Laboratory Earth:
Earth's Changing Systems
NRES 822

Index

Technical Requirements:

In order to take this course, you must have:
E-mail
An Internet connection (Netscape 3.01 or higher and Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher)
Microsoft Word
PowerPoint
Adobe Acrobat Reader
RealPlayer
The technology skills you will need to succeed in this course are a basic familiarity with your Web browser, e-mail, word processing, and the ability to locate specific information on the Internet. You must also know or learn how to use Blackboard courseware.
Clicking here will take you to a link that will direct you to any of the plug-ins you might need for this course.
Note: When you click on the link above a new browser window will open. Be sure to close the window when you are done.

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Course Introduction

In this class, you will develop an understanding of change in the Earth’s environment using a systems approach. This course will provide opportunities for you to start making connections between a variety of disciplines and concepts.
It is critical for you to understand that the only thing constant within the Earth’s system is change. Before the Earth was formed, there were a variety of processes and forces that interacted within our universe that set the stage for the formation of the Solar System and the Earth. Since the origin of the Earth, change has continually occured at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales as the result of the exchange of energy and mass. Rocks and fossils provide a record of the many natural processes that have operated to create a wide range of environments. This class will employ a systems approach to understanding Earth systems and continually emphasize a recurring theme of all our Lab Earth classes that everything is connected to everything else. Using this approach allows us to deal more responsibly and rationally with local, regional and global issues. In addition, this approach recognizes that humans are dependent on, impact the distribution of, and influence natural systems. This course will emphasize the early development of the Earth system, evidence for change found in rocks, the cycling of matter and energy through many complex reservoirs over different scales of space and time, and the impact that humans are having on the environment within which we live. This course will provide a general understanding of the processes that relate to the interaction of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
Many of the activities we will do in this class may be able to be used directly in an elementary, middle school, or high school classroom. All activities are designed to challenge you as learners. All the concepts in this class can be related to both the K-12 National and Nebraska science education standards. It is important to recognize that this is a science class and not a methods class.
Our role, as instructors in this class, is to provide you with opportunities to learn about the Earth and to challenge you as learners so that you can understand and apply basic Earth system science concepts to your own community. Everyone can be successful in this class, but it is up to you. We are always available for help.

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Learning Outcomes

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:
Acknowledge and collaborate with individuals who have different perspectives about change in the Earth’s systems.
Demonstrate an understanding of the processes that led to the formation of the Universe and our solar system.
Explain the basic principles used to develop the geologic time scale including relative- and absolute-age dating.
Demonstrate the ability to use evidence from rocks and fossils to document changes in Earth’s environment.
Explain the long-term influence that plate tectonics has had on current and past environments on the Earth.
Explain the social and economic consequences of the expanding ecological foot print of humans.
Collect and analyze basic data related to energy and matter cycling in selected Earth systems
Describe the impact of humans on the cycling of energy and matter in selected Earth systems.
Develop explanations for the relationship between human activity and current ongoing changes in our environment.

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Participation

Group Discussion
Active participation in the discussion board is an important part of this course. Your individual discussion board participation will be assessed primarily on the quality of your contributions. Irrelevant, redundant or unresponsive comments are discouraged. More specifically, we will be examining individual contributions based on the following criteria:

• The extent to which comments/questions relate to the current discussion.
• The extent to which the comment/question moves the discussion forward.
• The extent to which the comment/question is related to course content (e.g., assigned readings, activities, and assignments), or your own personal
  experience.
• The extent to which your reasoning is consistent and logical.
• The extent to which your comment/question brings a fresh analytic perspective and/or increased insight to the discussion.
  Course facilitators will comment selectively and may post a final comment on the group discussion board.

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Course Outline

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Structure:

Laboratory Earth is a three-credit graduate level, Internet-based, computer-delivered, distance learning course designed for K - 12 educators. It will be delivered online via Blackboard.

Important Notice: Failure to complete the course and associated assessment materials will result in forfeiture of the tuition scholarship at which time you will be billed for the tuition.

Modules

The “course” is structured around four modules:

Module 1. From the Universe to the Earth and Everything in Between

Module 2. Changes through Geologic Time

Module 3. Cycling in the Earth System

Module 4. The Environment: Yours, Mine, and Ours

Each Module includes:

• Learning objectives and an introduction that highlights these objectives
• Module organization and topics to be covered
• Participate and Complete section – highlights the activities in the module and the order in which they should be completed.

 

Assignments

One or more assignments of varying duration will be completed for each module. Due to dates and times will be provided for all assignments. In most cases you will have several days to complete them. Each module will conclude with a Mastery of Content Activity that will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the content in novel formats.

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Grading:

Your grade in this course will be based on your active participation and on-time completion of the grading elements in this course. These elements include: assignments, activities, discussions, assessment tools, or other items to which the facilitators assign a due date. Facilitators will provide feedback as appropriate and may ask you to revisit an assignment after additional guidance is given in order to receive full credit. If you do not respond their suggestions, credit will not be given. If you have a problem with a given deadline, please contact Sara Yendra as soon as possible.

Although this is an on-line course that currently uses an independent study designation, your success and that of the other course participants depends on your active, on-time participation. You can view your “grade” record by going to My Grades which can be accessed by clicking on the course tools button.

An “A” grade will be given if your record documents the quality completion of greater than 90% of the grade elements and meaningful completion of the course content questions. Documented mastery of 90% of the concepts will also be required for each module. Note: This is not calculated as an average. You must score over 90% for each module.

A “B” grade will be given if your record documents the quality completion of 80 to 89% of the grade elements and meaningful completion of the course content questions. Documented mastery of 80 to 89% of the concepts will also be required for each module. .

A “C” grade will be given if your record documents the quality completion of 70 to 79% of the grade elements and meaningful completion of the course content questions. Documented mastery of 70 to 79% of the concepts will also be required for each module. .

A “D” grade will be given if your record documents the quality completion of 60 to 69% of the grade elements and meaningful completion of the course content questions. Documented mastery of 60 to 69% of the concepts will also be required for each module. .

An “F” grade will be given if your record documents the quality completion of less than 60% of the grade elements and meaningful completion of the course content questions. Documented mastery of less than 60% of the concepts will also be required for each module.

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Student Conduct:

Academic honesty:
Academic honesty is essential to the existence and integrity of an academic institution. The responsibility for maintaining that integrity is shared by all members of the academic community. To further serve this end, the University supports a Student Code of Conduct which addresses the issue of academic dishonesty.

Diversity:
The University is committed to a pluralistic campus community through Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity. We assure reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Ethics and Integrity:
The instructor is committed to offering a course that maintains an atmosphere of ethical behavior, individual integrity, and equitable treatment of each person. Expression of ideas from various perspectives acknowledges the dignity of all class members.
Click here for a link to the "Academic Services Handbook."

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Technical Problems

For all technical problems related to this course, please contact the:
UNL Blackboard Help Desk
Phone: (402) 472-3970
E-mail: helpdesk@unl.edu

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