Academic Honesty

• Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. – Any incidences of

cheating or plagiarism will be reported to the deans office.

– Please refer to Victor Valley College’s policy on academic honesty.

Cell Phones and TextingCell Phones and Texting

• Use of cell phones for talking or texting Use of cell phones for talking or texting during class is during class is inappropriateinappropriate. .

• You may be asked to leave the classroom You may be asked to leave the classroom if you are talking or texting on your if you are talking or texting on your phone during lecture. phone during lecture.

• Phones should be set to silent mode when Phones should be set to silent mode when in class. in class.

Blackboard

• Blackboard will be used for this class.

• You must use Blackboard for your quizzes, map quizzes, and exams. – You will also find

PowerPoint lectures, study guides, blank maps, grades and course documents.

– http://vvc.blackboard.com • If you have questions about

blackboard, stay after class, I am here to help.

Disabled Students Programs and

Services• If you need

accommodations for this course, please see me after class.

• If you have or think you may have a disability that might affect your performance in this course, please contact the office of Disabled Students Programs and Services at (760) 245-4271 ext, 2212, or stop by their office located in building 50.

• There is help available.

Contact Information

• The best way to reach me is by e-mail.

• My e-mail address is: Lisa_M_Schmidt@yahoo.com

• My mailbox is located the Liberal Arts Building (Building 30, our building)

• My voice mail is (760) 245-4271 ext. 8585.– I do not check my voice mail as

often as my e-mail.

Note bout Schedule and Topics

• All dates, topics, point totals, and assignments are tentative.

• I reserve the right to make changes as they may become necessary throughout the semester.

• Should you happen to miss class, it is you responsibility to obtain information about any changes.

Class Schedule…

• Please take a moment to look at the schedule in your syllabus.

• Notice when quizzes are due, when map studies are, when exams are, and when presentations begin.

For Your Success

• There are computers available for your use on campus in the library and in the ATC.– See the map on the

syllabus…

What is Geography?

• The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.

Fields of Geography

• Human or Cultural Geography– Deals with social, economic,

and behavioral processes

• Physical Geography– Examines the natural

processes occurring at Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for human activities

Branches of Physical Geography

• Biogeography• Climatology• Coastal Geography• Environmental Geography• Geomorphology• Glaciology• Hydrology• Oceanography• Paleogeography

Branches of Human Geography• Developmental

Geography• Economic Geography• Medical Geography• Transportation

Geography• Urban Geography

• Cultural Geography• Historical Geography• Political Geography• Population

Geography• Demography

Tools Geographers Use• Maps

– Paper representations of space showing point, line, or area data

• Or more simply put, locations, connections, and regions

• Remote Sensing– Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of

earth’s surface• GIS or Geographic Information Systems

– Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases

• Mathematical Modeling and Statistics– Used to understand natural and human

phenomenon

What we will be studying…

• Four great physical realms or spheres of Earth– Atmosphere

• The gaseous layer that surrounds the earth– Lithosphere

• The outermost solid layer of the Earth– Hydrosphere

• The liquid realm of the Earth– Biosphere

• Encompasses all living organisms of the Earth