Published on EGEE 401: Energy in a Changing World (https://www.e-education.psu.edu/egee401)

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Course Orientation

Overview

Before we begin our semester of study together, it is important that you review all of the material in this Course Orientation folder. This information will prepare you to be successful in this course AND will help you prepare for the "Course Information Quiz" at the end of the orientation. You must  get a score of 100% on that quiz to gain access to Unit 1. You can take the quiz more than once if needed.

Course Syllabus

This course orientation complements, and expands on, the information provided in the EGEE 401 Course Syllabus. Use the "Syllabus" link at the top of this page to access the full course syllabus. Read through all pages carefully.

Course Orientation

What will we learn about in the Course Orientation?

  • The structure of EGEE 401
  • Course assignments
  • An overview of CANVAS (the learning management system)
  • Technical requirements for EGEE 401
  • How to succeed in this course
  • Where to get course assistance if you need it

What is due for the Course Orientation?

As you work your way through these online materials for the Course Orientation, you will encounter additional reading assignments and hands-on exercises and activities. The chart below provides an overview of the requirements for the Course Orientation. For assignment details, refer to the orientation page noted.

Course Orientation Requirements

Requirement

Location

Submitted for Grading?

Set your CANVAS settings & subscribe to Discussion

Page 4 of Course Orientation, "About CANVAS"

No

Take the Course Information Quiz In CANVAS, under Modules, Course Orientation

No—The quiz is designed to test your knowledge of the basic functioning of the course management system (CANVAS) and the information covered in these course orientation pages, as well as the course syllabus. You must get a score of 100% on this quiz to unlock CANVAS material in Unit 1. You may retake the quiz as many times as you need.

Complete the "Initial Course Survey" In CANVAS, under Modules, Course Orientation Yes—This survey contains questions about you and your expectations for this course. Your participation is graded, but no right or wrong answers!

Introduce yourself and meet the rest of the class!

In CANVAS, under Modules, Course Orientation

Yes—your participation is graded, but no right or wrong answers!

Please refer to the Calendar in CANVAS for Orientation Activities due date. Submissions are due by 11:59 pm EST on the date posted.

"Questions about EGEE 401?"

Where is something? Problem accessing a site or resource? Questions about an Assignment? Please post any questions you may have about this course to our "Questions about EGEE 401?" Discussion. I check this Discussion daily. If you see a posting from a classmate and think you can help, please jump in too!

This Discussion is the place where we can quickly raise and address questions related to assignments, course content, or other related topics. It's important--and your responsibility--to stay tuned in to the information exchanged in this Discussion. One of the Orientation activities is to "subscribe" to this Discussion and then to set your notifications to "ASAP" so that you will be notified as soon as any new posting is made to this discussion.

"Energy Chat"

Let's keep this interesting and fun--Have a good question? Saw a great YouTube clip? Working on a cool project? Have a great pic? Just made your own music video? Heard a good joke? Share with us in the Energy Chat Discussion.

Course Structure

The Learning Environment

EGEE 401 is conducted entirely on the World Wide Web. There are no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments. Registered students in this course will need to navigate between several environments in the World Wide Web. These include:

  • This site: This is the site (course content site) where all instructional materials for this class are located, including my notes and reading assignments.
  • CANVAS: This is where registered students consult course calendar, communicate with instructors and fellow students, interact in Discussions, submit assignments, receive feedback from the instructor, take online quizzes and surveys, check assignment scores and course grades.

How to navigate between this site (course content) and CANVAS

  • To get to this course content site from CANVAS, click on EGEE 401 Course Content (located in menu on left side of page).
  • To access CANVAS from the course content site (this site), use the CANVAS link at the top of the page (see above).

Students who register for this Penn State course gain access to assignments and instructor feedback, and earn academic credit. Information about Penn State's Energy and Sustainability Policy Bachelor's program is available at the ESP Overview Page [1].

Topics of Study

What is "energy"? Technically defined as "the ability to do work," energy is the hot in heat, the glow in light, the push in wind, the pound in water, the sound of thunder and the crack of lightening. It is the pull that keeps us (and everything else!) from simply flying apart, and the promise of spring deep in an acorn. It is all the same, and it is all different. How does a gallon of gas move a car 20 or more miles? How can faraway falling water cause the lights in my house to operate? Before launching into our conversation about the energy industry and its changing role in our world, in Unit 1, we consider the fascinating essence of energy in nature, including its many forms and transformations. We'll review systems of measurement and other basics, like energy vs power and the first law of thermodynamics.

In Unit 2, we talk about the energy industry and the environment. We'll look at the current and projected impact of climate changes, and the role our use of energy has in these environmental consequences.

Unit 3 begins our study of the energy industry, with electricity demand and generation. How is electricity generated? How is it managed and distributed? What are the fuels and environmental impacts? We look at non-renewable and renewable fuel sources and consider feasibility and sustainability. 

Unit 4 continues our study of the energy industry with an examination of fuels used for transportation, starting with how gasoline and diesel engines work. We examine a barrel of crude oil, the refining process and its many products, and consider the world's oil supply. We'll look at alternative fuel sources and again consider issues of sustainability and feasibility.

In Unit 5, we look at possible solutions to the energy industry and environmental conflict. Applying what you've learned, we examine ideas for technical, legislative and integrated solutions, including behavioral changes.

Course Assignments

EGEE 401 will rely upon a variety of methods to assess and evaluate student learning, including

  • Lesson Activities Each lesson (except the Capstone) includes an Activity, based on assigned reading and utilizing models and data from a range of sources. You’ll need to follow instructions and answer the questions presented in the Activity associated with each lesson.
    • Unless specifically noted otherwise, all of the information you need to complete a Lesson Activity is in the assigned reading and exercises for that Lesson. The correct answer(s) will be contained in the assigned reading and exercises. If you are aware of differing opinions that you would like to share, your thoughts are very welcome. Please explain and provide source.
  • Discussion Forums For each unit, a topic is presented as a Discussion in CANVAS. Your participation in these Discussions is mandatory and will be a part of your grade.
    • There are two due dates: one for your initial posting and one for when the Discussion closes (end of graded participation.) See CANVAS calendar for due dates (11:59 pm EST).
    • Most topics involve your personal opinion and observations. Have fun here; put your best ideas out there. Read and reply to others. You’ll be graded not on right-or-wrong (do get the facts right), but on your level of engagement and original thinking.
  • Capstone Project Using what you’ve learned in this class, you'll research and write Letters to the Editor or a Research Paper or, if you are a teacher, prepare a Lesson Plan to teach to others. You choose!

About Canvas

Penn State is transitioning to a new course management system called Canvas, for delivery of online courses to registered students. (For those of you who have taken other online courses at Penn State, Canvas is replacing ANGEL.) This course, EGEE 401, is delivered in Canvas.

A Canvas tip sheet has been developed to help you learn what you need to know about using Canvas at Penn State. Please refer to the resources below and read/view as needed to help you get comfortable and up to speed with Canvas. You may wish to return to this page throughout the semester for quick help with Canvas questions you may have.

Canvas at PENN STATE: Student Resources [2]

Activity

Using the Student Resources above as needed, complete the following.

  • Review and update your Canvas Profile settings.
  • Open the Discussion "Questions about EGEE 401?" and click on Subscribe. (You may also wish to do this for the "Energy Chat" discussion. Often fun things happen there and you don't want to miss out!)
  • Review and complete your Canvas Notification settings. I strongly recommend setting both "Grading" and "Discussion Post" to "ASAP". We will use the "Questions about EGEE 401?" discussion to address any issues that may arise during the course related to questions about assignments or content. It is greatly to your advantage to receive immediate notification of postings made to this discussion! They may be about the very assignment you are working on. (It is also your responsibility to stay informed of content posted to this Discussion.)

 

Technical Requirements

Internet Connection

Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi ® hotspot.

Multimedia Requirements

Before you begin working through the course content, you need to make sure the computer you are using is configured properly for the multimedia that you will encounter. Below are specifications and tests to help make sure everything is in working order.

Flash movies and Quicktime video

We have Flash movies and Quicktime video material in many of the lessons in this course. Chances are pretty good that you already use a Web browser that is configured to open up a Quicktime movie and play swf (Flash) files, but to be safe, here are some "test" files that you should try out now to make sure you won't have problems later in the course. If these files run smoothly for you, then you're ready to go. If you can't get one or any of the files below to play on your computer, then please refer to the steps at the bottom of this page to troubleshoot your problem.

  • Quicktime Movies: "Energy Use [3]"—This link will take you to Teachers' Domain, a great website containing free instructional resources from NOVA and other PBS programming.
  • Flash (.swf files): Flash movies appear throughout the course. (this one was made with "Jing," which is free software that creates screen shots and voice-narrated screen captures. You might be interested in trying it out too!) Click on the play button to test the Flash movie below.

Having trouble? Troubleshooting tips...

  • Step 1: Install a New Plugin. If you are not able to play the files, start by installing (or re-installing) the Quicktime or Flash plug-ins. The links here will take you to the respective download sites (and their accompanying directions).
    • QuickTime [4]
    • Flash Player [5]
  • Step 2: Request Help. If you still have not had any success, then it's time for you to contact the World Campus Help Desk [6]. It is in your own best interest to be as specific as you possibly can. Vague descriptions of a problem only delay assistance. Try to include information such as:
    • the specific course page, quiz question, etc., you were on, what you attempted to do when that failed, and the exact language of any error message displayed on your screen;
    • the date and time when your problem occurred;
    • any other pertinent information (does the problem happen consistently and always in the same way, etc.).

Using the PSU Library

To be sure you are able to access reserve readings and other library resources in this course, visit the library’s Online Students Use of the Library [7] site. This guide outlines all that Penn State libraries offer you as an online student. It is strongly recommended that you watch the Library Orientation Videos [8] and visit the Services for Students [9] page.

If you have questions, just ASK! [10] a librarian! The ASK! page will connect you to librarians in a manner that meets your needs; e-mail, phone, or chat for a quick response.

How to Succeed in EGEE 401

Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when preparing to be successful in an online course:

Intentionally schedule your time

You should plan to devote 8 - 10 hours per week to completing lesson readings and assignments. Your learning will be most effective when you spread this participation out and engage with the course on a daily basis, if possible. Log in at least once a day to check for new announcements, course emails, discussion postings, and grades or feedback from the instructor.

Engage, Engage, Engage!

Take every opportunity to interact with the content, the instructor, and your classmates by completing assignments and participating in discussions and group activities!

Be organized

Keep in sync with what's going on in the course, and stay on top of deadlines and upcoming assignments.

Ask for help!

Ask for guidance when you are in need of clarification. You can also use the "Questions about EGEE 401?" discussion to ask general questions about the course set-up or content.

Other Resources

The links below will connect you with other resources to help support your successful online learning experience:

Penn State World Campus Strategies to Improve Online Learning [11]

This website provides links to many resources on everything from taking notes online to managing your time effectively. Please note that you must be a World Campus student to receive some of the support services mentioned on this website.

Penn State World Campus - The Corner of College and Allen Blog [12]

This blog features posts by Penn State staff and students on a wide variety of topics relevant to online learning. Learn from online students and alumni, as well as staff members dedicated to student success, how you can get the most out of your online course experience.

Penn State iStudy Online Learning Tutorials [13]

The iStudy online learning tutorials are free and available to all Penn State students. They cover a broad range of topics including online learning readiness, time management, stress management, and statistics - among many others. Check out the extensive list of topics for yourself to see what topics may be of most use to you!

lynda.com [14]

This website provides access to an extensive free online training library, with tutorials on everything from creating presentations to using mobile apps for education. There is a wealth of information here  - all provided free of charge to Penn State faculty, staff and currently enrolled students.

Course Communications

Meaningful interactions among students and instructors are the hallmark of a successful online class. Canvas supports several kinds of communication, as described below.

Communications in CANVAS

The CANVAS course management system supports several modes of communication, including discussions, course mail and announcements.

  • Discussions are a kind of public e-mail known as "threaded discussion." Everyone enrolled in the class can post messages of their own and can read and respond to every other message. A series of messages that make up a conversation is called a "thread." 
  • Course mail is private e-mail; only the recipients you designate can read your messages. Course mail is internal to CANVAS. Please use only CANVAS course mail for private messages to me (your instructor) or fellow students.
  • Announcements are messages from me to all students. Watch for them under Announcements!

Have questions? Need help?

There are many ways to get the help you need. See the "Help!" link in the Resources menu (left) to learn more about the people and resources available to you.

Getting To Know You

Now that you've had a chance to learn about the course and the online learning environment, I'd like to get to know you...and help you get to know each other! Complete the activities below, then continue with the remainder of the Course Orientation.

Activity

What you need to do...

  1. Introduce yourself and meet the rest of the class!
    We will use a CANVAS discussion to post, and read, self-introductions. In CANVAS, under Modules, go to Course Orientation and click on Personal Introductions to join the conversation. You'll find instructions there.
  2. Complete the "Initial Course Survey"
    This survey contains questions about you and your expectations for this course. In CANVAS, under Modules, go to Course Orientation and click on Initial Course Survey to open the survey. You'll find instructions there.

 

Summary and Final Tasks

Activity

Time to take the Course Information Quiz!

By now, you hopefully have a much better idea of what this course, and the online course environment, will be like. Time to test your skills! After you have reviewed the Course Syllabus and Course Orientation, you are ready to take the "Course Information Quiz." You will need to pass it with a score of 100% to unlock other materials in CANVAS needed for Unit 1. You can take the quiz as many times as you need until you obtain score of 100%.

In CANVAS, under Modules, go to Course Orientation and click on Course Information Quiz.

Reminder: Complete all of the Course Orientation tasks!

You have reached the end of the Course Orientation. Please be sure that you have completed the Initial Course Survey, posted a Personal Introduction, and scored 100% on the Course Information Quiz. Your participation in these assignments is required and graded.


Source URL: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/egee401/l1.html

Links
[1] http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/energy-and-sustainability-policy-bachelors/overview
[2] http://canvas.psu.edu/students/
[3] http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.eco.energyuse/
[4] http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
[5] http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
[6] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/helpdesk
[7] http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide
[8] http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/c.php?g=516093&p=3540088
[9] http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/c.php?g=516093&p=3540332
[10] http://ask.libraries.psu.edu/?stream=8
[11] https://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/academic-support-resources/strategies-to-improve-online-learning
[12] http://studentblog.worldcampus.psu.edu/
[13] http://istudy.psu.edu/
[14] http://lynda.psu.edu/