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Environmental
Science |
For this Class ALL Underlined Word or Words are Hyperlinks - Click on them for further information
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My name is Mike Suckley and I will be the facilitator of this Environmental Science course. I would like to welcome you to the investigation of our environment and our impact on that environment. It is the main goal of this course to provide you the opportunity to investigate the fundamentals of our environment and the interrelationships of living plants and animals. The greater your understanding of these concepts the greater your impact you can have on your community and your ability to change all of our lives.
The following is a comment by a student completing the course. "This Environmental Science class seemed overwhelming to me during that first week but I stuck with it and grew to appreciate as well as anticipate each week's seminar. This course is definitely an "eye opener" when it comes to environmental issues. I enjoyed the class and look forward to continue learning about the environment in the future."
Instructor Dr. Michael H. Suckley Macomb Community College South Campus 14500 12 mile Road, Warren MI, 48093
Phone: 810.750.2373
Course Description (as it appears in the college catalog) Environmental Science: (ENVS 1050) 4 Semester Hrs. Prerequisite: none. This interdisciplinary science course is a study of environmental problems and alternative solutions to these problems. The integral nature of all parts of the environment and specific environmental problems are stressed. Such seminars as man and his relationship to the environment, energy resource limitations, land and water use, and air pollution are included.
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. Completed the on-line orientation. 2. Use of a computer. a. Microsoft Word - cut, paste, and format a document b. Microsoft Excel c. send an email with an attachment 3. You must have the ability to log into Angel 4 days a week for 8 weeks. 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 seminar as a set of problems to which you are forcing nature to help you understand.
All environmental problems have Social, Political, Economic and Scientific components. Strong positions for the solution of environmental problems may be found in any one of these component areas. You will investigate many environmental problems in this course. The answers/solutions you develop do not have to match your instructors or even the textbook. However, your answers/solutions must be based upon facts which you must reference to a creditable source. These references must include source and page or URL that supports your position.
When you select a reference it represents a source or point of view you think best addresses the problem or question. The quality of your position is strongest when your solutions/answers are based on facts not opinion, beliefs or popular culture. The best references, for this class, are those selected from or based upon empirical or scientific data. Answers based on good references provide the assurance that they have the highest probability of being correct.
Mon. = 3, Tues. = 4, Wed. = 5, Thurs. = 6, Fri. = 7, Sat. = 1, Sun. = 2
Weekly Seminar
Reports must be turned before 12:00 am of day one
Week Seminar a. Write and post your "Autobiography".
b. Download appropriate software from the
ScienceScene. 2. . . . 02 - The Environment and Ecosystems Read and follow directions of the Seminar posted at ScienceScene. 3. . . . 03 - Matter and Energy Read and follow directions of the Seminar posted at ScienceScene. 4. . . . 04 - Earth Structure and Solid Waste Read and follow directions of the Seminar posted at ScienceScene. 5. . . . 05 - Atmosphere and Climate Read and follow directions of the Seminar posted at ScienceScene. 6. . . . 06 - Water Resources Read and follow directions of the Seminar posted at ScienceScene. 7. . . . 07 - Population . . . . . . . . Last Week to Submit Extra Credit Read and follow directions of the Seminar posted at ScienceScene. 8. . . . 08 - Food a. Read and follow directions of the Seminar posted at ScienceScene. b. Online Final Exam (Taken in the Virtual Classroom) c. ALL work must be completed before the posted end of the class.
Course Grading Scale: For active students completing the course (Percent) (94-100) . . A (90- 93) . . A- (87-89) . . B+ (83-86) . . B (80-82) . . B- (77-79) . . C+ (73-76) . . C (70-72) . . C- (67-69) . . D+ (63-66) . . D (60-62) . . D- (00-59) . . E 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.
Grading Components a Deeper Look: Autobiography: The first assignment will be to write an autobiography and post it to this Discussion Board. The autobiography should indicate family status, educational background, educational goals, and the specific value of this course to your life. I have included my autobiography as an example: Dr. Suckley's Autobiography. Read your classmates autobiographies and welcome them to your class. In addition send your autobiography as an attachment to an email to evs@sciencescene.com. (This will demonstrate your ability to submit your assignments as an attachment to an email) Seminar Report: The major issues of environmental science were developed into eight seminars which will be investigated in this course. The information presented in each seminar will be used to develop a seminar report which will be due each week. For a discussion of each section of a seminar report and an example of a completed report review the Example Report Reference. Seminar Reports must be submitted before the Due Dates listed in the course Calendar. Each seminar report will be evaluated using the "Grading Rubric" which will be returned to you so that you may use it to improve future seminar reports. Thoughts about Seminar Reports: 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. Seminar Reports submitted in sections will not be graded. 4. Submit your seminar reports as a single file attached to an email sent to: evs@sciencescene.com. 5. Label your email correctly: In the Subject line, of your email, indicate: Section#, Seminar# - Name For example if your name was John Doe in section 02 doing seminar 05 the subject line would be: 0205 - John Doe (you don't need the color) Note: Your section number is posted on the Angel Discussion Board. 6. Send a copy to yourself. If you do not receive a copy then resubmit. 7. If you do not receive an auto-responder note, within approx. 1 hour, resubmit. Remember the auto-responder note will be sent to the email address from which your submission came. Your auto-responder note will always be accepted as proof of submission. 8. If you check the Grades posted at Angel, if you did not received your grade – resubmit with explanation. 9. Be conscious of grammar and spelling in all of your messages. 10. Plagiarism of any material will result in your failure of the course. 11. Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in failure of the course. Class Participation: The student is expected to attend the virtual classroom by “going online” at least 4 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. It is your responsibility to participate and to provide constructive criticism in the virtual classroom in order 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.
Quizzes:
You will have 30 min. to take the quiz. There is an optional quiz for each seminar. (Replaces the first section of the seminar report) They will be located in the "Virtual Classroom" and are comprised of twenty randomly selected questions based upon the seminar objectives. Each student will have an unique quiz. The time allocated for each quiz is thirty minutes and once started the quiz must be completed since each quiz allows only one attempt. Your score only will be posted after you take the quiz. Your score will be included as part of your seminar report grade. Please note that the purpose of the quizzes are to determine the degree to which a student has mastered the "Learning Objectives/Guide Questions and is not intended as a learning tool. One should consider answering the guide questions to fulfill that goal. Final Exam: You will have 2 hr. to take the exam. Do not leave the exam until completed since restarts are not allowed. The final exam is required for all students. Pools of test questions were developed for each seminar based upon the seminar objectives. These individual pools were combined into one large test pool of over four-hundred questions. The final exam has multiple choice question which were selected to equally representing the seminars. Each student test is generated, by the computer, and is unique for that student. You will receive 1 point for each percent earned on the exam.
You should note that you are preparing for the final each time you research the "Objectives/ Guide Questions". Therefore throughout the semester you are developing a study guide for the final. A review of "Objectives/ Guide Questions" will help you "study" for the exam. The exams are taken on the computer. The computer does not allow for late submissions/does not accept late submissions. Therefore you will NOT receive an exam grade if the test is submitted late.
Weekly Posting of Grades: Grades will be posted each week before the end of day two. Normally this consists of Discussion Question, Seminar Report and possibly a quiz score which will be posted in the Angel Gradebook A grading rubric based on the seminar report will be sent to you which should provide a guide for the development of your next seminar report.
Weekly Suggested Study Plan - Day by Day: Day 1
a.
Read the assignment indicated in the Syllabus and located in the Virtual
Classroom. Day 2
a.
Work on Objectives/Guide Questions Day 3
a.
Work on Objectives/Guide Questions Day 4
a.
Finish Objectives/Guide Questions Day 5
a.
Work on application Day 6
a.
Complete Application Day 7
a.
Compile final seminar report and submit. Remember it is due before
midnight.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 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.
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.
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.
Do Not Wait Until the End of the Week to Do the Assignment To be successful plan your work, then work your plan.
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Last Updated:
14 January 2012