GEO 2303 25021 SP 17 Watkins
GEO 2303
Regional Geography of the World
Spring 2017 – Block I
Department of History and Geography
College of Liberal Arts
Meeting Time: Arranged (CRN 25021)
Classroom: Online
Professor: Dr. Brad Watkins
Office:
Liberal Arts Building 204C
Email:
[email protected] (preferred)
Phone:
405-974-5842
Skype:
ID Available on request
Online Office Hours: via Email or Skype
In Person Hours: T: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
R: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A study of the world’s major regions. Each region’s physical, cultural, and politico-economic
characteristics are reviewed. Region-wide cooperation patterns are discussed and compared. Most major
countries in the region are introduced with emphasis on related current issues.
OBJECTIVES
In order to pass this course, you must demonstrate at least minimal proficiency in the following
geographic concepts. Of course, greater levels of proficiency will result in a better grade.
You will be able to:
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Define the dual nature of the geographic perspective (i.e., descriptive and analytical);
Discuss the importance of maps and GIS as tools of the geographer;
Describe the basic processes of physical geography, including endogenic (i.e., plate tectonics)
and exogenic processes (erosion and deposition), basic weather and climate mechanisms, and
global vegetation patterns;
Describe the importance of the crude birth rate, crude death rate, natural increase rate, doubling
time, the demographic transition model, and population pyramids as tools for studying global
population;
Describe the major physical and human characteristics of the world regions discussed in class;
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
You will be assessed on the following Geography Program Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify the characteristics, patterns and distributions of the human population and the
economic and political systems they create.
2.Explain how human actions modify the physical environment and physical systems affect
human systems.
GEO 2303 25021 SP 17 Watkins
3. Acquire awareness of the diversity of peoples, places, and environments within a specific
region or around the world.
TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the University of Central Oklahoma, we are guided by the mission of helping students learn by
providing transformative experiences so that they may become productive, creative, ethical and engaged
citizens and leaders contributing to the intellectual, cultural, economic and social advancement of the
communities they serve. Transformative learning is a holistic process that places students at the center
of their own active and reflective learning experiences. A student’s major field is central to the learning
experience and is a vital part of the “Central Six.”
This course addresses two of the university’s transformative learning goals.
Discipline Knowledge Students survey the world’s regions using principles of physical and cultural
geography as a framework with a focus on interrelationships among regions.
Global and Cultural Competencies Students engage in discussions that require multiple perspectives
and cultural understanding and sensitivity while acknowledging the differences/similarities among the
world’s regions.
STLR (Student Transformative Learning Record)
Transformative learning is a holistic process that places students at the center of their
own active and reflective learning experiences. All students at the University of
Central Oklahoma will have Transformative Learning opportunities in six core areas:
discipline knowledge (as recorded on your academic transcript); and 5 more
(recorded on your Student Transformative Learning Record): global and cultural
competencies; health and wellness; leadership; research, creative and scholarly
activities; and, service learning and civic engagement. Growth in these areas is
recorded on your Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR) accessible from
“My Dashboard” on your D2L homepage. Read more about STLR at
http://uco.edu/stlr. This course includes one, official STLR assignment for the Global
and Cultural Competencies tenet.
ONLINE ETIQUETTE
Please respect the online learning environment of students and the professor. I encourage lively
exchanges in Discussion posts, but derogatory comments, negativity, and poor attitudes will not be
tolerated and will be considered disruptive behavior. If you engage in these disruptive activities you will be
warned. If you commit multiple violations of the written policy, disciplinary action will be considered as
outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.
LATE WORK AND MAKE-UP QUIZZES
Quizzes may not be made up.
I will not accept late assignments.
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GEO 2303 25021 SP 17 Watkins
Desire2Learn
It is your responsibility to check Desire2Learn frequently for announcements, learning modules, study
guides, and assessments. Content topics will be released Mondays at 9:00 am. Discussions, Journal
Posts, and Map Quizzes will be due Mondays at 9:00 am one week from when they are assigned.
REQUIRED BOOK
Rowntree, Les, Martin Lewis, Marie Price, and William Wyckoff. 2015. Diversity Amid Globalization: World
Regions, Environment, Development Plus MasteringGeography with eText—Access Card
Package. 6th ed. New York: Pearson.
Turabian, Kate L. 2013. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago
Style for Students and Researchers. 8th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
RECOMMENDED MATERIALS
Webcam for Skype. This is NOT required. Some students prefer to see the professor during meetings. I’ll
leave it up to you.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Textbook Readings
It is your responsibility to complete the required reading assignment for each week as listed on
the last page of the syllabus.
Content Topics
It is your responsibility to go through each content topic in Desire2Learn and complete the
readings in each. You are required to complete outside readings linked to certain topics. Required
discussion posts are listed at the beginning of certain topics.
Map Quizzes
You will have twelve map quizzes this semester—one for each region. You will take your map
quizzes in MasteringGeography. The link to it on the course home page is Pearson’s MyLab and
Mastering. The first map quiz will be delivered during Week 2, when we begin our first region.
You need to study the physical/political map at the beginning of each chapter. You will have 50
minutes to complete each map quiz.
Journal Entries
There are required journal entries in the course. Writing is an important component in University
Core courses, so you are required to complete a well-written, properly cited, on topic assignment.
Cite sources using the Chicago Manual of Style, author-date format with parenthetical citations
and References. Please refer to Turabian chapters 18-19 and pages 395 and 403 for format
requirements and examples.
Chapter Reflections and Reflection Presentation
You will reflect on each week’s topics covered in the modules and textbook.
Reflections are assessed based on the student’s demonstration of understanding the concepts
(topics, etc.) and applying that information to their own personal and professional
development. There are NOT chapter summaries. These are reflections on chapter content and
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GEO 2303 25021 SP 17 Watkins
will be different for each student. You will submit your reflections in Dropbox as a single PDF or
Microsoft Word file. These chapter/topic reflections will be submitted via Dropbox in this format
once during the course.
Students are required to submit a final set of reflections as a presentation (PowerPoint). In the
presentation, you must select 2 previous reflections and analyze the reflections to determine if
additional growth has occurred (or change in thought) since writing the original reflection. This
should be 4-5 slides. Students must state why growth did or did not occur.
Finally, students should review all reflections and provide a cumulative reflection on overall
growth (views, etc) in the course and how the course might impact their future personal or
professional self. This should be 3-4 slides. These slides should be in the same PowerPoint file
as the reflection evaluation slides.
This is an official STLR assignment.
Geography Assessment
You will complete one of the three question in the Geography Assessment at the end of the
course. This assignment will be in essay format and submitted via Dropbox as a PDF or Microsoft
Word. It is used to ascertain your progress towards the Student Learning Outcomes listed on
page 1-2 of the syllabus. You will be graded on content. You MUST specify which question you
are answering in your response.
Specific instructions will be provided in the Dropbox assignment as an attachment.
There are no exams in this course.
GRADE SCALE
Assessment
Points Each
Points
Map Quizzes (12)
30
360
Journals (4)
100
400
Top/Chap Reflections (1)
100
100
Reflection Presentation (1)
100
100
Geography Assessment (1)
~
Total Points
A 1000-900
B 899-800
40
1,000
C 799-700
D 699-600
F < 600
ACCOMODATIONS
ADA Statement: The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who need special
accommodations should make their request by contacting Disability Support Services at 974-2549.
SYLLABUS ATTACHMENT
http://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/files/aa-forms/StudentInfoSheet.pdf
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GEO 2303 25021 SP 17 Watkins
COURSE OUTLINE
Week (Starting Day*)
Topic
Reading Assignment
1 (Jan 9)
Orientation Module
Module 1: Concepts of World Geography
Ch 1
Turabian Ch 18,19
2 (Jan 16)
Module 2: The Changing Global Environment
Module 3: North America
Ch 2
Ch 3
Turabian Ch 18, 19
3 (Jan 23)
Module 4: Latin America
Module 5: The Caribbean
Ch 4
Ch 5
4 (Jan 30)
Module 6: Sub-Saharan Africa
Module 7: Southwest Asia and North Africa
Ch 6
Ch 7
5 (Feb 6)
Module 8: Europe
Module 9: The Russian Domain
Ch 8
Ch 9
6 (Feb 13)
Module 10: Central Asia
Module 11: East Asia
Ch 10
Ch 11
7 (Feb 20)
Module 12: South Asia
Module 13: Southeast Asia
Ch 12
Ch 13
8 (Feb 27)
Course ends Mar 1st
Module 14: Australia and Oceania
Ch 14
* Modules will be released Mondays at 9:00 am and close the following Monday at 9:00 am.
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GEO 2303 25021 SP 17 Watkins
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES
Week (Starting Day*)
Assignment
Due
1 (Jan 9)
Syllabus Quiz
Jan 23
2 (Jan 16)
Map Quiz 1: North America
Jan 23
3 (Jan 23)
Module 4 Journal: Tropical Deforestation
Map Quiz 2: Latin America
Map Quiz 3: The Caribbean
Jan 30
Jan 30
Jan 30
4 (Jan 30)
Module 7 Journal: Southwest Asia and North Africa
Map Quiz 4: Sub-Saharan Africa
Map Quiz 5: Southwest Asia and North Africa
Course Reflection I
5 (Feb 6)
Map Quiz 6: Europe
Map Quiz 7: The Russian Domain
Feb 13
Feb 13
6 (Feb 13)
Module 10 Journal: The Aral Sea
Map Quiz 8: Central Asia
Map Quiz 9: East Asia
Feb 20
Feb 20
Feb 20
7 (Feb 20)
Module 12 Journal: India: World’s Most Populous Country?
Map Quiz 10: South Asia
Map Quiz 11: Southeast Asia
Feb 27
Feb 27
Feb 27
8 (Feb 27)
Course ends Mar 1st
Map Quiz 12: Australia and Oceania**
Reflection Presentation**
Geography Assessment**
Feb 6
Feb 6
Feb 6
Feb 6
Mar 1
Mar 1
Mar 1
*All assignments will be posted Mondays at 9:00 am and be due the following Monday at 9:00 am, except
for the last map quiz and course reflection, which are due the last day of the course.
**Assignment will be released one week prior to its due date.
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