This document provides frequently asked questions (FAQs) about an Earth and environmental science course. It addresses questions about grades, assignments, discussion forums, and other course content. Key details include: grades are broken into quarters and a final exam; assignments should be submitted through upload links or discussion forums, not email; and assignments are typically graded within 24-48 hours, with exceptions announced.

1. Earth and
Environmental
Science
Course FAQ's
Things you need to know

2. Content List
• Grades
• How Fast Can I Expect the Instructor to Grade an Assignment/Respond to
e-mail?
• What If I Submitted Something and it's Not Graded?
• Where Can I Check My Grades?
• What is the Grade Break-Down?
• Assignments
• Where Should I Submit Assignments? Send an e-mail?
• Discussion Forums: Why Do I Only Have Partial Credit for a Discussion
Forum Assignment?
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3. Grades
• Where Can I Check My Grades?
• Click on the Grades link in Moodle.
• What is the Grade Break-Down?
• This course will be broken down into Quarter 1 (37.5%), Quarter 2 (37.5%), and
Final Exam (25%).
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4. What If I Submitted Something and it's Not Graded?
• Please give 2-3 days before sending the Instructor an e-mail saying something
is not graded yet, just in case. Don't wait weeks and weeks to check your
grades. If there are a lot of assignments ungraded, it could be a technical
issue.
• Save copies of EVERYTHING. Either in a folder on your hard drive, a flash
drive, a disk, etc.
• In the subject line of the work you submit, be sure to type the assignment
name of that work!
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5. How Fast Can I Expect the Instructor to Grade an
Assignment/Respond to e-mail?
• - Assignments are usually graded within 24-48 hours. If there are ever any
exceptions to 24-48 hour grading, an Announcement will be posted. Most
NCVPS teachers work in a face-to-face classroom and the majority of work is
graded at night, along with responses to e-mail.
• - All weekends and holidays may be an exception to this rule. NCVPS teachers
should be working M-F.
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6. Assignments
• Where Should I Submit Assignments? Send an e-mail?
• (1) Assignments should be sent using the upload links throughout the course or in
the discussion forums.
• (2)Your Instructor also has an external e-mail account for general questions. See Staff
Information.
• (3)WhenWill the NextWeek be Available?Your instructor will open each module
approximately 2-3 days before the next module is scheduled to begin. This will allow
those students working ahead to do so.
• (4) IsThere a Due Date for Assignments?
• All assignments are due by the dates on the checklists each week. The weeks run
from Monday morning to Friday midnight. Feel free to work over the weekend.
• Completing make-up work past a certain point is also at the Instructor's discretion.
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7. Discussion Forums:
• Why Do I Only Have Partial Credit for a Discussion Forum Assignment?
• You have to check the Discussion Forum three to five times a week and
participate. Each post per forum gets you a few more points. For example, one
post = 7 points, two posts = 9 points, three posts = 10 points.
• Forums may not be graded with grades posted every day. It's difficult to keep
up with Forum posts daily because good discussions are messy and would
require daily grade book changes. By the end of the unit, the Instructor
applies a statistics feature to add up your posts. Be sure you are posting
quality comments and not just "I agree" or "I disagree."These kinds of
comments will not earn you points. Explain why you agree or disagree.
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8. Power Points
• Why doesn't this PowerPoint seem to work?
• If you have difficulty opening a PowerPoint presentation, you will need to
download it to your computer (openoffice.org has a free download). Then,
open the PowerPoint program and the specified file. Choose "View Show",
(F5) on many computers, to view the show. Click your mouse to advance
through the show.
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9. Two Content Layout with SmartArt
• Each day: begin with reading the
Learning Block Announcements.
• Read the directions for the next
module section.
• Download the student worksheet.
• View the teaching materials.
• Complete the student answer sheet
and save to your computer.
• Go back to the page where you got
the assignment and upload your
work.
Step 1
Learning Block
Announcement
Step 2
Read directions
for your next
assignment.
Step 3
Download
student
worksheet.
Step 4
View the
teaching
materials.
Step 5
Complete, save,
and upload your
work.
Step 6 Allow 24
hours, then
check your
grade.
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10. Stay on pace
Do assignments on time.