Extra Credit Options for Fall 2009

There are several different extra credit opportunities offered throughout the semester. Only one option will count for extra credit, but if you would like to participate in more than one, let me know. If you sign up for an extra credit and then don't show up, your only extra credit option will be the presentation option. Be sure to check your syllabus to see when the last possible date for extra credit is and how much your extra credit is worth.

• Geology Field Trip: There will be one or two field trips offered this semester. Space will be limited, so if you're interested, please notify me as soon as possible. The dates will be announced soon (and posted online).
  • Field Trip 1: November 6-8, Petrified National Forest (click here for Itinerary): be sure to notify me if you intend on attending, seating is limited, first come, first served.
  • Field Trip 2: December 5th, Black Canyon City Landslide (Click here for Itinerary): email me if you'd like to sign up for this trip.
• Geology Outreach: This can be a great acitivity if you enjoy teaching. Our department hosts several geology outreach events for elementary school kids during the semester. You would be expected to demonstrate enthusiasm for science and college, dress appropriately (be prepared to get messy), and be helpful throughout the day in whatever capacity you are asked to serve. If you are interested in this activity, let me know and I'll notify you once I have dates available.
• Lifestyle Project: a three-week exercise to reduce your impact on the environment by changing the way in which you live from day to day. The project has fairly rigid parameters, by achieving a gradual but definitive change in your everyday habits.Choose three categories from a list of six: heat, garbage, electricity and water, driving, eating, and activism. For each category you will go through an adjustment in your lifestone to account for this change in behavior (e.g., using public transportation to get to school instead of driving yourself). Each week the project becomes more rigorous, because you will have to meet the requirements more frequently. You will write about their experiences in journals, which is what I will collect for your extra credit. If you're interested to know more about this project, let me know, I'll provide you witht the appropriate materials/reflection prompts, specific guidelines, etc...
  • Here are the following links for this project:
    • General overview description (word file)
    • Lifestyle Project Baseline Data (word file--to be submitted with first journal submission)
    • Energy Calculation (BTU) form (word file--to be submitted with first journal submission)
    • Energy Calculation form (excel spreadsheet)
    • Example Energy Calculation form (excel spreadsheet)
• Extra Credit Powerpoint Presentation: You may select a topic of interest to you and create a 10-15 minute presentation on that topic to be presented to the class for a selected date. You will need approval of the topic and the presentation will need to be presented to me before it is presented to the class. Grading will be based on content, clarity, creativity, comprehension, and presentation.
• Creative Ideas welcome! Feel free to present me with a proposal for an extra credit idea (ex. if you're going somewhere fun for Thanksgiving-see if you can come up with your own independent project or ask me for ideas based on where you're going, create a computer animation based on some concept covered in class that can be used in a powerpoint lecture, etc…).