Geography G107

G107 - Physical Systems of the Environment (21337)
Lecturer:  Andy Baker
Email:  bakeran@iupui.edu
Office:  Cavanaugh Hall, 213 B
Online Office Hours:  TBA

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

This course is an Asynchronous Online (AO) course. 
We have no required on-campus, off-campus, or online meetings.

For this semester, G107 course material begins January 19 and ends May 3.

There is no Final Exam.

GEOG-G107 is in the General Education Core - Life & Physical Sciences.

Please read the following course guidelines carefully & completely.

__________________________________________________________________

FYI:  Any text in blue font like THIS is a link to specific course content.

__________________________________________________________________

Grading and Assessments of Learning
There are 170 total points in this course.
Online Quiz 1:  5 points
Online Quiz 2:  5 points
Online Quiz 3:  5 points
Online Quiz 4:  5 points
Online Quiz 5:  5 points
Online Quiz 6:  5 points
Online Quiz 7:  5 points
Online Quiz 8:  5 points
Online Quiz 9:  5 points
Country Profile 1:  20 points
Country Profile 2:  20 points
Country Profile 3:  20 points
Assignment 1:  15 points
Assignment 2:  15 points
Assignment 3:  15 points
Discussion 1:  5 points
Discussion 2:  5 points
Discussion 3:  5 points
Introduction:  5 points

Final Course Grades (Grading Scale)
165 - 170 = A+
158 - 164 = A
153 - 157 = A-
148 - 152 = B+
141 - 147 = B
136 - 140 = B-
131 - 135 = C+
124 - 130 = C
119 - 123 = C-
114 - 118 = D+
107 - 113 = D
102 - 106 = D-
0 - 101 = F

Country Profiles:  60 total points (35% of course grade)
The three country profiles are your chance to showcase your understanding of specific course content via your analysis of 2 random countries.  You will study these same countries for each of the three profiles. 

Country Profile 1 is available Monday, February 1 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, February 21.
Country Profile 2 is available Monday, March 8 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, March 28.
Country Profile 3 is available Monday, April 12 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, May 2.

Online Lecture Quizzes:  45 total points (26.5% of course grade)
These 9 quizzes will test your understanding of all materials from the online lectures.  You can find the online lectures by clicking "Modules" on the left-hand side of our Canvas page.  Students are allowed to use any resources they desire when taking a quiz, including their notes.

Quizzes include only multiple-choice questions.  Once you start a quiz, you will have 10 minutes to complete 5 questions.  You are allowed two attempts per quiz.  The higher of your two quiz scores will be recorded in your Canvas Grades.  Most quizzes are automatically scored once completed and will be added to your Canvas Grades.  However, the correct answers for the quizzes will not be revealed and available to you until all students have completed each quiz.

Each quiz will be available for 14 days after it opens (except Quiz 1, which is available for 13 days).   Below is the schedule of when each quiz opens and closes in Canvas' "Quizzes":

Online Quiz 1 opens Tuesday, January 19 and closes Sunday, January 31.
Online Quiz 2 opens Monday, January 25 and closes Sunday, February 7.
Online Quiz 3 opens Monday, February 1 and closes Sunday, February 14.

Online Quiz 4 opens Monday, February 22 and closes Sunday, March 7.
Online Quiz 5 opens Monday, March 1 and closes Sunday, March 14.
Online Quiz 6 opens Monday, March 8 and closes Sunday, March 21.

Online Quiz 7 opens Monday, March 29 and closes Sunday, April 11.
Online Quiz 8 opens Monday, April 5 and closes Sunday, April 18.
Online Quiz 9 opens Monday, April 12 and closes Sunday, April 25.

Assignments:  45 total points (26.5% of course grade)
The three assignments are each worth 15 points and will be available in "Assignments" in Canvas.  Like all assessments of learning in this course, these assignments relate to specific concepts and terms discussed in G107.

Assignment 1 is available Monday, January 25 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, February 14.
Assignment 2 is available Monday, March 1 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, March 21.
Assignment 3 is available Monday, April 5 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, April 25.

Discussions:  15 total points (9% of course grade)
Each student will participate in three Discussions by submitting a well-reasoned, proofread, and thoughtful post.  To earn all of the 5 points possible for each Discussion, you must precisely follow the directions, do good work, and submit your post on time.  Instructions, grading rubric, and all relevant information for each of the Discussions will be found in Canvas “Discussions”.

Discussion 1 is available Monday, January 25 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, February 14.
Discussion 2 is available Monday, March 1 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, March 21.
Discussion 3 is available Monday, April 5 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, April 25.

Introduction:  5 total points (3% of course grade)
The Introduction is a simple assignment and posted in Discussions.  It is available Monday, January 18 and due before 11:59pm on Sunday, January 24.

Course Schedule:

See "Course Summary" at the bottom of the Syllabus.

The End.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Student Resources Available on Campus & Other Course Information

Course Description:
“GEOG-G107 Physical Systems of the Environment (3 cr.) Physical environment as the home of humans, emphasizing the distribution and interaction of environmental variables landforms, vegetation, soils, weather, and climate.” –from the Indiana University Bulletin

Course Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to introduce you to physical geography focusing on Earth’s natural environment. Physical geography is the science that studies the geographic aspects of the physical elements and processes that make up the environment: energy, air, water, weather, climate, landforms, soils, animals, plants, and Earth.

This course will take a systems approach, i.e. studying the components of the physical environment and how they are linked by flows, to developing an understanding of the world we live in. Four different units of lectures will describe energy and the atmosphere (air), the hydrosphere (water), the lithosphere (earth/land), and the biosphere (life including humans).

Student Learning Outcomes:
GEOG-G107 also includes connections to IUPUI’s “Principles of Undergraduate Learning”. This course addresses to some degree all the principles of undergraduate learning, particularly critical thinking, the integration and application of knowledge, and the understanding of society and culture (and their impact on the natural environment).

-Demonstrate substantial knowledge and understanding of the field of physical geography.

-Synthesize data, maps, and geographic information to understand the physical systems of our environment.

-Solve challenging issues concerning the earth’s physical systems applying concepts learned to the real world.

-Use knowledge to explore complex questions regarding our human impact on the environment.

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
Monday, March 22:  Last day to withdraw with automatic grade of W.

Tuesday, March 23 to Thursday, April 29:  Withdrawal with grade of W or F begins.  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 the severity of your fraud.

What is cheating? Any 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.