Professor’s Geology Lab Student Welcome Message

 

Hello Everyone!   Welcome to San Diego Mesa's College GEOL101 – Physical Geology Laboratory Online Course!

 

cayman_cave.jpg

 

 

My name is Ray Rector, your geology online lab instructor for this course.

 

Congratulations for signing up for my online physical geology lab course here at San Diego Mesa College this Summer 2021 session – you picked a great program!  This is a 1-unit, college-level, physical science laboratory, compressed 8-week course. 

  

Here is how this online course is run:

 

1) The instructor (that’s me!) is primarily a course content presenter/facilitator, discussion leader, and learning outcome assessor – I’m here to make sure that you are able to access all the course content, guide you through the geology terminology and concepts, and do my best in helping you successfully complete all the course activities, and finally, grade your assignments and tests.   You and I primarily communicate via discussion board, email me using the “Inbox” link found on the main Dashboard Canvas page, and ConferZoom video conferencing.    You can also reach me at my personal website email address at geoprof@geoscirocks.com

 

2) The student (that’s you!) uses this online lab classroom platform (Canvas) to learn introductory geology and successfully (hopefully) get college credit for doing it.  To successfully complete this course you must successfully complete a set of geology laboratory learning modules (15 in all), post on lab discussion board, watch recorded Studio/Zoom videos/meetings, take lab quizzes and exams, and go on virtual geology fieldtrips.

 

3) The information (course content and materials) you need to learn in this course is found in several places: a) your free digital lab manual; b) mineral and rock collection set; c) instructor lab slides; d) instructor’s website and video links: e) numerous website and online article and video links that have been included in the assignment instructions; and f) direct personal communication with me.  

 

4) Navigating through our Canvas course site is somewhat simple.  When you log into our Canvas course, you’ll notice that there is a menu on the left side of the course page, where all components of the course are listed.  This menu has several linked categories that include the following: “Home”; "Announcements”; "Modules"; “Discussion"; "Quizzes; Assignments; and “Grades”.

 

Here are some details for each Canvas Course Page menu item:

 

a) The “Home” link is where you will find all the various course components listed/expanded to view.  The “Home” page also has important logistical documents and information, such as my instructor welcome message and video links, and the course syllabus and schedule.  Other useful items are also there and include assignment and test-taking tips, plagiarism info, a link to my personal educational website, and Canvas help links.

 

b) The “Announcement” is where you find my weekly update message concerning current course activities and due dates. 

 

c) Means of communication between course participants is done from the "Discussion" link.  Note that "Email" messaging is done outside the course page, but within the general Canvas Dashboard site under the “Inbox” Icon.

d) Assessment components (graded class activities) of this course are found under the "Assignments", “Discussion”, and “Quizzes” sections. 

e) The majority of the course geology science curriculum is found at my personal student website at www.geoscirocks.com , and includes textbook support, professor’s lecture materials (lecture notes and PowerPoints), Geology streaming learning videos, and Internet geosciences education links.

         f) Required lab activity assignments are found in the “Modules” folder.   Each laboratory module covers a specific geologic topic and includes the following: study materials (lab manual chapter, professor’s lab slides, how-to videos, etc); activity worksheet (pre-lab and lab); quizzes (pre-lab and lab); and post-lab writing reflection.

         g) Quizzes and Exams are found via the “Quizzes” link.  

 h) You have access to your grades in the course through the “Grades” link.

         i)  The “Discussion” link includes several different forums, including two graded forums.  This where students can hold public or private discussions concerning course work – primarily students helping students – and for raising any sorts of questions, comments and concerns about this course or anything in general. 

 

 

5) Your typical work agenda for each week will include: a) reading two chapters in your laboratory manual; b) viewing the professor's PowerPoint lab presentations and other supportive lab materials; c) completing a couple laboratory learning modules; d) taking a couple quizzes; and e) posting written lab reflections on the discussion board.

  

Important Resources and Must-Read Documents:

 

Mandatory rock and mineral KIT:   Each geology lab student will be required to either check-out (borrow from college) or purchase a rock/mineral specimen set for use in the laboratory course.  Below are the details for each option.

 

Option #1:  Pick up the kit from campus

You need to bring your student ID card (or at least your student ID number) with you when you pick up the kit. 

Additionally, you need to print out these three documents, of which the KIT Agreement doc needs signing and submitting.  The linked docs are listed below:

1)     Instructional_Student_Kit_Agreement_GEOL101-Rector-60901

2)     Kit_Inventory_GEO101-Rector-60901

3)     Student_Kits_Email_GEOL_101-Rector-60901

The Days and Times for Lab Kit Pick-up is below:

Please select one of the following dates and times to come to the campus to pick up your items:

 

Wednesday, June 23rd from 10am–noon    AND   2pm-4pm

Thursday, June 24th from 10am–noon    AND   2pm-4pm

 

If you cannot make show up on a pick-up day/time, then you can have someone else pick up the kit for you, but they will need to have your student ID.   If you are unable to come to campus for pick up, please contact me – your lab instructor

The location of your pick-up is:

    Mesa College, Parking Lot 1 – West End

            If you are unfamiliar with this location, please reference the campus map.

All health and safety precautions will be made during your item pick up:

·         Enter the campus through Mesa College Drive.

·         In keeping with social distancing guidelines, we do ask that you not exit your vehicle on campus.

·         Please wear a mask while in your vehicle for interactions with campus employees.

·         Please stop at the check-in tent to provide your name and show your picture ID.

·         When prompted, you will be asked to pop open the trunk of your vehicle. Our staff will do the actual opening of the trunk.

·         Items will be placed in the trunk or flatbed and closed by staff if needed.

Please read the attached Agreement form.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jTYNb3ati4tneWJ2qmjBOuW2Zx3jfZuI/view?usp=sharing

Options for returning the form:

l  Sign and return it electronically.

l  Print a copy and sign and return it when you pick up your items.

l  Complete a hardcopy of the form at your pick up date/time. Please bring your own pen for signing.

 

 

 

Option #2:   Alternately, you can purchase your own rock/mineral specimen set, navigate to this URL:  https://www.geoed1.com/rock-and-mineral-collections.html    

 

Scroll down on the page to the 75-sample set entitled 1201-000 Intro Earth Science Collection ($55.95)

 

This is the collection you should purchase--directly from this website if possible.  Please be advised that when ordering the collection 1201-000 from the above vendor you must put in a note in the field " instructions to merchant', that this order is for the GEOL101 course at SDCC.    Also, the total price for each student is $75 the website will charge around $20 for the shipping.  You may also be able to purchase this same set from the Mesa College bookstore.

 

Warning: If you fail to acquire the above sample set – whether by purchase or borrow – you will be seriously disadvantaged on the earth materials labs, because the mineral and rock labs are based off the sample collection.

 

 

 

No-Cost ONLINE LAB Course TextBOOK: There is a free open-source lab manual that we will be using for this laboratory course:

 


 

This free geology lab e-manual has a PDF format.  The title is Introductory Geology Laboratory Manual  The authors are Bradley Deline, PhD,  Randa Harris, MS, and Karen Tefend, PhD, and is published by the University of North Georgia.  Click here to download your free copy:  https://web.ung.edu/media/university-press/Laboratory%20Manual%20for%20Introductory%20Geology%20Updated%20082817.pdf?t=1510260756287    You can also download the lab manual from the Canvas course page (in Learning Resources folder), or on the professor’s geology lab web page.  Please download this manual and save it ASAP.  You will be using this pdf manual as one of the primary sources for information for completed the lab activities for this geology lab.


 

You will also be using an additional educational website that is designed and maintained by the instructor (my personal website) exclusively created for maximizing your learning outcomes.  This website is found at:

                www.geoscirocks.com       Once there, click on the

 

     geo101_mesa_butt.gif    button to access our classroom web page.   Here you will find a plethora of information that will greatly facilitate your success in this course.

 

Course syllabus, schedule, and Policies

 

Make sure to thoroughly and carefully read the course syllabus, schedule, and plagiarism policy

 

    1) The syllabus is basically the official course contract between me (the instructor) and you (the student).  This is where all the course information and logistics are found.   Things like textbook information, how assignments   should be completed, and grading standards are all found in the syllabus.  

 

   2) The schedule is, by far, the most important document during the semester for keeping your studies on a timely track – things like homework assignment and test due dates are all there.

 

   3) My plagiarism policy is also provided for your benefit as a student.   Read and understand it very carefully.  Note that I use plagiarism detection software like “Turnitin.com” and “Eve2” on the assignments that you turn in to me. 

 

  4) Assignment and Test taking tips are found in the “Home” page -- created to help you successfully complete and submit the assignments, quizzes, and exams.

 

  5)  For those students who are new to the Canvas online learning platform, a very helpful link to a Online Student Training page is found under the “Home” page (URL: https://www.sdccd.edu/about/departments-and-offices/instructional-services-division/online-learning-pathways-1/students/student%20training.aspx)

 

Lab Module Assignments and Test Dates

 

Each and every lab assignment and test has two specific dates: 1) the availability date in which it becomes available for your inspection and response, and 2) the due date, in which it is due for grading, which is the same thing as the expiration date, as it also becomes unavailable for inspection henceforth.  Most lab assignments and tests are due on Sundays by 11:59 pm.

 

Late lab assignments and tests are both unaccepted.  Make sure that you stay on top of ALL due dates (listed in the Course Schedule).

 

As stated above, I can be contacted by email through the “Inbox” link on the main Canvas page. I will check messages virtually every day.   Alternately, I can be contacted via traditional email at geoprof@geoscirocks.com.

 

I hope that you will enjoy this course this summer session, and that you will learn a lot about the Earth too. Let’s make the most of it!  Look forward to meeting everyone online.

 

Oh, and if you get a chance, please watch my posted Welcome Video!  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXc4Q6O8FqU 

 

Aloha!

 

Ray_South_Kona_HI_08-2016

 

  Ray Rector