Geotechnical Fundamentals

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Geotechnical Fundamentals

• Introduction

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Who Am I and Where Can You Find Me?

• Gary Giesbrecht, P.Eng, Cert. Ed. (Adult)
• Office A1-31C
• Office Phone [phone]
• Office Fax [phone]
• E-mailggiesbrecht_at_rrc.mb.ca

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Best Time To Find Me In My Office Best Practice
E-mail me 24 hours in advance for an appointment.

Monday 1-2 pm Tuesday 9-10 am Wednesday 11-1
and 2-3 pm Thursday 10-12 am Friday 10-11 am
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QUIZ True or False

• QUESTION
• 1. Gary has a BSc. In Civil Engineering from
  Arkansas State.
• 2. Gary has a Masters Degree in Education.
• 3. Gary has been at RRC for 15 years.
• 4. Gary has taught this course for 5 years.
• 5. Gary believes hockey ended when Guy LaFleur
  retired.
• 6. Gary was a top research engineer before
  teaching at RRC.
• 7. Gary is a USC and Notre Dame football fan.
• 8. Gary enjoys the music of Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker
  and all Bluegrass.
• 9. Gary believes that It aint over til its
  over.
• 10. Gary has season tickets to the Manitoba
  Theater Center.
•  
•  

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My Teaching Philosophy

• Give a person a fish feed them for a day.
• Teach a person to fish feed them for a lifetime.
• I will use teaching methods suited to your
  learning style.
• I will teach you how to read the text rather
  than breaking it down into bite size pieces and
  spoon-feeding you.
• I will think aloud and puzzle through problems
  with you.
• I will encourage interaction between you and me
  and between students.

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My Expectations of You

• I expect you to attend class.
• I expect you do the assigned reading before
  class.
• I expect you to complete all the assignments on
  time.
• I expect you to notify me, in writing, if you
  will be absent for more than one week.
• I expect you to challenge me and not let me get
  away with swishy-washy answers.
• I expect feedback from you on a continuous basis.
• I expect you to respect RRC Policy and Garys
  Classroom Guidelines

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Course Package

• Course Outline
• How to Flunk Out with Grace and Style
• Garys Classroom Guidelines
• Proposed Timetable
• Photo Journal Assignment
• Geotechnical Investigation Assignment
• Foundation Drainage Design Assignment

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Geotechnical Fundamentals

• This course is the prerequisite to Foundation
  Design, which is the development of foundation
  systems to support buildings and retaining walls.
  

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Geotechnical Fundamentals will assist you in

• identifying soil
• computation of mass/volume relationships
• classifying soil
• defining basic groundwater and frozen soil
  terminology
• developing a geotechnical sampling program
• the use of soil modification and geosynthetics
• drainage design

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Garys Favorite ofHow to Flunk Out with Grace
and Style

• Before cutting class, be sure to ask Gary,
  Are we doing anything important?
• After cutting class, be sure to ask the Gary,
  Did I miss anything?
• Memorize!!!!! Memorize!!!!!!
• Do not try to understand anything.

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Garys Classroom Guidelines

• A classroom must be seen by all students as a
  safe learning environment in which students can
  freely take "risks" without fear of condemnation
  from the instructor or their peers.
• A safe learning environment is a community that
  is distinguished first and foremost by a triangle
  of respect
• the teacher for the students,
• the students for the teacher,
• and the students for each other.

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Garys Classroom Guidelines

• Garys Classroom Guidelines have been established
  to contribute to and maintain a respectful and
  accepting learning environment.
•  
• Garys Classroom Guidelines are complementary to
  and in no alters students right or
  responsibilities under
•  
• A11 - Harassment Policy
• A12 - Cultural and Racial Harmony and Equity
  Policy
• A20 - Acceptable Use of Computer Facilities
  Policy
• C7 - Academic Integrity Policy
• C15 - Grade/Evaluation Appeal Policy
• C16 - Disciplinary Appeals Policy (under review)

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Garys Classroom Guidelines

• Laptop computers are to remain closed during
  facilitated class time unless I authorize their
  use for note taking or assignments. Only programs
  necessary for the task should be open.
• Working on other courses during facilitated
  class time is not allowed for example, doing
  Concrete Design in Soils class when a lecture or
  facilitated work period is being conducted would
  be considered a contravention of this guideline.
• The use of cell phones is not allowed during
  facilitated class time. Cell phones are to be
  turned off unless I authorize their use. For
  example, you need to be on call for work, family
  concerns etc.
• Individual conversations during lectures are not
  allowed

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Course Projects

• Photo Journal Assignment
• Geotechnical Investigation Assignment
• Foundation Drainage Design Assignment

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Photo Journal Assignment One

• Photo Assignment One Find a photo of yourself
  and mount it on a letter size page. Below the
  photograph include the following documentation.
• Your name
• Your e-mail address
• Why you decided to take this discipline of civil
  engineering technology?
• What civil engineering related experience do you
  have?
• What place or person interests you the most, and
  why?
• Describe the learning environment that suits you
  the best.
• Describe the best teacher (high school) or
  instructor (no names pleases) that you have ever
  had and explain why you think they are the best
• Describe the worst teacher (high school) or
  instructor (no names pleases) that you have ever
  had and explain why you think they are the
  worst.
• Due Date November 1, 2004 before 400pm