EARTH 591: Individual Project
This syllabus is divided into several sections. Please read the whole thing.
Instructor
Dr. Eliza Richardson
409 Deike Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 8148632507
E-mail: Please use your PSU e-mail address in all correspondence about this course.
Availability: Students are welcome to contact me by email anytime; I usually am able to respond within 24 hours. Although e-mail correspondence is preferred, students may also contact me by telephone.
Introduction
Hello! I'm Eliza Richardson, instructor-of-record for EARTH 591. I have met you already through my role as Director for the M.Ed. in Earth Sciences program and/or through the courses that I teach. This is an individual studies class and, as such, has very little in the way of formal on-line instruction as most of you are used to with courses in our program. My role as the "instructor-of-record" with this course is to make sure that you're connected with a faculty member (if it isn’t me) as you're doing your independent study and to check in with you frequently to make sure you are completing milestones for your program capstone project.
Information and Guidelines for your capstone project
Capstone project formats will vary, but many students choose to research and develop a new curriculum piece that they plan to use in their own classroom.
Here is a typical work schedule in EARTH 591:
Part 1 (Weeks 1-3)
- Define the topic and format of your project
- Deliverable: 1 page outline identifying topic, reasons for choosing it, possible sources of data and background literature
Part 2 (Weeks 4-6)
- Collect data and literature
- Deliverable: weekly check-ins via email
Part 3 (Weeks 7-9)
- Develop rough draft for instructor/adviser review
- Deliverable: rough draft including supporting data and literature
Part 4 (Weeks 10-12)
- Develop rough draft for peer review
- Participate in peer review
- Deliverable: rough draft for peer review
Part 5 (Weeks 13-15 except in summer session when we stuff this into Part 4)
- Reflect and revise
- Produce final project
- Deliverable: final project
Responsible Conduct of Research Training
Penn State requires all graduate students to complete training in responsible conduct of research by participating in 8 hours of discussion. In this program, we meet that requirement in this course. We will read and discuss literature relative to ethics and integrity in science and use a discussion board in CANVAS. The reading material will vary from semester to semester; I will notify you of the reading and discussion requirements shortly after the beginning of the semester.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the World Campus Help Desk
Course Policies
Deferred Grades
If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by email or US post) to your instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. It is up to your instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If for any reason the course work for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.
Penn State E-mail Accounts
All official communications from the Penn State World Campus are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.
Academic Integrity
It almost goes without saying that "successful completion" of this course involves doing one's own work. This course follows the guidelines for academic integrity of Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Penn State defines academic integrity as "the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner." Academic integrity includes "a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception." In particular, the University defines plagiarism as "the fabrication of information and citations; submitting others' work from professional journals, books, articles, and papers; submission of other students' papers, lab results or project reports and representing the work as one's own." Penalties for violations of academic integrity may include course failure. To learn more, see Penn State's "Plagiarism Tutorial for Students."
You will find Penn State's academic integrity policy here.
Course Copyright
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, the University Policy for the Recording of Classroom Activities and Note Taking Services addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contact information for every Penn State campus: Contacts for Disability Services at all Penn State Campuses. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources (SDR) website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Mental Health Services
Whether you study on campus or online, mental health services are available to help you maintain your academic success. Penn State provides resources to address concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress, and provides mental health advocates who can help you. If you are a resident student, resources can be found at Counseling and Psychological Services. If you are a World Campus student, please see the student website for further information. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local emergency service.
Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Inclement Weather
In case of weather-related delays at the University, this online course will proceed as planned. Your instructor will inform you if there are any extenuating circumstances regarding content or activity due dates in the course due to weather delays. If you are affected by a weather-related emergency, please contact your instructor at the earliest possible time to make special arrangements.
Connect Online with Caution
Penn State is committed to educational access for all. Our students come from all walks of life and have diverse life experiences. As with any other online community, the lack of physical interaction in an online classroom can create a false sense of anonymity and security. While one can make new friends online, digital relationships can also be misleading. Good judgment and decision making are critical when choosing to disclose personal information with others whom you do not know.
Disclaimer
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. All changes will be communicated with you via e-mail, course announcement and/or course discussion forum.