Course Syllabus

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Syllabus

GEO107DE Human Cultural Geography (3 Credit) Online

Here is a downloadable Word version to print: 

Here is the Institutional Syllabus: click here

About

  • Course Name: Human Cultural Geography 2
  • Course Code: GEO107.01DE
  • Term/Year  Spring 2024
  • Dates   
  • Locations  Online

Instructor Information

  • Thomas Nejely ("nej-lee")
  • nejely@klamathcc.edu
  • 541-880-2230
  • Office Hours – via email or Canvas Message.  I will answer emails quickly, 8:00am-5:00pm Monday - Friday. I will respond to weekend messages, just not as quickly.
  • You may request a Zoom by messaging Canvas Inbox Messages.

Course Description

Introduces the study of human cultural geography, with a focus on developing nations. Regional topics include the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands.

Prerequisites – Recommended: WRI 121 placement.   Credit Hours – 3

Course Materials Requirements

  1. Course Materials – Text: the textbook is online only.  There is no cost and nothing to purchase.
  2. Computer Requirements – this course requires students to have computers and access for all activities and assignments. If you are using only a mobile device, please see Notes below.
  3. Internet Access – This course includes videos made by the instructor, or other sources posted to YouTube. You will need unrestricted YouTube access.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  1. This course has been designed to work (mostly) on mobile devices. If you find a page that does not work on your mobile device, please notify the instructor immediately
  2. Some functions may not work well with Chromebooks or iPads. Please contact the instructor if these are your only devices for accessing the class and you have difficulties.
  3. This year my phone turned into a brick.  AW!  Beware if you you are relying only on one device, you need a backup device also.  Save your work somewhere accessible, such as DropBox or Office 365 OneDrive.
  4. If you are using a Public School District device, YouTube access may be restricted. Please contact the instructor if you have difficulties.
  5. If you are experiencing computer (hardware) problems, internet connection or other device-related difficulties, we may have solutions for you. Please contact the instructor, or the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL@Klamathcc.edu)  and we’ll help you with technology.

Assignments

  • There are usually one or more reading quizzes every week. 
  • There will be some form of writing assignment every week, but never any essays.
  • There will be one midterm exam or project, and one final exam or project.
  • There will be Teamwork projects some weeks.  There will not be discussions each week.

Assignments point values:

    1. Research Prep Paragraphs                          3 @ (20) pts each
    2. Weekly wrap-up                                            6 @ (20) pts each
    3. Teamwork projects  (3planning/3writing)      6 @ (10) pts each
    4. Reading/video/syllabus quizzes                   1 or 2 per week @(variable) pts each
    5. Exams/projects                                            2@50 pts each

Grading Policy

GRADING : Each piece of student work will be graded based on the requirements. ALWAYS TURN IN WORK, COMPLETED OR NOT! There is no curve. Assignments are graded on a straight unweighted point scale:  A=90%+, B=80-89%, C=70-79%; D=60-69%, F=50% or lower.

Grading time: it usually takes me a week to return grades with comments.  Sometimes it takes me longer, when I am providing students with extra encouragement or guidance.  Spending time in word-crafting to encourage, rather than discourage is important as it may make the difference between a student continuing successfully or becoming discouraged and dropping out.

Academic Integrity and Writing Assistance Policy

Permissible use of AI or writing assistance in this class.

1. The most important thing to know about AI or writing assistance is, I want to read your thoughts and about your learning journey in your own personal words. What you think and learn is important to me, and I want to read it!  I do not want you to use any AI or writing assistance tool to make your writing sound better or different than it really is.  But AI is a very useful, helpful tool if used in the right ways.

2. Here are permissible guidelines for this class:

Allowed:

    • Feel free to ask me for suggestion about research prompts (aka search phrases)
    • You can use AI to help with research suggestions for your topic, such as travel blogs or diaries
    • You can use AI to help with suggesting viewpoints or real historical persons that you might not otherwise think of
    • You may ask it to provide viewpoints or experiences by real people
    • You can use AI to zoom in on some particular aspect of your assigned topic.

Not Allowed

    • You cannot have AI do writing of sentences, phrases, or paragraphs for you.   
    • You cannot have AI change your writing style or grammar or spelling to sound better than you are.
    • You should not have AI suggest an outline or organization, because then you will not fit my assignment requirements.   

3. These AI and Writing Assistance guidelines apply only to this class.

Attendance Policy  - ONLINE

Students must participate every week DURING the week multiple times.  This class is NOT designed to let you check in once and be done with it.  

Late Work Policy

You can do:

  1. If a student has employment, TDY deployment, health or family concerns regarding some assignment deadlines, arrangements can be made in advance. 
  2. If unexpected circumstances arise, arrangements can be made immediately during the situation.  Please message me!

You can not do:

  1. You cannot contact me after an assignment closes and expect to receive an extension.
  2. I do not allow students to submit late work for a percentage off, there is no such policy in this class.
  3. "I was busy" or "I forgot" are not acceptable reasons for missing assignments.
  4. I do not accept work submitted by email or Canvas Message attachment.    

Under all circumstances, Please contact me before or during the time a situation is happening!

Workload & Time Management

Sometimes there is a lot of reading in a week.  I have a number of things to help your prioritize your time, including a weekly Agenda page to read on Mondays, a "prioritize" section on each Agenda page, weekly reminder announcements, and I provide a course Planner.  

Discussions, Team Projects and Participation

IMPORTANT: This class does not have "post once reply twice" discussions.  Discussions in this class are used for learning to work with a team to produce a collaborative project.  

Canvas Settings to change

  1. You must ensure your Canvas Account Settings “Ways to Contact” are set to emails or texts that you actually use. 
  2. You must ensure Canvas Account Notifications are set to receive Announcements and submission comments. 
  3. You must be able to see my comments on your assignments.
  4. I have made these settings changes an assignment in the first week.

OUTCOMES

In this class, you will practice and learn skills for 3 kinds of outcomes:

Course Learning Outcomes

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

  • Research human geography topics or themes in the regions covered in this course.
  • Communicate or present geography learning in writing, visually, or verbally.
  • Use critical thinking, synthesis, and analysis to explain patterns of human behavior in the regions covered in this course.
  • Create projects collaboratively that relate to topics in the regions or themes covered in this course.

Institutional Learning Outcomes

The “Measured Proficiency” items listed here will be measured by assignments, in addition to Geography topics.

  • (Introduced) Apply Critical Thinking to Problem Solving
    Evaluate information, sources, arguments, opinions, and issues to solve problems.
  • (Measured) Communication
    Create and convey thoughts, opinions, or information by listening, speaking, reading, or writing.
  • (Measured) Cultural Competence
    Demonstrate effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.
  • (Introduced) Professional Competence and Self – Efficacy
    Apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes to succeed in a profession or academic program; demonstrate confidence and ability to meet personal, social, academic, and professional goals.
  • (Measured) Teamwork
    Demonstrate effective and respectful participation as members and leaders of diverse teams.

 Course Content Outcomes

  • In this class students will practice and be evaluated on their ability to (this is the Geography stuff):
  • Identify locations, nations, cities and physical features of these regions: East Asia, SE Asia, Oceania, South Asia, West Asia, and Africa.
  • Apply in written research various "themes" and issues of geography such as location, migration, food production, human rights, fresh water, culture, and economic development to these global regions: East Asia, SE Asia, Oceania, South Asia, West Asia, and Africa.
  •  Use case examples to demonstrate understanding of various cultures in the regions we study.

 

Team workspace and “Netiquette”

Not everyone in this class has the same skill level life circumstances or motivation level.  Some of you are highly trained long-time military professionals, some have families and are working to improve your lives, and others are high school students.  You are expected to behave professionally and courteously at all times regardless of your age or background.  In a teamwork situation, some students who are more experienced and ambitious can become impatient of others who are not so much.  Please be kind.  

Also note: Team members who voluntarily communicate with each other typically do much better than those who do not.

Module Instructions

Each Module contains Instructions at the start.  Please start with Instructions before doing any assignment.

Notice on the home page I have created a Student Resources/Useful Links

Course Summary:

Date Details Due