Geography 110Physical

GeographyReference # 4322

Online CourseProfessor Lisa Schmidt

Important Information

• Professor Lisa Schmidt• Ref. 4332• Online• ProfessorLisaS@gmail.com• Fall 2015• (909) 384-5221 Voice Mail• (760) 440-8977 Text or Voice Mail• http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com

Physical Geography

• Welcome to Geography 110, Physical Geography. In this class, you will learn the basic elements of geography. We will study climate, landforms, water, soils, native animal life and native vegetation. We will examine the inter-relationships between these things and we will look at their patterns of distribution throughout the world.

Textbooks Required

McKnight’s Physical Geography 11th Edition

McKnight and Hess ISBN-13: 978-

0321820433 Recommended

Goode’s World Atlas ISBN 0-528-65000-3

Or any recent World Atlas that contains physical maps

Recommended The Geography Coloring

Book Wynn Kapit 978-0131014725

A digital version of the text is available, link on web page. Text can also be rented at Amazon, and a Kindle edition is available.

http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com/Textbooks

Required Materials

Internet Access Access to a computer – not just a tablet or

a phone Pencils Pens Paper

Recommended Materials

Colored Pens or PencilsFor map studies

Course Description The goal of this course is to introduce students

to basic concepts in physical geography…(please read course description in the syllabus) Since it is an introductory course, it is assumed

students have little or no background in physical geography.

Course Description• Topics covered include the atmosphere, atmospheric

processes, weather, geographic patterns of climate, the biosphere, soil and vegetation processes, the hydrosphere, water in all of its phases, the formation, modification, and distribution of various landforms, and the lithosphere.

Course Objectives• You will gain an understanding of the geographic

perspective within natural and environmental sciences, including place, space, map scale, map projection, spatial connection, and spatial diffusion.

• You will better understand how to use maps, in particular, the geographic distribution of natural phenomena.

• You will learn about the four environmental spheres, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere, and how they interact across the surface of the Earth. In particular, you will learn the role of humankind within the environment.

Assignments & Grading• Weekly Postings 18 @ 10

points each = 180• Chapter Quizzes 14 @ 10

points each = 140• Map Quizzes 5 @ 25 points

each = 125• Exams 4 @ 100 = 400• Project 1 @ 115 = 115• Total Possible = 960

• 100-90% 906-864 A• 89-80% 863-768 B• 79-70% 767-672 C• 69-60% 671-576 D• 59-0% 576-0 F

Note: You must earn at least 60% to pass this class. You may be dropped for falling below 60%. Please refer to your syllabus.

Weekly Reading & Map Studies Each week you will be required to read

chapters of your text and/or study your maps. You will have a posting assignment based on

the reading or map study and you will be quizzed on the material as well.

Weekly Postings

• There will be a posting assignment for each week of the course.

• Topics will be selected from the current material for that week.

• Posting assignments will be due one week after they are assigned at 11:59 PM.

Chapter Quizzes There will be a quiz for each

chapter in the textbook. Quizzes will be posted each week on

Blackboard. Quizzes will be due one week after

they are posted by 11:59 PM. There will be 14 quizzes.

The format will be multiple choice, true/false, and or matching.

Quiz questions may be used on exams. You will want to take notes from your

quizzes and study them.

You can always access the quizzes you have taken so you can study from them-go into “My Grades” on Blackboard and click your score, that will take you into yourr quiz.

Timed: 30 minutes2 chances

Map Quizzes We will study the physical features of Earth. Colored pens or pencils will be helpful. You will have five map quizzes.

North America 25 points South America 25 points Europe 25 points Asia 25 points Africa 25 points

Total 125 points

Also given using BlackboardTimed 30 minutes2 chances1 week close at 11:59 PM

Exams

There will be four exams. Exams will be given using Blackboard. The format will be multiple choice, true and

false, and/or matching. Each exam will be worth 100 points. The final exam will be cumulative. A study guide will be available for each exam.

Also given using BlackboardTimed: 60 minutesONE chance – close 11:59 PM

Presentation/Project

You are required to write a research paper and create a presentation for this Physical Geography course.

You will be able to choose from a list of topics.

Details will be posted on the class web page.

Changes

• The dates, topics, assignments, and due dates in the syllabus are tentative.

• There may be changes, it is your responsibility to stay informed of changes.

• I recommend you make friends…

Class Web Page

• I have created a web page for your class.• All of the presentations and maps used in class

are posted there already.• You can print out a copy of the lecture and bring

it to class so you can take notes on it…– I often lecture quickly, but ALL of the information is

online so I do not expect you to write down my slides word for word as I lecture because you can access them at any time.

• Each chapter has supplemental material as well, like videos and pictures or articles that connect the topics to our lives in the real world.

http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com/

Late Work and Exams

Late work ... You are allowed one late

assignment. This can be a quiz, map quiz, exam, or part of your project. Use this wisely…

Late work will not be allowed after the end of class this semester, so use this option in a timely manner as well.

Dropping It is your responsibility to drop if you

decide you want to. If you stop doing your work and you do

not drop, you will receive an F. If you miss your assignments two

consecutive weeks in a row and you do not contact me, I may drop you – but do not rely on this, ultimately it is your responsibility to drop.

Extra Credit Some extra credit may be assigned

throughout the semester. It must be turned in by the end of the

semester, if I have not stated a due date.

I started you with some extra credit on your syllabus… Note the Quotes…

Academic Honesty Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.

Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism will be reported to the deans office.

Please refer to San Bernardino Valley College’s policy on academic honesty.

Cell Phones I encourage the use of cell

phones for geography, please note apps posted to the class web page that relate to the various chapters…

You are carrying around a small computer!! LOL when I was a kid these things took up whole rooms!! Young people are so lucky! Use it for everything you can!

Disability Accommodations

• If you need accommodations for this course, please contact me.

• If you have or think you may have a disability that might affect your performance in this course, please contact the office of Disabled Students Programs and Services at (909) 384-4443.

Blackboard

• Blackboard will be used for this class.– You will need to log in to Blackboard to take

your quizzes and exams and links to your assignments.

– http://blackboard.valleycollege.edu• If you have questions about blackboard, stay after

class, I am here to help.

Contact Information

• The best way to reach me is by e-mail.• My e-mail address is:

ProfessorLisaS@gmail.com• My mailbox is located in this building, in

the office just below us.• You may text me at (760) 440-8977 and

you can leave voice mail at this number too.

Note

Disruptive Behavior

• You may be asked to leave class if you disrupt the learning process for others. This includes talking during lecture or during classmate's presentations. If you are asked to leave, and disciplinary action is taken, you may be suspended from the next class meeting.

I left this slide in the intro because I want To issue a caution to all of you – I expect you to be respectful of each otherThrough any class communication – this means postings or discussions or group work. Treat other people the way you want to be treated. If you are having a bad day and feel like posting something negative, just walk away from the computer and come back when you are in a better mood. I will not tolerate any meanness or bullying and the same rules apply to you that apply to in class students as far as your conduct with each other.

For Online Students…

CourseSchedule

At this time, I would like you to look at the Schedule in your syllabus…

Note that it is quite detailed, you have information On the topics being covered each night, what opens onBlackboard, what closes, when parts of your project are due,When maps studies happen, and when exams happen.

For Your Success

For Your Success

Service Available For Your Success

• EOPS 384-4412• Counseling – Educational

384-4404 & Psychological 384-4495

• Childcare Center 384-4440

• Veterans Services 384-4441

• Health Center 384-4495

• Tutoring Services• Student Success Centers• Open Computer Labs• STEM-Science

Technology Engineering Mathematics– Has a club– Has its own counselor– Has money for book

grants and more

And more… If you need something, there is probably an office on campus that can help, ask me too.

What is Geography?

The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.

Fields of Geography Human or Cultural Geography

Deals with social, economic, and behavioral processes

Physical Geography Examines the natural processes occurring at

Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for human activities

Branches of Human Geography Developmental

Geography Economic Geography Medical Geography Transportation

Geography Urban Geography

Cultural Geography Historical Geography Political Geography Population

Geography Demography

Branches of Physical Geography

Biogeography Climatology Coastal Geography Environmental Geography Geomorphology Glaciology Hydrology Oceanography Paleogeography

What we will be studying… Four great physical realms or

spheres of Earth Atmosphere

The gaseous layer that surrounds the earth

Lithosphere The outermost solid layer

of the Earth Hydrosphere

The liquid realm of the Earth

Biosphere Encompasses all living

organisms of the Earth

Tools Geographers Use Maps

Paper representations of space showing point, line, or area data Or more simply put, locations, connections, and regions

Remote Sensing Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earth’s surface

GIS or Geographic Information Systems Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases

Mathematical Modeling and Statistics Used to understand natural and human phenomenon

Week One Assignments

• Check in! Complete the check in survey if you have not already.

• Complete surveys, post an introduction, post branches/tools/careers assignment.