GEO 2303 28649 SP 16 Watkins
GEO 2303
Regional Geography of the World
Spring 2016 – Block I
Department of History and Geography
College of Liberal Arts
Meeting Time: Arranged (CRN 28649)
Classroom: Online
Professor: Dr. Brad Watkins
Office:
Liberal Arts Building 204C
Email:
bwatkins8@uco.edu (preferred)
Phone:
405-974-5842
Skype:
ID Available on request
Online Office Hours: via Email or Skype
In Person Hours: T: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
R: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will introduce you to a variety of geographic concepts. Rather than placing emphasis on
memorization and skills mastery, the course focuses on the complex interactions of physical and human
systems of world regions.
OBJECTIVES
In order to pass this course, you must demonstrate at least minimal proficiency in the following
geographic concepts. Of course, greater levels of proficiency will result in a better grade.
You will be able to:
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Define the dual nature of the geographic perspective (i.e., descriptive and analytical);
Discuss the importance of maps and GIS as tools of the geographer;
Describe the basic processes of physical geography, including endogenic (i.e., plate tectonics)
and exogenic processes (erosion and deposition), basic weather and climate mechanisms, and
global vegetation patterns;
Describe the importance of the crude birth rate, crude death rate, natural increase rate, doubling
time, the demographic transition model, and population pyramids as tools for studying global
population;
Describe the major physical and human characteristics of the world regions discussed in class;
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
You will be assessed on the following Geography Program Student Learning Outcomes.
1. Identify the characteristics, patterns and distributions of the human population and the
economic and political systems they create.
2.Explain how human actions modify the physical environment and physical systems affect
human systems.
GEO 2303 28649 SP 16 Watkins
3. Acquire awareness of the diversity of peoples, places, and environments within a specific
region or around the world.
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the University of Central Oklahoma, we are guided by the mission of helping students learn by
providing transformative experiences so that they may become productive, creative, ethical and engaged
citizens and leaders contributing to the intellectual, cultural, economic and social advancement of the
communities they serve. Transformative learning is a holistic process that places students at the center
of their own active and reflective learning experiences. A student’s major field is central to the learning
experience and is a vital part of the “Central Six.”
This course addresses two of the university’s transformative learning goals.
Discipline Knowledge Students survey the world’s regions using principles of physical and cultural
geography as a framework with a focus on interrelationships among regions.
Global and Cultural Competencies Students engage in discussions that require multiple perspectives
and cultural understanding and sensitivity while acknowledging the differences/similarities among the
world’s regions.
ONLINE ETIQUETTE
Please respect the online learning environment of students and the professor. I encourage lively
exchanges in Discussion posts, but derogatory comments, negativity, and poor attitudes will not be
tolerated and will be considered disruptive behavior. If you engage in these disruptive activities you will be
warned. If you commit multiple violations of the state policy disciplinary action will be considered as
outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.
LATE WORK AND MAKE-UP QUIZZES
Quizzes may not be made up.
I will not accept late assignments.
Desire2Learn
It is your responsibility to check Desire2Learn frequently for announcements, learning modules, study
guides, and assessments. Content topics will be released Mondays at 9:00 am. Discussions, Journal
Posts, and Map Quizzes will be due Mondays (following the day they are assigned) at 9:00 am.
REQUIRED BOOK
Diversity Amid Globalization: World Regions, Environment, Development by Les Rowntree, Martin Lewis,
Marie Price, and William Wyckoff. 6th Edition, 2015
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GEO 2303 28649 SP 16 Watkins
RECOMMENDED MATERIALS
Webcam for Skype. This is NOT required. Some students prefer to see the professor during meetings. I’ll
leave it up to you.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Textbook Readings
It is your responsibility to complete the required reading assignment for each week as listed on
the last page of the syllabus.
Content Topics
It is your responsibility to go through each content topic in Desire2Learn and complete the
readings in each. You are required to complete outside readings linked to certain topics. Required
discussion posts are listed at the beginning of certain topics.
Map Quizzes
You will have twelve map quizzes this semester—one for each region. The first map quiz
will be delivered during Week 3, when we begin our first region. You need to study the
physical/political map at the beginning of each chapter. I provide a map quiz list within
each week’s module to help you focus your study. Use the lists to identify the features for each
region. You will have 8 minutes to complete each 20 question map quiz.
Journal Entries
There are required journal entries in the course. Writing is an important component in University
Core courses, so you are required to complete a well-written, properly cited, on topic assignment.
Cite sources using the Chicago Manual of Style, author-date format with parenthetical citations,
ex: (Watkins 2007), and References.
Chapter Reflections, Reflection Reassessment and Cumulative Reflections
You will reflect on each week’s topics covered in the modules and textbook.
Reflections are assessed based on the student’s demonstration of understanding the concepts
(topics, etc.) and applying that information to their own personal and professional
development. There are NOT chapter summaries. These are reflections on chapter content and
will be different for each student. You will submit your reflections in Dropbox as a single PDF file.
These chapter/topic reflections will be submitted via Dropbox in this format twice during the
course.
Students are required to submit a final set of reflections as a presentation (PowerPoint). In the
presentation, you must select 2 previous reflections and analyze the reflections to determine if
additional growth has occurred (or change in thought) since writing the original reflection. This
should be 4-5 slides. Students must state why growth did or did not occur.
Finally, students should review all reflections and provide a cumulative reflection (Blooms’
synthesis) on overall growth (views, etc) in the course and how the course might impact their
future personal or professional self. This should be 2-3 slides. These slides should be in the same
PowerPoint file as the reflection evaluation slides.
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GEO 2303 28649 SP 16 Watkins
Geography Assessment
You will complete one of the three question in the Geography Assessment at the end of the
course. This assignment will be in essay format and submitted via Dropbox as a PDF. It is used
to ascertain your progress towards the Student Learning Outcomes listed on page 1-2 of the
syllabus. You will be graded on content.
Specific instructions will be provided in the Dropbox assignment as an attachment.
There are no exams in this course.
GRADE SCALE
Assessment
Map Quizzes (12)
Journals (4)
Top/Chap Reflections (2)
Reflection Presentation (1)
Geography Assessment
Total Points
A 1000-900
B 899-800
C 799-700
D 699-600
Points Each
30
100
50
100
Points
360
400
100
100
40
1,000
F < 600
ACCOMODATIONS
ADA Statement: The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who need special
accommodations should make their request by contacting Disability Support Services at 974-2549.
SYLLABUS ATTACHMENT
http://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/faculty-staff/syllabus.asp
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GEO 2303 28649 SP 16 Watkins
COURSE OUTLINE
Week (Starting Day*)
Topic
Reading Assignment
1 (Jan 11)
Orientation Module
Module 1: Concepts of World Geography
Ch 1
2 (Jan 18)
Module 2: The Changing Global Environment
Module 3: North America
Ch 2
Ch 3
3 (Jan 25)
Module 4: Latin America
Module 5: The Caribbean
Ch 4
Ch 5
4 (Feb 1)
Module 6: Sub-Saharan Africa
Module 7: Southwest Asia and North Africa
Ch 6
Ch 7
5 (Feb 8)
Module 8: Europe
Module 9: The Russian Domain
Ch 8
Ch 9
6 (Feb 15)
Module 10: Central Asia
Module 11: East Asia
Ch 10
Ch 11
7 (Feb 22)
Module 12: South Asia
Module 13: Southeast Asia
Module 14: Australia and Oceania
Ch 12
Ch 13
Ch 14
8 (Feb 29)
Course ends March 2nd
* Modules will be released Mondays at 9:00 am and close the following Monday at 9:00 am.
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GEO 2303 28649 SP 16 Watkins
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES
Week (Starting Day*)
Assignment
Due
1 (Jan 11)
Syllabus Quiz
Jan 18
2 (Jan 18)
Map Quiz 1: North America
Jan 25
3 (Jan 25)
Module 4 Journal: Tropical Deforestation
Map Quiz 2: Latin America
Map Quiz 3: The Caribbean
Feb 1
Feb 1
Feb 1
4 (Feb 1)
Module 7 Journal: Southwest Asia and North Africa
Map Quiz 4: Sub-Saharan Africa
Map Quiz 5: Southwest Asia and North Africa
Course Reflection I
Feb 8
Feb 8
Feb 8
Feb 8
5 (Feb 8)
Map Quiz 6: Europe
Map Quiz 7: The Russian Domain
Feb 15
Feb 15
6 (Feb 15)
Module 10 Journal: The Aral Sea
Map Quiz 8: Central Asia
Map Quiz 9: East Asia
Feb 22
Feb 22
Feb 22
7 (Feb 22)
Module 12 Journal: India: World’s Most Populous Country?
Map Quiz 10: South Asia
Map Quiz 11: Southeast Asia
Course Reflection II
Feb 29
Feb 29
Feb 29
Feb 29
8 (Feb 29)
Map Quiz 12: Australia and Oceania
Course Reflection Reevaluation and
Cumulative Reflection Presentation
Geography Assessment
Mar 2
Mar 2
Mar 2
*All assignments will be posted Mondays at 9:00 am and be due the following Monday at 9:00 am, except
for the last map quiz and course reflection, which are due the last day of class.
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