Fall 2020 - EASC 310W D100

Paleontology (3)

Class Number: 1980

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Tue, 5:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    EASC 210. Recommended: BISC 102. All with a grade of C- or better.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Principles of classification, morphology and development of the major groups of animals and plants in the geological record; the paleoecologic significance of fossils. Students with credit for EASC 203 or EASC 310 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

General: REQUIREMENT DESIGNATION: W

Paleontology traces the evolution of life based on evidence from the fossil record.  The course will examine a wide range of invertebrate fossil groups and their temporal positions in Earth History.  Students will learn various morphological criteria necessary for fossil identification.  In addition, the course will consider the principles of preservation, classification and paleoecological interpretations of the main fossil groups important to geology.  Students will improve their writing skills through a series of writing exercises.

Course Organization:
The Fall 2020 Paleontology course is being offered remotely using Canvas in addition to having some in-person labs at SFU (number of labs and dates to be determined).  
-Lectures are SYNCHRONOUS (you will download lecture PDFs of PowerPoint lecture slides and will annotate the slides while listening to a lecture recording (MP3).  These will be published on Canvas on Monday nights and can be listened to at your convenience)
-Labs are SYNCHRONOUS (labs will be a combination of online (Zoom) and some 2-hour face-to-face labs (Burnaby Campus, dates and times TBD)
-Lecture Quizzes are SYNCHRONOUS (quizzes will be held during the scheduled lecture times and you must be available during the dates and times posted on the course schedule)  

Grading

  • Grades will be based on quizzes, a lab exam, lab assignments, and writing assignments

REQUIREMENTS:

Access to high-speed internet, webcam

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

E-Book (or Print) – Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record, Second Edition; Michael J. Benton and David A. T. Harper; Wiley Blackwell; (Print ISBN: 978-1-119-27285-4)
ISBN: 9781119272885

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).