Liquid Syllabus: GEOL 100 Physical Geology

GEOL100

Physical Geology

San Diego Mesa College

Spring 2023

Dear Geology Student,

I am Bulent Bas and I will be your online instructor for GEOL100 Physical Geology class. I am so excited to meet you! I want you to feel prepared for our first week of class so I have put together this site for you. Please review the information below. If you are viewing this on your phone, bookmark this for future reference.

I will see you online!

Bulent

(You are welcome to call me Bulent, Professor Bas, or Mr. Bas)

Click on my picture for a brief Video Introduction

About This Class

Attendance in the First Week of Class:

Class officially begins on January 30^th but I will make Canvas available by January 23^rd . This will give you an entire week to poke around our Canvas Course and get used to the layout. I also encourage you to dive into our first Discussion Introduce Yourself. Completing this first assignment tells me that you are present, engaged, and ready to begin this semester STRONG!

How this Course Works:

This 16-week class is an asynchronous work. Each module on Canvas represents one week of instruction, and thus, in there you will find everything you need for that week - including pre-recorded lectures. All assignments, including exams, will be due on Sundays. You will use Canvas to log into the course and all of the course content. Weekly Modules will open and become available to you in Canvas on Friday at 8:00 AM. Each week will have homework assignments, online activities, and quizzes with due dates. Exams will be online via Canvas.

Week 1 Success Kit

College courses move quickly, and getting off to a good start is an important way to prepare yourself for success. Read this page carefully and you'll have all you need to start this course on the right foot.

Due Dates for Week 1:

First week of course starts with an Orientation Module in which you will get a chance to get to know your instructor, as well as introducing yourself to me and your classmates. Then you will read course syllabus and take a quiz. After familiarizing yourself with course layout, the real fun begins with class assignments such as chapter quiz, video-based quiz and an extra credit opportunity. All these listed assignments below are due on Sunday, February 5^th at 11:59 P.M.

Introduce Yourself Discussion Board Post
Syllabus Quiz
Chapter 1 Quiz
Video Quiz 1
Extra Credit Scientific Method Assignment

Materials you will need for week one:

Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology: You do not need to purchase the textbook for this course. You will have access to PDF versions of each textbook chapter online via Weekly Study Resources on Canvas.
Lecture on Video: I taught this course synchronously using Zoom and recorded each class session. You will have access to these video lectures in each Canvas module.
Course Documents: These documents are usually in the form of PDF files, and Canvas pages. They can be found under Weekly Study Resources on Canvas.

Communication Essentials

Preferred Communication Method

Quickest and most efficient way to communicate with me is via Canvas Inbox. I will respond to you no later than 24 hours later, but typically within an hour or two. Don't be surprised to hear back from me immediately! 😊

General Questions?

If you ever have any general questions about the course, that does not include personal information, feel free to utilize the Q&A Discussion Forum. Here both I and your peers can answer your question. Feel free to go in and answer some as well! 😊

General Availability

I am usually teaching in-person classes on several different college campuses Monday through Thursday, and/or working on my computer/phone. This makes me available the majority of the time. Email me to set up a time to Zoom, or attend my office hours on Mondays through Thursdays from 5pm to 6pm.

My Advice for Success

I sincerely want you to be successful in this course and I firmly believe that everyone can learn and meet the successful completion requirements in this course, whether you consider yourself a "science person" or not. This is what I see successful students doing in my classes:

Communicating throughout the semester (via emails/Zoom office hours) is key to success! If you have a question or comment, let me know. If something comes up in your life and you missed a deadline, let me know. Let's work together on this.
Don't leave your assignments until the last second. Starting assignments on Sunday afternoon doesn't give you enough time to submit by deadline (midnight Sunday). Start early, make a plan, and work that plan.
Improve your time management skills. My recommendation would be to start as early in the week as possible. If you do this, then you have plenty of time to ask questions, reflect on your assignments, and deal with any issues that arise (internet problems, computer issues etc).
Develop a routine. This will help you be more focused and productive with your time, break bad habits like cramming, and build in self-care and time with loved ones so you stay healthy in mind and body!

Course Goals

After you complete this course you will be able to:

Learn about the scientific methods pertaining to geological research and importance of geologic knowledge for our survival on the Planet Earth.
Identify and classify rocks and minerals based on their physical, chemical and geologic characteristics.
Understand how Plate Tectonic Theory accounts for the distribution of various types of rocks, volcanic activity, and earthquakes around the world.
Compare and contrast absolute age and relative age of rocks & geologic events as pertaining to geologic time scale.
Gain a knowledge of how geology as a science contributes to the discovery and utilization of Earth’s energy and mineral resources.
Gain an understanding of earth's Inner structure and layers and how the geologists study them using seismic waves.

Support For You

Here are a wide variety of resources that may be helpful to you as we move through the semester:

Canvas Phone Support: Call 1-844-629-6835 for 24/7 assistance with Canvas questions and troubleshooting.
SDCCD Online Learning Pathways
Student Services and Campus Resources: This is a complete list of Mesa College student resources, and it's big. Take a minute to see what is available!
MT2C Online Tutoring: Find academic support materials and tutoring, including NetTutor online tutoring
Library: The Mesa College Library provides access to books, articles, and databases in both its campus home and online.
Disability Support Services (DSPS): Learn about testing, accommodations, and support services.
Ask a Nurse: Email health-related questions to our campus nurse.

Our Pact

What you can expect from me:

As your instructor, I will be actively present in your learning experience.
I will create a positive and supportive environment where you will feel safe to ask questions and take on challenging material.
I will provide clear and concise content, study resources and practice quizzes/tests that help you learn. Keep in mind I am a few clicks away if you need help!
I will respond to your emails with questions/and or concerns within a few hours.
I understand that you are busy and that you have many competing priorities. When needed, I will be flexible to support your successful completion of this course.
I will foster a relationship with you as a mentor, both in the class and in life.
I will lead with empathy and hold a complete belief in your ability to learn.

What I will expect from you:

Try to stay on top of your weekly activities, and assignments. A good rule of thumb is that in a 3-unit course you should be spending about 9 hours per week on the course.
Talk to me! Come to office hours to ask for help, to ask questions about your grade, or just to chat about geology or life in general. If you can't come to the scheduled office hours, you can also email me, and we can find a separate time to chat.
You will be a regular and active participant in our learning environment.
You will uphold academic integrity by submitting only authentic work.
You will challenge yourself to try new things, keep an open mind about learning science, and recognize that mistakes are a vital part of the learning process.
You will be thoughtful in your interactions with peers, while taking extra care to respect diverse perspectives. You will support your classmates as you share this learning space and time.

My Teaching Philosophy

You are not alone in this journey! Me, the instructor, and you the students, make up a community of learners, in this case, learning and discovering about our own planet, Earth. We are part of a diverse learning community. That diversity is an asset because you will not only learn from me, but you will also learn from your classmates. We may not be in the same physical space like in a traditional classroom, but we are virtually together for this class. We have different backgrounds, different strengths, and different perspectives.

To succeed, members of this community regularly participate in the course, contribute to discussions, are curious, have a positive attitude, and help one another. Each member is a unique person and this strengthens our learning with insights drawn from diverse experiences and perspectives.

Let’s learn from one another.

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