User:Mmdriskell/ES 480 Geotectonics

Geotectonics Plate tectonic is the fundamental theory in geology that illuminates dynamic Earth processes. The theory explains the volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain, and the oceans. We will investigate topics such as historical continental drift, earthquakes and seismology, subduction zones, the creation and destruction of the ocean floor, and mountain building. This course introduces 1) the theory of plate tectonics, 2) basic theory of plate kinematics and geodynamics, and 3) major plate tectonic processes.

This course will help students:

-learn the basics and new developments of Plate Tectonics theory; -learn approaches to solving plate tectonics research questions; and -learn to develop, pursue, and communicate research questions visually and in on-line formal communication.

Week 1 (2015-01-05):  Wikipedia essentials

 * Overview of the course
 * Handout: Editing Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wiki Education Foundation)

Week 2 (2015-01-12):  Editing basics

 * Handouts: Using Talk Pages handout and Evaluating Wikipedia brochure


 * Create an account and then complete the online training for students. During this training, you will make edits in a sandbox and learn the basic rules of Wikipedia.


 * Create a User page, and then click the "enroll" button on the top left of this course page.


 * To practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, introduce yourself on the user talk page of one of your classmates, who should also be enrolled in the table at the bottom of the page.


 * All students have Wikipedia user accounts and are listed on the course page.

Week 3 (2015-01-19):  Exploring the topic area

 * Handouts: Using Talk Pages handout and Evaluating Wikipedia brochure


 * Explore Wikipedia project page for topic ideas. Snub articles are possible choices.

Week 4 (2015-01-26):  Using sources and choosing articles

 * Handouts: Citing sources on Wikipedia and Avoiding plagiarism on Wikipedia.


 * Add 1–2 sentences of new information, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to a Wikipedia article related to the class.


 * Research and list 3–5 articles on your Wikipedia user page that you will consider working on as your main project. Look at the talk page for existing topics for a sense of who else is working on it and what they're doing. Describe your choices to your instructor for feedback.


 * For next week
 * Instructor evaluates student's article selections, by next week.

Week 5 (2015-02-02):  Finalizing topics and starting research

 * Select an article to work on, removing the rest from your user page. Add your article to the class’s course page.


 * Mark your article's talk page with a banner to let other editors know you're working on it. Add this code in the top section of the talk page:


 * WIKIPEDIA START-UP HOMEWORK

Answer all questions within a wiki “sandbox” – upon completion.

(1) Search for Wikipedia pages on 3 plate tectonics topics that are directly or tangentially related to your chosen topic.

For each page: [A] provide the link to the page, [B] explain the basic concept and value of the page (one sentence per page), [C] propose a useful alteration / addition to the page’s content, [D] describe both a successful part and an improve-able part of the *written communication* of the page, and [E] describe both a successful part and an improve-able part of the *visual communication* on the page.

(2) Provide a brief proposal for the Wikipedia page you intend to create this semester. This should include [A] an outline of the topic, [B] discussion of its value to both the wide audience and specialist audience, and [C] an explanation of how you intend to structure the page. This last part must include description of the original figure(s) that you will create for the page (each page will require at least one original figure), and of the reasoning behind the choice of figure(s).

Week 6: Drafting starter articles

 * Draft should be started.


 * All students have started editing articles or drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 7 : Bibliography

 * Handout: Moving out of your sandbox


 * Compile a bibliography of relevant, reliable sources and post it to the talk page of the article you are working on. Begin reading the sources. Make sure to check in on the talk page (or watchlist) to see if anyone has advice on your bibliography.

Week 8 : Pick Articles to Review/Building Articles

 * Handouts: "Uploading images" and "Evaluating Wikipedia article quality" (handed out originally earlier in the course)


 * Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)

Week 9: Creating first draft

 * Move sandbox articles into main space.
 * If you are expanding an existing article, copy your edit into the article. If you are making many small edits, save after each edit before you make the next one. Do NOT paste over the entire existing article, or large sections of the existing article.
 * If you are creating a new article, do NOT copy and paste your text, or there will be no record of your work history. Follow these instructions on how to move your work.


 * Optional: For new articles or qualifying expansions of stubs, compose a one-sentence “hook,” nominate it for “Did you know,” (see detailed instructions) and monitor the nomination for any issues identified by other editors. Wiki Education Foundation staff can provide support for this process.


 * Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Week 10: Getting and giving feedback

 * Peer review two of your classmates’ articles. Leave suggestions on the article talk pages.
 * Copy-edit the two reviewed articles.


 * Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 11: Responding to feedback

 * Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback. If you disagree with a suggestion, use talk pages to politely discuss and come to a consensus on your edit.


 * Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 12: Continuing to improve articles

 * Return to your classmates' articles you previously reviewed, and provide more suggestions for further improvement. If there is a disagreement, suggest a compromise.
 * Do additional research and writing to make further improvements to your article, based on your classmates' suggestions and any additional areas for improvement you can identify.

Week 13: Continuing to improve articles

 * Return to your classmates' articles you previously reviewed, and provide more suggestions for further improvement. If there is a disagreement, suggest a compromise.
 * Do additional research and writing to make further improvements to your article, based on your classmates' suggestions and any additional areas for improvement you can identify.

Week 14: Continuing to improve articles

 * Add final touches to your Wikipedia article. You can find a handy reference guide here.
 * Return to your classmates' articles you previously reviewed, and provide more suggestions for further improvement. If there is a disagreement, suggest a compromise.
 * Do additional research and writing to make further improvements to your article, based on your classmates' suggestions and any additional areas for improvement you can identify.

Week 15: Finishing touches

 * Student Presentations
 * Go live!
 * Add final touches to your Wikipedia article. You can find a handy reference guide here.


 * Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 16: Due date

 * Add final touches to your Wikipedia article. You can find a handy reference guide here.
 * Publish final draft


 * Project complete