GEL 100 DINOSAURS

  • INSTRUCTOR: Tom Braziunas, Ph. D. Geological Sciences

  • PHONE: Weekdays -- (206) 527-3619 (Distance Learning Office)

  • COLLEGE EMAIL ADDRESS: tbraziun@sccd.ctc.edu

  • CLASS EMAIL ADDRESS: WebCT email

  • FACULTY WEBSITE: http://faculty.northseattle.edu/tbraziun

  • CAMPUS OFFICE:  LB 2237 (in the Distance Learning Office, entrance just south of the main Library entrance)

  • OFFICE HOURS:  Generally Noon to 1 PM daily (M-F) but it is best to call or email for an appointment

  • COURSE TEXT: Dinosaurs:  The Textbook, 5th Edition, by Spencer Lucas, 2007.  McGraw-Hill, 280 pp. (Also available at the campus library for 2-hour library use only)

  • COURSE MATERIALS:  Some common kitchen and hardware items.

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OVERVIEW

You will find that this course is different than some other introductory science classes.  We will be following our topic, Dinosaurs, through an array of scientific disciplines as we enrich our understanding of life and an "almost lost" world back hundreds of millions of years.  We will gain some skills in the scientific methods needed to examine the evidence of ancient daily life -- including a first look at tools from the fields of anatomy, geology, climatology, ecology and astronomy.

What should you be prepared for in this course?

  • Lots of reading as we cover the entire textbook (about 270 pages) ... but plenty of help along the way.

  • No exams ... but challenging homework problems and short weekly open-book quizzes on our reading.

  • No memorization or all-inclusive study ... but a scrupulous focus on each week's subject matter, one step at a time.

  • Frequent assignments ... but many chances to earn extra points by turning work in regularly.

  • A need to work with your peers in class ... but uncomplicated conversations amongst one another and with me to guide you through the readings and homework.

The following comments will round out this overview.  The nitty-gritty particulars are explained in the "details" web page of the syllabus.  Once again, welcome!

Course Objectives:  The goal of this learning program is to provide you with a fundamental understanding of the scientific method of observation and analysis, and to introduce you to the basic concepts of science in disciplines that include geology, paleontology, anatomy, evolutionary biology, behavioral biology, and ecology.  The study of dinosaurs requires a grasp of concepts and the development of interpretative skills in each of these disciplines.  We are not interested in memorization but in learning how to observe, evaluate and interpret data which may be presented to us through the print media and the Internet and in any future studies we undertake in science disciplines.

NSCC General Education Learning Outcomes Met by Course:

  • Outcome #1:  Think critically in reading and writing.

  • Outcome #4:  Assess, evaluate, and apply information from a variety of sources and a variety of contexts.

  • Outcome #10:  Identify and understand fundamental concepts of the physical and life sciences and the effects that the uses of these concepts and resulting technologies have on the individual, on society and on the biosphere.

Specific Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the relationship of geologic, climatic and ecological habitat changes.

  2. Describe evolutionary theory and how it applies to the classification of organisms, especially to the major groups of dinosaurs and their relationship to other organisms and to each other.

  3. Identify the basic geologic and biologic processes that produce fossils and other evidence of past life, and apply this knowledge toward interpreting specific dinosaur-related evidence. 

  4. Apply the principles of the scientific method to develop and test hypotheses especially with respect to dinosaur metabolism and mass extinction events.

  5. Demonstrate an ability to make basic qualitative and quantitative calculations related to plate tectonic movements, geologic time spans and dinosaur speeds.

Weekly Schedule:  The class schedule contains a calendar and a listing of class activities.  The course is designed to be completed in one quarter.  Each week consists of reading, discussion, at-home quizzes and written work on one or two chapters in the textbook.  We will brainstorm about our readings in our online discussion board (see below) as each of us completes a set of homework problems and takes a short online quiz each week.  We then move on to the next week and repeat this process.  Specifics are provided in the "Details" portion of the syllabus.

Content:  This class covers the entire textbook (but a good portion of the book is filled with drawings and photographs).  We do not have comprehensive exams for which to study nor do we need to memorize names and concepts.  We will focus on the materials chapter-by-chapter, using our time to digest, evaluate and discuss the concepts, skills and content we are learning.  Except in a few cases, we will NOT concentrate on mathematical formulae and calculations.

Communication:  This class is designed to encourage (require) an ongoing dialogue between student and teacher and amongst students as well.  This course does not merely consist of web sites and textbook pages to read and homework to complete on one's own.  I expect that you will have many questions and comments along the way.  A benefit of an online class is that interaction within class is enriched in some ways if we use online tools such as the discussion room (message board), the chat rooms, and class email to consult with one another.  Communication is built into the class and I will attempt to reply to any email messages within 24 hours (weekends included).  At the same time, I expect the same courtesy of timely responses from the rest of us.   Feel free to ask any and all questions about assignments and text readings throughout the quarter.

Team Research Report:  Class work also includes a team research report designed to advance your critical reading and writing skills as well as to introduce beneficial peer-collaboration strategies and effective Internet research ("information literacy") techniques.