Instructor

        Dr. Michael H. Suckley 

        Macomb Community College

        South Campus 14500 12 mile Road, Warren MI, 48093

        Phone: 810.750.2373
        Send assignments to: evs@sciencescene.com   
        Send personal email to: dr.suckley@sciencescene.com

Course Description (as it appears in the college catalog)

Environmental Science: (ENVS 1050)      4 Semester Hrs.      Prerequisite: none.

 Required Materials 

        • Text:  Environmental Science, thirteenth ed., by Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman (ISBN-10: 0-495-56016-2)

• An Internet Service Provider to submit assignments by e-mail and to log onto the  Virtual Classroom

        • An external E-mail provider (submit all assignments using this provider)

        • Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel  or Open Office (a Free Application)

    Pre-Requisites For The Course

1. Competent computer ability and have completed the on-line orientation.

2. You must have the ability to meet a vigorous schedule (logging in 5 days a week for 8 weeks) and the motivation to do intensive work to complete this course. Remember you have signed up for a class that, when taught on campus, meets four hours a week. Research indicates that students should spend two hours of study and preparation for each in class hour. That's (4 + (2 x 4 )) or 12 hours a week when you are taking a 16 week class. This class will be conducted in 8 weeks which means that you will have to spend twice as much time or 24 hours each week. Do not expect this course to require less time.  PLAN YOUR TIME CAREFULLY  - - - - Please.

The Course

This course explores the conceptual aspects of the environmental sciences and will use the experimental method in giving insights into the concepts of nature. To get the greatest benefit from the course, regard each concept as a set of problems to which you are forcing nature to give an answer.

The major issues of environmental science were developed into eight seminars which will be investigated in this course. The information presented in each seminar is divided into sections which are used to develop a seminar report. For a discussion of each section of a seminar report and an completed report review the Example Report. Seminar Reports must be submitted before the Due Dates listed below.

Grading - Components of final grade

Course Grading Scale:  For active students completing the course (Percent)

     Please note: a "grade" of NS (No Show) will be assigned to those students that

      do not appear in class by the end of the third week of class.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Thoughts About Assignments:

    1. Review the "Example Report" and the "Grading Rubric" to better understand
      the "Rules of the Game"

    2. Develop your seminar reports in MS Word or Open Office.

    3. Submit your seminar reports as a single file attached to an email
      sent to: evs@sciencescene.com.

    4. Work submitted in sections will not be graded.

    5. Label your email correctly:

             In the Subject line, of your email, indicate: Section#, Student#, Topic# - Name,

For example if your name was John Doe in section 02 with a student number of

99 doing topic 05 then place in the subject line:  029905 - John Doe (you don't need the color)

                Note: Your section number and link to obtain your student umber
                          is posted on the Angel Discussion Board.

    6. Be conscious of grammar and spelling in all of your messages. 

    7. Plagiarism of any material will result in your failure of the course. 

    8. Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in failure of the course.  

 Late Assignments:

No assignments will be accepted late unless an unusual circumstance (such as a death in the family, personal illness, computer system malfunction, etc.) prevents you from completing the work on time.  It is the responsibility of the student to discuss any such circumstance with the facilitator privately.

  Class Participation:

It is your responsibility to participate and to  provide constructive criticism in the virtual classroom  in order to to keep the class interesting and to maximize your learning. You are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and bring  personal experiences and items from current events which apply to the material being studied.

NOTE:  Class participation grade is based on the number and quality of material added to the class discussion .

 Attendance:

The student is expected to attend the virtual classroom by “going online” at least 5 out of 7 days of each week.  This is the “minimum accepted standard” for an online course. It will be measured by recording the date of each entry you make to the system - whether it is a response to one of the assignments, a comment on the work of another student, or a question to the group or to your facilitator.  An absence does not excuse the student from the responsibility of participation, assigned work, and/or testing.  STUDENTS MAY BE DROPPED FOR POOR ATTENDANCE.

Unacceptable Behavior:

Behavior that interferes with the attainment of the course goals will result in being dropped from the course and assigned the letter grade of E.   

 When Experiencing Problems - - - - - -The "Main Rule" is:    DON'T PANIC!

If you're having a problem, or something isn't clear, it's safe to assume others are facing similar challenges, and together we can solve it. Learning with  technology can be an incredibly freeing experience, but it can also be extremely frustrating when it doesn't work as it should or you can't get an immediate answer. Keep phone numbers of technical support, team members and instructor handy, but identify tasks you CAN continue on and keep moving forward. Experiencing technical problems or unclear assignments is often, unintentionally, part of the learning experience. It is wise to treat these as “opportunities” for thinking through ways to will minimize and solve these problems should they occur again (which, of course, they will).

Please feel free to send a message to your instructor at any time and he will get back to you as soon as possible. You might also consider posting a question to the virtual classroom as one of your fellow students may be able to help. If YOU see a question in the virtual classroom relating to some procedure or concept that you have mastered, PLEASE  help that student.

Feedback

 1. I will be monitoring the Virtual Classroom daily and will answer any student question, address any problems,  major concerns or strong points being discussed. I will try NOT to "talk" too much but respond to your work.

 2. Feedback will be provided to the group on the materials being covered including personalized comments where appropriate and additional lecture materials. 

 3. If, in my view, someone is having a specific problem, they will receive a private message from me.  This usually is done to reflect attendance, missing assignments, lack of dialogue with others - that sort of thing. 

 4. Every attempt will be made to respond to you as quickly as possible.  Of course, you must understand that sometimes there will be delays in this undertaking.  If you haven't heard about a submission in two or three days, you should contact your instructor concerning the missing assignment.  Something may have happened and you may need to re-transmit the assignment. 

Class Reading Assignments:

Reading is an essential part of this course.  In fact...there is a LOT of reading! This reading will include textbook, instructor lectures/notes, and the notes of fellow students. Notes sent to the classroom respond to the issues raised by you and your classmates.  It is important to read every note sent by the facilitator because these will include information intended to clarify and/or modify the seminar. 
So if you're inclined to skip notes -  Do not skip the facilitator's notes!

Disclosure:

In a virtual classroom, all electronic actions are documented and persons outside the classroom may observe the class.