Course Description

Understanding the natural environment and the geological features and landscapes that shape our world is vital for students to have a greater understanding and respect for others by being more globally and culturally aware. The transformation of Earth as we know it has been a 4.5 billion year marvel in the making. The ever-changing continents, oceans, seas, and geographic landforms continue to reshape our world. Through the exploration of the unique landscapes of Earth and the examination of the geographic distribution of populations, countries, and regions of the world, students will use virtual field trips, case studies, and web quests to enhance their sense of global community.

General Education Theme Area(s)

This is a General Education course that supports learning in the following theme area(s): Science and Technology , Social and Cultural Understanding

Essential Employability Skills

This course contributes to your program by helping you achieve the following Essential Employability Skills:

EES 6 Locate, select, organize and document information using appropriate technology and information systems. (T, A)
EES 7 Analyze, evaluate and apply relevant information from a variety of sources. (T, A)
EES 8 Show respect for diverse opinions, values, belief systems and contributions of others. (T, A)
Assessment Levels —T: Taught A: Assessed CP: Culminating Performance 

Course Learning Requirements / Embedded Knowledge and Skills

When you have earned credit for this course, you will have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Identify the major land masses and major water bodies of Earth.

  • list the seven continents of the world, observe their size and relative location, and compare their global significance
  • list the five oceans of the world, observe their size and relative location, and compare their global significance
  • recognize and name additional significant seas, bays, and land masses of the world

2. Examine geological features such as major mountains and bodies of water that define the topography of various continents and countries of the world.

  • map the major landforms (mountains, plains, deserts) and bodies of water (seas, lakes, rivers) of each of the seven continents
  • recognize and describe the historical and relative significance of the pinnacle landforms and bodies of water of Earth compared to their subjacent counterparts

3. Investigate the natural procsses responsible for the creation and on-going evolution of major global geological features.

  • explain the processes and forces which influence plate tectonics, ocean floors, and coastlines
  • illustrate the influence of water and glaciation in shaping/reshaping Earth
  • distinguish the effect of wind on Earth's surface compared to other weathering agents
  • summarize the role earthquakes and volcanoes have played in shaping the natural environment

4. Explore the ways in which geographic factors combine with cultural and religious expression to influence settlement patterns and land use.

  • recount the countries of the world, the continents they are a part of, and their relative location
  • illustrate and provide examples of how major geological features of Earth such as the Alps, Himalyas, Sahara Desert, and Amazon River have impacted and directed settlement patterns and land use

5. Explore the multicultural, social, religious, and ethnic diversity of regions and countries of the world.

  • contrast the connections between culture and physcial geography from a global and regional perspective
  • illustrate the global distribution of various cultures
  • convey an understanding and appreciation of the rich variety of culture and ethnic diversity on a global and regional scale

Pre-defined Evaluation / Earning Credit

The following list provides evidence of this course's learning achievements and the outcomes they validate:

Assessment(s) (28%)

Validates Outcomes:  CLR 1, CLR 2, CLR 3, CLR 4, CLR 5, EES 6, EES 7, EES 8

Quiz(zes) (27%)

Validates Outcomes:  CLR 1, CLR 2, CLR 3, CLR 4, CLR 5, EES 6, EES 7

Case Study(ies) (20%)

Validates Outcomes:  CLR 2, CLR 3, CLR 4, EES 6, EES 7, EES 8

Project(s) (25%)

Validates Outcomes:  CLR 1, CLR 2, CLR 3, CLR 4, CLR 5, EES 6, EES 7, EES 8

Learning Resources

Online articles and websites
Online videos and films
Case studies
Podcasts
 

Learning Activities

Case studies
Virtual field trips
Assigned readings
Assigned video / film viewings
Online research activities
Podcasts
Web quests
Quizzes
Online group collaboration and discussion

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Students who wish to apply for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) need to demonstrate competency at a post-secondary level in all outlined course learning requirements. Evidence of learning achievement for PLAR candidates includes:

  • Portfolio

Other Information

Grade Scheme

Final Grade Mark Equivalent Numeric Value Final Grade Mark Equivalent Numeric Value
A+ 90% - 100% 4.0 A 85% - 89% 3.8
A- 80% - 84% 3.6 B+ 77% - 79% 3.3
B 73% - 76% 3.0 B- 70% - 72% 2.7
C+ 67% - 69% 2.3 C 63% - 66% 2.0
C- 60% - 62% 1.7 D+ 57% - 59% 1.4
D 53% - 56% 1.2 D- 50% - 52% 1.0
F 0% - 49% 0 FSP 0 0

Course Related Information

Please refer to the Course Section Information (CSI) / weekly schedule for specific course-related information as
provided by your professor.

Program Information

College Related Information

Algonquin College’s policies have been developed to ensure the health, safety and security of all students, faculty and staff, and the proper and fair operation of the College as an academic institution and employer.  Please refer to the Algonquin College Policies website for the most current policy information available at http://www.algonquincollege.com/policies/.

Students are especially encouraged to be aware of the following College expectations

Academic Integrity 
Algonquin College is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity, and students are expected to uphold these standards as part of the learning process. Any academic work submitted by a student is expected to be their own work, unless designated otherwise and all sources must be attributed. All students should be familiar with the Algonquin College policy AA48: Academic Integrity .  In some courses, online proctoring may be used to discourage cheating. Additional information can be found at https://www.algonquincollege.com/studentsupportservices/student-learning-kit/preparing-to-learn-online/. Students with any questions about the course expectations for academic dishonesty and plagiarism are encouraged to speak to their professor.

Centre for Accessible Learning
Students with visible and/or non-visible disabilities are encouraged to register with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) in order to be eligible for appropriate learning supports and/or accommodations.  Students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment at the Centre for Accessible Learning as early as possible when starting a program. Once your needs are identified, a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) will be issued which you can share with your professors. If you are a returning student, please ensure that professors are given a copy of your LOA each semester.

College Email
Students at Algonquin College are provided with a college email account. This is the address that will be used when the College, your professors, or your fellow students communicate important information about your program or course activities.  Your network credentials can be found in the ACSIS portal and you are expected to check your Algonquin email regularly and to use it to send and receive college-related email. Support is available through the college Information Technology Service (ITS) at: https://www.algonquincollege.com/its/

Retroactive Accommodations
Students are expected to meet evaluation and completion deadlines as stated in course outline and course section information documents. In circumstances where evaluation and/or completion deadlines are missed or student performance has been affected by a temporary or permanent disability (including mental health), interim or retroactive accommodations may be considered. In such instances, please consult your course faculty member. For other situations where deferral of evaluations may be warranted, please consult Algonquin College Policy AA21: Deferred Evaluation.

Student Course Feedback
Algonquin College’s invites students to share their course experience by completing a student course feedback survey for each course they take. For further details consult Algonquin College Policy AA25: Student Course Feedback.

Use of Mobile Devices in Class
With the proliferation of small, personal mobile devices used for communications and data storage, Algonquin College believes there is a need to address their use during classes and examinations. During classes, the use of such devices can be  disruptive and disrespectful to others. During examinations, the use of such devices may facilitate cheating. For further details consult Algonquin College Policy AA32: Use of Mobile Devices in Class

Technology Requirements
As Algonquin College continues to respond to public health guidelines, many courses will be offered through remote delivery. As such, students will be required to have access to a computer and to the internet. There may also be additional technology-related resources required to participate in a course that are not included in the course materials fee, such as headphones, webcams, specialized software, etc. Details on these requirements can be found in the Course Section Information of the course outline for each course available on Brightspace.

Transfer of Credit
It is the student’s responsibility to retain course outlines for possible future use to support applications for transfer of credit to other educational institutions.