Format: Online via Web

               Mandatory Face-to-Face Field Day required                                    

Course Information

Course Title:        Introduction to Environmental Science

Course Code:     ENV-101-DS11

Semester: Fall 2018     

Class Location: Online

Syn. Number:     12408

Credits: 4            

Prerequisite:                   

Start Date: 8/27/18                               
End Date: 12/14/18                  
Refund Date: 9/12/18               
Withdraw Date: 11/18/18

Instructor Information

Paul B. Robertson, Ph.D.

CMC e-mail: Please use the course email system within CANVAS to communicate with me.

Cell Phone:  719-588-4734 Emergencies Only                            

1. Required Course Materials

Beginning summer 2018, CMC provides all textbook, digital, and custom materials at an affordable all-inclusive flat rate fee ($26/credit) for participating credit courses. The Learning Materials Program (LMP) is a library-like lease system and students receive 100% of the required materials by the first day of the semester or within the first week, depending on when registration occurred. For more information and a list of excluded courses please go to Basecamp, on the Student Services Learning Materials Program Student Resource page. Note that lab kits are not included in The Learning Materials Program.

Course Text:

Cunningham & Cunningham, 14^th edition, Environmental Science McGrawHill 

ISBN:9781260153125

Lab Kit

As noted above, lab kits are not included in the LMP program and must be ordered by each student. It is important that you order your lab kit no later than the first week of the class, preferably before the class begins. Please use the information below to place your order.

CMC Environmental Science Lab Kit, $189 
Order from: www.esciencelabs.com 888-375-5487 \ Kit Code CMC3001

Materials for Mandatory Field Day – October 6^th at the CMC campus in Breckenridge

Other than transportation, lodging, and lunch, all other materials furnished.

II. Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of ecology and the relationship between environmental problems and biological systems. It includes interdisciplinary discussions on biology, chemistry, geology, energy, natural resources, pollution, and environmental protection. Using a holistic approach, students will study how the foundations of natural sciences interconnect with the environment. This course includes laboratory experience II. Student Learning Outcomes, Competencies, and Skills

• Standard Competencies

Inquiry & Analysis:

1. Select or Develop a Design Process
   1. Select of develop elements of the methodology or theoretical framework to solve problems in a given discipline.
2. Analyze and Interpret Evidence
   1. Examine evidence to identify patterns, differences, similarities, limitations, and/or implications related to the focus.
   2. Utilize multiple representations to interpret the data.
3. Draw Conclusions
   1. State a conclusion based on findings.

Quantitative Literacy:

1. Interpret Information
   1. Explain information presented in mathematical forms (e.g. equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words).
2. Represent Information
   1. Convert information into and between various mathematical forms (e.g. equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words).

IV. Individual Development and Educational Assessment (IDEA) Objectives

The instructor has selected the following objectives as Important or Essential to gauge student progress and improve teaching and learning for this course.

1. Gaining factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends).
2. Learning to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions).
3. Learning how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving problems.
4. Learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.
5. Acquiring an interest in learning more by asking questions and seeking answers.

V. Evaluation Methods

Students are expected to stay current with assigned readings and use course materials for study. Evaluation of knowledge will be via quality of participation in discussions, laboratory assignments and testing via Quizzes/Exams. These assignments will address the STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES, COMPETENCIES & SKILLS as listed above.

Discussion Conduct and Grading Rubric:

There will be 7 Discussions posted during the course, each worth 30 points. Student should expect to • submit an initial post of a minimum of 400 words before the end of the 1st week using correct spelling and grammar and a minimum of 3 SCIENTIFICALLY VALID REFERENCES not including the text book although the text can and should be cited. All references should use APA format for citations. (12 points) • respond substantively (“I agree” is not substantive) to at least 5 other classmates' posts during the second week. (10 points) • The initial post should be made by the end of the first week at the latest and commentary nicely spread over the comment period to encourage discussion for full credit (8).

Laboratory Conduct and Grading Rubric:

eScience Labs: Late lab reports will not be accepted. Begin work and submit early, rather than late! Some laboratory work requires up to two weeks for completion. Be sure to begin those laboratories EARLY. See Schedule for notes on this. See details on each Lab in Assignments. • Completed laboratory work is required to pass the class. All aspects of the lab are to be addressed. Lab represents a professional work as if it will be presented to an employer. Partially completed laboratory work will not be accepted. • Pre and Post lab questions are to be fully answered. • Students are expected to show full example calculations required to complete lab work. • Required graphs and tables are to be included and completely explained in the all lab reports • References are provided in APA format. Here is an example: Hardin, Garrett. 1968. The Tragedy of the Commons, Science, 162: 1243-1248. • Submit all work as a .doc, .docx or .pdf file. One file per lab report, please. • Include your name, the date, and the laboratory title on the first page of your report. Note that the Face-to-Face Field Day is MANDATORY. Failure to attend will result in a 0 grade for the 100-point activity. More information about this experience will be sent to you during class.

Attendance Rubric:

Students are required to check into this course, at a minimum, four times per week to view instructor announcements, and to respond to needed remediation for grading and complete assigned work. While this requirement will not be closely monitored, in the event of proof of poor performance, this item can affect the final grade, i.e. if you have a final grade of 319.5, this item can affect whether you earn a “B-” or a “C+” in this course.

Assessment via Testing Rubric:

• Canvas LMS Tests, Quizzes or Exams will be interspersed throughout the course to provide evaluation about what you have learned from text readings, PowerPoint presentations, lectures, and laboratories. These assessments MUST be completed within the time frame listed. Prepare and complete assessments early rather than waiting until the last minute. You have at least a week in which to complete assessments. • You will take 12 quizzes in this course. • These quizzes are an assessment of what you have learned during the conduct of this course. As such, you are expected to perform them on your own, without the help of another human individual through any means. You may use your text or laboratory information; however, the tests are timed, and you should not expect to be able to look up answers to all questions. Plan on studying and completing the tests without supplemental help, including your textbook or lab materials, to optimize your grades. You are not permitted to use the help from another human in taking these quizzes or exams.

The Final Course Grade will be determined based on final numeric grade earned, as follows.  Note that you MUST complete the entire course to earn a passing grade regardless of your total numeric grade earned.

Type of Assessment	Number @ Points Each	Total Points	% of Final Grade
Discussions	7 @ 30	210	40%
Laboratory	10 @ 10	100	20%
Field Day (Face to Face Session)	1   @ 100	100	20%
Quizzes – Unit1	10 @ 10	100	20%
Course Participation	No points off, or -20 points if regular attendance (at least once every three days) is not observed
Total Points Possible		510	100 %

 

Total # of Points	Quality Points	% of 510	Letter Grade
510-479	4.0-3.75	94	A
478-459	3.74-3.35	90	A-
458-449	3.34-3.05	88	B+
448-428	3.04-2.75	84	B
427-408	2.74-2.35	80	B-
407-398	2.34-2.05	78	C+
397-377	2.04-1.75	74	C
376-357	1.74-1.35	70	C-
356-347	1.34-1.05	68	D+
346-326	1.04-0.75	64	D
325-306	0.74-0.50	60	D-
<305	<0.50	<60	F

VI. Class Management

Class management deals with the management, or structure of the class. This section may include some or all of these items:

• Communication with the instructor: via e-mail, office hours, Canvas?
• How will a class session cancellation be communicated?
• What might each class session look like?
• Tardiness? (Don’t wait for the students who aren’t there, reward those who are there by starting class on time.)
• How will Canvas be used?
• Do papers have to be word processed?
• Are there specific requirements for assignment submittal?
• Will assignments be returned?
• Are there certain expectations of the students by the instructor (decorum)?
• Are assignments accepted early, or late?
• Is there a date after which no assignments will be accepted?
• Is there a penalty for missing class?
• Is there a minimum/maximum number of classes that can be missed without a grade penalty?
• What about emergencies?
• Will the class have field trips?
• Are there special arrangements for laboratories?
• Will the class meet in a different location for some class session?

VII. Information you should know if you are a CMC Student

1. https://coloradomtn.edu/your-right-to-know
   You have a right to know certain information that the College is required by law to provide. Links on this page will connect you with helpful information including disability services, complaint processes, policies and procedures, textbook information, registration, attendance and grading, graduation rates and much more.
2. Notice of Nondiscrimination: Colorado Mountain College does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family and genetic information, or in its programs and activities, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and as provided in other applicable statutes and College policies. The College prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment, including sexual assault, and other forms of interpersonal violence. To obtain more information regarding non-discrimination policies, visit http://coloradomtn.edu/about-cmc/notice-of-nondiscrimination/ or contact Lisa Doak, Title IX Coordinator, ldoak@coloradomtn.edu, 970-947-8351, or Angela Wurtsmith, Director of Human Resources, awurtsmith@coloradomtn.edu, 970-947-8311.

VIII. Tentative Course Schedule

NOTE: This schedule is subject to change at any time, depending on instructor evaluation of student skills/understanding/knowledge. See Canvas for more information.

• All assignments are due on the final day of each week listed.
• Discussions: Your initial post for Discussions is due on last day of the week in which the discussion opens, preferably as early in the week as reasonable.  Response posts to other students’ essay posts are due at the end of the second week listed.  Add at least 3 correctly cited (APA style) scientifically valid references, in addition to your textbook, to one of your posts for full credit.

All laboratories are based on eScienceLabs  (EScience Lab #), 2012. Environmental Science Lab Kit.  Check schedule below for the specific EScience lab # to do.

Required CMC Environmental Science Lab Kit, $189 Order from: www.esciencelabs.com 888-375-5487 \ Kit Code CMC3001

If you are a Financial Aid student, please contact your school’s Financial Aid Advisor for help.

A student must complete Discussion 1 (mini-essay post due) for Week 1 by the due date indicated to avoid being dropped from the course as a no-show student.

 

SCHEDULE: FALL 2018

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Unit Module	Readings in Env. Science 14TH Edition	Assignments and Activities Check Off	Week: Dates
1b	Learning to Learn and Environmental Basics: Chs 1-2 The 3 Es of Sustainability	o   Discussion - Student & Faculty Introductions o   Discussion 1: Scientific Method  (Initial post due) o   Begin EScience Lab 1 Scientific Method o   Begin eScience Lab 2 Lab Reports (10 days) o   Quiz 1: Chs 1-2	Week 1 8/27-9/2
2	Biological Communities and Global Patterns of Life	o   Discussion 1: Scientific Method (responses due) o   EScience Lab 1 due o   Begin EScience Lab 4 Ecosystems (1 week) o   Quiz 2: Chs 3-5	Week 2 9/3-9/9
3	Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology Chs 11-13	o   Discussion 2: Biodiversity (Initial post due) o   EScience Lab 2 on Lab Reports due o   EScience Lab 4 Ecosystems due   o   Quiz 4: Chs 11-13	Week 3 9/10-9/16
	Biodiversity & Restoration Ecology continued:  Chs 11-13	o   Discussion 2 Biodiversity (responses due) o   EScience Lab 5 Ecology of Organisms due o   Begin EScience Lab 6 Biodiversity (2 weeks)	Week 4 9/17-9/23
	Water: Chs 17-18	o   Discussion 3: Ocean Fisheries (initial post due) o   EScience Lab 6 Biodiversity due	Week 5 9/24-9/30
Field Day	Detailed information in the Field Day Module	o   FIELD LAB EXPERIENCE AT        BRECKENRIDGE Campus o   MANDATORY ATTENDANCE o    Reports due 10/10	Saturday October 6
		o   Discussion 3: Ocean Fisheries (responses due) o eScience Lab 8: Water quality and Contamination due – only a 3 hour lab	Week 6 10/1-10/7
		o   Discussion 4: Food & Agriculture (initial post due) o  eScience Lab 7: Populations - do exercises 1 & 2 only o   eScience Lab 8 due o   Quiz 6: Chs 9, 10	Week 7: 10/8-10/14
6	Food, Hunger and Farming: Chs 9-10	o   Discussion 4: Food & Agriculture (responses due) o  eScience Lab 7: Populations due o   Begin EScience Lab 10 Soil Quality & Contamination (1 week) o   Quiz 3: Chs 6-8	Week 8: 10/15-10/21
		o   Discussion 5: Freshwater (initial post due) o   EScience Lab 10 Soil Quality & Contamination due o   Quiz 5: Chs 17-18	Week 9: 10/22-10/28
7	Earth Resources	o   Discussion 5: Freshwater (responses due) o   EScience Lab 12: Weather & Climate Change due (12 hrs)	Week 10 10/29-11/4
8	Climate Change and Air Pollution Chs 15-16	o   Discussion 6: Climate Change (initial post due) o   Begin EScience Lab 9: Air Quality (4 days) o   Quiz 8: Chs 15, 16, 19, 20	Week 11: 11/5-11/11
	Energy Chs 19-20	o   Discussion 6: Climate Change (responses due) o   EScience Lab 9 due o   Quiz 10: Chs 23/24	Week 12: 11/12-11/18
		THANKSGIVING WEEK	Week 13: 11/19-11/25
9	Waste, Urbanization Chs 21, 22	o   Discussion 7: Fracking: (initial post due) o   EScience Lab 11 Energy Sources & Alternative Energy (2 days) o   Quiz 7: Ch 14	Week 14: 11/26-12/2
10	Economics, Policy and Action Chs 23-24 (25 Review Only)	o   Discussion 7: Fracking: (responses due) o   Quiz 9: Chs 21-22 o   Discussion 8: Sustainability (initial post due)	Week 15: 12/3-12/9
	COURSE REVIEW	Sustainability responses due no later than 12/12	Week 16: 12/10-12/14

 

IX.  Additional Information for Online Learning Students

Course Access and Orientation

Canvas by Instructure is the online learning management system (LMS) used by Colorado Mountain College. You access Canvas via your web browser and by logging in through CMC’s Basecamp portal.  For instructions on how to login to Basecamp and other Canvas support resources, please visit:  Help for Canvas.

Once in Basecamp, you can also access orientation materials that will prepare you to be an online student.  Look for the section “Resources for Online Learning” at this link:  Basecamp - Student Services - Online Learning.

Smarthinking Online Tutoring

All students registered for a credit course can access the service by clicking “Smarthinking Online Tutoring” on the left-hand navigation in any of your courses in Canvas.  While this service is provided at no charge, Colorado Mountain College reserves the right to cap the number of free tutoring hours provided to a student.  Initially, students are provided with 10 hours per 12-month period coinciding with the college’s fiscal year of July 1 through June 30.  This limit is subject to change and students may request additional hours.

Virtual Library

The Virtual Library has its doors open 24/7, providing access to thousands of online journals and newspapers, e-books and art images, downloadable videos and audiobooks, career resources and practice tests. You can access CMC’s Virtual Library at library.coloradomtn.edu/ or use the CMC Libraries link from the Canvas course menu to access the website. The link will pass authentication credentials that will allow you to use online library collections. It will also take you directly to the libraries’ home page.  Library Tutorials:  The library offers a variety of online video tutorials that will help you with your research projects at library.coloradomtn.edu/modules.  Ask a Librarian:  If you need assistance with your research project, you can ask a librarian online. Select AskAcademic chat box on the libraries’ home page and type in your question. This service is available 24/7. You can also email reference@coloradomtn.edu or call 800-621-8559, extension 2926.