- 1. Geography 6 Environmental Geography Thursdays 7:00-9:50 PM
Section 69368 Professor Lisa Schmidt
2. What is Geography?
- The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various
climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.
3. Fields of Geography
- Human or Cultural Geography
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- Deals with social, economic, and behavioral processes
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- Examines the natural processes occurring at Earths surface that
provide the physical setting for human activities
4. Branches of Physical Geography
5. Branches of Human Geography
6. Tools Geographers Use
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- Paper representations of space showing point, line, or area
data
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- Or more simply put, locations, connections, and regions
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- Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earths surface
- GIS or Geographic Information Systems
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- Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data
bases
- Mathematical Modeling and Statistics
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- Used to understand natural and human phenomenon
7. Course Description There may be no more crucial subject of
study today than the study of Earths environmental problems.This
course is an introduction to some of those problems.When you finish
this course, you will be able to think and speak effectively about
the environmental challenges we face today, particularly those
related to population growth, economic growth, the declines of
traditional cultures, poverty, energy use, climate change and their
impacts.You will be able to answer the question what can we do to
avoid a crisis in the global environment?Geography as a discipline
is an ideal vehicle for understanding problems and finding
solutions in the global environment.Geographys great strength as a
science is its holistic perspective, integrating understanding of
people with understanding of the natural environment.Using
geographic perspectives, in this class we will ask not how can we
best protect nature? but how can we best protect nature while
enduring an adequate standard of living for the worlds people? You
will gain a global perspective on our environment through
geography. You will use the geographical approach to understand the
biosphere, environmental principles, economics and environment,
human impact, extinction and biodiversity, food/population crises,
the social environment, global tampering, and contemporary values
in global environmental issues. 8. State of the World
- Biosphere: Geography of the Biosphere
- Human Impact vs. Natural Catastrophe
- Problems with Natural Resources
- Problems of Global Contamination
- Problems of Global Tampering
- Problems of Human Activity Levels
9. Biosphere: Geography of the Biosphere
10. Human Impact vs. Natural Catastrophe
- What is natural and unnatural.
11. Problems with Natural Resources
- Agriculture and Food Production
- Land, Wildlife, and Biodiversity
- Recycling the Natural Environment
12. Problems of Global Contamination
13. Problems of Global Tampering
14. Problems of Human Activity Levels
- Agriculture and Land Abuse
15. Human Considerations
- What is a sustainable global society?
- Contemporary values in Western society toward the natural
world
- Non-Western views towards nature
16. Course Objectives
- Distinguish between scientific and non-scientific questions and
apply that
- distinction to global environment issues.
- Demonstrate an understanding of environmental processes
(energetics, succession,
- biogeochemistry) in relationship to global issues.
- Define the essential issue/problem in an environmental
problem.
- Differentiate between a biological issue from a social
environmental issue.
- Characterize environmental hazards in relationship to cultural
traditions globally.
- Distinguish between the various environmental problems as to
which pose real
- threat to the global environment and which are social,
political, or aesthetic.
- Recognize the implications of biodiversity/extinction and
climatological
- modification to world survival.
- Recognize the social and resource implications of the
population crisis.
17. Required Text
18. Materials Required
19. Assignments and Grading 20. Class Schedule 21. Chapter
Quizzes
- There will be 12 chapter quizzes.
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- These will be given using Moodle.
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- You will have one week to complete quizzes.
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- Quizzes will close at 6:30 PM on their due dates.
- Quizzes will be multiple choice, true and false, matching,
and/or short paragraphs.
22. Exams
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- Exams will be based on chapter quizzes.
- Tests will be given using Moodle.
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- You will have one week to complete exams.
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- They will close at 6:30 PM on their due dates.
23. Blog Entries
- Each week your group will be required to post at least one news
item to your blog AND comment on it.
- There will be nine blog groups:
24. Questions
- At the end of each lecture, you will be required to ask
questions and you will be given points for this.
25. Project and Presentation
- For this class, you are required to complete a research project
and give a presentation.
- The project will trace the impacts of a consumer product.
- The presentation will be about the project, and will be done in
groups.
26. Random Points
- At any time during this course I might give a surprise
assignment.If you are not here, you will not receive those
points.
27. Late Work and Missed Exams
- Late work will not be accepted.
- Do not ask for quizzes or exams to be reopened if you miss
them.
28. Absences and Tardiness
- I reserve the right to drop students who miss class twice.
- If you have to miss class, you should stay in contact with me
if you do not wish to be dropped.
- I also reserve the right to drop students for excessive
tardiness.
- Excessive tardiness is being late more than three times.
- If you are going to be late, come in quietly and take a seat
WITHOUT interrupting lecture.
29. Academic Honesty
- Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.
- Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism will be reported to
the deans office.
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- Please refer to Chaffey Colleges policy on academic
honesty
30. Cell Phones and Texting
- Use of cell phones for talking or texting during class is
inappropriate.
- You may be asked to leave the classroom if you are talking or
texting on your phone during lecture.Phones should be set to silent
mode when in class.
31. Extra Credit
- Extra credit may be offered throughout the course.
- You need to be present to take advantage it.
32. E-mailing Assignments/My Mailbox
- Assignments will NOT be accepted by e-mail.
- I have a mailbox on the campus.
- You may leave assignments at my mailbox which is located in
Zimmerman Hall.
33. Graded Work
- It is your responsibility to pick up your graded work.
- Graded work will be held for 30 days after the last day of
class and then recycled.
- It is highly recommended that you keep your graded work until
final grades have been posted.
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- Not just for this class, for all of your classes!
34. Dropping
- If you wish to drop this course, you must do so formally.
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- Not dropping the course may result in an F.
35. Moodle
- Moodle will be used during this course.
- You will find course documents, quizzes, tests and grades.
- You can access Moodle at:http://moodle.chaffey.edu/
36. Class Web Page
- http://schmidtenvgeog.wikispaces.com
- This web page has been created for this class.
- This is where group blogs will be posted.
- Power Points and other resources will be available on this web
page.
37. Disabilities
- If you have, or think you have a disability which may interfere
with your ability to perform in this class, please speak with me
immediately and please contact the Disability Service Programs
office at (909) 652-6398.
- If you need accommodations, you must contact them
immediately.
38. Contacting Me
- The best way to reach me is by e-mail at[email_address]
- If you need to speak to me, it can be done before class, after
class, or by appointment.
- My telephone number is (909) 652-7090 but I check the e-mail
address much more frequently.