Grading

Getting good grades can sometimes feel stressful, especially in an online course. To help reduce that stress and improve the likelihood of success, give yourself the time and space you need to do your best work. Avoid procrastinating, stay engaged with the course each week, and reach out for help if you get stuck.

Grades in this class are intended to reflect your learning progress. There are no hidden points or surprises. You complete the work, demonstrate your understanding, and earn points accordingly. Assignments include detailed rubrics and feedback so you understand how your work is being evaluated and how you can continue improving.

I strongly encourage you to review the Grades page regularly and read my assignment feedback carefully. If something does not seem right or you have questions about your progress, please reach out.

Breakdown by Percentage

Course grades are weighted by assignment category as follows: 

• 10% lab introductions (graded video quizzes) 

• 55% laboratory activities; 

• 25% discussions;

• 10% comprehensive final exam.

Lab Introductions: Graded Video Quizzes

Each lab begins with a Lab Introduction that includes readings, videos, and a graded video quiz introducing the concepts explored in the lab activity.

You are expected to watch each video carefully and complete the embedded questions. Canvas tracks video participation, and videos must be watched at least once in full to receive credit.

• Unlimited attempts

• Highest score recorded

• Due Thursdays by 11:59 pm

• Covered by the 48-hour grace period

Lab Activities

Weekly lab activities are the core of this course and are designed to help you apply scientific concepts through hands-on investigation and data analysis. Activities may include working with maps, graphs, oceanographic data, Google Earth, photographs, and online tools such as Excel. Some labs also include simple at-home activities using common household materials.

• Due Sundays by 11:59 pm

• One attempt

• Covered by the 48-hour grace period

Collaborative Discussions

Discussions help build both scientific understanding and community in our online classroom. Many discussions ask you to apply course concepts to real-world observations, environmental issues, or current events.

All discussions include:

• An initial post

• Required peer replies

• Detailed instructions, grading rubrics, video tutorials, and sample posts

Discussion deadlines are strict because these assignments depend on active participation and interaction within the class community.

• Initial posts are due Thursdays by 11:59 pm

• Peer replies are due Sundays by 11:59 pm

• Late discussion posts are not accepted for credit, and missing the initial post deadline results in a zero on the assignment

Comprehensive Lab Final

The course concludes with a comprehensive lab final that emphasizes scientific reasoning, interpretation of data and visuals, and connections between lab activities completed throughout the semester.

• One timed attempt

• Available for several days before the deadline

• Covered by a limited grace period

All assignments have due dates listed in the Canvas Calendar and the Syllabus Course Summary. Due dates are designed to help you manage your time and allow the instructor to provide timely and meaningful feedback.

In a perfect world, everyone would meet every deadline for school, work, and life. In reality, unexpected situations sometimes occur. For this reason, certain assignments include limited built-in flexibility, as described below.

Lab Introductions and Lab Activities

Lab Introductions (graded video quizzes) and Lab Activities include a built-in 48-hour grace period. During this time, submissions will still be accepted, but credit will be reduced by 1 percent per hour after the deadline. This policy encourages you to submit work as soon as possible, even if something unexpected comes up at the last minute.

Comprehensive Lab Final

The Comprehensive Lab Final includes a built-in 6-hour grace period. During this time, submissions will still be accepted with a deduction of 1 percent per hour after the deadline.

Because the exam is available for several days before the deadline, make-up exams are not offered. Please plan accordingly and avoid waiting until the final hours of the availability window.

Collaborative Discussions: Late Posts Are Not Accepted

• Collaborative discussions are an exception to the late work policy. Because students cannot view classmates’ posts until they submit their own initial post, timely participation is essential for meaningful discussion.

• To earn credit for a discussion assignment, you must submit your initial post by the original Thursday deadline and complete the required peer replies by the Sunday deadline. Late posts are not accepted for credit. This applies to both initial posts and peer replies. Because the discussion forum closes after the deadline, you will not be able to post after that time.

• Technical issues, scheduling conflicts, or competing commitments do not change the discussion deadline. With this in mind, please prioritize the on-time completion of these collaborative assignments.

• Letter grades are assigned as follows. The interpretation of each grade, with its value in grade points per semester unit, can be found in the Pierce College General Catalog. Borderline grades are considered on an individual basis. 

  • A (>90%)

  • B (80-89%)

  • C (70-79%)

  • D (60-69%)

  • F (<60%).