Get Started sample 2 (setting expectations for how the course operates)

As with all distance education courses, this course is reading intensive. My approach to distance education is to provide you with multiple resources, online textbooks, videos, web pages and articles, to encourage you to engage deeply with the materials, while acknowledging that we all learn in different ways.

This is an intense short course (six weeks) and I will be working just as hard as you are to ensure you have a valuable learning experience. In our six weeks together we will take a whirlwind tour of the Earth, both inside and out, and focus on several geological resources that we rely on in society today. You are expected to stay engaged and contribute to the collective learning within the course.

I like to stay as hands on as possible, I will be sending frequent announcements, and providing contribution and feedback in discussions. I will be running online tutorial sessions every Monday using Collaborate Ultra, where we can connect as a class in the digital environment. Together we will review the previous weeks work and frame the learning topics for the coming week. I encourage you to join those sessions and to send me your questions ahead of time so I can address them for the whole class during the tutorial.

Monday is a good day to set your intentions for the week. We all have different commitments and are spread out across the world in different time zones, so in order to determine a set a time for these sessions I would like you to complete the following survey. We will aim for the most popular time. But don't worry, if you are unable to attend, I will record the sessions for you to watch at your convenience.

• Spend at least 15 hours/week in class. Class hours include the online reading, activities, discussions and quizzes, as well as making and studying your own course notes. In most Distance Education courses, the most successful students were those who were in class often and regularly.
• Use the Class Discussions, not only are they graded, but they are a great place to communicate with your class members and be part of a community of learning.
• Complete all the end of module quizzes - these provide a good review and a great way to keep up with your studies.
• Regularly check the course schedule and assignment due dates, etc.
• Don't fall behind, the Mark as Done options are here to keep you on track and help you monitor your progress in the course.
• Stay on top of your class projects - you have two in this class that have different milestones to keep you moving forward. Six weeks is a very short time - so please keep yourself motivated and aim to spend ~5 hours a week on these projects.
• Communicate! If life goes a bit swirly, you get sick or you have unexpected challenges, and you find yourself struggling with the workload. Talk to me as soon as possible. It is better for me to help you during the semester, than for us to try and pick up the pieces at the end. Talk to me!

The course is divided in five modules to be completed within six weeks. Each module is composed of a series of pages with readings, videos, self-directed activities, discussions and short quizzes (graded).  

When you have completed all the readings and activities for each Week, make sure to check the "Mark as Done" option on the top right-hand corner of the page. This is a way to track and monitor your progress in this course.

Module 1. Understanding Geology. An introduction to the basics of geological science, the course and our community of learners.

Module 2. What's in my cell phone? Most of us have one, but how much do you know about the geological materials that go into producing our cell phones, and the geological processes that lead to the formation of these materials.

Module 3. What's the fuss about fossil Fuels? In this module we are going to discover when, where, how and why fossil fuels formed - learning a little about geological time along the way.

Module 4. Water, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing erm, I mean absolutely everything! We will look at water as a resource for drinking and hydropower, as well as discover the role water plays in shaping landscapes and even causing volcanoes!

Module 5. Bling bling - who wants a diamond ring? You all deserve diamonds! In this last module we will journey to the center of the Earth (well to the mantle at least) and investigate where diamonds from and why they are so rare.