This is a great first step into the world of geology. With this foundation, a deeper view into more topics is possible, and the sky's the limit! No...really, it is. Geologists study the surface of the Earth and what's below it. The sky is for meteorologists.

Subjects covered in the course include rocks, minerals, and plate tectonics, as well as a virtual field trip to Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado. You can download the entire course and take it anywhere: no need to be tied to the internet or wifi! The content spans 28 lectures through 9 sections and includes exercises that are designed to be printed off and completed with hand-written answers for questions spanning multiple choice, fill-in-the blank, and short answer. Hard-copy materials have everything you need for need for learning including instructions, points suggestions, and solutions. Those materials are:

• 10 exercises
• 1 written lab report
• 1 presentation
• mid-term
• final

This course provides self-paced learning: students can complete all lectures and most exercises without supervision in a format designed to last one hour per week for nine weeks (one week per section), but you and your student set the pace that's right for you.

Materials and knowledge requirements:

Materials:

• Laptop/computer/tablet (Mac or PC compatible: video lectures are tablet-friendly)
• Printer, printer paper, ink
• Ruler
• Calculator
• Drawing compass
• Optional mineral kit ~$15 from Home Science Tools (http://www.hometrainingtools.com/mineral-study-kit?fee=2&fep=2240&gclid=CI-u2f7J98gCFY0AaQodhFQENw).

Knowledge Requirements:

Math:

• Basic algebra
• Unit conversions (will be reviewed in first section)
• An optional exercise involving exponents.

Science:

• Atoms and ions
• The three phases of matter
• Basic understanding of waves and energy
• Optional radiogenic isotope exercise.