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GEOL110 Geology and the Environment I

Updated: 03 December 2009
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
07 April 2010 10 April 2010 Non-Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Restrictions GEOL101
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) John Paterson (jpater20@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit provides an overview of the gross structure of planet Earth, geological time, the materials that make up Earth's crust, the processes that operate to form these materials, the processes that modify the landscape, the occurrences of natural resources (minerals, fossil fuels and groundwater), geologic hazards (volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides), and various environmental problems related to soils, water resources, the atmosphere, energy and mineral resources. Resources include access to the UNE website, containing links to online reference material, as well as access to discussion boards.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Shrink Wrapped Package(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Earth: Portrait of a Planet
ISBN: 9780393183658
Marshak, S., Norton 3rd ed. 2008
Note: Package includes: Text (ISBN 9780393111378) and Geotours Workbook (ISBN 9780393932331).
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 10% On/Off Campus 1500
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 4 GA: 1-4
Assignment 2 20% Off Campus 1500
Assessment Notes
Rock and Mineral Summary (To be undertaken by eligible off-campus students who elect not to attend the intensive school.)
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 4 GA: 1-4
Laboratory Work 10% On/Off Campus
Assessment Notes
Laboratory exercises and practical tests (practical book)
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 6
Online Assessment 20% On Campus
Assessment Notes
Tests (to be completed online)
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 3, 4 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6
Report 10% On/Off Campus
Assessment Notes
Excursion Reports (To be completed by all on-campus students and off-campus students who attend the intensive school.)
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 6,
Final Examination 2 hrs 50% On/Off Campus
Assessment Notes
Theory (40%), Practical (10%)
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2, 3, 4 GA: 1-4

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. apply basic scientific methods in a geological context;
  2. identify and describe common minerals and rocks and understand how they formed;
  3. observe, understand and interpret common geological features in the landscape; and
  4. understand fundamental Earth processes such as tectonics.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students are presented with lectures and participate in practical classes that cover a variety of fundamental geoscience topics including plate tectonics, mineralogy, major rock types, weathering and regolith, geomorphology, structural geology and environmental geology. The knowledge and skills acquired from lectures and practical classes are regularly practiced and assessed during field excursions, practical quizzes, scheduled online tests and the final exam. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Written communication skills are assessed in the form of an essay and field excursion reports, and are regularly practiced by the use of online discussion boards. 		True True
3 Global Perspectives
Students are taught about geological processes that occur on a global scale, such as plate tectonics. These aspects are assessed in the online tests and final exam. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
Students are assessed on their ability to demonstrate basic research capacity in an essay on a specific topic in geoscience and critically evaluate the information to generate a logical argument supported by evidence. Students are taught how to search for primary literature using databases and how to reference using the author-date system. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Students are encouraged to practice the skills and apply the knowledge they have learned to their personal and professional development. 		True
6 Problem Solving
Students practice and are assessed on a range of problem solving skills, especially the identification of rocks and minerals, interpretation of geological features in the field, and deciphering aspects of the geological history of the Armidale region. 		True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students are taught about the local, regional and global implications of mining and extraction of other economic resources, including the environmental and socio-economic aspects of the discipline. 		True
8 Team Work
Students are encouraged to work together for certain practical activities, such as rock and mineral identification and mapping exercises. 		True
   

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