Lecture 1 Summary Earth History dl

Introduction

Take time to explore the course materials folder and syllabus. 

Be sure to do the assigned reading!  You will find the assigned reading on the syllabus.

Do you know the answers to these questions?  If not, review the syllabus and course materials folder again!

How is this course graded?

How do I communicate with the instructor?

What's the difference between this course and Earth Dynamics-is this about volcanos, earthquakes, rocks and minerals, too?

What major topics are covered in this course?

How Science works – inductive and deductive approaches, testing hypotheses

How Geologists look at Earth’s planetary history

How we can decipher the natural history of events from long ago

What the legacy effects of those events are for the modern world

Why understanding major natural processes can help us understand how the planet works now and how it worked in the past

Have you looked at the structure of this course?  There are 11 quizzes, 2 midterms and a comprehensive final exam.  There are 2 extra credit quizzes.  Each week has a quiz (except when we have midterms), and the deadline to take the quizzes is by midnight on Sunday each week. 

 How to Approach this dl course:   

The course is divided into two parts:  the "tools of the trade" and the "events and processes along the Geologic Time Scale".  The first part is made of several separate topics.  The second part can be followed like a long story with chapters.  Many people find part II (most of the course), easier to organize than part I for this reason.   Therefore, be alert and be sure to

1) review the topic summary before you listen to the lecture. 

2) make notes on the topic summary or in a notebook while you listen/watch the lecture.

 Staying organized is very important, and being sure you ask questions when you need to is also important.   There is a discussion board for questions, and of course, you can contact the instructor via email.  Be careful not to "backburner" this dl or let things pile up.  Make a plan to work on this course on a schedule, and stick to it-for 15 weeks! 

Introducing Major Concepts today:

1)      Scientific Method, hypothesis testing, inductive and deductive approaches.

2)      Uniformitarianism/Actualism:  physical and chemical processes operating today also operated in the past.  Events can be singular, but processes that drive them are known and identifiable.  What does this mean for us?  Events can be unique, but the processes that drive them are not unique, and so in understanding the processes, we can "read" the rock record. 

3)      Rock Cycle:  The process known as the Rock Cycle is important in understanding the rock record.  Three major rock "families" exist, forming, eroding, transforming, recycling in a continuing process: the three groups are igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary rock types. 

Next Lecture:  Stratigraphic Principles, Geologic Time Scale, Relative Dating