Planet Earth...and You!

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/planet-earth

Introduction

### Course Review: **Planet Earth...and You!** on Coursera **Overview:** If you've ever marveled at the natural wonders of our planet or found yourself curious about the mechanics behind catastrophic events like earthquakes and volcanoes, then the course "Planet Earth...and You!" on Coursera is tailor-made for you. This engaging and informative course delves into the geological processes that have shaped our planet over millions of years. It combines theory with practical applications, providing a rich understanding of Earth's dynamic systems. **Course Content:** The course is structured into five weeks, each focusing on different aspects of geological phenomena: 1. **Orientation**: This initial week helps you familiarize yourself with the course framework, your peers, and technical requirements, setting a strong foundation for your learning journey. 2. **Week 1: Earthquakes!**: Here, you’ll explore the nature of earthquakes, including their causes and impacts. The interactive assignments, such as reporting personal experiences with earthquakes and analyzing seismograms, allow participants to engage with real-world data and deepen their understanding of seismic activities. 3. **Week 2: Plate Tectonics**: This week dives into the revolutionary theory of plate tectonics, explaining how it connects various geological phenomena across time. You'll find that the lessons here provide a cohesive understanding that you can build upon as you progress through the course. 4. **Week 3: Volcanoes!**: Gain valuable insights into volcanic activity, including eruption types and effects on the environment. By examining famous eruptions like Mount St. Helens and Mount Vesuvius, participants can appreciate the scale and significance of volcanic events. 5. **Week 4: Rocks and Mineral Resources**: In this week, you'll analyze the minerals and resources available in your surroundings. Activities such as identifying local resources and studying mining sites via Google Earth offer a hands-on approach to understanding how geological resources are obtained and utilized. 6. **Week 5: Energy Resources**: The course wraps up by addressing the crucial topic of energy usage. You’ll examine both fossil and alternative energy sources, encouraging critical thinking about their environmental impacts and future implications. **Pros:** - **Interactivity**: The course integrates various active learning strategies, including hands-on labs, discussions, and peer engagement, making the content more approachable and applicable. - **Expert Instruction**: The lectures are delivered by knowledgeable instructors who bring real-world experience to the subject matter, enhancing credibility and engagement. - **Comprehensive Coverage**: From earthquakes to energy resources, the course presents a well-rounded exploration of Earth sciences, catering to both beginners and those with a prior interest in geology. - **Community Engagement**: The discussion forums foster an enriching community of learners, where you can share experiences, ask questions, and gain diverse perspectives. **Cons:** - **Pacing**: Some students may find the weekly structure demanding, especially if balancing the course with other commitments. It’s essential to manage your time efficiently to keep up with assignments and labs. - **Technical Requirements**: While the course orientation prepares you for the technical aspects, students with limited comfort using software like Google Earth may face a slight learning curve. **Recommendation:** Overall, "Planet Earth...and You!" is an outstanding course for anyone interested in the geological processes that influence our world. With its detailed syllabus, engaging content, and interactive components, it strikes a perfect balance between education and enjoyment. Whether you're a student, a lifelong learner, or simply curious about Earth sciences, I wholeheartedly recommend enrolling in this course. By the end, you’ll not only have a deeper appreciation for our planet but also the knowledge to engage thoughtfully with the challenges and wonders of Earth's dynamic systems. Don’t miss this chance to expand your understanding of the world you live in!

Syllabus

Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

In the lectures for this week, we will consider what an earthquake is, how it occurs, how we can record and measure its size, and what we can do to mitigate damage. Our first weekly assignment consists of reporting your own experience with earthquakes (if any). The Week 1 Lab gives you a chance to work with seismograms, locate an earthquake epicenter, and determine magnitude. Finally, the Week 1 Discussion addresses the balance between risks from quakes and costs of preventive measures.

In the early twentieth century, publication of the hypothesis on continental drift caused an uproar that soon died down. Data collected in mid-century led geologists to reconsider the idea that continents could move. During the 1960s and 1970s, old ideas were reworked into what is now called the theory of plate tectonics. As we will see, this robust theory encompasses many geological phenomena that appear to be unrelated at first glance: earthquakes and volcanoes, but also ice ages, fossils, and mountains. Today, plate tectonics provides an overarching framework for interpreting the Earth. We study its details in Week 2, but we will return to this theory again and again throughout the rest of this course.

This week, you will learn how and where rocks can melt, and what happens when molten material of various compositions bursts out of the ground. The lecture videos also cover different types of eruptions, as well as the rocks and mountains produced by them. In the lab, you will study details about the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79. The discussion forum gives you the opportunity to weigh risks to people living on or near volcanoes and what can be done to minimize damage and loss of life. The weekly assignment provides a place for you to share your own experiences with volcanoes or eruptions or, if you have never been near a volcano, your thoughts about such events.

As part of the Week 4 Assignment, you will take a close look at your daily surroundings to identify Earth resources. The video lectures for the week examine various aspects of finding, extracting, and using resources such as metals and stones. For the lab, you will utilize Google Earth to examine several mining sites around the world. In the discussion, you will weigh the pros and cons of mining operations, as many communities have had to do already. This week also includes peer grading discussions, as explained on the How Graded Discussions Work page. Finally, we provide an optional assignment for those who would like to identify some common minerals.

The video lectures for this week cover various aspects of energy usage by modern civilization, especially our utilization of fossil fuels. The Week 5 Lab sends you on a Google Earth tour of energy-producing sites around the world, places where both conventional and alternative forms of energy are being generated. The Week 5 Assignment gives you a chance to survey your own personal use of energy – where does it come from and how much do you use – and then to share the information with others in the class. During the Week 5 Discussion, you will consider the implications of how society uses the energy of fossil fuels and the implications for the local environment and global climate.