COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Knowledge Cluster: The student will be able to explain current
environmental science principles and terminology, including some historical
context for the scientific process.
Goals:
1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts
of environmental science, including:
the diversity of life,
- the interdependence of life,
- the flow of matter and
energy,
- climate and habitat as
processes that shape the earth,
- human health (environmental
contributions to health and disease),
- agriculture and human food
supplies.
Skills Cluster
Goals:
Critical thinking and problem solving
Effective written communication
Effective presentation communication
Values Cluster
Goals:
1. Recognize the value of biodiversity (medical, aesthetic, moral,
cultural, ecological, commodity - e.g. food/clothing)
Appreciate contributions of individual species to community structure
Describe the harmful consequences of a lack of diversity
Understand the relationship between ecosystem function and human welfare
Understand and accept human diversity when placed in the context of
genetic/environmental variation.
2. Understand relationship between science outcomes and resultant
technology
Assess the impact of specific technologies on the environment
Expose students to the responsibilities inherent in perpetuating and applying
knowledge
Understand that change in itself does not imply "progress"
3. Ethical reasoning and good judgment
Ability to recognize an ethical dilemma, creates potential solutions, and
evaluates using a information and logical arguments. Assess the social and
economic forces, which influence scientific research.
Community Cluster
Goals:
1. Learning to share responsibilities through group work
Appreciation for group dynamics
Ability to collaborate with other students in problem based learning
2. Reflect on learning so that it is personal and meaningful to the
individual student
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INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY: Hello, a bit about
myself. I have taught marine biology and environmental science at the University of Portland in addition to this course for
the last three years. Currently, I am a Biologist for the Nez Perce Tribe where
I am conducing studies on reintroducing salmon back into their native habitat
in the Clearwater
sub-basin of the Snake River. I have a consulting
business that produces environmental studies and reports. I was a senior
scientist for Columbia Basin Indian tribes during the 1990’s. I also am a
member of the NOAA-Fisheries Willamette and Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery
Team.
I am a husband and father of two. My wife is a science and biology teacher in
middle - high school. My son is a junior at Oregon State University majoring in Physics; my
daughter is a junior in High School and has a strong artistic side doing well
in drawing and music. She has won several awards for her drawings. We are
spread out across the Northwest with multiple residencies; one in Pacific, WA
where my wife teaches, a home in Oregon
City, and in Orofino, ID.
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METHODS OF EVALUATION:
Course grade The final course grade will be determined by
the following:
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Quizzes
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25%
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Mid-term exam
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25%
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Final exam
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25%
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Research Paper
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25%
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Total
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100%
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Quizzes: Two quizzes will be given to keep the students engaged
with the learning process and test their knowledge.
Exams: Each exam will only cover material prior to that
exam which has not already been covered on a previous exam. Exams will test
your knowledge and critical thinking skills. Questions will be based on reading
assignments supported by presentations.
No make-up exams will be given. Exceptions will be on a
case-by-case basis where other school commitments (letter from professor) or
emergency precludes taking an exam.
Mini-papers:
During this course you will write two papers.
Know your neighborhood. The first
assignment will be to learn about the watershed you live in, and to identify
contamination in your neighborhood
Green Power. The second assignment will be to evaluate the
benefits and cost of switching your current source of energy to a green or
greener source.
.
Extra Credit: I want to encourage you to participate in an
external process so that you may discovery how easy it is to become involved in
learning and participating in environmental activities. I will give 15 points
for any approved activity. You may seek out community activities that may
interest you and propose them to me for approval. I will, also, provide ideas
that will be posted the course web site. You must obtain my pre-approval to
receive full credit.
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A 94%-100%
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C+ 76%-78%
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A- 89%%-92%
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C 73%-75%
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B+ 86%-88%
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C- 69%-74%
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B 83%-85%
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D+ 66%-68%
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B- 79%-82%
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D 63%-65%
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C+ 76%-78%
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D- 59%-62%
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F <58%
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COURSE POLICIES:
Late work late work will not be accepted unless you have
discussed and received permission from me first.
Incompletes A grade of Incomplete (I) is given only in
emergency situations. The student must request an Incomplete in writing and must
obtain my permission. All uncompleted work must be completed within the time
limits I set. If you simply don’t turn in the final assignments or the
final exam, your course grade will be calculated with the missed portion
counting for 0 points.
Academic honesty Cheating and plagiarism will not be
tolerated. Any student found to be engaging in either of these activities at
any point in the course will receive a failing grade for the assignment and/or
entire course and may be subject to further college sanctions.
Return of course materials You keep the text
Rules of Discussion The on-line discussions should be a
safe haven within which individuals can discuss the widest possible range of
topics without fearing retribution, ridicule, or attack. In order for this to
happen, we must assume that we are all persons of intelligence and good will
who may ultimately disagree, sometimes to a profound degree, with one another
but whose characters are not impugned or intelligence disparaged because of
this disagreement. The on-line discussion area is not a forum for
proselytizing, nor it is a soapbox for diatribes by either students or faculty.
For the academic endeavor to succeed, we must treat each other with civility,
courtesy, and respect. All perspectives and questions are welcome, as long as
they are impelled by a genuine desire for knowledge, can be articulated
thoughtfully, and supported by sound reasoning.
Difficulties Problems, questions please contact me
Students with disabilities Students with documented disabilities
who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the
instructor should know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of
evacuation,
should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, no later
than the first week of the term.
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CLASS OUTLINE AND ASSIGNMENTS:
(This is subject to change).
The primary source of information will be the reading assignments from the textbook
and supporting materials. Also provided are lecture notes. Occasionally I will
post additional sources of information. The lecture notes highlight the
information from the text that I deem most important and thus provide
additional reinforcement for required knowledge. Quizzes and exams will be
derived primarily from the lecture notes and reading assignments. By learning
the information in the lecture notes you should receive a passing grade [C]. By
learning additional materials from the text and supporting materials a higher
grade can be achieved. To receive and A, you will need to do well in all the
assignments.
Reading Assignments:
I expect everyone to complete the reading assignments, especially since each
subject will not be completely covered in lecture. Exam questions will come
from both the reading and lecture material. In addition to chapters from your
texts, I may occasionally provide additional learning materials.
This survey course is organized around the test book’s structure. There
are five parts and twenty five chapters to be covered in the course. Each week
there will be required reading and assignments with due dates. You may proceed
at your own pace provided you meet the deadlines for assignments, quizzes, and
tests.
Occasionally, there will be current events relevant to the course materials. I
may direct you read and discuss these events then use them as scenarios from
which quiz or test questions will be derived. The current events are a source
of potential topics for the group assignment.
Week 1: Part I. Principles For Understanding Our
Environment
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Read: Learning to learn pages 1-13
Chapter 1 Understanding our Environment
Chapter 2 Environmental Philosophy, Ethics and Science
Chapter 3 Matter,
Energy, and life
Chapter 4 Biological Communities and Species interactions
Chapter 5 Biomes: Global Patterns of Life
Chapter 6 Population Biology
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Assignment: Contact instructor via WebCT, review course materials, email the instructor with
the following information:
1: Your contact information (off campus email, phone number)
2: What you hope to learn from this course
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Turn in: 10 January 2005
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Assignment: Know your neighborhood
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Turn in: 14 January 2005
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Week 2: Part II. People and the Environment
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Read:
Chapter 7 Human Populations
Chapter 8 Environmental Health and Toxicology
Chapter 9 Food and Agriculture
Chapter 10 Pest Control
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Assignment: Reminder; complete and post
know your neighborhood
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Turn in: 14 January 2005
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Assignment:
Take 1st Quiz
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The quiz will be available by 14 January 2005
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Turn in: 17 January 2005
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Week 3: Part III Understanding and Managing
Living Systems
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Read:
Chapter 11 Biodiversity
Chapter 12 Land-Use: Forests and Grasslands
Chapter 13 Preserving and Restoring Nature
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Assignment: Take mid-Term (Chapters
1 - 13) it will be available starting 21 January 2005
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Turn in: 26 January, 2005
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Week 4: Part IV Physical Resources and
Environmental Systems
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Read:
Chapter 14 Geology and Earth Resources
Chapter 15 Air, Weather, and Climate
Chapter 16 Air Pollution
Chapter 17 Water Use and Management
Chapter 18 Water Pollution
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Assignment: Take Quiz 2 (chapters 14-18)
it will be available starting 28 January 2005
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Turn in: Quiz 2 by 31 January 2005
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Assignment: Personal
Energy Consumption
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Turn in: 4 February 2005
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Week 5: Part V Society and the Environment
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Read:
Chapter 19 Conventional Energy
Chapter 20 Sustainable Energy
Chapter 21 Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste
Chapter 22 Urbanization and Sustainable Cities
Chapter 23 Ecological Economics
Chapter 24 Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning
Chapter 25 What Then Shall We Do?
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The final exam will be available beginning 4
February 2005
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Take: Final
Exam (Chapters 14-25) 8 February 2005
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