Petrographic problem-solving (PPS) assignments consist of a series of two-week mini-projects used within the context of an undergraduate petrology course. The central idea behind PPS assignments is for students to use thin sections as a geologic data source for conducting authentic scientific investigations. For each assignment, students are provided a thin section and corresponding hand sample. Drawing from their initial observations and foundation knowledge, students identify a scientific question, propose a working hypothesis to explain it, test the hypothesis using observations and data collected from the sample, and defend their results in oral presentations and written reports. They use digital cameras interfaced with microscopes to acquire photomicrographs and various software applications to collect and analyze data. For each assignment, students prepare a two-page paper and give a brief presentation to the class (5-10 minutes in duration with 3-5 minutes for discussion). During the presentation sessions, which each require a two-hour class period, class members are encouraged to question their student colleagues.
Students are introduced to PPS assignments as part of the take-home final in the prerequisite Microscopy course. Three PPS assignments are in turn engaged in the subsequent Petrology course during the 10-week term. A summative take-home PPS exercise is completed as part of the final exam. In Petrology, PPS assignments augment more traditional laboratory exercises and are specifically aligned with course content, as follows (refer to student handout sheets in supplemental materials section).

Using a set of rocks representing distinct lithologies, students are guided to think about what geologic conditions and/or environment the sample formed in.
Using a set of plutonic and volcanic rocks from a description and classification exercise, students define their own geologic problem.

Using a set of metamorphic rocks, students are instructed to interpret the genetic conditions based on textures and/or mineralogy.
Using several different andesite samples, students are directed to consider the origin of the sample in context of a case-study activity conducted during the term. This PPS assignment is completed as part of the final exam and requires a summative two-page paper.

In the context of a broad-based undergraduate Earth Science degree program, PPS assignments engage students in the study of Earth materials, actively involve them in the scientific process, and emphasize creative problem solving rather than factual recall.

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In this activity, students are assigned different alleles of the gene for phenylalanine hydroxylase to research using OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man). They are then asked to both explain and illustrate how this mutation may cause the disease phenylketonuria (PKU).

This activity uses cooperative learning to identify minerals in hand sample based on physical properties. The "Jigsaw" pedagogy upon which this lab is based provides the environment for four succeeding labs in which the students learn the megascopic characteristic properties, chemical composition, and a geologic significance for each of approximately 100 minerals.

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Using string, bubble gum, and a model of a GPS station, demonstrate how GPS work to pinpoint a location on Earth.Precisely knowing a location on Earth is useful because our Earth's surface is constantly changing from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate motion, landslides, and more. Thus, scientists can use positions determined with GPS to study all these Earth processes.

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This grammar text, written in 1891, is designed for beginning students. It explains the most essential aspects of Arabic grammar from a highly technical stance. It begins with the alphabet, including a discussion of pronunciation and proceeds to more advanced topics such as the parts of Arabic speech. The text includes interlineal reading lessons, dialogues and vocabulary, and ends with an unvoweled glossary. The filesize of the PDF is 14 MB.

This course is designed to help the student improve his or her writing ability, which is necessary for ongoing success in all academic subjects. Coursework focuses on critical reading and analytic writing in response to readings with emphasis on organization, unity, coherence, and adequate development; an introduction to the expository essay; and a review of the rules and conventions of standard written English. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: recognize organizing principles, including the relationship between sentences; outline the relationships between main ideas and subordinate ideas within assigned readings; write analytical paragraphs in response to readings; recognize main and secondary points, making somewhat fine distinctions; make simple deductions from a series of facts; use punctuation correctly; demonstrate sound principles of reading critically; craft short essays employing a variety of organizational patterns; narrow a topic, write a clear and focused thesis statement, and create an outline with main and subordinate ideas; support the thesis statement with sufficient appropriate primary and secondary points and details; craft appropriate introductions and conclusions; use transitional words and expressions and employ a variety of sentence patterns to improve coherence; proofread to eliminate spelling and usage errors. This free course may be completed online at any time. It has been developed through a partnership with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; the Saylor Foundation has modified some WSBCTC materials. (English 000)

This website gives a short written explanation and plenty of practice for common prefixes. There is also a video on prefixes and other interactive activities for suffixes and more.

In this course, you will be exposed to a number of different sub-fields within finance. You will learn how to determine which projects have the best potential payoff, to manage investments, and even to value stocks. In the end, you will discover that all finance boils down to one concept: return. In essence, finance asks: ŇIf I give you money today, how much money will I get back in the future?Ó Though the answer to this question will vary widely from case to case, by the time you finish this course, you will know how to find the answer.

This course will illustrate the ways in which the practice of management evolves as firms grow in size. Historically, middle managers have served as so-called ŇgatekeepersÓ who collect, analyze, and pass information up and down the management chain within an organization. But two recent developments at the turn of the 21st century Đ namely, low-cost data manipulation in computers and the emergence of widespread, real-time communication (in the forms of inexpensive, long-distance global calling, email, text messaging, and social media) Đ have reduced the need for these middle-manager gatekeepers, and companies have eliminated thousands of such positions. The goal? To speed the flow of information and decision-making and reduce the number of layers that separate the customer from the leadership of an organization.

In this course, you will learn about the marketing process and examine the range of marketing decisions that an organization must make in order to sell its products and services. You will also learn how to think like a marketer, discovering that the focus of marketing has always been on the consumer. You will begin to ask, ŇWho is the consumer of goods and services?Ó What does the consumer need? What does the consumer want? Marketing is an understanding of how to communicate with the consumer.

This set of study guides and homework materials was created for Principles of Physics II under a Round Six ALG Textbook Transformation Grant.

This set of study guides and homework materials was created for Principles of Physics I under a Round Six ALG Textbook Transformation Grant.

In this semester-long private mineral project, students become experts on one mineral. They write a paper about their mineral and use key information about it to publish a web page. Information should include provenance, physical properties, composition, recent related literature, photos of samples, optical properties, x-ray pattern, crystallography, economic value, atomic structure, other closely related minerals, associated myths, and a complete list of references based on GSA format.

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This resource is a multistep problem solving task involving noticing patterns. I use this in my classroom at the beginning of the year to break problem solving down into manageable steps. Students are asked to read the problem, highlight the question, take notes on the important information and make a checklist of what they need to solve the problem, a box to organize the steps they take to solve it, and an answer box. I share this resource on our LMS, Seesaw, and also ask the students to record an explanation of their work at the end.

This course will walk you through the nuts and bolts of project management. From understanding the project life cycle to setting priorities and expectations to controlling expenses and reporting results, project management touches several resources within organizations. You will examine roles and environments and various techniques of planning, evaluation, and control. An overview of the tools used in contemporary project management will also be discussed throughout the course.

This map assignment is used in my undergraduate science course to help students generate ideas on their term paper topic.

This is an introduction Python dictionary, using Python 3.

Prior knowledge of input/output in Python, and Python list is recommended.

For CS0 students. Part of the CUNY CS04All project.

A brief introduction to Python list.

No loops, no decision structures.

For CS0 students. Part of the CUNY CS04All project.

An introduction to Python strings and string formatting.

Proposed lecture slides are supplied with in-class activity, homework assignment, and assessment.

No loops, no decision structures.

For CS0 students.

Part of the CUNY CS04All project.

This activity requires students to manipulate oceanographic data to derive new variables, make plots, interpret plots and make back-of-the-envelope calculations to weigh the importance of eddies in shelf edge sediment removal. It provides a chance for students to use some of the function and plotting power in Excel. It also requires that they use information from their plots to make calculations to estimate magnitude.