Dr. John C. Butler
Office: Room 304 Science Research I
743-3411
jbutler@uh.edu
Introduction
I have been teacing physical geology since the fall semester of 1966 (since 1968 at the University of Houston). For many years I taught as I was taught -- face-to-face in a classroom.
Many years ago Mark Hopkins taught a course in moral philosophy at Williams College. For many students of that era it was said that the ideal educational environment would be Mark Hopkins at one end of a log and a willing student at the other. Note the emphasis on willing. You must assume responsibility for your own learning and do what is necessary in order that you are as successful as you possibly can be. This is especially true when you elect to take this or any other course in a non-traditional fashion.
The homework, quizzes and exams in this course are designed to give you an opportunity to take factual information, interact with in in one fashion or another, and begin to create your own knowledge.
I have been developing Internet-based course resources for the past 5 years. A mixture of peer pressure and my own curiousity resulted in offering an online section in spring, 2000. I had never offe an online section nor have I ever taken a course in a setting other than the good old face-to-face mode of presentation. This may be a new experience for you as well.
Everyone who registered for the course submitted materials that lead me to believe that your technology skills are sufficient so that the computer should not get in the way of learning. This is not a course about computers and computing. In this course you will use a computer as an integral part of the learning process.
Realistically, however, you do have an abundance of material. The critical issue is what works well for you and how effectively you use what is available.
I would begin at the Internet pages for the chapter. Look at the chapter objectives. In preparing for an examination, return to the chapter objectives.
Each chapter begins with a link to a resource that I feel is pertinent for the content that will be covered. I would probably begin with the power point presentations. If you were taking my face-to-face class this is what I would have shown you in class. About 25% of the slides have streaming audio which gives me a chance to let you know how I think the slide relates to our goals and objectives. Look at the chapter Notes. Most contain self quizzes as part of the notes. It is easy to skip over them but use them if you want to see if you understand the concepts.
Use the text to obtain a more complete explanation. There is a CD that accompanied the text. Try it out. Try the quizes at the end of the Internet pages or at the publishers web site. Part of learning is learning how to learn. Each of you will probably have differences in the environment that you need for real learning to occur.
I am going to subscribe each of you to a listserv called PhysicalButler (all one word!). When you receive an announcement, follow the directions. We will use this as a way to distribute information (like the unannouced quizes!) and to conduct discussions. All of the messages to the listserv will be on the internet at: listserv.uh.edu/archives/physicalbutler.html.
You can post a question to the entire list by sending email to:
physicalbutler@listserv.uh.edu
enter a brief statement as the subject - What is a mineral? - for example. Anyone can respond to your question and the responses will be "threaded". You can reply to a message by using the reply function of your email application.
Send quizzes to jbutler@uh.edu and not to the list....unless you want the class to read your responses!
In The Beginning
In the back of the book is a copy of a CD that accompanies the text. I urge you to use the CD along with all of the other resources.
A good friend of mine (Warren Huff) teaches a physical geology course at the University of Cincinnati. Warren and I are both curious as to your background in science in general and the earth sciences in particular. He has designed an Internet Review that I urge you to explore. For those with limited Internet experience, this is a good way to begin. This is not a test and there is nothing to hand in. Topics covered in his review are all of current interest. During this course we will touch on all of these.
Once the semester gets started you will be able to keep track of your grades and how you compare with the rest of the class. I will use the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you would rather provide me with a 4 digit code that will be fine. Grade Book
There are three on-campus examinations scheduled during the semester and a fourth examination scheduled during the finals period. As noted below, the final is optional.
Prior to the final exam I will post the grade distribution for the class based on all points earned -- tests, homework, the project, quizes and extras. The final is optional. If you take the final it will replace the lowest grade you earned on the first three exams. Each examination is "worth" 100 points.
I find it nearly impossible to make up a "fair" make up exam. If you miss an examination, you will receive a 0.0 and that will be the exam that you get to drop. In that case you would have to take the final. Don't miss two exams!
Each exam is a "final" in the sense that all material covered up to that point is "fair game" although the emphasis will be on material covered since the last examination.
There will be some unannounced quizes that will be distributed by the listserv. You will have a week to answer the quiz. If you don't get it right the first time, I will give you something to think about and you can try again. Get in the habit of checking your e-mail once a day or more often and look at the Internet pages at least 2 to 3 times a week. Who knows, there may be something extra added from time to time.
Thus, there will be 560 total points. You must earn a minimum of 280 to pass the course.
This course is designed to introduce you to the principles of physical geology - how the Earth works. I want you to get in the habit of relating the lecture and supplementary materials to what you read in the newspapers, hear on the radio or see on TV. For example, every Monday the Houston Chronicle publishes the Discovery Page which has one or two short features plus a log of what has been happening - earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. In between looking at the comics, sports scores, or stock prices, get in the habit of scanning the Discovery Page. The articles that appear are written at a level appropriate for the papers that you will submit. If you are not familiar with "word processing" this would be a good semester to develop that skill. UH offers a number of short courses in computing and I will post these throughout the semester. I would appreciate a typed "essay" but will read a "neat" hand written copy.
Perhaps in the future it will be said that the ideal education environment would be a student at one end of a log and an Internet Service Provider (ISP) at the other!
I urge everyone to purchase their own copy of the Text. The publisher maintains a good web site for the Text. There is a link to the site at the end of each chapter of this resource.
Expectations and Grading Policy
Grades will be based on examinations held on campus (see the reading list for dates and times), homework, and a semester project.
Summary