| Introduction | Textbook | Assignments | Examinations | Grading  |

INTRODUCTION

This web site contains the general instructions and lessons for GEOG 201--Environmental Geography.

There are no prerequisites for this class.

 This course focuses on human interaction with the physical environment. Human impact varies with population size, resource use, and pollution levels, and the pattern of impact varies between developed and developing countries. After an introductory review, the work moves from air resources and pollution, then water, land, biotic resources, soil, solid and hazardous waste, and renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. Under each topic, the specific environmental laws show our national response to these issues. This class introduces environmental science.

  REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Linda Berg and Mary Catherine Hager, Visualizing Environmental Science, John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2007.

 

  LESSON ASSIGNMENTS

There are eleven lessons in the course which include ten assignments and a final examination. In several of the lessons you are given the opportunity to use a variety of materials and resources in order to fulfill the stated objectives. The text readings, discussion notes, graphics and color prints in the various lessons are correlated to the objectives at the beginning of each lesson.

Each lesson folder includes several subfolders. Comments tell you what your instructor is trying to emphasize. Each chapter has a separate folder that contains key words and a power point designed to reinforce your reading of the chapter. After you have read the text and viewed chapter folder, please open the Self test and Assignment folder. The assignment template includes an assignment pdf file and a place to make comments and then a bar to use to upload the completed lesson from your desktop. The quiz is for you to assist in reviewing what you need to restudy; it would be good to use a closed book approach to achieve maximum learning.

 

Completing the Course

IDL courses have been designed to allow interaction between us and feedback on your assignments. You will make the best progress if you set a regular schedule to work on your lessons and submit your assignments. In order to benefit from my comments, you should normally wait to submit a lesson until the previous one has been graded and returned to you.

In a classroom environment, this course takes ten weeks. You should consider taking at least the same amount of time to complete the work. If you work too slowly, you may lose some of the information you have gained; too quickly and you may get lost in the details. Make sure you take enough time to learn the material well.

  EXAMINATIONS

The course has one supervised online final examination. The format of the examination is short answer and other objective questions with time limits imposed. Some questions may require you to add information or interpret a map or other diagram.

The final examination is comprehensive.

You will be allowed two hours for the examination. A computer with internet access will be required to complete the examination. All materials will be provided; you are not permitted to use books, notes, or supplementary aids.

  GRADING CRITERIA

Both lesson assignments and examinations will be graded. The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

Maximum Points

Completed Lessons & online quizzes 25% 50 points
Special Projects included in lessons 25% 50 points
Final Examination  50%    100 points
  Total  200 points

               
               
     

  Communicating with the instructor

If you have questions or problems related to the content of this course, you may contact your instructor at bainn@ohio.edu.  Be sure to put the lesson number in the subject line of the message.

Please remember that your instructor does not handle administrative questions, such as exam supervisors or procedures, extensions, withdrawals, etc. Such questions must be directed to the IDL office at independent.study@ohio.edu