Website address: http://jersey.uoregon.edu/~mstrick
E-mail address: GeoMania@frontier.com
Object: The object of this course is to familiarize the student with the basic concepts and practices of the modern Earth Sciences. Twenty-six separate episodes from the "Earth Revealed" series cover all aspects of tectonic and surface processes, and should be sufficient to give the motivated student a preliminary view of the earth and how it works to build new materials, and then tear them down again.
Optional (but suggested) Materials:
Text: Physical Geology: Earth Revealed, by McGeary & Plummer
The text is optional. The majority of the questions on the exams are taken from the videos, and it is possible to do well in this course without purchasing the book. HOWEVER, not all of us are able to learn from a video, and need pictures and words that don't move. If you are one of those who need a stable learning platform, buy the book. Either way, the choice is yours. DO NOT come to me later and complain about your grade and try to blame it on me for not forcing you to buy it.
Video Study Guides: Available on-line (click here for the study guide index)
These are available for your use and are probably a real good idea. There is one for each episode, and their intent is to help focus your thoughts on those aspects of the lessons that are (in my opinion) the most relevant. THE STUDY GUIDES ARE NOT HOMEWORK. Do not send them to me - they are for your use only! See below for more information.
Course Requirements:
1.) View all 26 episodes of the Earth Revealed
Click here to go to the G100 Syllabus and schedule of air times
2.) Successful completion of three (3) exams
NOTE: All three exams will be available at both the Grants Pass and Medford facilities, and may be taken at any time the testing center is open during the indicated week (refer to the syllabus for testing weeks). Be sure to allow yourself sufficient time to complete each exam (approximately 2 hours should be plenty, but the amount of time YOU need may vary).
BE SURE TO CALL THE TESTING CENTER THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE EXAM TO CONFIRM THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION. THE HOURS CAN AND WILL CHANGE FROM TERM TO TERM, AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT THEY WILL BE FOR EACH OF THE EXAMS. "THEY WERE CLOSED WHEN I GOT THERE" IS NOT A VALID EXCUSE FOR MISSING AN EXAM!
Air times (SOPT): Three episodes each week (four during summer term), except the last week when there will be only two
Refer to the syllabus for scheduled air times
The Schedule: The scheduled air times are supplied by SOPT. There is no way to come up with a schedule which is perfect for everyone, and what we get is guaranteed to be inconvenient for some of the students. If you are one of them, I'm sorry, but, inconvenient or not, this is what we have been assigned so we'd better make the best of it. There are several options: watch the episodes at the times they are on the air, tape them for viewing at a more convenient time, or blow them off altogether and hope to assimilate the information from another source. I wouldn't recommend the third option - far too risky, especially since you WILL end up taking tests over this stuff (see below). For myself, I like a combination of the first two: watch them when shown, but slide a tape into your VCR and record them for later (as insurance against the odd chance that you miss something important).
The Video Study Guides: I have put together video study guides to accompany each episode. They roughly follow each episode in order, and are designed to help you focus on what I feel are the most important issues. This does not mean that all of what is on the study guide will be on the test, or that there will not be other aspects of the course for which you will be held responsible. Make use of them if you choose (I highly recommend doing this). The study guides are available through the G100 syllabus, or select the following link to go straight to the Video Study Guide Index.
Additional Information: In most cases, I have links to the class notes I use on-campus at RCC. If you desire more information on a given topic, feel free to wander through my notes as needed. The links are available through the G100 syllabus, or select the following link to go straight to the Geology 101/102/103 Index. In addition, much general earth science information is available through answers to questions in my "Ask a Geologist" section. Click here for the Ask GeoMan Index of Questions.
Final grades: Average of the three (3) exams.
The Exams: Tests are an unavoidable complication to all aspects of life, but I'll try to make the ones you have to take here as enjoyable as possible (and a learning experience unto themselves). Expect what you see. I like a wide variety of questions, including: multiple choice, matching (always a challenge), diagrams, and short and long answer essay.
Concerning notes: I am absolutely convinced that a person's ability to understand and remember something is directly proportional to the number of times their brain has to juggle that particular bit of information. I strongly encourage note-taking: both while viewing the videos and while reading in the text. As a reward for good note-taking, I will allow you to use one (1) page of notes during exams. Photocopies of any kind are not allowed, and the tests are not open book, nor are they open neighbor. All this means is that if you want to take the time to write it down you can use it during the test. Yes, this includes copying charts and diagrams.
Concerning the tests: G100 is not designed to be an easy class, and if you're hoping to skate your way to an "A" you may be in trouble. My tests are considered difficult by many students (at all levels), but it is amazing how many pass with an "A" or "B" by the time the quarter is over. The majority of questions are taken from concepts covered in the videos, and in most cases referred to on the video study guides. The study guides are not meant to be mirrors of the exams, nor are they designed to replace the text or a full understanding of the videos themselves. Their only purpose is to help direct your focus into areas of importance insofar as any reasonable study of the earth is concerned. In general, I do not test on memorized facts (these are always available in reference materials). The intent of the exams I write is to help you think and apply the important concepts to real world situations. This involves extension of what you have learned into similar situations and settings, and the application of your understanding of earth processes.
If you want your test back: Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your exam and I'll mail it back to you (with the right answers, assuming you missed any).
Concerning make-up exams: It is strongly suggested that you make it to the testing center during the testing week (and at least 2 hours before they close for the day). For most of the exam weeks you have more than 40 hours to choose from, and there are very few legitimate excuses for missing a test. In any event, for several very good reasons a make-up test can be very difficult to arrange, will usually involve a late afternoon or evening trip to Grants Pass, and are sometimes impossible to arrange at all. Also, I tend to get very cranky when I have to attempt to arrange one, so....... DON'T MISS THE TESTS!
Note: It is your responsibility to contact the testing center to confirm their hours of operation for the testing weeks. There is no way I can anticipate what they will be.
Click here to go to the G100 Syllabus and schedule of air times
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