Instructor / Robyn Mock
Credits / 3 credit hours
Term / FALL 2012
Meetings / Online
Instructor’s Contact Information
Office Phone / 570-885-1970Emergency Contact / In the event of an emergency involving the instructor, contact Wanda Howell, 570-945-8412
Office Location
Email Address /
Office Hours / Face to Face: by appointment Online: 6pm to 9pm
Syllabus Changes / Instructor's reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus as needed, and you are responsible for keeping up with those changes. Please logon regularly to Moodle to get the most current information.
Other Information / I will be monitoring the discussion board and my email daily. You can expect a 24 hour turnaround time on questions. Grading will be done within the week from Sunday at 10 PM to Sunday at 10 PM. Your training shell will be graded at your one on one appointment for course review prior to the faculty showcase where you will be assigned a specific item to highlight based on the Moodle shell you created.
Course Description & Information
Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, & other restrictions / Online Learning Expectations: To be successful academically, online students must be able to navigate & search the internet, use email, attach and upload documents, download & save files, and have access to and use Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint. A scanner, digital camera and some simple programs like snag it are also helpful.Course Description / PHSC 205 looks at the physical and biological changes of our planet over billions of years. We will look at the rock, minerals, life and the environment along with many chemical cycles that occur on Earth. The second half of the class will focus on how the earth has changed over time.
Required Readings / Earth Systems History Third edition. W.H. Freeman
and Company, Steven M Stanley ISBN-10: 1-4292-3349-4
Buying Textbooks / Please note that the Keystone College Bookstore has the most complete and up-to-date information about your course textbooks. Be sure you are purchasing the correct edition and receive all the materials you need.
Recommended Readings / Other Physical Science textbooks are on reserve and available at the front desk of the library for use with this course if needed. Most additional reading will be posted throughout the learning modules.
Special Software/Hardware / No special software or hardware is required.
Browser/Plugin/Viewer Info / For standard Browser/Plugin/Viewer visit this page:
http://web.keystone.edu/library/syllabus/browser.htm
or add your own info below
Other Required Materials / None.
Course Goals, Objectives/Outcomes:
Goals for Earth Systems History-PHSC 205
1. To provide students with a firm background in the basic properties of the earth’s composition.
2. To provide students with the knowledge of how the earth changed over time.
3. To provide students with the knowledge of how environmental factors affect the earth.
The student will be able to:
1. Explain the formation of the continents and the rock.
2. Recognize how water has affected the earth over millions of years.
3. Summarize how plants and animals evolved.
4. Describe how man has affected earth systems.
Grading
Tests (3) 150 pts. each / 450 pointsAssignments (12) 10 pts. each / 120 points
Wiki Posts (12) 5 pts. each / 60 points
Discussion Board Posts (12) 10 pts. each / 120 points
Online Quizzes (5) 20 pts. each / 100 points
Total: / 850 points
Grading (credit) Criteria / Midterm and Final grades are determined using the Keystone Grading Policy.
Letter grade GPA Percentage of total totals
A 4.0 94-100 935-1000
A- 3.67 90-93 895-934
B+ 3.33 88-89 875-894
B 3.0 84-87 835-874
B- 2.67 80-83 795-834
C+ 2.33 77-79 765-794
C 2.0 74-76 735-764
C- 1.67 71-73 705-734
D+ 1.33 66-70 655-704
D 1.0 61-65 605-654
F 0.0 0-60 0-604
Inability to submit work on time or missing a final exam does not constitute a valid reason for an “incomplete” grade as described in the course catalog. No written work will be accepted late.
Please note: Any student with any kind of special need or accommodation that may impair or influence participation in the activities of this course should notify the course instructor as soon as possible.
Assignments / Each week students will be required to complete assigned questions from the end of each chapter. Assignments are to be submitted via online and are worth 10 points each. They are to be submitted no later than midnight on Saturday.
Discussion Board Criteria / When posting in the Discussion forum, you must adhere to following:
1. Proper use of grammar, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation is necessary. (Keep in mind, you are not writing a note to a friend, you are submitting something for class)
2. You will be required to not only submit your own posting to a question, article, etc.., you are required to comment on other student’s postings (see individual course requirements for that number). This comment must be in response to their posting and demonstrate your understanding of the topic. (Keep in mind, “I agree” is not acceptable)
3. If you utilize an outside source, please make sure to cite that source.
4. The Grading Rubric for the Discussion posts can be found on Moodle.
Wiki / Each student will be required to post in the Wiki tool two definitions from each chapter. This will allow student to build and online reference tool of chapter terminology. These posts are due by midnight on Saturday and are worth 5 points each.
Make-Up & Late Work / Examinations and other assignments are to be done in the time frame allotted. Exams can only be made up with an excuse from the Dean’s Office. Should you need to miss a class for vacation or other reasons please inform the instructor and make arrangements to do your work ahead of the due date.
Extra Credit / There is no specific extra credit offered for this class. There are many class projects and methods of evaluation that allow learners to show their knowledge without extra credit.
Class Preparation & Participation / Classes follow a general pattern each week/module and include a reading from the textbook, a lecture with voice over PowerPoint, a quiz with unlimited attempts, assignment, class discussion, and wiki post. There is also three non-cumulative exams for this course. Students should be self-motivated learners and able to use Moodle. Please go through the orientation carefully to learn to navigate Moodle. The student orientation to Moodle can be found in the orientation leaning unit.
Course Policies
Make-Up Exams / Exams can only be made up with a written excuse. Should you need to miss a class for vacation or other reasons please inform the instructor and make arrangements to do your work ahead of the due date.Extra Credit / Extra credit may appear as part of any examination and is essay in format.
Late Work / Examinations and other assignments are to be done in the time frame allotted. Exams can only be made up with an excuse from the Dean’s Office.
Special Assignments / Labs will be due each week along with a discussion board assignment or project.
Class Attendance / Deadlines are set for class participation to enable everyone to have an equal voice. You will need to log in to the discussion board and come to class at least 3 times a week. You will need to log in and post a comment by Tuesday at Midnight, Thursday at midnight and Saturday at Midnight each week. Make sure you set aside time and make a schedule that works for you to be in class. Most students log in everyday for 5 to 15 minutes just to see what is going on.
Student Conduct/ Netiquette / For Netiquette information, visit this webpage: http://web.keystone.edu/library/syllabus/netiquette.htm This is also discussed in some detail in the orientation to the course.
Special Procedures / Taking Exams and Proctoring: http://www.keystone.edu/onlinelearning/studentresources/takingtest.dot
Moodle Support / To access the Keystone College MoodleRooms platform: http://moodlerooms.keystone.edu
For MoodleRooms support
Email:
Phone: 1-855-848-5021
Chat: https://chat.perceptis.com/c/keystone/
For a New Student Orientation to Moodle, visit: http://www.keystone.edu/educationaltechnology/student-training.dot
For tutorials on using specific aspects of Moodle, visit http://www.moodlerooms.com/resources/tutorials/participate/
Technical Support / You can gettechnical support or assistance by visiting the Technology Support page here: http://www.keystone.edu/current_students/technology_support/ or by contacting the IT Helpdesk at(570) 945-8778or
Plagiarism & Academic Integrity / Academic misconduct and dishonesty includes any activity that compromises the academic integrity of the College or subverts the educational process. For information on dishonest acts including plagiarism, cheating, and fraud, consult your Student Information Guide or click on the link below. If you have any questions, talk with your instructor.
http://web.keystone.edu/Library/syllabus/integrity.htm
Copyright Notice / The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials, including music and software. Copying, displaying, reproducing, or distributing copyrighted works may infringe the copyright owner’s rights and such infringement is subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well as criminal penalties provided by federal law. Usage of such material is only appropriate when that usage constitutes “fair use” under the Copyright Act. As a Keystone College student, you are required to follow the College’s copyright policy. For more information about the fair use exemption, see the Miller Library’s copyright page: http://web.keystone.edu/library/copyright.html
Email Use / Keystone College states that all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s Keystone email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a Keystone account. This allows the College to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individuals and the security of transmitted information. Keystone College furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with College personnel.
Withdrawal from Class / The College has set deadlines for withdrawing from courses. These dates and times are published in the course catalog and on the Academic Calendar. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend once you are enrolled. If you are considering withdrawing from a class, talk with your Advisor and consult the College Catalog.
Academic Grievance Procedures / Procedures for student grievances are found in the College Catalog. Please consult the procedures before taking action.
Please note: The first step in attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, is to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor. The College Catalog outlines any subsequent steps.
Incomplete Grades / According to the College Catalog, an Incomplete (“I”) will only be awarded in the case of exceptional circumstances. Mere inability to submit work on time, or missing the final exam, is not valid reasons for an Incomplete.
Students must make arrangements with the instructor prior to the final exam it they wish to receive a grade of incomplete. (Forms are available in the Office of the Registrar.) The deadline for the completion of the coursework is four weeks into the next semester. If the course work is not completed within the specified time frame, the incomplete grade will become an “F.”
ADA Statement / Keystone College does not discriminate in any of its programs on the basis of disability.
While there is not a deadline for the disclosure of a disability by a student, in order to facilitate the documentation and accommodation processes, students are encouraged to voluntarily and confidentially disclose any disability requiring an accommodation prior to the beginning of class. This disclosure should be made to Owen Conaghan, College Counselor/Coordinator of Counseling at extension 8389, Keystone’s Section 504/ADA Coordinator. Students who disclose a disability, and who are seeking an accommodation, ultimately will be expected to provide documentation verifying the disability. The student will then receive a card certifying that documentation has been provided. Students are encouraged to present this card to their instructors at the beginning of each class.
KC Connect /
For information about classes & advisers, to check midterm and final grades or to register for classes, logon to KC Connect.
Tutoring Info / The College does offer tutoring assistance for many courses. For more information or to schedule an appointment, consult the Tutoring webpage here: http://www.keystone.edu/student_life/support_services/tutoring.dot
Advising & Other Student Support Info /
For information about academic advising, visit the Academic Advising Center homepage here: http://www.keystone.edu/about_us/departments_and_offices/detailed.dot?inode=142908&crumbTitle=Academic%20Advising%20Center
For a list of Student Support Services, visit the Support Services webpage here: http://www.keystone.edu/student_life/support_services/index.dot
Bookstore Info /
Visit the Bookstore at this link: http://www.bkstr.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10117&langId=-1&catalogId=10001
Library Info / If there are materials on course reserve or other subject specific details, list them here.
Module # and date / Modular Learning Objectives / Assignments
Orientation Learning Unit
Monday
August 27, 2012 to Sunday September 2, 2012 10 PM / Learn to use the online classroom
Meet the other members of the class.
Learn to navigate in the online classroom.
Understand how the class will communicate
Review the syllabus in detail
Learn to use Frequently Asked Questions
This learning unit needs to be completed by Sunday August 30th at 10 PM or you will not be “here” for attendance purposes and you will be dropped from the class. Please show you are attending class by posting on the discussion board three times this week under the introduction area as well as completing the assignments. / Introductions on the Discussion
Board (10)
Learning Unit #1
Course introduction
Sunday September 2 to
Sunday
September 9, 2012
10 PM / Chapter 1: Earth As a System
Objectives: Students will be able to:
1. List the fundamental principles that guide geologists as the reconstruct Earth’s history.
2. Name the basic kinds of rocks and how they are interrelated.