PrintBefore we begin our semester of study together, it is important that you review all of the material on all these pages and all of the resources located in this Course Orientation, as it will not only prepare you to be successful in this course, but it will also help you prepare for the "Course Information" quiz at the end of the orientation. You must get a score of at least 90% on that quiz to gain access to Lesson 1 (as well as the rest of the course!) . . . and the answers are all contained in this orientation!
Have you looked at our syllabus?
This course orientation will complement, and expand on, the information provided on our syllabus. Be sure to review that document, too . . . carefully! A link to the syllabus is located above.
What will we learn about in the Course Orientation?
- The structure of EARTH 530
- What assignments are required in this course
- An overview of Canvas, Penn State's course management system
- Technical requirements for EARTH 530
- How to succeed in this course
- Where to get course assistance if you need it
What is due for the Course Orientation?
You should complete the Course Orientation by the time the course officially begins.
As you work your way through these online materials for the Course Orientation, you will encounter additional reading assignments and hands-on exercises and activities. The chart below provides an overview of the requirements for the Course Orientation. For assignment details, refer to the orientation page noted.
Please refer to the Calendar in Canvas for specific time frames and due dates.
| ACTIVITY | LOCATION | SUBMITTED FOR GRADING? |
|---|---|---|
| Personalize your Canvas space | page 4 | No—If you are new to Canvas, personalize your Canvas space (follow directions on the "Canvas Overview" page of this lesson). |
| Forward your Canvas e-mail | page 4 | No—This is an optional step that enables you to be notified of e-mail sent to you in the course so you can be sure you don't miss any important course communications. |
| Register with the Library | page 6 | |
| Introduce yourself and meet the rest of the class!
|
Canvas: Modules tab | Yes—this activity will count toward your overall Participation grade. |
| Complete the "Initial Course Survey" |
Canvas: Modules tab Orientation folder |
Yes - This survey contains questions about you and your expectations for this course. It also has some content questions designed for me to get a sense of everybody's familiarity and comfort level with some background science and math material. You will NOT be graded on the correctness of your answers to the content questions. However, participating in this survey is 5% of your final course grade. |
| Take the Course Information Quiz |
Canvas: Modules tab Orientation folder |
Yes - The quiz is designed to test your knowledge of the course and the information covered in this lesson. You must get a score of 90% or better on this quiz to unlock Lesson 1. You may retake the quiz as many times as you need.
|
Questions?
If you have any questions, please post them to our Questions? discussion forum (not e-mail), located under the Discussion tab in Canvas. I will check that discussion forum daily to respond. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help out a classmate.
Keep reading!
On the following pages you will find important information about the course structure, requirements, scheduling, and technical requirements and assistance . . . all of which you'll need to know in order to pass the course. Remember, you are also responsible for the information located on our course syllabus (see the Resources menu).