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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found in the
course
syllabus. You should read the syllabus and use it as your first
source of information. The questions below are additional items of concern
for many students. If you still have questions, please post them in
the "Helping Each Other" conference on the discussion board (you can
find the discussion board by pressing the "Communication" button). Your
instructor will respond to your questions there so everyone can share
in the exchange.
Are the quizzes and assignments hard?
The quizzes and
assignments have been prepared to challenge you and assess what you
have learned. To do well on the quizzes, you must do the assigned readings,
study your reading notes, and work diligently on the activities. Pay
special attention to the "Key Terms" in the back of your textbook
chapter and to the "Study Questions" that are posted on the
discussion board. If you expect to earn good scores on the quizzes you
must know this information well.
The online activities are probably best
described as "requiring significant thought and careful research." You
should be successful if you are willing to work hard and double check
all of your answers before submitting them for grading. In the end,
you are the one who determines the difficulty of the course. If you
invest the right amount of time and effort, the course will be easy.
If you try to "wing it" it is unlikely that you will succeed. Decide
that you will invest!
How much work will I have to do?
You will need to do a lot of work. A lot! Instead of listening to
a lecture, you will need to read and learn the information on your own.
Instead of an instructor telling you what to do, you will need to read
and follow instructions. This is the way online courses work. Take charge
of your learning, set aside a few special times each week to work on
this course, and honor your promise to yourself to stick to that schedule.
Students who have done well in this course in previous semesters report
that they spent about 10 to 15 hours per week doing the work. Some online
courses might be a way to "click-your-way-to-three-credits" but this
one is not.
What kind of grades do students earn?
The average grades earned in the online
version of this course are generally higher than the average grades
earned on-campus. That is not because the online version of the course
is easier. In fact, I believe that the opposite is true - the online
course is more difficult and demanding. Perhaps it has something to
do with the fact that students in the online course are forced to work
hard because they are "on their own." They have to take charge of their
learning, read the textbook and do the activities. It might also result
from a different population of students - the online course generally
attracts a large number of non-traditional students and ambitious high
school students working to get a head start on college. These are two
very highly motivated groups.
What do previous students say about
this course?
Students in Environmental Geology Online
during the summer, 2000 semester have left some advice for your benefit.
Click here
to read it.
Can I do an extra-credit assignment to bring up my grade?
No, and I am going to be honest and tell you that extra credit assignments
are a waste of everyone's time. Why should both you and your instructor
do EXTRA work? Instead of doing extra work, do things right - the first
time. It takes LESS time for everyone that way.
Do you really deduct for spelling and grammar?
Yes. This is a college-level course and correct spelling and grammar
are signs of an educated person. Incorrectly spelled words will be treated
as wrong answers and these types of problems in your essays will result
in significant deductions.
Can I have an extension on an assignment?
Sorry! The assignment due dates were posted on the website at the beginning
of the semester. You need to work diligently and arrange your personal
schedule to meet the deadlines. Get the work done well in advance of
the deadlines so server down times and equipment problems will not be
a factor.
I always try to set my policies based upon what would happen in the
work-place under similar situatons. There, if you deliver a product
late, you do not lose a sale, instead you lose a customer. In that situation,
late work has negative value. So, a zero on your assignment is pretty
lenient in comparison.
How much math will I be expected to do?
You will do occasional math to solve some of the activities. You will
also prepare and interpret graphs and maps which have a quantitative
basis. None of these tasks will require a level of math understanding
beyond algebra or require operations beyond addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division. You can do them if you are willing to think, practice,
and ask questions when necessary.
The server was down - is my assignment still due?
Yes, your assignment
is still due. Everyone who uses the internet should be aware of the
fact that servers are down from time to time because of problems or
maintenance. The assignment due dates were posted well in advance and
all of the needed materials were available to you. Avoid problems by
getting your work done early and handing it in ahead of deadlines. Servers
can go down near assignment deadlines. If you flirt with the deadline
you are subjecting yourself to that risk.
I am going on vacation next week, what should I do?
If you will be away from a computer for several days you should arrange
your schedule so that your work will be completed and handed-in on time.
Beginning with Lesson 2, each set of assignments is posted at least
ten days in advance. Also, much of the work for this course can be done
without a computer. You can read from the textbook, print the website
readings and take them with you, and some of the activities can be done
off-line by printing the necessary materials. If you will be away from
a computer for an extended period you should not be enrolled in an online
course.
Did it have to be done
that way?
One of my most important jobs with this course will be
to evaluate your work and assign a grade to your performance. My hope
is that you will do all of your work according to the instructions.
If your work is not done as specified I will be unable to evaluate it
fairly - especially when I compare it to work done exactly as requested
by your classmates. So, if you submit work that has not been done according
to instructions much of your efforts will be wasted and you should expect
a significant deduction.
As mentioned earlier, I always try to set my policies based upon what
would happen in the workplace under similar conditions. In that situation,
improperly done work will be returned by a disappointed client and it
will need to be done over again at significant loss. Although "following
instructions" is not a chapter in your environmental geology book
I consider it part of my job to teach beyond the curriculum in this
important area.
Can you tell me about....?
