My name is Bob Leighty, and I’ll be your guide through this semester's on-campus GLG 101IN, Introduction to Geology I - Physical, commonly referred to as “Physical” or just “101”. This is a 4-credit lecture+lab course and has no prerequisites.  And along with 102 (Historical Geology), it represents the traditional beginning of the pathway to a Geology major.  This course not only includes Geology majors and science majors, but it’s also a great choice for non-science majors who need to satisfy their degree requirements.  Others may be enrolled because they want to learn more about their world.  The "IN" in GLG 102IN means that both lecture and lab are integrated into one 4-credit, Canvas-based course where the lecture portion is worth 75% of the overall grade and the lab portion is worth 25%.  This lecture + lab course includes on-campus lectures and labs, with course content and assessment accessible via this Canvas-based website.

          For the lecture portion of class, we meet on-campus to go over the lecture content.  Afterwards, you will have access to a set of lecture notes and videos, Geo Articles, and Geo Videos to review and study.  There is also a Geo Summary review exercise (really easy points).  You will then take three Canvas-based quizzes (related to the lecture notes, Geo Articles, and Geo Videos), available between Wednesday at noon and Sunday at midnight (local Arizona time).  Be sure to check out the What-to-Know Lists (study guides) for the lecture quizzes.  Also, be on the lookout for extra credit opportunities throughout the semester.  There is no required textbook for the lecture.

          You will also have a weekly on-campus lab activity with a related on-campus lab quiz.  No What-to-Know Lists are necessary for the lab quizzes.  There is a required lab manual that you will need to bring to every lab.

          You can get started by reviewing the course Syllabus, which includes a great deal of information about the class.  I highly suggest reading it thoroughly!  The Modules page in Canvas hosts all the links to your course content and assessments.  Of course, we will review all of this in class, as well.

          So, I'm sure you have lots of questions about everything, and there's plenty of time to get all the answers you need.  The bottom line is read, read, read!  And definitely ask questions when you have them!  I look forward to meeting you and helping you have a positive, productive, and successful semester.

Instructor

          Dr. Robert S. Leighty (Dr. Bob)

Office

          PS 218 / second floor of the Physical Science Building (PS 15), MCC Southern & Dobson campus.

Office Hours

          ON-CAMPUS (PS 218) / W 10:30 a.m. to noon, or by appointment, if possible.

          ONLINE / TR 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., W 10:30 a.m. to noon

          I am online quite a bit and will typically respond to student email as soon as possible. 

E-mail

          robert.leighty@mesacc.edu

Class Websites

          Canvas course website (https://learn.maricopa.edu/login)

          My Physical Science homepage (https://physci.mesacc.edu/Geology/Leighty/www/)

PS 218 Office Phone

          (480) 461-7021

Physical Science Department Phone / Fax

          (480) 461-7015 / (480) 461-7234

How To Contact Me Outside of Class

          When not in class, by far, the best way to contact me is via email (MCC email or Canvas). I typically check my MCC e-mail (robert.leighty@mesacc.edu) and Canvas Inbox daily during the week (Monday through Friday).  I try to respond in a timely fashion or at least within 24 hours, but e-mail received after noon (12 p.m.) on Friday may not be replied to until the next Monday.  I often receive a great volume of e-mail, so it is critical that you label your e-mail correctly.  The subject line of your e-mail should look like this: John Student / GLG 101IN.  To minimize exposure to computer viruses, I will only open e-mail from senders that I can identify.  If your subject line is not addressed correctly or if your email is from an unrecognizable account, your e-mail will not be opened.  Please use your MCC-provided email as much as possible.  Finally, it is rare that e-mail gets “lost”, but it does happen.  Please resend your e-mail if you think there may have been any problems.

          You can also telephone my office, I check my voice-mail regularly, but nowhere near as often as e-mail. If on campus, I may be able to meet with you during office hours or at a mutually agreeable time.

How I Contact Everyone Outside of Class

          Outside of class, I most commonly communicate with the GLG 101IN class via the Canvas Announcement tool.  This is typically done for important reminders and notifications.  Regularly check for Announcements and check your Canvas Inbox!  Rarely, an email blast is sent to all students in the section via your MCC email.

How I Contact Individual Students Outside of Class

          Outside of class, I most commonly contact individual students mainly by sending a message from the Canvas Inbox or your official MCC-provided email address.  Be sure to check both often!

Class Time

          Monday and Wednesday, 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. (lecture) / Monday 10:30 to 1:00 p.m. (lab). Weekly assignments and quizzes can typically be completed from 12 pm Wednesdays to midnight Sundays. See the Class Schedule. And although this class does not have a Final Exam, we are required to meet on our schedule Final Exam day and time.

Class Room

          PS 113, Building PS 15, MCC Southern & Dobson campus.

Class Sections

          14855 & 14856 (lecture & lab)

Course Prerequisites

          None.

Transfer Equivalency

          Regarding transfer credit, this class transfers like any on-campus class.  Previously, the 3-credit Physical Geology lecture (GLG 101) and 1-credit lab (GLG 103) were separate courses taught at MCC, but now have been combined into one 4-credit lecture+lab course (GLG 101IN), with the "IN" representing the lecture and lab "integrated" into one course.  As with the combination of GLG 101 and GLG 103, GLG 101IN transfers seamlessly to the three main Arizona universities.  At Arizona State University, GLG 101IN is the equivalent of the GLG 101 & GLG 103 and satisfies the Natural Science - Quantitative (SQ) requirements.  

          At Northern Arizona University, GLG 101IN is the equivalent of the GLG 101 & GLG 103 and satisfies the Science & Applied Science (SAS) and Lab Science (LAB) requirements.  At the University of Arizona, GLG 101IN is the equivalent to GEOS 251.  If you have any questions about transfer credit or your academic plan, be sure to contact an advisor at MCC or your home institution.

          See the Curriculum & Transfer Articulation website here for more information about GLG 101IN, including the course competencies.

          Course lecture content is only accessible via the Canvas course website, and is comprised of lecture notes, individual science articles, science-related videos. Lab activities occur on campus. The list of weekly lecture and lab content is shown in the Class Schedule. In Canvas, refer to the Modules page or the Syllabus Course Summary.

Textbook & Lab Manual

          There is NO REQUIRED textbook for the LECTURE portion of this class.However, having a copy of an Introductory Geology textbook can be a very useful reference.  There are many fine textbooks currently available, and one that MCC Geology has most recently used is "Essentials of Geology" by Stephen Marshak, because it is very well organized, well written, and provides lots of detail, examples, and illustrations regarding topics we discuss in class.  An OER textbook by Salt Lake Community College is also a decent supplemental option and can be accessed here.

      There IS A REQUIRED lab manual for this class: GLG 101IN Physical Geology Lab Manual (Leighty, 2023, 6th edition; ISBN: 978-1-5339-5794-8). It's provided to you the first day of class as part of your course fees, so no worries about going to the bookstore or anywhere else - we've got that covered for you! The manual is intermediate between a textbook and workbook - pretty much everything you need to know is included in the text or given in lab supplements. Bring the manual with you to EVERY lab!

Lecture Notes

          Much of the lecture content is contained within PowerPoint notes and related videos available online here in Canvas.  While you'll find they are loaded with imagery and streamlined text that describe the most essential terms and concepts, the lecture notes are designed as a framework for learning and, by themselves, are not meant to be a comprehensive source of information.

          Small changes and improvements are typically made to the lecture notes during the semester.  I don't bother students every time this is done, as these changes are usually correcting typos, glitches, broken links, etc.  However, a notification will be sent in the event of any substantive changes.  Innovation and improvements never end, and it's the price of having the whole semester's lecture content made available upfront. 

          The PowerPoint lecture notes are only accessible via this Canvas course website - look for them on the Modules page.  To take full advantage of the lecture notes (animated text, etc.), view them in PowerPoint.  This allows you full functionality of viewing modes, access to slide notes, animations and transitions, web links, sounds, etc.  A static form of these notes can also be viewed from within Canvas, but I only recommend this option as a last resort as Canvas alters the original slide formatting and lacks any of the functionality and interactivity.  Go the Modules tab to download the PowerPoint files for each week so that you can print them (in color) and view them locally at your convenience.  Be sure to reference the What-to-Know Lists to help review. 

          Most of the lecture videos are also available on my YouTube channel, Dr Bob The Rox Dok.  See the Physical Geology playlist for the full list of GLG 101IN videos.  While these lack the interactivity of the PowerPoint files, they are viewable anytime.  Also look for the links to the lecture videos in the weekly modules here in Canvas.  The remaining lecture videos are available via Zoom.  On the Modules page, just click on the appropriate lecture video link to access each video.  

Geo Articles

          The Geo Articles are mainly excerpts taken from science and nature books, and high-quality science magazines like Scientific American, Science, Astronomy Magazine, etc.  These readings are typically well-written and well-illustrated and are meant to complement and provide depth to your lecture notes.  Don’t worry about having to understand everything in the articles; just focus on the main points and concepts and some of the more important terms and figures.  Be sure to reference the What-to-Know Lists!

          The Geo Articles are PDF files only accessible via the Canvas course website, where they are available in each weekly module. Again, although these PDF files can be viewed from within Canvas, I recommend downloading and viewing this content outside of Canvas.

Geo Videos

          The Geo Videos offer an engaging review of the weekly material, and include critically acclaimed videos from a variety of sources.  As with the Geo Articles, don’t worry about having to understand/remember everything in the videos; just focus on the main points and concepts.  Be sure to reference the What-to-Know Lists to help focus your studying!

          The Geo Videos are only accessible via this Canvas course website, where they are available in each weekly module.  To comply with the copyright guidelines of the TEACH Act, access to some of the Geo Videos is limited.  Use of the videos is for academic purposes only. Please do not copy, share, or distribute any content.  Most of the videos are available in different formats that will play on multiple platforms (computer, tablet, etc.), but they are best viewed on a computer.

Grading

     In this integrated 4-credit lecture + lab course, the lecture portion is worth 75% of the overall grade and the lab portion is worth 25%.

The grading scale is as follows:

          I reserve the right to make any appropriate modifications.  No scores are dropped, nor are there any “make-up” activities or quizzes.  If there are any problems completing any assignment or assessment, I must be notified immediately.  There is no final exam.  You can track your grades by accessing the Grades tab.  Get into a the habit of checking your grades often, and report any grade discrepancies immediately.

Geo Summaries

          The Geo Summaries are simple review activities that include different types of interactive questions that relate to the lecture content assigned each week.  With each question, you get immediate feedback as to whether your answer was correct or not, with your question score incorporated into an overall score.  Take as much time as you need to answer the questions.

          In order to demonstrate proficiency, your final overall score must be at least 70% (e.g., 7/10) to count for a grade - anything less will be recorded as a zero (0 points).  You may repeat the activity as many times as you want and the highest score above 70% will be used for your grade.  Note: if you wish to start over, you must close the browser window, and restart the activity from the beginning.

When you're done with the Geo Summary, you need to do TWO things:

1 - Submit your score report by typing your name into the form at the end and click on "Email Score". 

AND

2 - Click on "Print Score Summary", take a screenshot of the Score Summary pop-up box, and save it to a folder on your computer.  Then go back to the assignment intro page in Canvas and click on the blue "Start Assignment" box at upper right.  This will open a file upload dialog box.  Click on "Upload File" and select your screenshot file from your local folder, and then click on "Submit Assignment".   The scores of both the emailed submission and screenshot must match to receive credit.

NOTE - If there is a "0" in the grade book for an assignment, then you have not properly completed both of the required steps described above.  

          Geo Summaries are accessed via the Modules page.  They are typically made available on Saturday mornings at 6 am and can be completed any time before midnight on the last day of availability (usually Thursday).  These assignments are meant to be finished prior to taking the weekly quizzes, and I highly suggest not waiting until the last day/hour/minute to complete them.  If you have not submitted the Geo Summary by the end of the assigned time period, you will receive a zero (0 points).  Contact me if you have questions or in the event of any problems; do not wait until the last minute or even after the deadline to communicate any technical issues.  If you need assistance, always feel free to contact Dr. Bob!

          The Geo Summaries are student-friendly assignments - do not deny yourself these easy points as they are almost like extra credit!

Lab Activities

          The on-campus Lab Activities are "hands-on" individual or group-based assignments done in class. The lab manual is required for every lab, so always bring your lab manual!

          It is a good idea to review the upcoming lab BEFORE coming to class. This will acquaint you with the material and aid in its assimilation during class. Also, I constantly tell students two things when completing a lab activity: "RTQ - read the question" and "Slow down, you'll finish faster". Remember, it's not a race, it's about learning and comprehending. Plus, your quiz grade will benefit from a more focused, organized approach.

          Students may work individually or in small groups of 2 to 4; however, each person must do the work in their own lab manual. You will want to show as much work as possible in your manual since you will use the completed labs to study for the quiz. Labs will be checked and initialed at the end of each lab by the instructor, and if complete, 10 points are recorded. You are responsible for correcting your own work using the lab instructor’s answer key before the end of each lab. You will be allowed to leave early (given the instructor's consent) if you satisfactorily complete the lab activity before the end of the class period.

          This is your in-class lab grade (basically, if you come to class and do the work, you get full credit). Each completed activity is worth 10 points. Lab content will be included on the lab quiz the following week. Lab topics and dates during the semester are listed in the Class Schedule.

          Don't be late to class - if you are significantly late to class, you will not be allowed to complete the lab activity. If you are absent, late, or leave early, there is no possibility for "make-ups" of lab activities (unless there is a legitimate official excuse). All labs count for credit, and missed Lab Activities receive no credit. Students who are not able to attend lab at the appointed time (due to legitimate official/catastrophic circumstances) must contact me (beforehand, if possible) so that arrangements can be made. Otherwise, there are NO make-up labs if one is missed.

Quizzes

          This course includes weekly quizzes that relate to the lecture notes, Geo Articles, Geo Videos, and lab activities. Instead of a cramming all the course content into a huge semester exams, each week you will review the course material and then take 4 relatively short quizzes. Be sure to review the What-to-Know Lists to aid your studying.

Lecture quiz (online) - This consists of 10 questions relating to material in your lecture notes. The questions are largely multiple choice, true-false, etc. This is a 20-minute quiz worth 20 points, and is accessible online via Canvas.

Geo Article quiz (online) - This is a 5-question quiz relating to the Geo Article content. The questions are largely multiple choice, true-false, etc. This is a 10-minute quiz worth 10 points, and is accessible online via Canvas.

Geo Video quiz (online) - Similar to the Geo Article quiz, this 5-question quiz relates to the Geo Video content. The questions are largely multiple choice, true-false, etc. This is a 10-minute quiz worth 10 points, and is accessible online via Canvas.

Lab quiz (on-campus) - This consists of 5 questions relating to material in your lab activity. The questions are largely multiple choice, true-false, etc. This is a 10-minute quiz worth 20 points, and is taken on-campus at the beginning of each lab session.

Final exam - You'll be happy to know that there is NO final exam in this course! However, we are still required to meet during our Final Examination time, which is TBA. 

          For these quizzes, it is your responsibility to make sure that you have access to a computer that is functioning properly and that the plug-ins are installed and working.  Be sure to review the What-to-Know Lists to aid your studying.  These quizzes are meant to be “closed-book” (or “closed computer”).  Read the quiz instructions carefully and don't begin your assessment until you are ready.  Once you begin, you have a certain amount of time to complete the quiz.  While taking the quiz, please do not reference outside material or utilize additional electronic devices (other laptops, phones, etc.).  Your time is limited, and although these are essentially "double-time" quizzes, you don’t want to take time looking up an answer and then risk running out of time.  You may not use other people for assistance during the test nor have other people complete the test for you.  These quizzes can only be submitted once.

          The online quizzes are accessed via the Canvas course website and are typically made available on Wednesday at noon and can be completed any time before midnight on the last day of availability (usually Sunday).  You typically have five (5) days to complete this process, and while this is plenty of time, budget your schedule wisely.  I highly suggest not waiting until the last day/hour/minute to take the quizzes.  Quizzes must be completed by the midnight on the assigned due date to receive any credit and no late submissions will be accepted.  Given the technological nature of this class, the schedule is subject to change, and if unavoidable technology issues occur, be prepared to make minor accommodations to your academic schedule.

          The beginning of Monday's lab class is devoted to the lab quiz, which are closed-book and assess your understanding of the activities performed during the previous class.  If you attend lab and understand the lab activity, then you should be successful taking the subsequent lab quizzes.  Significant study outside of class is typically not necessary for a lab quiz.  The best way to study for a lab quiz is to attend lab and ask questions of your classmates and instructor so that you understand the activity BEFORE you leave.  You can then review your lab manual before the next quiz.  The What-To-Know Lists are not necessary for the lab quizzes.  You will be given handouts when necessary (so you don't have to memorize things like classification charts and tables).  

          You will not receive a lab quiz if you arrive to class after the first quiz has been completed - don't be late to class!  Again, students who are not able to take a quiz at the appointed time (due to legitimate official/catastrophic circumstances) must contact me prior to the quiz so that arrangements can be made.  Otherwise, there are NO make-up lab quizzes if one is missed.

          All missed quizzes (online or on-campus) receive zero credit (0%).  It is critical that you to check the dates and times carefully and mark your calendar with the dates that the quizzes are available and due.

What-To-Know-Lists

          The What-to-Know Lists can focus your studying of the lecture notes, and are especially helpful with the Geo Articles and Geo Videos.  W2K lists are not available for the lab activities (you don't really need them for those).  You can access the What-to-Know Lists via the Modules page.  Any additional study guides are optional, but if you think they will help you learn, go ahead and use them selectively.

Extra Credit

          Before someone asks, YES, there is optional extra credit! Several modules have their own extra credit assignments, typically a crossword puzzle made from your lecture notes or rock identification charts.  Simply print a copy, review your notes/diagrams to find the terms, fill out the puzzle, and then sign your name.  Take a picture of the assignment with your phone / camera or scan it (as long as I can read what you wrote) and then submit it in Canvas.  These are typically due by the module deadline. 

          Each assignment is worth 10 pts (1/2 a lecture quiz!), unless otherwise noted, and is factored into the lecture quiz portion of your grade.  Just remember though: extra credit can be a great review and grade supplement, but do not rely on it to bail out your grade!

Study Time

          Your success largely depends on the amount of your study/practice time, and while this time is variable for different students, a few hours of quality study time per week should be sufficient.  Good study habits are essential in passing classes like this, and it is critical that you devote the appropriate amount of time to study and review the course materials (especially early in the semester). 

          For your lecture studies, the What-to-Know Lists can help guide and check your retention of the material.  Utilizing these lists are a great help in focusing your study time (as most former students will quickly tell you), especially with the articles and videos.  Take advantage of this great resource!

          For the lab quizzes, just pay attention while doing the lab and understand what you are doing.  Ask if you have questions!  Before the lab quiz, you can review the content and various skills learned in lab. This does not require a What-To-Know List.

          You typically have several days to study the notes, read Geo Articles, watch the Geo Videos, and complete the assignments and quizzes.  This is plenty of time, but budget your schedule wisely and take the quiz once you think you’re ready.  I highly suggest not waiting until the last day/hour/minute to take the quizzes.

          Coming to class and participating is extremely important! In every lecture, important instructor-student interaction takes place and various in-class activities may be conducted. Attendance points are a good deal - almost like extra credit. But beware: if you are absent, late, or leave early, there is no possibility for "make-ups" of in-class activities (unless there is a legitimate official excuse). If you are absent, you are still responsible for any work done that day, and it is your responsibility to be prepared for the weekly quizzes.

          The use of smart phones in class is prohibited at any time during lecture or lab. Set your phone to silent/vibrate and do not take calls in the class room. If you are caught using a phone during class, it is the instructor's right to place the phone in a "penalty box" until the end of class. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates and your instructor!

          It is the instructor's duty to provide a safe learning environment and any aggressive or inappropriate language or behavior will not be tolerated. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates and your instructor!

          This course follows a structured class schedule. The quizzes and Geo Summaries are only available for the assigned 5-day periods. You have lots of flexibility in terms of when you complete the class assignments each week, but make no mistake, this is not a "do-the-work-whenever-I-want-to" class. Deadlines are not changed for individual students, unless there is an official excuse or catastrophic circumstances occur. Personal vacations, business trips, work, court appearances, etc. are NOT excused absences. Check the Class Schedule and make sure you can comply with the assignment deadlines.

          Also, many students procrastinate and do their work in the last few hours before the deadlines. This is not a formula for success in this class, so get your work done before the last day of availability. You need to give yourself the time to handle unforeseen problems, so that if they occur, there's time to get solutions. I am always willing to provide help with answering questions about the course content, Canvas, computer technology, etc. and I'm pretty flexible answering questions during the week. However, I am not available 24/7. The bottom line is that it is your responsibility to make sure you meet the deadlines. If you wait until the last minute, beware!

          The College regards acts of academic dishonesty very seriously, which includes a wide range of possible offenses, such as plagiarism, cheating and/or violations of integrity in information technology, etc.  Students found completing work for other students may result in one or both of the student’s expulsion from the college.  Any student found by a faculty member to have committed academic misconduct may be subject to the following academic consequences, based on the faculty member’s judgment of the student’s academic performance.  Please see section 2.3.11 of the college catalog for more details on Academic Misconduct.  Possible consequences of academic misconduct include:

Warning - A notice in writing to the student that the student has violated the academic standards as defined in 1.A. 

Grade Adjustment - Lowering of a grade on a test, assignment, or course. 

Discretionary assignments - Additional academic assignments determined by the faculty member. 

Course Failure - Failure of a student from a course where academic misconduct occurs.

Disciplinary Probation - Disciplinary probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe sanctions if the student commits additional acts of academic misconduct. 

College Suspension - Separation of the student from the college for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return.  Conditions for readmission may be specified.  A suspension from one Maricopa Community College will apply to all other colleges/centers in the District.

College Expulsion - Permanent separation of the student from the college.  Expulsion from one Maricopa Community College will apply to all colleges/centers in the District.

The bottom line is that you may work together with other students, but think independently, and certainly do your own work on assignments and assessments. 

          Students who officially withdraw within the officially-listed withdrawal deadlines will receive a 100% refund for tuition, class and registration fees.  For full-semester courses, the deadline is 7 calendar days including/after the class start date.  Never attending is not an allowable refund exemption or an excuse of the debt incurred through registration.  Please see the college catalog for more details on Refund Policy.

          You can withdraw from class with a "W" without an instructor signature (no matter what your actual grade) if you withdraw before the "Last Day for Withdrawal without Instructor's Approval".  To withdraw after this date, you'll need to contact me about your situation.  

          Regarding absences, missed deadlines, and Lab activity scores, any one of the following can result in withdrawal from the course:

1. receiving a score of zero on THREE (3) lecture quizzes.

2. receiving a score of zero on THREE lab activities.

3. receiving a score of zero on THREE (3) lab quizzes.

4. missing TWO entire weeks, consecutively.

It doesn't matter whether this happens early in the semester or at the very end, so please be aware of the deadlines!

High-speed Internet Access

          A broadband, high-speed connection to the Internet is necessary to view or download the lecture notes and articles.  Many people have high-speed access at home for their personal computers, tablets, mobile devices, etc. If you lack a high-speed connection, you can find high-speed Internet access in many other places.  Most libraries provide high-speed internet access, and considerable computing resources are also available on the MCC campus.

Computer Hardware & Software

          While advancements in technology allow us to use smartphones and tablets to view course content and complete course assignments, most of the activities designed for this class operate best on computers.  Yes, using a tablet to view things like WWW pages and PDF files is very convenient (I do it all the time), but a computer (laptop or desktop) is REQUIRED to complete the graded assessments (i.e., quizzes, Geo Summaries, and lab activities).  A computer with adequate processing capability and memory is critical.  There are no specific hardware requirements, and you’ll probably be safe if you’re using a fairly new computer.  As with the Internet access, if hardware capability is an issue, then you’ll have to find other options (like local libraries, etc.).

          You will need to use the proper web browser and media software. Canvas supports many browsers, and I highly suggest using Chrome (in my experience, it is has proven the most reliable for course related content).  You can review the Canvas Guidelines for supported browsers. You need to use the latest browser version with the Java plug-in installed.  Whatever browser you use may show content slightly differently, but that usually isn’t a large problem.  Make sure all internet browser pop-up blockers are turned off (especially for quizzes).

          Each set of lecture notes is available in PowerPoint format, so outside of Canvas, either the PowerPoint program or a PowerPoint reader are required to view the lecture notes.  PowerPoint is also necessary to take advantage of the full functionality of the presentations (animations, active hyperlinks, printing, editing).  A static form of these notes can also be viewed from within Canvas, but I only recommend this option as a last resort as Canvas alters the original slide formatting and lacks any of the functionality and interactivity.  The lectures are also available in video format on YouTube and Zoom via links provided the Modules page.

          You will also need the capability to view PDFs for the Geo Articles and lab activities, so make sure you have an up-to-date PDF reader and the necessary plug-ins.  PDFs are almost universally compatible with various platforms (PC, Mac), operating systems, and browsers, and require an Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in (or other PDF readers).  In various lab activities, we will view the PDF versions of geologic maps, diagrams, etc. to answer various questions.  The PDFs will display within a browser tab/window, and you will have the ability to zoom in/out and pan across the map using the scroll bars.  You can also right-click on the PDF link and save the .pdf file to your computer where you can use a PDF reader to open the map.  A PDF reader typically allows better viewing control/options than those provided by most browsers. 

Canvas

          MCC utilizes the Canvas Learning Management System, which offers a password-protected environment for providing course content, calendar, grade book, e-mail, discussion boards, online quizzes and other course related material from any Internet-connected computer.  Canvas is an open-source learning management system that is generally superior to used here at MCC.  Because it's built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser.  To login, you will need your MEID and password.  If you have questions about Canvas, feel free to contact Dr. Bob or MCC's HelpCenter ((480) 461-7217).  MCC Online is another resource offered by Mesa Community College to help facilitate your online educational experience.

          If the Canvas site is down for you, then it is likely down for me as well. In this case do not panic; I will contact the class via your MCC email addresses.  If the outage is extended in length, I will likely give an extension on the quiz due date.  Check your MCC email regularly! If you have questions about Canvas, feel free to contact Dr. Bob.

Student Resource Referral Guide

          If you need support with academic or basic needs at MCC, such as tutoring and transportation issues, there are resources available to assist you.  MCC has compiled a list of them, which can be found in the Student Resource Referral Guide: https://www.mesacc.edu/get-help.

Tutoring

          Many students find that college coursework provides new academic challenges.  Students who wish to deepen their understanding of course concepts, extend their skills, and improve their performance in their course(s) are encouraged to use the free tutoring and other support services.  Multiple FREE tutoring options are offered by MCC across a wide range of disciplines and skills.  For more details about the various tutoring options, see the links below:

      Tutoring home page: https://www.mesacc.edu/students/tutoring

      Hours & Locations     https://www.mesacc.edu/students/tutoring/person-tutoring/hours-locations

Drop-in tutoring is typically available for CHM, PHY, GLG, ECE, and AST, located in PS 100 in the Physical Science Center.  To meet with a tutor on campus, currently enrolled MCC students can schedule an appointment at https://tutortraclec.mesacc.edu.

Disability Resources & Services

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

         Students who have special needs should contact Disability Resources & Services and complete the appropriate forms as soon as possible.  Be assured that I am willing to make any reasonable accommodations for limitations due to any professionally diagnosed disability.  I will do everything reasonably possible to help a student be successful in this class.

         In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical).  Each class/term/semester that a student needs academic adjustments/accommodations, the qualified student is required to work with the Disability Resources and Services Office (DRS) at their individual college(s).  College DRS offices may only offer accommodations/academic adjustments for their own college.  Contact with the DRS should be made as soon as possible to ensure academic needs are met in a reasonable time.  New and returning students must request accommodations each semester through DRS Connect online services.  To learn more about this online service process, please contact your local DRS office.

         If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations, you are welcome to contact DRS by using the information listed on the following webpage: https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/disability-resources/contacts.  The DRS office offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions qualifying for accommodations/academic adjustments.  Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your faculty, and DRS; and only those academic adjustments/reasonable accommodations granted by the DRS are recognized by the college and MCCCD.  It is the policy and practice of the MCCCD to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

Counseling Services

         The Counseling Department at Mesa Community College provides a variety of counseling services to assist students in addressing their personal, academic, career development, prevention, and intervention challenges.  Confidential services are offered free of charge to students.  Counseling faculty support and empower students in the process of setting and attaining their academic, career, and personal goals.  To schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor call:

MCC S&D (480) 461-7588

MCC Red Mountain  (480) 654-7720

Visit www.mesacc.edu/departments/counseling for more information