Geology 301
Instructor: UCHITHA NISSANKA, KAREN SAVAGE
Phone: (818) 677 2511
Office: Room 1220, Live Oak Hall
Spring 2014
Office Hours: TuTh 1-2pm, and by appointment
Uchitha.nishshanka.248@my.csun.edu ; karen.savage@csun.edu
TEXT: Labs will be provided on Moodle.
Course Objectives: This is the Laboratory class to accompany Environmental Geology. This lab is an online lab in which all of the labs, quizzes, exam and project will be done or turned in online. Environmental geology is a multi-disciplinary science that includes the studies of geology, and other sciences as they relate to our environment. We will look at how we interact with the processes that occur on the Earth’s surface, and the results of that interaction. We will look at the basics of the study of the Earth (i.e. plate tectonics), the processes themselves (i.e. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, coastal processes, etc.), and resources and pollution, as well as other global problems. We will take a practical approach to the some of the subjects covered in the lecture class. These are hands-on activities. This course fulfills the upper division general education science lab requirement.
Access to website:
Moodle – you will automatically have access to this when you register for the course. You will need a CSUN email account as your user ID and the password that goes with it. This website is where you will find all the labs, quizzes, exam and other important communications. Please check it often to see if there are any new messages for the class. At the following web address you will find information about how to use Moodle (it is quite easy and straightforward). http://docs.moodle.org/en/Student_FAQ .
Tentative Schedule:
Week Date
1
2
3
Jan 20
Jan 27
Feb 3
4 Feb 10
5 Feb 17
6 Feb 24
7 Mar 3
8 Mar 10
9 Mar 17
Topic
Introduction
Google Earth Lab
Plate Tectonics
Introduction to Natural Hazards
Earthquake
Waves and Tsunamis
Tides and Coastal Processes
River Discharge
Midterm (Available Mar 14-21)
10 Mar 24 Water Resources
12 Mar 31 Water Pollution
Apr 7
13 Apr 14
14 Apr 21
15
16
Apr 28
May 5
Spring Break
Energy Resources
Energy Resources and Pollution
Mineral Resources and Environmental Impact
FINAL (Environmental Impact Report due on May 9 th NO EXCEPTIONS)
Labs: All the labs combined will count for 50% of your grade. This is the practical part of the class and you need to do the work to do well on the quizzes, midterm exam and project. For the labs, I am setting up chatrooms where you can meet with your fellow students and work on the lab together. Group work is very

beneficial to many students, as long as everyone does part of the work and understands the entire lab, as you will be taking quizzes and the exam by yourself.
Exams: There is one exam and the final project (which replaces a traditional final exam). The midterm will be given online during the 9 th week of class. It will be mostly vocabulary and major principles from the labs on natural resources (a study guide will be posted two weeks prior to the scheduled midterm). The final is a project that will result in an environmental impact report (based on the work done in the labs this semester and some research).
Quizzes: These will be available the week after the lab is due. I will give you questions relating to the exercise previously completed. It will be available on Moodle for one week.
Grade: Labs (12) 50%
Midterm
Final Project
Quizzes (~8)
10%
20%
20%
100%
NOTE: It is easy to fall behind in this lab and for that reason, I am adhering to a strict deadline for turning in the labs. I will accept late labs with good reasons for their late turn-in, but will deduct points. As this is an upper division class, you will not be babied and reminded about deadlines throughout the semester. You are responsible for keeping up and knowing what is due when!
Dropping - Read the Schedule of Classes. If you decide that you don’t want to continue with this course, you must drop the class– you will not be automatically dropped if you simply stop showing up.
Additional Information-
I adhere to CSUN’s policy on academic dishonesty. Cheating and/or plagiarism will result in the assignment of a zero for the exam and notification to the Office of Vice President of Student Affairs which may result in disciplinary action. Plagiarism is knowingly representing work done by others as one’s own. You may work together on labs only, but you must turn in your own work!
Other Key Points–
It is the responsibility of each student in this course to know and follow all written guidance given by the instructor in this class.
These policies and schedules are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.