TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY
GEOLOGY 105 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
Spring 2013 9:25-10:40 TR
SCI 110
Instructor: Dr. Carol Thompson
Office: 139D Science--ext. 9739
Office Hours: W, T 1:30-3:30; other times email to set up an appt
cthompson@tarleton.edu
Required Text: Exploring Geology Reynolds and others – 2nd edition
The first three chapters of the book are on e-reserve. By the time we are through those everyone should
have a book. Below is the link and log-in info.
Direct link to e-reserves:http://zeus.tarleton.edu/ereserves/thompson/geol105/
Username: Geol105
Password: geology
The library staff cannot give you that link because of copyright issues.
Required Lab Manual: Physical Geology, TSU
Required Supplies: Calculator, pencils
Book Web Site: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007337668x/student_view0/index.html
The site contains self-test quizzes to check your understanding of topics
Academic Honesty:
Tarleton State University’s Academic Honesty Policy, outlined in the student handbook, states that each
professor is responsible for determining academic honesty policy in his or her classroom. In this class,
each student will be expected to do his or her own work on all exams, labs, and other assignments. If a
student is observed cheating on any assignment, or in any other way represents someone else’s work as
his own, he or she will receive a grade of 0 on the work and will be referred to the Dean of Students for
disciplinary action.
Class Information, Notes, Announcements:
Information for this class will be posted in Blackboard. The schedule for each day as well as class
assignments will be there. Announcements of any changes in class, grades and other pertinent
information will be posted as appropriate.
Intended Knowledge, Skill, and Value Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this course will apply methods and principles of geology to: identify
common rocks and rock-forming minerals, and determine how each major type of rock was created; read
topographic maps and recognize landscape characteristics on these maps; read geologic maps and
interpret geologic structures on the maps; recognize faults and folds; compute plate velocities from
tectonic data; understand the processes that drive earth’s global cycles; identify potential for and causes of
natural disasters; understand where and how natural resources are found and be able to demonstrate
knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern science, including issues that touch upon
ethics, values, and public policies. Students will understand the use of modern instrumentation and data
collection methods At the conclusion of this course, students will appreciate the complexity of the earth’s
natural systems and human impact on these systems, as well as the importance of geology in our everyday
lives.
Claim your Tarleton Go email account. All official information will be sent using that email. Not
reading your email is no excuse.
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Active Learning/Team Learning/Flipped Class
This is going to be an active learning class. We will spend time in class on activities, problem solving,
interactive lectures with straight lecture covering less than half the class. That puts more of the
responsibility for learning on you. Additional material will be on Blackboard which will include some
additional lectures (some narrated, some with notes), learning activities such as non-graded quizzes,
crosswords, mix and match etc. Geology is a very visual science so there will be a lot of emphasis put on
the illustrations.
You will need to spend more time out of class working than you will in class.
This class will be run in a team learning style. You will be assigned to a team at the beginning of class
and will remain with that group throughout the whole semester. There will be daily quizzes on assigned
material that is not covered in class. Quizzes will be taken individually, then as a group for added points.
Activities will usually be done in discussion style within your group. Your group participation will be
graded as well. You will do evaluations for each member of your group around the mid-point of the class
and again at the end.
Why am I doing this? Many of our classes at Tarleton are making this change. The core classes have
very high rates of Ds and Fs. Universities lose more students this first year than at any other time in the
students career. Senior level tests show a very low retention rate of material. There is also a culture to be
changed. Many of you have come to college having done very little or no studying in high school. Read
the article on BB Teaching Generation NeXt: A Pedagogy for Today's Learners to get an
understanding of the issues.
Grading
Exams: 40%
There will be four exams during the semester. Exams will be multiple choice. For exams you will need a
scantron (example on BB) and a No. 2 pencil. The Geology Club sells scantrons before each exam or
you can bring one to class. Exams cover material in lecture, in the text and lab concepts. There usually
will be about 50 multiple choice questions.
Make-ups for authorized school functions (athletics, class outings) should be scheduled and taken in
advance of the test in class. All other make-up tests are short answer not multiple choice.
Contact me to set up a make-up test
Final: (11%) Two tests in one, covers the new material (1 chapters), about 10 questions, the rest is
comprehensive, usually about 110 or so multiple choice questions.
Quizzes (10%)
In-class quizzes will be done usually in every class. They will be based on the assigned reading for that
chapter. This is not material I will have or will cover in class. You will take the quiz as an individual and
then again with your group. Additional pts will be available to group members depending on the group
score. Answers to quizzes will be posted on BB.
In-Class Exercises/Homework/On-line exercises: 14%
We will do a variety of exercises in-class. Some will be interactive lectures, others completed as an
individual and others done as group work.
Make-ups for quizzes and activities are not allowed. However, since it is reasonable that an individual
will not make every class, the totals will be based on 85% of the maximum.
Laboratory: 25%
Labs will not meet the first week.
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This is a lab class. Therefore you must attend lab in order to pass the class. If you miss more than
three regular labs, or fail to take either of the two lab exams you will have this semester, you will
automatically fail the course. Not just the lab, but the entire course. It is imperative that you attend
your scheduled lab every week. Labs meet on M, T, W, at 1:00 and 3:00 PM, Th at 1 PM and W at 6:00
PM.
You must go to your assigned lab. Do not sign up for a time you cannot make. If you miss a lab you
should go to the Room 117, and get a green sheet for a replacement lab. It is up to the instructor of the
replacement lab whether you can stay or not; it depends on available space. The green sheet must be
presented at the beginning of the class. Make-ups have to be done while the same lab is being done.
Occasionally the lab instructor may let you work on a previous week’s lab. Make sure you pick up your
graded labs each week. These are your proof that you did the lab if a grade gets lost. Check your posted
grades.
Extra Credit: Extra credit is not available for this class.
Class Manners:
Turn off your cell phones, pagers etc when you come to class. If it is absolutely necessary that you be
available, make sure that your device is not audible. Please try to be on time for class and I would
appreciate your staying throughout class. Unless absolutely necessary, please don’t leave and return
during class. It is distracting to me and others. Class starts at 9:25 and ends at 10:40. Don’t start packing
up 10 min before the end of class.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
I. Services for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations which
will enable them to participate in and benefit from all educational programs and activities. Students should contact
the director of student Disability Services in the Mathematics Building Room 201, 254-968-9400 or
disability@tarleton.edu. If you require special accommodation, you must make arrangements with the faculty
member.
II. Academic Honesty: Tarleton State University expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and
scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty
includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the
abuse of resource materials.
II. Computer Usage Policy: Use of the computer resources at Tarleton State University is a privilege, not a right.
When using these resources, individuals agree to abide by the applicable rules, regulations, and policies of the
University, as well as federal, state and local laws. The University reserves the right to limit, restrict or deny access
to its technology resources, as well as to take disciplinary and/or legal action against anyone in violation of these
regulations or applicable law. http://www.tarleton.edu/~policy/279999t101.htm
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Below is a tentative outline. Notice that we start out slow, then ramp it up later in the semester
Dates
Class Topics
Reading
1/15
Introduction to Class/What is Geology?
Chp 1
1/17
Scientific Method
Chp 2
1/22
Plate Tectonics
Chp 3, 10, 11
1/24
Plate Tectonics
Chp 3, 10, 11
1/29
Plate Tectonics
Chp 3, 10, 11
1/30
Last day to drop no record
1/31
Earth Materials
Chp 4
2/5
Igneous Materials
Chp 5
2/7
Igneous Materials
Chp 5
2/12
Test 1
2/14
Volcanoes
Chp 6
2/19
Sedimentary Environments
Chp 7, 15
2/21
Sedimentary Environments
Chp 7, 15
2/26
Metamorphic Rocks and Processes
Chp 8
2/28
Chp 12
No class, work on Geologic Structure
3/5
Geologic Structure
Chp 12
3/7
Test 2
3/12, 14
Spring Break
3/19
Earthquakes
Chp 15
3/21
Landslides
Chp 16
3/26
Climate
Chp 13
3/28
Global Warming
Chp 13
3/29
Last day to Q drop
4/2
Deserts
Chp 13
4/4
Test 3
4/9
Coasts
Chp 14
4/11
Glaciers
Chp 14
4/16
Rivers
Chp 16
4/18
Rivers
Chp 16
4/23
Groundwater
Chp 17
4/25
Test 4
4/30
Energy Resources
Chp 18
TH 5/9
Final 8-10:30 AM; Room 110