Natural Disasters. ISC 1003
Spring 2016
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Professor: Staci Danko
Office Hours: Please e-mail me to make an appointment. All appointments will
have to be after 3:15 PM.
Phone: 850-863-6500 ext-5500. Leave a message with the secretary on duty.
Email:dankos@nwfsc.edu
Final Exam: May 4, 2016. 4:30-6:20
Web Page: http://www.nwfsc.edu/faculty/profiles/danko-staci/
Reference Number:20447
Campus/Room: Fort Walton Beach Room 616
Class Days: Monday and Wednesday
Class Times:4:30-6:20
Electronic Resources: https://d2l.nwfsc.edu
Course Description
This interdisciplinary course investigates natural catastrophic events, such as
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes and floods. This class will use an
environmental studies approach to examine how modern society exacerbates the
damage caused by these natural phenomena and methods to mitigate human suffering.
The student will gain an appreciation of humankind’s relationship to the natural
environment.
Course Materials
Natural Hazards: Earth's Processes as Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes Plus
Hazard City in MasteringGeology without Pearson eText -- Access Card Package (4th
Edition) 4th Edition by Edward A. Keller (Author), Duane E. DeVecchio (Author)
ISBN-13: 978-0133907650
ISBN-10: 0133907651
Grading Procedures
Grading Scale: A= 90-100
Rev. 07/29/2015
B= 80-89 C=70-79 D= 60-69 F=< 60
Grades will be determined based upon tests, quizzes, homework assignments, case
studies and in class videos.
I grade on the point system.
No assignments are weighted more than others.
Here is an example on how your grade will be configured:
Test 1: 80 points out of 100 (80/100)
Quiz 1: 20 points out of 25 (20/25)
Homework Assignment 1: 35 out of 45 (35/45)
Case Study: 70 out of 100 (70/100)
Video: 65 out of 70 (65/70)
80+20+35+70+65=270 (total points earned) out of total points possible 340 points
270/340= 79.4= C
Your grades will be available for you to view on D2L
Incomplete Grades
At the discretion of the instructor, an incomplete grade (“I”) may be awarded when the
student is unable to finish the required work because of unforeseen extenuating
circumstances such as illness or TDY assignment. To receive an “I” grade, the student
must have successfully completed a significant portion of the required coursework and
be able to finish the remaining work without attending class. An “I” grade will
automatically convert to a grade of “F” if the student does not complete the remainder of
the coursework by the established deadline.
Make-up Work
Make-up work is not permitted in this course. All assignments must be turned in on time at the
beginning of each class. Towards the end of the semester I will offer a replacement assignment
that will replace any grade in the course (test, papers, homework, quizzes ect).
For every exam, I will provide you with a study guide that will be emailed to you a week
in advance to the test. I do not give make up exams. However, as a courtesy, please
contact me about a missed quiz/exam. The proper way to notify me is through email.
No test will be dropped, so each test counts, however remember the replacement grade
policy.
Classroom Conduct
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Communication= NWFSC states that email is an official form of communication. It is the
student’s responsibility to make sure their NWFSC email is in working order. Thus,
communication relating to class must be done through email If you are having difficulties
with email please contact Technical Services to resolve your account issues. If you
have an issue or concern, please email me. I will not discuss your grade before or after
class, please email me if you have a concern about your grade.
Do not expect an instant response through email. Please allow 36 hours during normal
business hours. During the weekend, do not expect a response until Monday.
Test Viewing Procedures= I give my tests via scan tron (bubble sheets). I do not keep
the tests in the class room. Thus, after a test, if you wish to view your test you must
make arrangements with me 24 hours before you wish to view your test. Remember
that you must email me to view your test.
Classroom Behavior= Having conversations with others during lecture is not permitted.
I will give you one warning. If you chose not to abide by the warning, I will ask you to
leave the class. It is quite insulting to the instructor if you are talking while the instructor
is lecturing. Not to mention, it takes away the learning opportunity for those students
whom wish to learn.
Packing up before the instructor properly dismisses you improper etiquette. Please wait
to pack up all materials till the instructor releases you from class.
If you should have your computer with you to assist you in notetaking, please be
focused on taking notes. Please do not watch Hulu/Netflix or any other entertainment
venues. Playing games online, updating Facebook/Snapchat/Instagram/Tweeting and
surfing the web are also a faux pas and the instructor can ask you to leave class for
such behavior.
Please seek instructor’s permission in regards to taping, filming, or photography in
class by any device. Especially taking pictures of power point presentations. That
behavior will not be tolerated in this course. The power point notes will be available via
D2L in PDF format for you to obtain. If the instructor as drawn on the board and you
wish to capture the diagram by taking a photo, please request for the instructor’s
permission.
Please do not use IPods in class to listen to music in class, full focus on the instructor is
expected.
Please to not read outside material in the class. No books, newspapers.
Please do not use tobacco product in class (smoking/dip ect).
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Do not come to class under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You will be asked to
leave the class and possibly reported to the proper authorities.
Be respectful to all participants in the class. This includes name-calling, derogatory
language, rude/disrespectful comments, sexual comments, and bullying. If such
behavior is displayed, you will be asked to leave the class.
If an emergency occurs while you are in class and you must abruptly leave, please send
an email to the instructor.
Class Attendance
Students who stop attending class or are not able to pass the course due to attendance
expectations stated in the syllabus may receive a failing grade of “FA.” An “FA” grade is
a failing grade in GPA calculations and may impact the receipt of federal aid in
subsequent courses. Students traveling for college approved activities will not be
penalized academically but will be responsible for missed work.
Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled classes, as attendance is one of
the strongest predictors of success. To discourage tardiness and leaving early,
attendance may be taken at the beginning of class and/or, if the instructor chooses, retaken at the end of the class period. Therefore, arriving late or leaving class early may
result in an absence being recorded. Three missed classes may result in a penalty of
one letter grade (10%). Further missing classes may result in a lowering of the final
grade by 5% for each absence beyond three. A student missing 25% or more of classes
will receive a grade of FA.
Excessive absences, as defined in this course syllabus, may be reported to the Office of
Financial Aid.
Federal regulations require that students receiving Title IV aid must attend classes and
have verified attendance in order to receive financial aid funds. This general policy
applies to the student absent from class traveling as a member of a college group, or
club or for personal reasons.
Please note that when you are absent, you are responsible for obtaining the notes and
assignments. I will not supply them to you if you are absent. If you are absent the day
that an assignment is passed out, you are still responsible for completing that
assignment on the original due date, you will not be granted with extra time to complete
the assignment. In addition, showing up to class just to obtain the notes then leaving
will be counted as an absence. You will also be considered absent if you leave early
during class, or come tardy to class. That time frame is 15 minutes. So after 15 minutes
of class, you are absent, if you leave 15 minutes early you are counted absent.
However, please note that you are consistently coming to class 15 minutes late and
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leaving 15 minutes early, I will automatically count you absent. If you are going to miss
a class, please email me.
Assignments
A calendar will be provided via D2L. We will try to stay close to the schedule, however,
pacing of a course can be difficult to maintain based off of student needs, “teachable
moments” and any other situations that may arise. Therefore, consider the schedule
tentative, it is not set in stone. If the class gets off schedule, a revised schedule may be
handed out to replace the old one. Announcements in class will also be made about
revisions in the class schedule.
Important Dates
Drop/Add= January 19, 2016
Last Day to withdraw/audit= March 30, 2016
Midterm grades posted= March 8, 2016
Spring Break= March 21-March 25, 2016
Last day of classes= May 2, 2016
Final Exam= May 4, 2016
Minimum Technical Skills and Specialized Technology Utilized
This course is not an online course. However, the use of technology will be required for
this course. Technological skills such as baseline word processing skills and
sending/receiving email with attachments, students will be expected to search the
internet and upload/download files. In addition, students may need one or more of the
following plug-ins:
o Adobe Acrobat Reader: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Cell Phone/Electronic Devices
Cell phones, pagers, and other such electronic devices must not distract from
learning. Courtesy to the professor and other students requires that phones be on
vibrate or silent mode during class. No student should initiate conversations,
including texts, during class activities. Use of electronic communication devices
during examinations or other graded activities may constitute grounds for
disciplinary action; such devices must be completely out of sight during exams or
other assessments. Where emergency or employment situations require access to
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electronic communication services, arrangements may be made in advance with
the instructor.
Emergency College Closure
In the event of unusual or extraordinary circumstances, the schedule, requirements, and
procedures in this course are subject to change. If the college closes for inclement
weather or other emergency, any exams, presentations, or assignments previously
scheduled during the closure period will automatically be rescheduled for the first
regular class meeting held once the college re-opens. If changes to graded activities are
required, students will not be penalized as a result of the adjustments, but will be
responsible for meeting revised deadlines and course requirements.
Children in the Classroom
As a courtesy to other students and the learning process, students may not bring
children with them to class sessions. Health and safety concerns prohibit children from
accompanying adult students in any lab, shop, office, or classroom or other college
facility where potential hazards exist. If a child-related emergency means you must
miss class, contact the instructor as soon as possible to determine your options. (The
full “Children on Campus” policy statement appears in the College Catalog.)
Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Academic Integrity
Students are responsible for adherence to all college policies and procedures, including
those related to academic freedom, cheating, classroom conduct, computer/network/email use and other items included in the Northwest Florida State College Catalog and
Student Handbook. Students should be familiar with the rights and responsibilities
detailed in the current Northwest Florida State College Catalog and Student Handbook.
Plagiarism, cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty is a serious breach of
student responsibilities and may trigger consequences which range from a failing grade
to formal disciplinary action.
RESOURCES
The Academic Success Center (ASC) is located in the Activities Center on the Niceville
Campus. The ASC provides free learning support services such as tutoring, ESOL, and
writing assistance for all NWFSC students. Individual and group tutoring is available in
a wide range of subjects on a walk-in-basis and by appointment. For more information,
call the Academic Success Center at (850) 729-5389 or visit our website at Free
Tutoring.
Reading to Learn (R2L) is a project of Northwest Florida State College designed to
support students’ learning through direct instruction of reading strategies. Students may
access R2L at our website: Reading to Learn.
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Math Labs are located in the Math Building L, Room L-131, on the Niceville Campus
and in Building 7, Room 702 on the Fort Walton Beach Campus and Room 131 at the
Crestview Center. The math labs are open to all students and provide free walk-in
tutoring for all mathematics courses. For lab hours, students may call the Math
Department at (850) 729-5377 or visit our website at Math Lab.
Smarthinking is an online, real-time tutoring offered free to students, who may access
this service via RaiderNet.
Open Computer Labs
There are numerous open computer labs throughout the Northwest Florida State
College campuses. Students may access our website for lab locations and hours:
Computer lab location and hours
Testing Center
Testing Centers administer college admissions tests, placement tests, proctored exams,
ACT/SAT, GED. CLEP, and DSST (formerly known as DANTES). General information
concerning tests, hours
Testing Center hours may be accessed on the Testing Center website at Testing
Center. Makeup exams may be taken in the Testing Center, depending upon instructor
policies on late work.
Library, Online Reference Materials, and Resources
The library is a comprehensive, learning resource center providing information in print,
digital, and multimedia formats to support the educational objectives of the College. In
addition to in-house materials, online services and resources can be accessed through
the LRC website. Library hours are posted each semester at the building entrance and
on the LRC website at Learning Resource Center
Assistance for Military and Veterans
Northwest Florida State College supports our military and veterans students. You may
contact NWFSC Eglin AFB Education Services Building at 850-200-4180 or NWFSC
Hurlburt Center Educational Services Building at 850-200-4190 or visit our website:
Support Our Military
Students with Disabilities
Northwest Florida State College supports an inclusive learning environment for all
students. If you have disabilities for which accommodations may be appropriate to
assist you in this class, please contact the Office of Disability Support Services on the
Niceville Campus, or call 850-729-6079 (TDD 1-800-955-8771 or Voice 1-800-9558770.
Rev. 07/29/2015