EM SC 100S - EMS First Year Seminar

Syllabus-Fall 2020 (Updated 10/11/20)
 

This syllabus is divided into several sections. You can read it sequentially by scrolling down the length of the document or by clicking on any of the links below to “jump” to a specific section. That said, it is essential that you read the entire document as well as material covered in the Orientation. Together these serve the role of our course "contract."

• Instructor
• Course Overview
• Course Objectives
• Required Course Materials
• Assignments and Grading
• Course Schedule
• Course Policies

---

Instructor

•  Todd S. Bacastow, Ph.D.
  Teaching Professor of Geography
  425 Earth & Engr Sci Bldg
  University Park, PA 16802-6813
  Phone: 814.863.0049
  E-Mail: tsb4@psu.edu

I am a teaching professor in the Department of Geography. I have been teaching since 1983 and offering classes online since 1999, so the challenges of online instruction are not new. My areas of expertise broadly include over forty years of experience with geospatial technologies and geospatial intelligence. I work with business and government on related policy, tools, and serve on committees. I currently teach graduate courses in geographic information systems, analytic methods, and geospatial systems. Before joining Penn State, I served in the U.S. Army where, among other assignments, I was an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Computer Science and an associate professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. My son is a proud 2005 Penn State graduate who currently serves on the Penn State Alumni Council. You are welcome to visit my personal webpage.

• Course e-mail: Please contact your instructors through the course e-mail system in CANVAS. Always send correspondence to "All Course Faculty" to ensure that any course assistants also receive the note.
• Office Hours (Zoom): Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 - 11:30 or by appointment. Please email me.

---

Course Overview

Course Formats

• Section 11: This semester will follow a MIXED-MODE format. This means you will learn through a combination of in-person and remote teaching. One purpose of the Mixed Mode format is to meet social distancing requirements in our classroom space. Another equally important purpose is to provide a student-focused course that is project based where I assume the role of a mentor. The first week we will discuss your interests and concerns to help me adjust the syllabus.
• Section 20: Students will attend class remotely at the scheduled time. In the event of occasional and/or temporary absence, students will follow the attendance policy of the University.

Days/Time/Location

• Days: Tuesday and Thursday, beginning August 25, 2020
• Time: 9:05AM - 10:20AM
• Room for scheduled face-to-face classes: Willard Building 174 (Note: the maximum COVID-19 room capacity is 10 students)
• Zoom information for remote participation is provided in Canvas

Introduction

The EMS First-Year Seminar (FYS) is designed to encourage students to begin the important process of "thinking for a living." The primary focus of the seminar is to promote critical reading and thinking skills, and to help students develop effective written and oral arguments. Students learn the importance of reading, sharing ideas and collaborating, through independent and group research, discussion and debate. The objectives of the FYS seminar are to:

• Promote critical reading and thinking, and help students develop effective written and oral arguments.
• Encourage individual and group learning, and provide students the experience of being part of a cohort of scholars with similar interests and a common focus.
• Expose students to EMS interests and activities through early involvement in the College, and provide at least one friend on the faculty in EMS to whom they can go for advice outside of the normal academic advising channels.
• Foster some of the practical skills necessary for academic life.
• Challenge students to think about some of the major issues facing the world today, and the role that science and technology play in defining and addressing these issues.

We want you to think about some of the major issues facing the world today, the role that science and technology have played in defining and addressing these issues, the way in which present-day thinking has been shaped by the past, and the development of scientific thought. The Seminar's content focuses on communication skills, but these are addressed within the context of issues relevant to the disciplines represented in EMS. As such, the discussions range across topics such as the Earth and its resources; scientific and technical aspects of global habitability; development of the advanced materials necessary for sustaining and advancing civilization in the 21st century; and the social, economic, and political factors that shape and constrain society's view of the Earth system. You will undertake writing projects and presentations throughout the semester. Grades are determined by your performance on the written papers, oral presentations, and in-class participation.

The Seminar is a required course for all EMS first-year students at the University Park campus and, together with English 015 and either English 202 or Speech Communications 100, will satisfy the Writing and Speaking requirements of General Education. As a seminar the course is not organized and conducted like a normal "lecture course."

---

Course Objectives: The Geospatial Revolution - Tools, Perspectives, and Challenges

At the completion of this course, in addition to meeting the FYS objectives, you will have:

• Evaluated the impact and importance of the Geospatial Revolution in your life.
• Discussed fundamental geographic concepts.
• Applied geographic models and technology to everyday life.
• Judged between the benefits and potential misuse of geospatial technologies.

Successful participants will be able to demonstrate comprehension of the utility of, and the ability to, accurately apply the analytical models presented in this course. More specifically, successful students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the application of models that deal with rural, urban, physical, economic, behavioral, demographic, and industrial spatial realities.

Course Expectations

Successful participants will:

1. Be prepared to offer critical appraisals of all assigned reading materials.
2. Complete and turn in all assignments on time.
3. Actively and respectfully participate in discussions (on-line or in other formats as appropriate).
4. Successfully complete a final (open-book) exercise.
5. Submit written work (other than the final exercise) that is properly documented in accordance with the college citation guide posted here.

You will be challenged to move beyond the knowledge and skills that you bring to the class. A rough estimate is that you should allow 3-9 hours per week for class assignments. You will find it beneficial to collaborate with class members, synchronously or asynchronously, to gain different insights and perspectives. Please be sure to complete assignments by the published deadline in the Canvas Calendar.

Please get in the habit of logging in to the course website every day to check in on the class. As an instructor, I read and respond to Canvas e-mail and discussions at least once per day during the work week (Monday through Sunday). If I anticipate not being able to log in for more than a day, I will let everyone know and also clearly state when you can next expect to hear from me. If you have a question regarding an assignment due at 11:55 pm Eastern Time (3:55 am GMT), I must receive your question via Canvas e-mail no later than 12:00 pm Eastern Time (4:00 pm GMT) on that day. Queries may not receive a response if sent after noon Eastern Time (4:00 pm GMT) on the date an assignment is due!

---

Required Course Materials

Please read the materials carefully for understanding and application, but not for memory. They have been selected to expose you to a broad spectrum of works on topics that relate to critical geospatial thinking. Memorizing them would not be a good investment of your time. You will be able to use them when you work on assignments and during the final examination.

Required Textbook

(None)

Penn State Library

As a Penn State student you have a wealth of library resources available to you! As a user of Penn State Libraries, you can...

• search for journal articles (many are even immediately available in full-text)
• request articles that aren't available in full-text and have them delivered electronically
• borrow books and other materials and have them delivered to your doorstep
• access materials that your instructor has put on Electronic Reserve
• talk to reference librarians in real time using chat, phone, and e-mail
• ...and much more!

To learn more about their services, see the Resources Tab or click here for Library Resources.

---

Assignments and Grading

Assignments

Assignment	Points
Exercise 1: Speech of Introduction	5
Exercise 2: Determinism and Possibilism	5
Exercise 3: Mapping Hospitals	5
Exercise 4: Geography’s Role in a Changing World	5
Exercise 5: Global Pattern of Malaria	5
Exercise 6: Mapping a Diaspora	5
Exercise 7: The Gravity Model	5
Exercise 8: The Forrester-Meadows Model	5
Exercise 9: Spatial Privacy	5
Exercise 10: Mapping Tweets	5
Exercise 11: QGIS	5
Exercise 12: Capstone Proposal	5
Exercise 13: Literature Search	10
Exercise 14: Exploring Your Data With Maps	10
Exercise 15: Presentation	10
Class Participation (3% for the World in Conversation)	10
Total	100

Letter Grade and Corresponding Points

Letter Grade	Points
A	90 - 100 points
A-	87.5-89.9 points
B+	85-87.4 points
B	80-84.9 points
B-	77.5-79.9 points
C+	75-77.4 points
C	70-74.9 points
D	60-69.9 points
F	<60 points
X	Unsatisfactory (student did not participate)

Percentages refer to the proportion of all possible points earned by the student.

Requirements and Evaluations:

Course requirements consist of 15 applied exercises that are based upon text and lecture material. All exercises are open book; altogether, exercises count for 70% of the course grade. The final project is comprehensive in scope and nature and worth 20% of the course grade. Class participation counts for 6% of the class grade; 10% of this grade is awarded for your participation in the World in Conversation (WinC).

Grading Rubric:

The grading criteria for exercises are as follows:

1. Clarity of thought
2. Logic
3. Appropriate application
4. Accuracy
5. Clarity of presentation

The criteria for awarding class participation points is as follows:

• All participants start the course with ten points for class participation.
• Unexcused late assignments, missing assignments, and/or consistently careless work will result in a subtraction of participation points.

World in Conversation (WinC):

Class participation is 10% of the final grade which includes 3% for participation in the World in Conversation (WinC). World in Conversation (WinC) is a Center for Public Diplomacy that facilitates dialogues for Penn State students by Penn State students. These dialogues are meant to initiate collaborative critical thinking across borders on topics that are relevant, complex and often contentious. No one will tell you what you should think; instead they will ask you to express what you actually think. You will have the opportunity to participate in a facilitated dialogue as a part of this class.

Each session is 95 minutes in duration and will occur outside of your regular class meeting times. One week before the sessions for this class begin, you will receive an email explaining how to register. This email will be sent to your PSU account. In order to receive credit, your attendance will be recorded. But keep in mind: You will not be able to attend the program (or receive credit) if you are more than 5 minutes late.

Any questions about WinC should be directed to the WinC staff, not to Dr. Bacastow at 814-865-5692 or http://worldinconversation.org/help.

Course Schedule

Week	Date	Section 11	Section 20	Lesson	Tasks/NOTES	Possible Points
Week 1	Aug 25	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 1: The Geospatial Revolution	Watch the Geospatial Revolution, Episodes 1, 2, 3, and 4
	Aug 27	174 Willard	Zoom	Exercise 1: Speech of Introduction	Complete and upload Exercise 1 before attending class.	5
Week 2	Sep 1	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 2: The Roots of the Discipline	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 2
	Sep 3	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 2: Determinism and Possibilism	Complete and upload Exercise 2 before attending class	5
Week 3	Sep 8	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 3: The Quantitative Revolution	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 2
	Sep 10	Zoom	Zoom	Excercise 3: Mapping Hospitals	Complete and upload Exercise 3 before attending class	5
Week 4	Sep 15	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 4: Geography’s Role in a Changing World	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 4
	Sep 17	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 4: Geography’s Role in a Changing World	Complete and upload Exercise 4 before attending class	5
Week 5	Sep 22	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 5: The Earth-Sun Geometry: Fundamental to Life	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 5
	Sep 24	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 5: Global Pattern of Malaria	Complete and upload Exercise 5 before attending class	5
Week 6	Sep 29	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 6: People are Mobile	Read ArcGIS Onlne
	Oct 1	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 6: Mapping a Diaspora	Complete and upload Exercise 6 before attending class	5
Week 7	Oct 6	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 7: Understanding Human Spatial Activity	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 7
	Oct 8	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 7: The Gravity Model	Complete and upload Exercise 7 before attending class	5
Week 8	Oct 13	Zoom - See note to right	Zoom - See notes to right	Academic Integrity Presentation	Guest to discuss academic integrity: https://psu.zoom.us/j/96614353006?pwd=SFI1WG0zMmxabkZEU1ZTNmQwN2o1Zz09  Password: 442007 Meeting ID: 966 1435 3006
	Oct 15	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 8: A Human System Operating in Time & Space	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 8 Complete and upload Exercise 8 before attending class	5
Week 9	Oct 20	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 9: Knowing Where You Are on the Earth	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 9
	Oct 22	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 9: Spatial Privacy	Complete and upload Exercise 9 before attending class	5
Week 10	Oct 27	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 10: Collecting Information Without Being There	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 10
	Oct 29	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 10: Mapping Tweets	Complete and upload Exercise 10 before attending class	5
Week 11	Nov 3	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 11: The Basics of Spatial Data Systems	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 11
	Nov 5	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 11: Open Source GIS	Complete and upload Exercise 11 before attending class	5
Week 12	Nov 10	174 Willard	Zoom	Lesson 12: Capstone Project Introduction	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 12 Begin working on the Final Project
	Nov 12	Zoom	Zoom	Lesson 12: Exercise 12: Capstone Project Proposal	Upload your Lesson 12 submission Discuss your work with the class	5
Week 13	Nov 17	Individual Consultations	Individual Consultations	Lesson 13: Literature Search (No Class - Work Period)	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 13
	Nov 19	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 13: Literature Search	Upload your Lesson 13 submission Discuss your work with the class	10
Week 14	Dec 1	Zoom	Zoom	Lesson 14: Exploring Your Data with Maps	Read the online lecture notes for Lesson 14 Discuss your work with the class
	Dec 3	Individual Consultations	Individual Consultations	Exercise 14: Exploring Your Data with Maps (No Class - Work Period)	Upload your Lesson 14 submission	10
Week 15	Dec 8	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 15: Final Project Presentation	Upload your Lesson 15 submission Project presentations	10
	Dec 10	Zoom	Zoom	Exercise 15: Final Project Presentation	Project presentations (Continued)

Course Policies

Mask Wearing Policy

We know from existing scientific data that wearing a mask in public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community (Lyu and Wehby, 2020; CDC, 2020; Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2020). Just as you’re expected to wear a shirt and shoes to class every day, everyone -- including the instructor and TAs -- are required to wear a face mask in University buildings, including classrooms and labs. You MUST wear a mask appropriately (i.e., covering both your mouth and nose) in the building if you are attending class in person. Masks have been provided for students, faculty, and staff, and everyone is expected to wear one while on campus or out in the community.

All students, faculty and staff are expected to maintain social distancing (i.e., maintain at least six feet of space between individuals) when possible. Seating patterns and attendance patterns, including assigned seating and closed-off desks/chairs/room sections, have been established to help allow for this distance for your safety. It is also important to follow related guidance communicated by the University and via public postings/signage related to directional traffic flow and maximum occupancy of spaces

You are not permitted to consume food or drink in classrooms, except for water. If you must drink water, please be especially conscious of maintaining social distancing and minimizing the time your mask is moved aside. Or, better yet, use a water bottle with a built-in straw. Cooperation from EVERYONE will help control the spread of the virus and help us get back to the previous version of campus life as quickly as possible.

Students with conditions that make it difficult to wear a mask or who choose not to wear a mask [may participate in class remotely but]* may not attend class in person. This is to protect your health and safety as well as the health and safety of your classmates, instructor and the University community. Anyone attending class in person without a mask will be asked to put one on or leave. Refusal to comply with University policies is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Students who refuse to wear masks appropriately may face disciplinary action for Code of Conduct violations. See details here.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, April 3) Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community-Based Transmission.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2020, June 17) Coronavirus Face Masks & Protection FAQs.

Lyu, W. and Wehby, G.L. (2020, June 16) Community Use Of Face Masks And COVID-19: Evidence From A Natural Experiment Of State Mandates In The US. Health Affairs.

Attendance

Regular attendance is critical for building on the skills and knowledge developed throughout the class. Students who participate have a more complete understanding of the material presented and are more likely to succeed in the class. This is true whether your attendance is face-to-face or remote. This course abides by the Penn State Attendance Policy E-11, and Conflict Exam Policy 44-35. Please also see Illness Verification Policy, and Religious Observance Policy. Students who miss class for legitimate reasons will be given a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work, including exams and quizzes. In all cases, you should inform me in advance, when possible. Missing class, even for a legitimate purpose, may mean there is work that cannot be made up, hurting your grade in this class.. In addition to illness (covered below), legitimate reasons for missing class include religious observance, military service, family emergencies, regularly scheduled university-approved curricular or extracurricular activities, and post-graduate, career-related interviews when there is no opportunity for students to re-schedule these opportunities (such as employment and graduate school final interviews). Students who encounter serious family, health, or personal situations that result in extended absences should contact the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs (AVPSA) and Student Care and Advocacy for help. Whenever possible, students participating in University-approved activities should submit to the instructor a Class Absence Form, at least one week prior to the activity.

Use the symptom checker of the Penn State GO app every day to see if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you have COVID-19 symptoms or are otherwise not feeling well, DO NOT COME TO CLASS, and seek the advice of a medical professional as appropriate. If you have been notified or know yourself that you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, DO NOT COME TO CLASS and please make sure you have been reported as a close contact. I cannot stress this strongly enough. We are counting on you to help contain the spread of the virus (and other illnesses) on campus. If you need to isolate (because you are infected or have symptoms and are awaiting a test result) or quarantine (because you were a close contact to an infected person), the Student Support Services Office will let both of us know when you are allowed to attend class again. If you attend class before the approved date, it will be a student conduct violation, because you are endangering the health of your classmates and me. While you are in isolation or quarantine, I will work with you to help you maintain progress in the course as you are able. [This may include participating remotely, watching the recorded class, and/or completing asynchronous course content.] If you are not in class on your assigned day, you may be contacted by the instructor or the TA to check up on you and make sure you are okay.

According to University guidelines, and because of the distancing procedures in place for in-person classes, if someone in the class tests positive, we will continue with our regularly scheduled classes.

Webcam Requirements

This course may require you to have a webcam for class assessments. Classes and assessments may be conducted using Zoom or other technology selected by your instructor which may use your computer’s webcam or other technologies to communicate, monitor, and/or record classes, class activities, and assessments. Assessments may also be conducted using proctoring software, which may listen to you, monitor your computer screen, view you and your surroundings, and record (including visual and audio recordings) all activity during the proctoring process. Please contact me if you are unable to comply or have any questions or concerns.

I have a camera-preferred policy when teaching through Zoom. By contacting me via email, a student can opt-out of using a camera. I generally will not record classes but, if I do, I will inform the class of the intent to record immediately before any recording takes place.

Netiquette

The term "Netiquette" refers to the etiquette guidelines for electronic communications, such as e-mail and bulletin board postings. Netiquette covers not only rules to maintain civility in discussions, but also special guidelines unique to the electronic nature of forum messages. Please review some general Netiquette guidelines that should be followed when communicating in this course.

Disruptive Behavior

Behavior that disrupts normal classroom activities will not be tolerated, in accordance with Items 9 and 14 in the Student Code of Conduct.

Penn State E-mail Accounts

All official communications from Penn State are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.

Late Assignments

"Late" is defined as anything turned in after the date and time specified in the Course Calendar in Canvas. A flat penalty of 10% per assignment will be assessed. For example, if you do not turn in a 5 point writing assignment on time, .5 point will be deducted when you turn in that assignment.