Environmental Geology

Means communicating through the Internet using the WWW as a resource. Online education can be: (a) synchronous or (b) asynchronous also know as fully online. Assignments are administered through the Internet. Online education (taking online course through the Web) requires time, self-discipline (self-paced), and independent thinking.

Web-Based

Implies that the WWW will be extensively used in this class

Asynchronous (also referred to as 'fully online")

Is teaching/learning using computers and information technology to work remotely from anywhere at anytime; that is, interacting with the instructor and other students but without the requirement to be online at the same time. All the activities in the course are administered through the Internet. Face-to-Face or telephone contact (synchronous) is not used and should not be expected. This approach is an alternative to the traditional lecture/programmed testing mode used in most courses. There are no class (lectures) sessions instead Internet interactive virtual classes are implemented whereby students visit specific sites. and do activities to develop specific abilities which are reflected in competencies.

In the Fully Online modality students do not attend classroom for lectures instead they do: (1) readings, that is, specifically designed blocks of text hosted in the website of the course, and (2) programmed activities using the course website through the Internet for each unit of the course.

Self-Paced format

It a fundamental component in the Asynchronous "Fully Online" teaching-learning. Is a flexible online format for programmed self instruction with frequent activities to monitor your progress. In the self-paced format the rate of progress in the course is controlled by your effort. However, there are pre-determined dates by which time you must have had completed some assignments and finished essays

Grading:

Final grade in these Asynchronous courses results from the average of: (1) grades from weekly short-answer assignments, a maximun of 15 (40%); (2) three written five to ten pages topic essays (50%); (3) a maximun of 13 weekly posting of Website reviews in the Participation Forum (10%). All the work in these courses should be submitted electronically through the Internet.

Prerequisites to take this fully online course:

Students in fully online (asynchronous) courses are expected to be able to fulfill the following requirements:

Independent Work and Discipline:

GLY3039 requires time and discipline. It is important to note that students in this class need: (1) to devote time to read the posted materials in the website, (2) to do the browsing for specific activities, and (3) to follow the instructions given at the beginning of the term. Consequently this course requires time and independent work, so if you are busy, or overloaded with courses, or have a busy personal schedule, or plan to travel during the semester, or if you feel you will learn better in a face-to-face (traditional) modality you may not be suited to a course like this, if you have to make a change do it now. Even during the first week of the semester you will have work to submit, an advantage of this teaching/learning modality is that you do not have upper boundaries, also, you can finish the course as early as you want; but not later that the deadlines in the schedule.

Geology Prerequisites:

This course does not have any geology prerequisites; however, you should be aware of the fact that Environmental Geology and Natural Disasters are three thousand level class and a high degree of involvement is expected. Critical and independent thinking is also required.

Computer Literacy:

Students in fully online courses are expected to be proficient in the use of computers including word processing, e-mail, posting attachments, and to have experience in browsing the Internet. Students need to be comfortable using a web browser, for students with limited web browsing experience can enroll and try the course activities for the first two weeks of the semester at which time they must take the responsibility of dropping or staying in the classes; however, students are responsible to fulfill this deficiency.

Student Learning Agreement (SLA):

Students are required to set their goals and discuss desired outcomes. You are required to submit a narrative (Assignment 0, an electronic questionnaire) of your expectations in this class within the first two weeks of classes.

Synchronous Teaching-Leraning

This is an advanced modality of face-to-face teaching-learning in which information and communication technology is extensively used, however, the technology relies upon video conferences, Web conferences, etc. that are transmitted in real time, that is, synchronously, so it requires that participants are connected at the same time using the technology.

Hybrid: Campus/Online

Is a teaching format in which half of the class is taught in the classroom (Face-to-Face) and the other half is taught online. This approach is an alternative to the traditional lecture/programmed testing mode used in most courses. Students attend classroom sessions for discussion-based instruction; they do: (1) readings specifically designed blocks of text hosted in the website of the course, and (2) programmed activities using the course website through the Internet for each unit of the course.