Geology, Research, and Environment of Latin America

31-70

Online course

University with graduate programs, including doctoral programs

GRELA is an introductory course with no prerequisites. Course development was motivated by the desire to teach all UTD undergraduate students about Latin America and to attract Hispanic/Latino students to science by teaching about their ethnic homelands. It was started in 1990s with an NSF-DUE grant and has been taught several times since as an in-person class; we recorded and edited lectures in summer 2022. It satisfies 3 hours of the college-wide science requirement. Typically, about 90% of the students are non-science majors, and 10% of the students are science majors or minors.

GRELA is an overview of the natural environment of Latin America, and how this is being impacted by human activity. Topics include evolution of Latin American crust and continent; location and formation of important resources and physiographic features; Resource exploitation and present environmental impact with an historic perspective.

After taking GRELA, students will have a much better understanding of our neighbors in the vast region to the south. They will not only understand where the different nations are but how they have different resources and environments, and consequently face different opportunities and challenges.

GRELA is an on-line course, with all videos posted on Youtube (23 videos and video syllabus at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzpHDPjNs-iHyuopFCKtdv2TsiP6c5Ozb ). There is no suitable textbook. The first exam is on Latin American geography and is designed to ensure that the students know where the nations and important physical features are. Students must score 90 or more on this exam to take other exams. They can take the geography exam multiple times until they get a 90 or better. Other exams are in person and the lowest score is dropped. Optional weekly one-hour meetings allow students to come in and ask questions or discuss other items they are interested in. A study guide to help students prepare for exams is posted.

All university students need to learn about Latin America and we need to attract more Hispanic/Latino students to science. This is a unique course, we know of nothing like it at any other university; we think other universities would benefit from all or part of what we have put together. The course was started in the 1990s with an NSF-DUE grant and was polished by being taught several times since then as an in-person class. We recorded and edited lectures in summer 2022. Many students are looking for a high-quality on-line course like GRELA.

Assessment involves on-line geography test (which must be passed with score of 90 or greater (can be taken multiple times) and 3 of 4 in person exams.

Syllabus (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 22kB Jan30 23)

Study Guide (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 35kB Jan30 23)
Geography test (Microsoft Word 27kB Jan30 23)

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