First Session

1. Syllabus and class requirements
   
2. What is education?
   
   1. Seeing connections
      
      1. Cause/Effect; models of reality
         
         1. Examples:
            
            1. expansion of continental glaciers leads to lowering of sea level which leads to incising of Mississippi River
               
            2. retreat of continental glaciers leads to rising sea level which leads to infilling by sediment of Mississippi River valley
               
            3. A well drilled beneath us allows us to see the change in sediment type that corresponds to changing sea level
               
      2. Non-scientific: magical thinking, superstition
         
      3. Desired outcome: ability to synthesize and develop new models
         
         1. Example models
            
            1. mental illness
               
               1. mental illness is caused by possession by evil spirits
                  
               2. mental illness is caused by abusive environments while young at home
                  
               3. mental illness is caused by biochemical imbalances
                  
            2. Global warming
               
               1. The greenhouse effect
                  
               2. Historical models:
                  
                  1. Global climate change leads to changing sea level
                     
                  2. Sea level rise has been occurring naturally since the last ice age.
                     
                  3. Global warming is being accelerated by human activities.
                     
   2. Making distinctions
      
      1. Classification systems
         
         1. Examples:
            
            1. Three main types of rocks: igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary
               
            2. Two main types of aquifers: confined and unconfined
               
      2. Non-scientific: prejudice /pigeonholing
         
      3. Desired outcome: increased number of possible actions/responses/choices
         
         1. Example actions:
            
            1. mental illness
               
               1. exorcism
                  
               2. therapy
                  
               3. drugs such as Prozac
                  
            2. Global warming
               
               1. Can choose to limit emissions of greenhouse gases
                  
               2. Can improve protection of coastal zones
                  
               3. Can increase insurance premiums in New Orleans
                  
               4. Can move to Canada
                  
   3. After UD
      
      1. take responsibility for own learning
         
      2. design your life rather than simply have it happen
         
3. Geology careers---slide show
   
4. Why I became a geologist and what I do---slide show