Here is a listing of the Earth Science, geography, and geoscience courses I have taught at Penn State Brandywine, face-to-face, hybrid and online. Each listing contains the Penn State University Bulletin (“blue book”) course description and a listing of the technologies utilized for instruction and utilized by students for course assignments and projects, with assignments and technology use changing over time.
Courses in current teaching rotation
EARTH 100 – Environment Earth (GN)
Natural processes and their relationship to anthropogenic influences. General principles of global cycles and the role they play in natural hazards, global warming, ozone depletion, etc. Instructor – Canvas quiz forms and discussion boards, blogs, JiTT. Student – posting in Canvas and on blogs, Google Earth, audio, iBooks Author, Zotero, generation of SEG Wiki articles.
EARTH 111 – Water: Science and Society (GN, US)
Investigation of water behavior and occurrence, its relevance to life, human activities, politics, and society. Instructor – Google Earth, audio, video, blogs. Student – Google Earth, audio (GarageBand), delicious, Zotero.
GEOSC 40 – The Sea Around Us (GN, lab course)
Introduction to marine sciences and the world ocean, including physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects of oceanography. Instructor – MS PowerPoint, audio, video, discussion forums, VoiceThread. Student – handheld computers, MS Excel, online databases, VoiceThread, Zotero.
Previous courses taught
EARTH 101 – Natural Disasters: Hollywood vs. Reality (GN, US, hybrid)
Analysis of the causes and consequences of natural disasters; comparison of popular media portrayal of disasters with perspective from scientific research. Instructor – MS PowerPoint, online databases, video. Student – posting in Canvas, MS Excel, Google Earth, Ning discussion boards, photos (flickr).
EARTH 104 – Climate, Energy and Our Future (GN, online)
This course presents the past, present, and possible future response of Earth’s climate to human energy use. Instructor – Canvas quiz forms and discussion boards. Student – discussion boards, blogging, constructing STELLA models.
EARTH 105 – Environments of Africa: Geology and Climate Change (GN, IL, online)
Significant natural features of Africa as related to human endeavor; case studies include the Nile, climate change, and natural resources. Instructor – Canvas quiz forms and discussion boards, instructional videos, Google Earth. Student – posting in Canvas, MS Excel.
EARTH 150 – Dinosaur Extinctions and Other Controversies (GN)
Dinosaur extinctions and other major and controversial events in the history of life. Instructor – audio, video, Canvas quiz forms and discussion boards, JiTT. Student – audio, discussion boards, Google Earth.
EARTH 400 – Earth Science Seminar
Interdisciplinary study of environmental problems in the earth sciences. Instructor – blog, audio, video, Google Earth. Student – audio, video, Google Earth, course portfolio.
ENVST 400W – Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies
Writing-intensive study of a specific topic in environmental studies integrating approaches and research from a variety of disciplines. Instructor – Discussion boards, video. Student – Google+, Google Docs.
ERM 210 – Environmental Factors and Their Effect on Your Food Supply (GN)
An exploration of how urban environmental problems influence our ability to obtain food and natural resources. Instructor – WordPress, TED videos, Diigo, Google Forms. Student – Google Maps, Google Docs.
GEOG 115 – Landforms of the World (GN, lab course, online and in class)
Distribution of the world’s landform features and mineral resources; their characteristics, causes, and significance. Practicum includes correlated field trips and laboratory studies. Instructor – Canvas quiz forms and discussion boards, video, Google Earth, website. Student – discussion boards, Google Earth, GPS handheld units.
GEOSC 20 – Planet Earth (GN, lab course)
Nontechnical presentation of earth processes, materials, and landscape. Practicum includes field trips, study of maps, rocks, and dynamic models, introduction to geologic experimentation. Instructor – MS PowerPoint, audio, video. Student – handheld computers, MS Excel, online databases.
GEOSC 21 – Earth and Life: Origin and Evolution (GN, lab course)
Introduction to the origin and evolution of life on Earth from the perspective of geologic time and the fossil record. Instructor – Canvas quiz forms and discussion boards, MS PowerPoint, audio, video, JiTT. Student – Canvas postings, audio, Google Earth.
STS 201 – Climate Change, Energy, and Biodiversity (GN, lab course)
Studies of global warming, energy options, and biodiversity; their interrelations as science and as societal issues. Instructor – Diigo, iPad, Canvas quiz forms, video. Student – iBooks Author, iPad for data collection in the field.