: Students are strongly urged to use campus meetings as an opportunity to bring up questions or concepts for further explanation and discussion. This is one of the most important functions of the on-site meetings. The instructor welcomes discussion of new topics and differences of opinion (see academic honesty section above).

Please turn off cell phones, beepers on watches and other annoyances while in class. ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONE USE DURING EXAMS!

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes and to be punctual. Some assignments/quizzes will be in- class only. If you must leave early, please sit at the back of the class and do so with a minimum of distraction to the instructor and other students.

Late/Make-up Assignments. Students who make prior arrangements with the instructor or have a legitimate emergency as determined by the instructor may be given the opportunity of making up an in-class exam. However, the make-up will be different in form and content and may consist of an essay exam, oral exam, or mixed type. Students missing a session are still responsible for lecture material, assignments and handouts that they may have missed. An effort will be made to have additional copies of handouts and assignments posted in an envelope on instructor's office door. You may also check with instructor during office hours or via e-mail.

Other Information: Drop Policy: It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop a class. ● See the Schedule of Courses for tuition refund deadlines.

I like to imagine that students, who have invested time and money in a course, want to learn as much as they can (the biggest bang for the buck) and I hope to make that achievement as pleasant as possible.

If you want one year of prosperity, plant corn. If you want 10years of prosperity, plant a tree. If you want 100 year of prosperity, educate people.” Chinese proverb