20806249Geologic Evolution of the Earth
Course Information
Description
Introduction to the history of the Earth, with a focus on the evolution of the continents and the fossil record. Learn about geologic time, including how geologists built the geologic time scale. Basic aspects of geology, including plate tectonics, minerals and the rock cycle will be covered. Covers the origin of life on earth, evolution and extinction, how fossil plants, invertebrates and vertebrates are classified. Gain an understanding of the Earth’s geologic history as known from rock and fossil evidence. Four-credit lab science course.
Total Credits
4
Course Competencies
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Integrate the scientific process into an analysis of the Earth’s geologic historyAssessment StrategiesQuizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reportsCriteriaUtilize scientific vocabulary accuratelyUse the scientific methodUse data to analyze Earth’s historic eventsConduct a research project on an area of focusAnalysis applies the scientific methods to arrive at a conclusion
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Explain components of the geologic timescale and their establishmentAssessment StrategiesQuizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reportsCriteriaDescribe the relative age-dating techniques that are used to build the geologic timescaleExplain the absolute age-dating techniques that are used to build the geologic timescaleIdentify the Eons, Eras, Periods and Epochs currently recognized in the geologic timescaleYou reference components of the geologic timescale with accuracy
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Explain evolution by natural selectionAssessment StrategiesQuizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reportsCriteriaIdentify the contributions of Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace to the theory of evolutionExplain how genetic traits are passed from parents to offspringExplain how new species arise by natural selectionCompare and contrast divergent, convergent and parallel evolutionIdentify the biologic and paleontologic evidence of evolution
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Interpret geologic samples, maps and cross-sectionsAssessment StrategiesQuizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reportsCriteriaUse samples, data, cross-sections and mapsIdentify mineral, rock and fossil samplesInterpret the geologic environment at the time of formation/deposition for different mineral, rock and fossil samplesUse relative and absolute age-dating techniques to interpret the Earth’s geologic historyUse cross-sections and geologic maps to interpret the Earth’s geologic history of an areaConstruct an environment of deposition map of an area using on rock samples and outcrop data
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Summarize the geologic history of the Earth from formation to present dayAssessment StrategiesQuizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reportsCriteriaExplain how the Earth formed via the Nebula HypothesisSummarize the evolution of the continents from the Earth’s formation to present dayIdentify the locations of the continents at different times in Earth’s historySummarize the major orogenic events in Earth’s historyIdentify the cratonic sequences of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and CenozoicIdentify the major biologic evolution and extinction events of Earth’s historyExplain the leading hypotheses for each of the five major extinction events in Earth’s historyExplain how the Earth’s climate changed from the Earth’s formation to present day
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Prepare reports and documentation in support of geologic conceptsAssessment StrategiesDiscussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reportsCriteriaAssemble a scientific laboratory report that meets established guidelinesPresent laboratory results in multiple formats (written, oral)Assemble an annotated timeline of your area of focusPresent research results in multiple formats (written, oral)