This course explores the most distinctive and intriguing geological features of America’s National Parks. Each park will be examined separately in slide show/travelogue format, with emphasis placed on their formation and evolution. The theory of plate tectonics will provide the organizational structure for the course with each park representing a distinct type of plate interaction.
To interact with the class students will need to log on through the course management system “Blackboard”. Each week students will download and view narrated Power Point presentations showing and explaining images from selected National Parks. Short online quizzes will follow the presentations to ensure retention. These can be retaken to improve scores. Various exercises and group projects will be assigned. Students will also need to respond to questions posted on the discussion board and occasionally lead discussions. Students can choose when they do the course work within the allotted week, but all work must be submitted before the end of the week. Online exams will be given following the completion of major units.
1. Review relevant online class information at http://www.gcccd.edu/online/default.html .
2. A computer with reliable internet access and a printer.
3. Recommended Textbook: Geology of National Parks 6th ed.; Harris, Tuttle and Tuttle; 2004, Kendall/Hunt Publishing
4. Install free software including: Google Earth, Shockwave/Flash, Acrobat, PDF file converter.
5. Be able to perform basic computer skills such as file management, word processing, downloading and installing software, posting to discussion boards, attaching documents, scanning, navigating the internet, and using email.
Syllabus: Printable version of the course syllabus.
Schedule: Due dates for all readings, assignments, tests and projects.
Videos: Here are the videos for the online class.
Video Scripts: Here are the video scripts for the online class.
Power Points: Here are the Power Point Presentations
Google Earth .kmz: Here are the Google Earth .kmz Files
Download ERUPT3 here: http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/ees/geodynamics/Wohletz/KWare/Index.htm
Note: This software will only work with a 32-bit windows operating system (Windows 7 or earlier). If you can't run it on your computer, then you may have to use a computer at Grossmont College.