GEOL 1301.001 - Fundamentals of Earth Science - Fall 2021 - SFA
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
GEOL 1301.001 – Fundamentals of Earth Science – Fall 2021
College of Sciences & Mathematics – Stephen F. Austin State University
Instructor: Dr. Liane Stevens (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Department: Geology
Email: stevenslm@sfasu.edu
Office: Miller Science, Room 311
Phone: 936-468-2024 (business hours)
Student Hours (Zoom): M 2-4:00 p.m., W 9:30-11:00 a.m., R 1:00-2:30 p.m., or by
appointment. Zoom links on Brightspace.
Welcome! In this course we will explore how we interact with our home planet by focusing on
fundamental Earth processes, resources, natural hazards, and the scientific process. I want to help you
become an informed citizen who is prepared for challenges including choosing a safe home location,
understanding your water and energy resources, and discussing current events such as climate change
and environmental justice. I also want to introduce you to the many wonders of geology and help you
develop greater appreciation of the Earth. Your goal for this or any other class you take should be to
build your knowledge and learn something that excites you. This is different from getting a good grade.
You can earn an A but take nothing meaningful from the course, but if you earn a C and learn things
that fascinate you and become part of you, you will have achieved something very valuable. Bring
meaning to your life and education by working for growth, not a grade.
Course Description: Fundamentals of Earth Science. Three hours lecture (GEOL 1301, 3 credits), with
laboratory (GEOL 1001, 0 credits). An introduction to the fundamental principles of Earth Science.
Topics include Earth’s structure and surface landforms; mineral and energy resources; geologic hazards
such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and landslides; water resources; and the unifying theory of plate
tectonics. No prerequisites. Corequisite GEOL 1001.
Course Modality: This is a full-semester hybrid course that combines livestream (Zoom) and online
(asynchronous) modes. All lectures will be held live via Zoom. There will be no face-to-face lecture
meetings; you do not need to be on campus for lecture.
Lecture (GEOL 1301): We will meet on Zoom for our scheduled lecture periods, Mondays and
Wednesdays, 1-1:50 p.m.; you will find the Zoom link and password on Brightspace. All other course
work (readings, assignments, quizzes) will be online (Brightspace). There is a detailed course schedule
at the end of this syllabus.
Lab (GEOL 1001): You will receive a single, combined final GEOL 1301 course grade on your transcript;
lab work from GEOL 1001 (0 credits) is worth 30% of your final GEOL 1301 course grade. I am not at all
involved with the lab sections. The labs are administered by Mr. Wesley Turner (turnerwl@sfasu.edu)
and taught by graduate teaching assistants. Your lab instructor will give you a Lab Syllabus that outlines
lab-specific policies. If you have questions about lab assignments, please contact your lab instructor.
Mr. Turner will provide me with your lab grade at mid-semester and before the end of the semester.
1Required Course Materials:
• Access to a computer and internet. We will use: Zoom, Microsoft Office (you have access to Office
365 on campus), your online textbook (website), other websites/apps, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• An Introduction to Geology, Johnson, Affolter, Inkenbrandt & Mosher, Salt Lake Community
College: http://opengeology.org/textbook/. Access to this free, online textbook is required.
• You will need a method for taking good notes and any tools that will keep you organized. I strongly
recommend a calendar/planner/app to track deadlines and class meetings.
Program Learning Outcomes: There are no specific program learning outcomes addressed in this
course. It is a general education core curriculum course and/or service course.
Student Learning Outcomes: After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
SLO 1. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental geologic concepts as they relate to Earth processes and landscape
evolution through geologic time (CO 1, 3).
SLO 2. Use quantitative reasoning to interpret geologic data (tables, figures, graphs) from primary research, data
assimilation, and models to assess the differences in competing scientific theories associated with rock formation
(CO 1, 3).
SLO 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and the influences on geologic
reasoning associated with identifiable and testable hypotheses of geologic processes (CO 1, 4).
SLO 4. Critically assess the interrelationships between geologic phenomena and communicate the resulting conclusions in
oral, visual, and written formats (CO 1, 3, 4).
SLO 5. Demonstrate an understanding of the skills and attitudes necessary for effective teamwork in collaborative learning
activities (CO 3, 4).
General Education Core Curriculum Objectives/Outcomes: By enrolling in Fundamentals of Earth
Science, you are also enrolling in a Core Curriculum Course that fulfills 3 hours of the Life and Physical
Science requirement. The Texas Higher Education Coordination Board has identified six core learning
objectives: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, Teamwork,
Personal Responsibility, and Social Responsibility. SFA is committed to the improvement of its general
education core curriculum by regular assessment of student performance on these six objectives.
These objectives will be assessed in the lab corequisite of this course (GEOL 1001).
Course Format: Online modules (readings, activities, quizzes) will introduce you to course content,
which we will further explore during class Zoom lectures. The course is divided into four themes, each
ending with an exam. We will study examples of Texas regional geology, and we’ll take time to answer
your questions about the Earth and science. Your progress during the semester will be assessed
through module activities and quizzes, a semester project, and four exams. Your work in the
corequisite GEOL 1001 lab, which provides hands-on experience with minerals, rocks, and energy
resources, is included in your GEOL 1301 course grade.
Workload: A unit of credit is the semester hour, defined by the federal government as one class
meeting per week (or its equivalent) for one 15-week semester. For each semester hour, you are
expected to spend at least 2 hours per week in preparation and study. To complete this 3-credit course
successfully, you are expected to spend 9+ hours per week on 1) completing modules; 2) attending
Zoom lectures; 3) completing assignments, including the Semester Project and labs; 4) reviewing your
notes, modules, and other course materials on a regular basis; and 5) studying for exams.
2Brightspace: All course content, modules, and useful resources are posted in the Brightspace (D2L)
learning environment, which you can access through mySFA. It is your responsibility to check the site
regularly to keep up with assignments and course announcements. Grades will be posted on
Brightspace, but the grades Brightspace calculates may differ slightly from my Excel grades, which are
final. Please do not email me through D2L; instead, contact me directly at stevenslm@sfasu.edu. For
technical assistance with Brightspace, please contact 936-468-1919, d2l@sfasu.edu,
https://www.sfactl.com/student-support, or the Virtual Lab zoom hours (see purple box on the
Brightspace home page).
Online Modules: Modules present critical course concepts, and include readings, activities, videos,
discussions, quizzes, and/or review questions. You will be assigned 2-3 modules per week, and each
must be completed by its deadline (1:00 p.m. on the date listed in the course schedule). Every module
activity with a clear product or outcome (discussion post, quiz, recording, task, etc.) will be graded. It is
your responsibility to complete the modules in a timely manner, as familiarity with module content will
be essential to your understanding of course lectures. You will likely have questions or encounter
problems as you work, so do not hesitate to ask questions by email, drop into student hours, or post
questions on the class FAQ.
Readings: Readings are primarily from course modules, but are supplemented by an openly accessible
(free) online textbook. Reading assignments and associated module activities must be completed prior
to attending class in order for you to effectively participate in course activities. Additional readings may
be assigned for discussion.
Class Meetings: It is your responsibility to take good notes during class meetings so that you have a
record of concepts, chalkboard sketches, activities, and discussions not included in my image-heavy
PowerPoint slides. Hint: If I am sketching, you should be sketching. During lecture periods I may also
ask you to unmute yourself to answer a question, ask or answer questions in the chat, or use another
website or app to participate in lecture activities. All slides and other lecture materials will be posted
on Brightspace after class. You do not have my permission to record lectures or screenshot slides.
Asynchronous Minutes: This course includes instructional time that is delivered asynchronously.
Examples of asynchronous instruction may include written content, video content, discussions, case
studies, synthesis exercises, reflection activities, peer review, and/or skills practice.
Semester Project: You will produce a project that explores a course topic beyond what we cover in
class. The general requirements are 1) the project is clearly and directly related to Earth
Science/Geology, 2) you produce new data or observations for your project, and 3) you produce a
finished, shareable project that clearly demonstrates what you’ve learned. Your final product may be in
any form you choose (with approval). Project deadlines are on the course schedule on the last page of
this syllabus. Project details and topic suggestions will be provided at the beginning of the semester.
3Exams: Four exams are scheduled for this semester. Each course theme ends with an exam that tests
course concepts, including lecture material, readings, activities, and discussions; material covered
strictly in lab is not included. Exams contain a variety of question types, such as multiple choice,
matching, ordering, and free response (e.g., short answers, diagrams). You will have several days over
which to take each exam on Brightspace, although once you start the exam you will be limited to two
hours. You will have the opportunity to complete a second exam attempt that will include only the
questions answered incorrectly on the first attempt. Your two attempt scores will be averaged
together; it is not possible to decrease your grade by taking advantage of the second attempt. The final
exam is not cumulative. Exam dates are provided on the course schedule – plan accordingly.
Zoom: We will use Zoom this semester for class meetings and student hours. As an SFA student, you
already have an account; there is no need to create your own. Open Zoom, and use the SSO login
button (don’t type in your email and password yet). When prompted, give “sfasu” as your domain. You
should be transferred to an SFA page where you can log in using your mySFA name and password. See
Brightspace for Zoom links and passwords (which you may not need if you log in properly). For
technical assistance with Zoom, please contact the Help Desk at 936-468-4357 or helpdesk@sfasu.edu,
or https://www.sfactl.com/student-support.
Life on Zoom: My preference, as much as you are able, is that you keep your camera on during lectures
so that you, your classmates, and I can interact as we would in a classroom. Your visual cues help me to
do my job, such as knowing when you’re confused, need a break, or are ready to move on. Please
unmute yourself to ask questions; questions and thoughts can also be posted in the chat. To quickly
and easily unmute yourself while on a desktop/laptop computer, hold down the space bar while Zoom
is the active window. If we are “Zoom bombed” during a meeting, I will immediately end the session
and send you an email with a new meeting link or other instructions. You do not have my permission to
photograph, screenshot, or record our Zoom meetings, or to share or repost any course materials. Like
F2F meetings, please be considerate of your classmates and of me. You are welcome to eat, drink,
stretch, quietly disappear for a bathroom break (you don’t need permission), be messy, and/or have
family, children, or pets around during our Zoom meetings.
Course Schedule: The course schedule at the end of the syllabus outlines the schedule of meetings,
modules, exams, and other course activities, as well as the due dates for all assignments. Assignments
are due at 1:00 p.m. on the day they are listed. Exams are due at 11:59 p.m. on the date given. Plan
your time! It is good practice to enter all deadlines and other important dates into whichever app or
planner you use to track your work. I reserve the right to modify the schedule as needed, and I will
notify you accordingly.
Attendance: You are expected to attend all course Zoom meetings.
4If You Have Been Absent: I do not need/want/expect an explanation, a doctor’s note, or any other
evidence. I only want you to communicate with me to get caught up! You are responsible for making
up missed work. Here’s how:
1. The syllabus will tell you what you missed. Check Brightspace for new course materials and
announcements.
2. Contact a classmate for a copy of any notes.
3. Contact me to arrange new due dates or for assistance with missed material. You do not need
to contact me about an absence unless you need new deadlines or assistance.
4. Attend student hours or make an appointment with me or your TA for additional assistance.
Late Work: If you have an upcoming absence or are having trouble completing an assignment on time,
contact me by the business day before the due date about alternative arrangements. Otherwise, a 5%
per school day penalty (to a maximum loss of 50%) applies to all assignments. No assignment will be
accepted for full credit after the assignment has been graded and returned – keep on top of your work!
Final Grades: Your final grade will be determined by summing the weighted averages of your grades in
each of the categories below. Letter grades will be assigned as follows: A (90.0–100), B (80.0–89.9), C
(70.0–79.9), D (60.0–69.9), F (< 60.0).
• Module Activities & Quizzes 30 % • Exams (4) 25 %
• GEOL 1001 (Lab) 30 % • Semester Project 15 %
Extra Credit: There are no extra credit assignments. Focus your attention on the tasks at hand.
Success! Your academic achievement naturally depends on your level of involvement in this course.
You improve your chances of success if you: complete all module readings and activities, attend all
course meetings, keep course materials organized, participate in activities and discussions, take
advantage of student hours, study regularly, form study groups, make use of the AARC and other
resources, ask questions, plan your time, sleep regularly, eat well, get outdoors, etc. I am
committed to helping you be successful in all ways. My office (and Zoom) is open to you and is a
safe space. Do not hesitate to ask for help!
Student Hours: Students hours (aka office hours) are the times when I guarantee my availability to
you. Student hours are a good time to discuss course topics, ask questions, discuss your course
progress, talk about ways to improve your understanding, or just chat. My student hours for this
semester are listed at the top of this syllabus; all meetings will be held on Zoom. Student hours are
open to all students, no appointment necessary, so please drop in. To plan longer meetings or for
meetings at other days and times, please email me at stevenslm@sfasu.edu. When you drop in on
student hours by Zoom I will admit you unless I am speaking privately with another student, in
which case I will keep you in the waiting room or admit you and send you to a breakout room.
5Communication: Get in touch whenever you have questions or concerns. You are not pestering me.
Not only is it my job to help you, but I really like doing it! Email me at stevenslm@sfasu.edu (please
no D2L email), drop in during student hours, or schedule a meeting with me via email. I typically
respond to emails quickly during the workday. If you email me late in the evening you will get a
response the next day, and if you email me over the weekend, my response may come slowly, or
possibly not until Monday. I don’t check my office voicemail when I’m off campus. When I have
important information to communicate to you, I will post a news item on Brightspace; I will contact
you directly through your SFA email when privacy is required. It is your responsibility to check both
Brightspace and your Jacks email every day.
Students with Disabilities: To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats, and/or
auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Room
325, Human Services Building, 936-468-3004/1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once
verified, ODS will notify me and outline the accommodations and/or auxiliary aids to be provided.
Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional
information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices. Please be in touch with me at the
beginning of the semester to discuss arrangements for accommodations.
Getting Through This: It is challenging to do your best work if you are having trouble meeting basic
needs like safe shelter, sleep, and nutrition. Throw in a global pandemic, and none of us is really
“fine.” You are always welcome to talk to me, and my office is a safe space, but you do not owe me
any personal information about your health or anything else. If you’re having trouble, I will not
judge or think less of you, and I hope you’ll extend the same grace to each other and to me. If you
need help accessing sufficient food, a safe and stable place to live, mental or physical health
resources, or other basic needs, please just ask. If I can’t help you I’ll direct you to the person who
can. Please refer also to the list of resources on Brightspace. I am here to help you.
Mental Health: SFASU values students’ mental health and the role it plays in academic and overall
student success. SFA provides a variety of resources to support students’ mental health and
wellness. Many of these resources are free, and all of them are confidential.
On Campus: Crisis Resources:
SFASU Counseling Services SFASU Human Services Counseling Clinic • Burke 24-hour crisis line: 1-800-392-8343
www.sfasu.edu/counselingservices www.sfasu.edu/human/services/139.asp • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
3rd Floor Rusk Building Human Services Room 202 • Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741-741
936-468-2401 936-468-1041
COVID-19: While we won’t be meeting face-to-face this semester, you may be F2F in other courses.
While masks are no longer required, your responsible behavior is appreciated. Continue to wash
your hands well, use sanitizer, and wear a mask or keep your distance when appropriate. If you are
feeling unwell or were exposed to COVID-19, please do not attend any F2F classes or events.
6Academic Integrity: Abiding by university policy on academic integrity is the responsibility of all
university faculty and students. You are encouraged to ask questions about completing your
coursework with academic integrity. Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to: (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials on
any class assignment or exam; (2) falsifying or inventing of any information, including citations, on
assignment; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help other student(s) in an act of cheating or
plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own.
Examples of plagiarism include: (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when it
is at least partly the work of another person; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or
otherwise obtained from the Internet or another source; and (3) incorporating the words, ideas, or
images of an author into one's paper or presentation without giving the author credit. Read the full
University policy, including penalties, procedures for addressing student academic dishonesty, and
student appeals: Policy 4.1: https://www.sfasu.edu/policies/student-academic-dishonesty-4.1.pdf
Withheld Grades: At my discretion and with the approval of the chair of the department, a grade of
WH will be assigned only if you cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable
circumstances. You must complete the work by the deadline I set, which is not to exceed one
calendar year from the end of the semester in which you receive a WH, or the grade automatically
becomes an F, except as allowed through policy [i.e., Military Service Activation (6.14)]. If you
register for the same course in future semesters, the WH will automatically become an F and will
be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average. Policy 5.5.
7Course Schedule – GEOL 1301 – Fundamentals of Earth Science – Fall 2021
Assignments
Week Date Theme Lecture Topic
Due by 1:00 p.m. on the date listed. Module availability in ( ).
M Aug. 23 Getting Started
1 What is Science? Module 1: Getting Started (8/18-8/25)
W Aug. 25
Earth’s Structure
Semester Project Module 2: Earth Science (8/18-8/25)
M Aug. 30 Earth’s Origin Module 3: Earth’s Origin (8/25-8/30)
2
W Sept. 1 Thinking About Deep Time Module 4: Geologic Time (8/25-9/1)
M Sept. 6 Pangea to North America Module 5: Plate Tectonics (9/1-9/6)
3
W Sept. 8 No Lecture – EXAM 1 Module 6: EXAM 1 – Earth’s Structure (9/7-9/9, 11:59 p.m.)
M Sept. 13 What’s Earth Made Of? Module 7: Minerals (9/8-9/13)
4 DUE: Project Proposal
W Sept. 15 Reading Igneous Rocks
Module 8: Igneous Rocks (9/8-9/15)
Earth Materials
M Sept. 20 Texas Sediments & Soils Module 9: Sediments & Soils (9/15-9/20)
5 Module 10: Sedimentary Rocks (9/15-9/22)
W Sept. 22 Reading Sedimentary Rocks
Module 11: Understanding the 2021 IPCC Report (9/15/-9/22)
M Sept. 27 The Rock Cycle Module 12: Metamorphic Rocks (9/22-9/27)
6
W Sept. 29 No Lecture – EXAM 2 Module 13: EXAM 2 – Earth Materials (9/28-9/29, 11:59 p.m.)
Module 14: Natural Hazards (9/29-10/4)
M Oct. 4 U.S. Volcanoes
7 Module 15: Volcanoes & Volcanism (9/29-10/4)
W Oct. 6 Investigating Earthquakes Module 16: Earthquakes (9/29-10/6)
Natural Hazards
M Oct. 11 Mass Wasting Module 17: Mass Wasting (10/6-10/11)
8 Mid-Semester DUE: Project Update 1
W Oct. 13 Streams in Texas
Module 18: Streams (10/6-10/13)
M Oct. 18 Identifying Flood Risks Module 19: Floods (10/13-10/18)
9 Last Day to Drop/W DUE: Tackling Climate Change Discussion
W Oct. 20 Coastlines
Module 20: Coastlines (10/13-10/20)
M Oct. 25 No Lecture – EXAM 3 Module 21: EXAM 3 – Natural Hazards (10/21-10/25, 11:59 p.m.)
10 Module 22: Earth’s Resources (10/25-10/27)
W Oct. 27 Earth’s Resources & Mining
Module 23: Mining (10/25-10/27)
M Nov. 1 Texas Water Resources Module 24: Water Resources (10/27-11/1)
11 DUE: Project Update 2
W Nov. 3 Dealing with Contamination
Module 25: Water Contamination (10/27-11/3)
M Nov. 8 Fossil Fuels in Texas Module 26: Fossil Fuels – Coal & Petroleum (11/3-11/8)
12 DUE: One Small Step
W Nov. 10 What’s the Alternative?
Earth’s Resources
Module 27: Alternative Energy Resources (11/3-11/10)
M Nov. 15 Seasons & Weather Patterns Module 28: Atmosphere & Weather (11/10-11/15)
13
W Nov. 17 Climate Module 29: Climate (11/10-11/17)
M Nov. 22
14 No Classes – Thanksgiving Break
W Nov. 24
Last Day to WP/WF
M Nov. 29 Big Bend & Other Deserts Module 30: Deserts (11/17-11/29)
15
DUE: Semester Project
W Dec. 1 Understanding Climate Change
Module 31: Global Climate Change (11/17-12/1)
Finals Week
16 Module 32: EXAM 4 – Earth’s Resources (12/6-12/8, 11:59 p.m.)
W Dec. 8
This schedule is subject to change. I will notify you of any changes and provide an updated syllabus schedule.
8You can also read
