Hello class!  My name is Bob Leighty, and I'll be your guide through this semester's online GLG 101IN, Introduction to Geology I – Physical, commonly referred to as "GLG 101" or just "101".  This is an intro-level course that represents the foundation of our Geology program; it has no prerequisites.  And along with 102 (Historical Geology), it represents the traditional beginning of the pathway to a Geology major.  The "IN" in GLG 101IN 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 is entirely Internet-based and is designed to be a true distance learning experience, requiring no on-campus presence.  As such, it offers convenience and flexibility in how you fit your educational experience into your life’s schedule.  Like, you won’t have to worry about driving to school, parking, etc. 

          There are many reasons to take a distance learning class.  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.  I believe we all are scientists to varying degrees, and GLG 101 covers the basic concepts that are not only important to other areas of science, but also in everyday life.  Regardless, the distance learning format is not for everyone, and the distance learning student needs to be more independent, organized, and responsible than usual.  You will likely need to devote several hours a week to this class, so you’ll need to manage your schedule with that in mind.

          About all you really need is a reliable computer set-up with high-speed Internet access and a desire to learn about your world.  The ability to understand and use technology is important, but while technology is a great tool to further our understanding of science, it shouldn’t be the main focus of the class.  And I know that using technology can be frustrating sometimes, so don’t worry, I will help you get answers and get you on your way.

          This class is totally self-contained within this Canvas-based website, and all course content, including like the lecture notes, lab activities, quizzes, etc., can be accessed here.  There is also no required textbook or lab manual.  For the lecture portion of class, you will have a set of weekly lecture notes, 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 quizzes (related to the lecture notes, Geo Articles, and Geo Videos), available between Saturday at 6 am and Thursday at midnight (local Arizona time).  Be sure to check out the What-to-Know Lists (study guides) for these quizzes.  Also, be on the lookout for extra credit opportunities throughout the semester.  You will also have a weekly interactive lab activity with a related lab quiz to complete and submit by the weekly deadline.  No What-to-Know Lists are necessary for the lab quizzes.

          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 hosts all the links to your course content and assessments.  Note that informational material like the Syllabus, Class Schedule, and various study aids are also accessible from my MCC Physical Science website (see HERE).

          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 (even if virtually) 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

          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 The Entire 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

          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

          There are no set meeting times in this On-Your-Time online course.  Content is available beginning Saturday August 17, 2024 until Thursday December 5, 2024.  Weekly assignments and quizzes can be completed from 6 am Saturdays to midnight Thursdays.

Class Room

          Internet.  This course is taught totally online; you are not required to be on-campus.  It also has an "On Your Time" format and is not a "Live Online" class, which meet at regularly scheduled days and times.

Class Sections

          15042 & 15043 (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 content is only accessible via the Canvas course website, and is comprised of lecture notes and videos, individual science articles, science-related videos, and lab activities. The list of weekly lecture and lab content is shown on the Modules page and the Syllabus Course Summary. Outside of Canvas, you can refer to the Class Schedule on my Physical Science website.

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 NO REQUIRED manual for the LAB portion of thisclass.  The lab activities are completed and submitted online.  A GLG 101IN lab manual (Leighty, 2023, 6th edition; ISBN: 978-1-5339-5794-8) is only required for on-campus / hybrid classes and NOT the online class.  Some online students have found the lab manual is a useful resource, but it is not required.

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 online Lab Activities essentially contain much of the same content as an on-campus lab.  They include a set of interactive "Quiz Me!"  questions (typically 50), and as you answer each question, you get immediate feedback as to whether your answer was correct or not, with your question score incorporated into an overall score.

          In order to demonstrate proficiency, your final overall score must be at least 70% (e.g., 35/50) 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 Lab Activity, 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.  

          Lab Activities are accessed via the Modules page in Canvas.  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 lab quiz, and I highly suggest not waiting until the last day/hour/minute to complete them.  If you have not submitted the Lab Activity 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!

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.  For the lecture quizzes, Geo Article Quizzes, and Geo Video quizzes, be sure to review the What-to-Know Lists to aid your studying.

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

Final exam - You'll be happy to know that there is NO final exam in this course! 

          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.

          All quizzes are accessed via this Canvas course website and are typically made available on Saturday morning at 6 am and can be completed any time before midnight on the last day of availability (usually Thursday).  You typically have six (6) 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.

          Missed quizzes 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.

          This course follows a structured class schedule.  The quizzes and Geo Summaries are only available for the assigned 6-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