1. I've posted the keys for Exam 1 to this web site. You can access them via this link, or from the "Exam & Quiz materials" link on the class homepage. 

 
2. Exam scores are available via the GEOL-1030 class link on Desire2Learn. MTSU-IT provides a quick link to D2L that saves time over using the PipelineMT home page. Be sure to click on the GEOL1030-001 link to access your grades. If you scored better than about 50% (15 out of 30), you did average or better and you will probably (NO GUARANTEES!!!) earn a C or better in this course. More on this in class. 

 
3. If you have a problem with one or more of the questions on the exam, you might try participating in the "Post-exam activity." 
• However, this is not a point give-away. You have to earn the points by exhibiting superior logic, scientific knowledge, or debating skills. 
• The deadline for submissions is midnight, Monday, February 20.

• You should already have received an email detailing the required class materials for this course (i.e. textbook, lecture guide, and i>clicker). If you haven't, or you misplaced the URL, here it is: http://frank.mtsu.edu/~cdharris/GEOL100/supplements/Esci-G1030-supplements-information.html

 
• As promised, I've prepared a reading list for the 9th through the 12th editions of Tarbuck and Lutgen's Earth Science textbook. Just follow the appropriate hyperlink below, and print out the pdf file. The 13th edition reading list is the one that was handed out on the first day of class, and is also available here. 

• Phillips Bookstore (on-campus) has copies of the (required) lecture guide on the shelf.  Blue Raider Bookstore DOES NOT. Get them while they last.

 
• If you haven't yet purchased a lecture guide from Phillips Bookstore, this link will take you to the latest on-line pages to print out for note-taking in class. 

• Information about buying and registering an i>clicker (a class requirement) is available here. Officially, you are required to have registered your iclicker by the first class day after Exam 1 (i.e. attendance points will be based on attendance from that day forward, this assures that you have enough time to buy and register your iclicker). However, students who do not participate in clicker sessions from the first class day forward, will lose participation points starting with the first class day. This is an incentive to get your clicker sooner rather than later. 

 
• I have provided a handout (.pdf format) summarizing how the i>clicker will be used in class, and how I will assign points for class attendance and class participation based on i>clicker useage. It is available here. 

 
• At the end of the previous semester, I surveyed students concerning clicker use in this class. If you would like to review their written comments, I have provided them online. In addition, I also tabulated the results of a statistical survey. 

• The keys to Exam 1 (versions A & B) will be posted to the "Exam materials" webpage on this website. 

 
• Likewise, exam 1 scores will be posted to D2L. Once you have signed into D2L, simply click on the "Grades" icon at the top of the D2L home page. You should see your score (out of 30) listed there.

NOTE: Scantrons will NOT be returned in class, but are available for viewing by visiting your instructor during his office hours. For future reference, that is why I allow you to keep your exam and mark your answers on it. It saves us both the trouble of meeting up to review your scantron if you have a question. 

• Even good students sometimes need a gentle nudge to start the semester off right (especially freshmen). Accordingly, I've put together some suggestions as to how to prepare for this class. Ignore them at your peril. 
• At the very least, you MUST read the assigned material before each class. 
• If you do not, your efforts in this class will probably earn a letter grade or two below your expectations. 

• IMPORTANT: To enroll in a laboratory section during the first week of classes, use PipelineMT. Should you try to enroll anytime thereafter, you will have to contact Karen Dunkley, the Geoscience faculty secretary, at 898-2726, or pay her a visit at KOM-325C for further information.

 
• Exam scores will be posted to Desire2Learn. MTSU-IT has provided a quick link to D2L that saves time over using the PipelineMT home page. 

 
• NOTE #1: Material from the on-line independent study topics "Earth science: A primer" and "Rocks and the rock cycle" will be on Exam 1.  Study questions for these materials are also available.  I may use a few of these questions on Exam 1, or compose other questions. 

 
• NOTE #2: Most GEOL-1031 laboratory sections WILL meet during the 1st week of classes. When you attend lab you should already have done the following: 
• purchase a lab manual ($$) and lab kit ($) [you should bring these to lab with you.] 
• Notice: There may be lab instructors who will not be using the lab manual; therefore, you may actually want to wait to determine if you do indeed need to purchase the lab manual. 
• read Chapter 2 in the textbook, concentrating on the section entitled "Properties of Minerals."
• As indicated in class, a set of multiple-choice review questions resides on-line for each of the major topics on Exam 1.  Ignore them at your peril. These definitely will NOT be provided for Exam 2 through 4. They are intended to give you a bit of a hand the first time around. In addition, there are sample exams available on-line. 

 
• Highlights of the first day of class: 

 Much of what I discussed in class is available at the following link: http://www.mtsu.edu/~cdharris/GEOL100/1st-lecture.htm 

I handed out an abbreviated syllabus in class. The full text is available on-line. 


In addition to all this information, I've provided an on-line list of things to do for the 2nd day of class.

•  Seeking advice on how to study for this class? Here are some suggestions. 

• Many earth science textbook publishers maintain web-pages containing a variety of potentially useful study materials -- including practice quizzes.   I've provided a link to the practice questions for your textbook  (it is also available on our GEOL-1030 class page.) 

• Important comments concerning the syllabus and this website: 
• Anywhere on this site that you see a reference to "GEOL100," I actually mean "GEOL1030" -- I just haven't gotten around to changing things over to the new course numbering system (and I probably won't for a VERY LONG time). 
• References to GEOL1030L (the Earth Science lab) should also be "translated." This course number is now  GEOL-1031. 
• Various references to on-line quizzes in this class should be ignored. In time, I will delete all those materials from this website. 

• None at this time.