http://www.hccs.edu/geology

GEOL 1404: Historical Geology | Lecture |Lab |13318 Spring 2021 | 16 Weeks (1/19/2021-5/16/2021) Hybrid - 4 Credit Hours | 96 hours per semester

Instructor: Penni Major E- Mail: penni.major@hccs.edu

THIS COURSE IS a HYBRID CLASS- Students meet once a week for “Lab Class” and are expected to study the lecture material in an online setting

Course Description: Geology 1404 is the study of the history of the earth, its life forms and

geologic time Laboratory includes the study of sedimentary rocks, fossils and geologic maps

Course Prerequisites: Geology 1403, plus college level reading and Math

Eagle Online Canvas Learning Management System and the Learning Web

This section of GEOL 1404 will use Eagle Online Canvas (https://eagleonline.hccs.edu) for all online activities- notes, announcements, assignments, grades and tests as well as additional reading material. You must have a reliable regular access to an internet – connected computer to complete

this course using the Canvas Management Learning System. IF YOUR PERSONAL COPUTER CRASHES OR YOUR INTERNET SERVICE FAILS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND

ANOTHER COMPUTER TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE COURSE WORK. Make sure you have a backup plan in case of internet/ computer problems. Lack of a computer or internet access will not be a valid excuse for missing assignments, tests or for failure to complete this course. Respondus

Lockdown Browser and Monitor may be used during tests. It is recommended that you USE FIREFOX OR CHROME AS YOUR BROWSER

HCC Online Information and Policies Here is the link to information about HCC Online classes including the required Online Orientation for all fully online classes: http://www.hccs.edu/online/ Student Learning Outcomes (SLO): Students will be able to:

* Explain the scientific method and how it relates to the earth

* Explain the various ages of in geologic time

* Identify evidence from the rock layer and how it is used to interpret earth history

* Explain the theory of plate tectonics

Core Curriculum Objectives: • Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and

analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information • Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and

expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication • Empirical and Quantitative Skills - to include the manipulation and analysis of

numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions

• Teamwork - to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal

Textbook/lab book: "The Earth Through Time" (11th edition) by Levin and King

(Wiley, 2016). Loose-leaf print copy ISBN: 978-1-119-22834-9

Purchase the book at the HCC Bookstore.

The Lab Book “Laboratory Studies in Earth History” (10th edition)

by Levin & Smith (McGraw-Hill, 2014) ISBN: 9780078096129

Students must have a hardcopy of this book, not digital format.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

1. Remember that students must study the lecture material provided online

and complete and submit all assignments- including lab work through the online learning management system(eagle online- canvas) 2. You must attend the virtual lab classes each week. (until face to face labs are

permitted again- then you will report to the campus on your Lab day Attendance is recorded for each class

3. When you first log on- set your “notifications” immediately so that you will get

all announcements or emails and not miss any important information (instructions

for setting notifications are contained in the class instructions once you log in)

Online policy: You are expected to log in and complete the assignments listed for each week

(There is a module for each week)

Assignments You will receive weekly classwork assignments for each topic, be responsible for completing “Lab” material and worksheets, and participate in some discussions or current events (no makeup).

Discussions / current events are considered part of your participation grade. Classwork and lab assignments will be available starting each Monday morning at 6 am and must be completed by the following Saturday by 11:59 pm – Late submissions are accepted from Saturday 11:59 pm

until Sunday noon with a 10 point reduction on the grade. I will not accept assignments beyond the Sunday noon cutoff time. Any assignment not turned in receives a zero.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE DUE DATES

Do Not Wait until the last minute to complete assignments. There will be several unit tests. If

you are having any difficulty understanding a concept or with anything related to this class, please E-

mail me using the Canvas inbox or HCC email system for extra help. Tests: There will be several Module tests- All tests are timed and anyone found to be googling the

answers or using unauthorized notes, media, help from friends/family or other unauthorized help is considered cheating and will be given a zero on that test. Cheating on the final exam may also result

in a semester grade F. Your name will be turned in to the dean for further disciplinary action. (if you need special considerations/accommodations- please get my approval BEFORE the test

Missed Tests: There are very few reasons to miss an online test, but if you do miss a test you must

contact me immediately with a valid reason. You can only make up 1 test.

EXTRA CREDIT: DO NOT rely on EXTRA CREDIT to significantly improve your semester grade. It can HELP if you are on the borderline between two grades or can improve a test grade.

Your grade IS determined by Details % of final grade

Class work, homework class participation Attendance

All assignments will be added to determine an classwork average

Take part in discussions and current events

Are assignments submitted on time / missing/ failure to take a test?

25% 10% 5%

Tests/ Special Project Students might (if time allows) be assigned a special project that

will be added to tests grades to determine a test grade average 20%

Lab Work All lab assignments will be averaged 20%

Final Exam A final exam will consist of 2 parts. – Fossil Identification and a

written portion that will be averaged together for your exam grade 20%

HCCS grading scale is found at:

http://hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/student-handbook HCC Grading Scale: A = 100- 90: 4 points per semester hour B = 89 - 80: 3 points per semester hour C = 79 - 70: 2 points per semester hour D = 69 - 60: 1 point per semester hour 59 and below = F 0 points per semester hour In order to receive a grade of Incomplete (“I”), a student must have completed at least 85% of the

work in the course. In all cases, the instructor reserves the right to decline a student’s request to receive a grade of FINAL GRADE OF FX: Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw themselves prior to the withdrawal deadline may either be dropped by their professor for excessive absences or be assigned the final grade of "FX" at the end of the semester. Students who stop attending classes will receive a grade of "FX", compared to an earned grade of "F" which is due to poor performance. Logging into a DE course without active participation is seen as non-attending. Please note that HCC will not disperse financial aid funding for students who have never attended class.

*** This Syllabus is subject to Change*** Week # and Topic Classwork/homework Lab Assignments

Week 1- Module 1 Intro to Historical Geology (chap 1) History’s Mysteries (chap 2) Week 2 - Module 2 Time and Geology and History (chap3) Plate Tectonics (chap 7)

Introduction review questions Discussions Important Geologist Plate tectonic Question

Stratigraphy Plate Tectonics Cope and Marsh

Week 3 - Module 3 Review of Rocks and Minerals (Char4) Sedimentary Rocks – (Chap 5) Week 4 – Module 4 Sedimentary rocks- continued Fossil Preservation- (Chap 2) Week 5 – Module 5 Hadean & Archean time periods – (Chap 6) Test 1 over weeks 1-4 material

Mineral Review Questions Rounding and sorting Unconformities Trace Fossils / preservation Hadean / Archean Eras Test During Class Time

Study of Sed. Rocks Correlation / Sequencing Index Fossils Fossil Project Fossil preservation

AUD (Audit) 0 points per semester hour

Week 6 – Module 6 Proterozoic Time period- (Chap 9) Week 7 – Module 7 Paleozoic Time – early events – (Chap 10) Week 8 Module 8 Paleozoic Time – late events – (Chap11) TEST 2 – over weeks 4 - 6 material Spring Break Week 9 – Module 9 Return to Campus –Maybe Paleozoic Life- (Chap 12)

Review Questions - Proterozoic Era Questions - Early Paleozoic Questions - Late Paleozoic Test during class time Questions- Paleozoic life

Rodinia Fossils - Early Paleozoic Fossils - Late Paleozoic Review of Paleozoic life

Week 10 - Module 10 – Mesozoic Life – (Chap 14) Test 3- over weeks 7 – 9 Week 11 – Module 11 Mesozoic Events and Extinction- (Chap 13) Last day to withdraw –Apr 6 Week 12 – Module 12 Cenozoic Events- (Chap 15) Week 13 – Module 13 Cenozoic Life – (Chap 16)

Questions- Mesozoic life Test during class time Questions- Mesozoic events Review Questions- Cenozoic Review Questions- Changes in Cenozoic life forms

Mesozoic Fossils

Review of Mesozoic fossils The Great Dying Cenozoic Fossils

Pack the Truck

Week 14- Module 14 Student Presentations Finish up any remaining topics and Review Week 15- Module 15 Lab Exam- Fossils Identification Week 16 – Module 16 Final Exam- Written Part- All Eras

During Class time During Class time

Lab Exam- Fossil Identification Final exam

Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs) Upon completion of GEOL 1404, the student will be able to:

1. Describe how the application of the scientific method has led to our current understanding of

Earth history. 2. Explain the historical development of Geology as a science and how it was influenced by early

interpretations of fossils and the theory of evolution. 3. Communicate how principles of relative and numerical age dating have been used to develop

the Geologic Time Scale.

4. Describe the processes involved in the formation and differentiation of the Earth and identify major milestones in the physical evolution of the planet.

5. Identify the major milestones in the evolution of life from its initial inorganic stages, through development of the major animal and plant groups, to mass extinctions.

6. Explain how rocks and fossils are used to interpret ancient environments.

7. Identify the major tectonic events in the geologic evolution of North America. 8. (Lab 1) Classify and interpret depositional environments using sedimentary rocks and fossils.

9. (Lab 2) Taxonomically classify samples of geologically important fossil groups and use them to interpret the age of rocks on the Geologic Time Scale.

10.(Lab 3) Apply relative and numerical age-dating techniques to construct geologic histories including the correlation of stratigraphic sections.

11.(Lab 4) Reconstruct past continental configurations. 12. (Lab 5) Integrate multiple types of data to interpret Earth history

Learning Objectives 1.1 Identify the steps of the scientific method as they pertain to examples from earth history 2.1 Chart the progression of how an organism has changed over time and explain how early ideas were incorrect

3.1 Name the eons, eras and periods of the geologic time scale including the dates of the eras. 3.2 Synthesize geologic history by organizing events in chronologic order.

4.1 Construct a time line of important milestones in earth formation 5.1 Construct a path of life forms in each era and the noticeable changes taking place 6.1 Identify ancient types of environments from rock formations that contain fossils

7.1 List the tectonic events through geologic time that resulted in the formation of North America 8.1 Construction of charts to organize and contrast sedimentary rock samples according to their

properties, textures, compositions, sedimentary structures, environments of deposition, and tectonic settings.

9.1 Organize fossil samples into phyla. 9.2 Draw the fossil, visualize the animal or plant, and describe how and where it lived. 10.1 Interpret geologic history of a cross-section using relative age principles like unconformities,

cross-cutting relationships, and law of inclusion. 10.2 Interpret geologic history of a cross-section or specific place by analyzing radiometric ages.

10.3 Use fossil assemblages and relative ages to correlate sedimentary sections. 11.1 Visualize the supercontinents of the past and previous locations of North America. 11.2 Identify the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt and the East African Rift System.

11.3 Visualize the physical landscape represented by paleogeographic maps, geologic cross sections, and fossils

Geology Program Information The Geology Program faculty are excited you are participating in this course! Please visit the LearningWeb page to find additional information about the HCC Geology degree plan, links to Geoscience programs across Texas, careers in Geosciences, Diversity in Geosciences, and program

contact information. https://learning.hccs.edu/programs/geology

Additionally, students can find more information about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) opportunities and events on the HCC STEM page: https://www.hccs.edu/stem

Lab Requirements Lab attendance and participation is mandatory. The lab exercises and assessments will be 25% of the

total course grade. Lab exercises and assignments are designed to complement the lecture and give you hands-on experience with the concepts covered in lecture. Thinking through and understanding

lab assignments is a big step toward learning the material. Collaborative group work is emphasized. You can learn from your classmates and they from you.

This instructor has zero Tolerance for Plagiarism and Cheating Academic Honesty: “Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by the college system

against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Penalties can include a grade of "0" or "F" on the particular assignment, failure in the course, academic probation, or even dismissal from the college.

http://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/student-handbook/

HCC Policies This is the link to the HCC Student Handbook http://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/student-handbook/ In it you will find the following:

EGLS3

Campus Carry Link Here is the link to the HCC information about Campus Carry:

http://www.hccs.edu/departments/police/campus-carry/

HCC Email Policy When communicating via email, HCC requires students to communicate only through the HCC email

system to protect your privacy. If you have not activated your HCC student email account, you can go to HCC Eagle ID and activate it or use Canvas Inbox to communicate.

Housing and Food Assistance for Students

Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may

affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Student Services at their

college for support. Furthermore, please notify the professor if you are comfortable in doing so. This

will enable HCC to provide any resources that HCC may possess.

Office of Institutional Equity Use the link below to access the HCC Office of Institutional Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement

http://www.hccs.edu/departments/institutional-equity/

Ability Services

HCC strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical

conditions), please meet with a campus Abilities Counselor as soon as possible in order to establish reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and Ability Services. It is the policy and practice of HCC to

create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. For more information, please go to http://www.hccs.edu/district/students/disability-services/

Title IX

Houston Community College is committed to cultivating an environment free from inappropriate

conduct of a sexual or gender-based nature including sex discrimination, sexual assault,

sexual harassment, and sexual violence. Sex discrimination includes all forms of sexual and gender-

based misconduct and violates an individual’s fundamental rights and personal dignity. Title IX

prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex-including pregnancy and parental status-in educational

programs and activities. If you require an accommodation due to pregnancy, please contact an

Abilities Services Counselor. The Director of EEO/Compliance is designated as the Title IX

Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator. All inquiries concerning HCC policies, compliance with

applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504), and complaints

may be directed to:

David Cross

Director EEO/Compliance

Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity

3100 Main (713) 718-8271

Houston, TX 77266-7517 or Institutional.Equity@hccs.edu

http://www.hccs.edu/departments/institutional-equity/title-ix-know-your-rights/

Office of the Dean of Students Contact the office of the Dean of Student to seek assistance in determining the correct

complaint procedure to follow or to identify the appropriate academic dean or supervisor for

informal resolution of complaints

http://www.hccs.edu/about-hcc/procedures/student-rights-policies--procedures/student-

complaints/speak-with-the-dean-of-students/

Department Chair Contact Information

Chair of Department of Natural sciences:

Dr. Kumela Tafa (kumela.tafa@hccs.edu) office phone: 713-718-5569