GEOLOGY 1300 - Extra-Terrestrial Geoscience
North Terrace Campus - Winter - 2024
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code GEOLOGY 1300 Course Extra-Terrestrial Geoscience Coordinating Unit Earth Sciences Term Winter Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Short course, two weeks, 7 hours per day Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N Assessment Practicals, exam Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Lucy McGee
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate proficiency in practical skills relevant to an introductory geology course
2. Describe the formation, development and structure of the solar system and the bodies within it and beyond
3. Outline and describe the formation and physical properties of minerals and rocks and use that knowledge to identify them
4. Describe a planet’s internal and external systems and their intimate links, including plate tectonics, volcanoes, magnetic fields, surface processes, atmospheres and the development of life or possible life
5. Recognise that both episodic short-time events and long-time scale events have shaped what we observe todayin our solar system and beyond
6. Use information learned in class and develop observation skills to be able to recognize the various geological features and materials a planet is constructed fromUniversity Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2,3,4,5,6 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,5,6 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
1,6 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1,2,3,4,5,6 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
4 Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
1,2,3,4,5,6 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
1,2,3,4,5,6 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Recommended Resources
Suggested textbook:
MCSWEEN, H., MOERSCH, J., BURR, D., DUNNE, W., EMERY, J., KAH, L. AND MCCANTA, M. Planetary Geoscience. 2019. Cambridge University Press.Online Learning
Additional course-related material is available through the online course webpage, MyUni(Canvas). MyUni(Canvas) is the primary form of communication with students in the course and hence students should regularly check the website for important course-related
announcements. Teaching materials, reminders and course documentation will also be posted on this site. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The course consists of:
- Workshop-style theory classes Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm, for the duration of the course
- Practical classes each afternoon of the course, from 1pm to 4pm. Some of the activties may be off-campus during the practical session.
- An online exam taken on-campus on the final afternoon of the course.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, which is taken intensively over two weeks should expect to spend on average 8-9 hours a day including contact and non contact time. This does not include revision time for the final exam.
Workshop-style lectures:
3 hours contact time per day, 1-2 hours preparation and reading non-contact time
Practicals:
3 hours contact time per day, 1 hour preparation, reading non-contact time
Assessments will be completed during the practicals and handed in at the end of the session.
Learning Activities Summary
The following is a brief course outline (subject to change. Off-campus activities may be held on varying days)
Day 1: Introduction to this course, and how do we know what we know? The tools of planetary geoscience
Day 2: Element origins, and the formation of our solar system. A brief tour of our Solar System. Visit to the UniSA Planetarium.
Day 3: An overview of plate tectonics. Do other planets show evidence of plate tectonics?
Day 4: Forming planetary crusts and cores
Day 5: Extra-Terrestrial volcanism
Day 6: Atmospheres and Oceans: Recognising types of atmospheres, formation and evolution of atmospheres and oceans
Day 7: Surface Processes on a Planet: Water storage and movement, landforms, weathering and erosion
Day 8: A Habitable Planet: Geologic time, life of Earth and astrobiology. Life off Earth and space resources.
Day 9: Planet case studies.
Day 10: Morning free for revision, afternoon exam -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment task Type of assessment Percentage of total Due Practical test 1 Formative/Summative 5% End of day 2 Practical test 2 Formative/Summative 15% End of day 4 Practical test 3 Formative/Summative 10% End of day 5 Practical test 4 Formative/Summative 10% End of day 8 Final exam Summative 40% End of day 10 Written assignment Formative/Summative 20% One week after course finishes Assessment Detail
Practical Test 1 (5%) This online quiz will cover content from practical tasks on days 1 and 2 related to the theory presented to them in the previous workshops and practical sessions. It is open book and uses a combination of matching, multiple choice and true/false questions.
Practical Test 2 (15%) This task involves creating a geological map and history based on in-practical teaching, which is handed in at the end of the session for marking. Students will have the opportunity to work together and with staff and demonstrators to reach their best outcome
Practical Test 3 (10%) This online quiz will cover content from practical tasks on days 3 and 5. It is open book and uses a combination of matching, multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions.
Practical Test 4 (10%) This online quiz will cover content from practical tasks on days 6, 7 and 8 related to the theory presented in the previous workshops and practical sessions. It is open book and uses a combination of matching, multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions.
In-Class Online Exam (40%): Students will undertake a final 1.5 hour theory exam testing their knowledge of the subject in the final class of the short course. It will consist of a series of multiple choice, short answer and long answer questions. The exam will be completed online, on campus and is modified closed book (one double-sided A4 hand-written sheet of notes is allowed, which must be submitted with the examination)
Written assignment (20%): Students will collectively add to a table of data throughout the course during specified discussion times, which will then be written up as an individual 1 page report or fact sheet to be handed in online one week after the final exam.Submission
Submission of the practicals tests 1, 3 and 4 are online via MyUni quizzes
Submission of the practical test 2 is a map done on paper, handed in at the end of the practical session
The final exam is online, on campus
The written assignment is handed in online via TurnitinCourse Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
