Course Syllabus

G326 Online – Geography of North America – Section 34809

There is no required textbook or e-book to purchase.  All course content is available here in our Canvas site for free.

Please read the following course guidelines carefully & completely.

Instructor
My name is Andy Baker.  I can be reached via the Canvas Inbox or bakeran@iupui.edu.

Technology Requirement
In order to participate in G326 Online, you must understand that the ability to use the technology enabled in this course is your responsibility. I will be of limited help with problems not directly related to course content. Technology problems, whether hardware or software related, are your responsibility. If you use the internet and email on a regular basis without any issues, you should not have a problem in G326 Online.
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Course Overview & Schedule
You will be learning exclusively from our Canvas website which contains readings and video lectures in 11 different chapters.  Most of the readings and videos were created by your instructor (Andy).  The chapters are found in "Modules" on the left-hand side of our Canvas site.  Each chapter is the basis for how the course content is delivered from instructor to student. Contacting me within hours of a quiz or assessment deadline, or well after the fact, about your failure to complete assigned work is not acceptable.

In this online course, we all move together from one chapter to the next.  In other words, you can't work too far ahead or at your own pace in G326 Online.  Below is a list of the dates each chapter opens this semester:

Chapter 1 - Physical Geography of North America: opens August 20 and closes September 9 at 11:59pm
Chapter 2 - Human Geography of North America: opens August 20 and closes September 9 at 11:59pm

Chapter 3 - Quebec: opens September 10 and closes September 30 at 11:59pm
Chapter 4 - New England: opens September 10 and closes September 30 at 11:59pm

Chapter 5 - The Foundry: opens October 1 and closes October 21 at 11:59pm
Chapter 6 - Dixie: opens October 1 and closes October 21 at 11:59pm

Chapter 7 - The Breadbasket: opens October 22 and closes November 4 at 11:59pm
Chapter 8 - Ecotopia: opens October 22 and closes November 4 at 11:59pm

Chapter 9 - MexAmerica: opens November 5 and closes December 2 at 11:59pm
Chapter 10 - The Empty Quarter: opens November 5 and closes December 2 at 11:59pm
Chapter 11 - The Islands: opens November 5 and closes December 2 at 11:59pm

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Grading and Assessments of Learning
There are 150 total points in this course.

Final Course Grades (Grading Scale)
147 – 150 = A+
141 – 146 = A
135 – 140 = A-
132 – 134 = B+
126 – 131 = B
120 – 125 = B-
116 – 119 = C+
112 – 115 = C
105 – 111 = C-
97 – 104 = D
0 – 96 = F

The 150 total points are based on the following assessments:

7 Quizzes, 10 points each = 70 total points (47% of course grade)
7 Small Activities, 5 points each = 35 total points (23% of course grade)
Big Assignment #1 = 15 points (10% of course grade)
Big Assignment #2 Proposal = 5 points (3% of course grade)
Big Assignment #2 = 25 points (17% of course grade)

There is no Final Exam.
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7 Quizzes (10 points each, 70 total points):
The 7 quizzes will be taken and submitted online via “Quizzes” on our Canvas page.  Each Quiz will open at 12:01am on a specific Monday (see schedule below) and will close on a Sunday at 11:59pm (see schedule below).  It is important to note that the Quizzes must be completed before they close.  The chapter content will stay available the entire semester, but the Quizzes close for the rest of the semester after the closing date listed below.

Quiz 1 (Topic: Chapter 1) available August 20 - closes September 9 @ 11:59pm

Quiz 2 (Topic: Chapter 2) available August 20 - closes September 9 @ 11:59pm

Quiz 3 (Topic: Chapters 3 & 4) available September 10 - closes September 30 @ 11:59pm

Quiz 4 (Topic: Chapters 5 & 6) available October 1 - closes October 21 @ 11:59pm

Quiz 5 (Topic: Chapters 7 & 8) available October 22 - closes November 4 @ 11:59pm

Quiz 6 (Topic: Chapters 9, 10, 11) available November 5 - closes December 2 @ 11:59pm

Quiz 7 (Topic: "Nine Nations of North America") available November 12 - closes December 9 @ 11:59pm

All of the Quizzes contain multiple-choice questions. Once you start a quiz, you will have 20 minutes to complete 10 questions.  You only get one attempt for each Quiz. 

Most questions are automatically scored after you take the quiz and a score is immediately posted in your “Grades” in Canvas.  However, the correct answers and questions for the quizzes will be revealed and available to you after all students have completed each quiz.

Computer Problems During Quiz: In G326 Online, you only have a limited amount of time to take and submit a quiz (20 minutes). If you are in the middle of taking a quiz when it closes, you will receive a zero, so plan accordingly.  Any problem that causes your quiz to close, submit with an error, or shut-off/disappear must be immediately reported to me. Otherwise, your actions can constitute academic dishonesty.

Since the Quizzes are an important part of your final grade, click HERE to read some tips I gathered from previous online students who earned (nearly) perfect scores on all of the quizzes.  I hope this helps you!

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7 Small Activities (5 points each, 35 total points):
Each of the small activities are designed to be great opportunities for students to earn points.  If you follow directions, do good work, and complete all tasks on time, you should earn 5 points on each activity.  To find an Activity, go to "Assignments" on the left-hand side of this page.  The degree of difficulty for each activity will vary and there will often (not always) be several options for students to choose from for each Activity. 

Activity #1 (5 points):  Available Monday, August 20 and due before Sunday, August 26 at 11:59pm.

Activity #2 (5 points):  Available Monday, August 27 and due before Sunday, September 9 at 11:59pm.

Activity #3 (5 points):  Available Monday, September 10 and due before Sunday, September 30 at 11:59pm.

Activity #4 (5 points):  Available Monday, October 1 and due before Sunday, October 21 at 11:59pm.

Activity #5 (5 points):  Available Monday, October 22 and due before Sunday, November 4 at 11:59pm.

Activity #6 (5 points):  Available Monday, November 5 and due before Sunday, December 2 at 11:59pm.

Activity #7 (5 points):  Available Monday, November 12 and is due before Sunday, December 9 at 11:59pm.
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Big Assignment #1 (15 total points):
The purpose of Big Assignment #1 is to showcase to me (Andy) your understanding of material covered in Chapters 5, 6, and 7.  This assignment is worth 15 points, which is 10% of your final course grade.  On the morning of Monday, October 22, Big Assignment #1 instructions will be available in "Assignments".  This assignment is due four weeks later on Sunday, November 18 (before 11:59pm).

Big Assignment #2 (25 total points):
This assignment is a final project that showcases your understanding of course concepts.  Similar to Big Assignment #1, it will become available via Assignments.  However, different than every other assessment in this course, Big Assignment #2 is due on a Wednesday instead of a Sunday.  The due date is Wednesday, December 12 at 11:59pm.  Each student's Big Assignment #2 will be individualized based on your own interests.  To make sure you aren't creating an idea for your assignment the night before the due date, the Big Assignment #2 Proposal (5 points) is due before Sunday, November 11 (11:59pm).

Finally, no plagiarizing. It is easy to identify and will result in a 0 for the assignment and submission of an Academic Misconduct Report to the School and the Dean of your academic department. You cannot copy and paste text from internet sources in my courses. As mentioned above, you have to apply concepts discussed in this course for this assessment.

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Student Resources Available on Campus & Other Course Information

University Information Technology Support:
Please contact the UITS Support Center (317-274-HELP) if you have a computer, network, or technical problem. They are very helpful. I have called them many times and in every instance they provided information to correct my problem. You will have to provide your user-id to speak with one of the consultants employed there. This is a free service to IUPUI students, faculty, and staff.

Adaptive Education Services (AES):
Students needing accommodations because of a disability will need to register with Adaptive Educational Services (AES) and complete the appropriate forms issued by AES before accommodations will be given. The AES office is located in Taylor Hall, UC 100. You can also reach the office by calling 274-3241. Visit http://aes.iupui.edu/ for more information.

Dean of Students/Student Advocate:
You should be aware that the campus Student Advocate Office can help you overcome obstacles towards your academic goals. The Advocate will answer your questions, direct you to the appropriate departments and people, familiarize you with university policies and procedures, and give you guidance as you look at ways to solve problems and make choices. The Student Advocate Office is located in UC002 and can be contacted by phone at 278-7594 or email at stuadvoc@iupui.edu.

Withdrawals and incompletes:
You may withdraw with an automatic “W” through the stated date in the Academic Calendar. Withdrawals after that date will be assigned a grade of “F”. Incompletes will not be given except in cases of documented medical emergencies or illness.

IUPUI Withdraw Deadlines
Sunday, October 21, 2018.  Last day to withdraw with automatic grade of W. Requires advisor approval via the Late drop/add classes link in One.IU. UCOL students or Engineering/Technology freshmen must see advisor by 5:00 p.m. on the prior Friday. In person transactions must be processed by 5:00 p.m. on the prior Friday.

Monday, October 22, 2018.  Withdrawal with grade of W or F begins. Advisor, instructor and dean's approvals required via the Late drop/add classes link in One.IU. Beginning on this date, drops will be approved only in serious, extenuating circumstances.

Administrative Withdrawal:
A basic requirement of this course is that you will participate in all class activities and assessments and conscientiously complete all required course activities and/or assignments. Keep in touch with me if you q1are unable to attend, participate, or complete an assignment on time. If you miss more than half of the required activities within the first 25% of the course without contacting me, you may be administratively withdrawn from this course. Administrative withdrawal may have academic, financial, and financial aid implications. Administrative withdrawal will take place after the full refund period, and if you are administratively withdrawn from the course you will not be eligible for a tuition refund. If you have questions about the administrative withdrawal policy at any point during the semester, please contact me.

Academic Integrity and Misconduct:
Please read Sections 1 through 6 of Part G in the Academic Responsibilities & Misconduct of the IUPUI Student Code of Conduct carefully by clicking HERE. I assume that you have read and agree with all terms of the Code and will grade your submitted assessments & evaluate your communications accordingly. The consequences of academic dishonesty range from a warning, penalty, or removal from university, depending on severity of your fraud.

What is cheating? Any one of the following situations involves cheating:

• copying the answers from a quiz obtained from another person in the class or from a previous term
• having the aid of another person, electronically or physically, to assist you in selecting an answer on a quiz
• having another person take a quiz or for you
• altering the quiz time length or submission techniques
• attempting or completing any method that bypasses the security features of the course or Canvas
  
• printing or copying any question on a quiz

If I detect suspicious activity concerning submission times I will contact you via Canvas Inbox or email. You might have to come into my office to take a substitute quiz that might include essay questions.

Course Description
“GEOG-G326 Geography of North America (3 credits) is a course designed to engage you in a variety of topics related to the continent that surrounds you and help you learn more about a location that you probably think you already know well.  While we will primarily study the human geography of the various regions of the US and Canada, we will also look at the landscape and the environment as well. Students will be expected to be reflective, think critically, and write effectively on a variety of topics in regional geography.” –from the Indiana University Bulletin