SYLLABUS SCIENCE 1102/09 Hybrid SPRING Instructor: Joy. L. Brookshire Office: SC Phone #:

Transcription

1 1 SYLLABUS SCIENCE 1102/09 Hybrid SPRING 2012 Instructor: Joy. L. Brookshire Office: SC Phone #: The class meets once weekly on Friday at 9:30 am in SC 109 Office Hours: T 2:00 4:30 F 11:00 12:00 and other times by appointment Virtual Office hours: M 9:30 10:30 am Text: Environment: The Science behind the Stories with MasteringEnvironmentalScience, 4/e Withgott & Brennan; 2011: Prentice Hall; ISBN-10: ISBN-13: (MasteringBiology may also be purchased separately) Course Description: Prerequisite: ENGL 0099, READ 0099, MATH 0099, if required. This course is the second in a two-part sequence that fulfills the general education science requirement. Using the context of environmental issues, it introduces students to the basic skills and scientific understandings needed by educated citizens to make informed decisions about scientific issues. Success in a Hybrid Course: This course is a hybrid, meaning that you will be responsible for completing online assignments in a timely fashion. You may work on activities at any time during the period when they are available so you can schedule your course work around other obligations in your life but they do have a window of time when they are open and you must work on them within that window. Assignments due dates will not be extended. While the assignments are available for seven days students who complete assignments earlier in the seven day window tend to demonstrate consistently higher scores than those who tend to put off the work until shortly before it is due. The ability to motivate yourself to do the required work will play a critical role in your success in this class. Technical Support Resources: Content for this course is delivered through two major sources, both of which have technical support available to students. GeorgiaView Vista has technical support available 24 hours a day 7 days a week through the GeorgiaView Vista Support Center at There is also a link on the main page in Vista to connect you. The Support Center may also be reached toll-free by phone at or for hearing-impaired users. MasteringEnvironmentalScience (MES) support can be accessed at There you can find information on System Requirements, Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, Registration Tips & Tricks video and additional contact information for Customer Support, including Live Chat. These resources should be contacted immediately by the student if you encounter problems. Valuable time for completing assignments may be lost if you put off seeking assistance from one of these support services. Instructor Response Time: Generally any questions addressed to the instructor will be answered with in 24 hours and questions asked between 9:00 am and 10:00 pm may be answered within a few hours. Additionally, Virtual Office Hours will be held on Monday from 9:30 10:30 am on GeorgiaView Vista in the Chat Room. Grades for assignments/exams that do not have automated grading will be available 7 days from the date that they were due / administered.

2 2 General Guidelines: Your continued presence in this course signifies your acceptance of the policies and procedures outlined in this document. Materials for this course are available online on Georgia View Vista. You will need your KSU Net ID to be able to access the course materials. You will also need access to MasteringEnvironmentalScience which can be purchased with the textbook or separately. It is your responsibility to make certain that you are able to access GeorgiaView Vista and MasteringEnvironmentalScience. If your home computer will not allow you to do so there are computer labs on campus that will allow access. Class attendance is not required, however, you will be held responsible for all announcements and material covered in the lecture. Any changes to the schedule will be announced in class. Cellular telephones, pagers, and similar devices must be turned off during class. You must leave the room to have any conversation, on the phone or with a classmate. Inclement Weather Policy: For the official status of the university check the KSU website: and click on Campus Advisories. Check this website if you want to know if there will be classes/labs. The assumption is that if the University is open, then we will have classes/labs. You should also check the announcements page on the web site to see if there are any special directions regarding your Sci 1102 class/section. Academic Withdrawal Policy: Students may withdraw from one or more courses anytime before the last three weeks of the semester. However, as of Fall 2004, students will be allowed a maximum of eight total withdrawals if they enter KSU as a freshman. Transfer students will be allowed one withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted, for a maximum of eight. Students who choose to pursue a second degree at KSU will be allowed two additional withdrawals. Students who entered KSU before the Fall of 2004 will be allowed one withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted for a maximum of eight. To withdraw, the student should complete an official withdrawal form in the Office of the Registrar. Students who officially withdraw from courses on or before the last day to withdraw without academic penalty will receive a "W". Students who officially withdraw after the last day to withdraw without academic penalty (and before the last three weeks of the semester) will receive a "WF", which will be counted as an "F" in calculation of their grade point average. The only exceptions to these withdrawal regulations will be for instances involving unusual circumstances, which are fully documented. Students may appeal to the academic standing committee for consideration of unusual circumstances. LAST DATE TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT ACADEMIC PENALTY SPRING 2012 MARCH 12, 2011 Academic Integrity: All graded work must be completed individually by students. While students may consult course materials (textbook, class notes, etc) when completing online assignments they may not consult other students. Any instances of such an occurrence will be considered cheating and will be dealt with accordingly. Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. The catalog states : No student shall receive, attempt to receive, knowingly give or attempt to give unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work required to be submitted for credit

3 3 (including examinations, laboratory reports, essays, themes, term papers, etc.). Unless specifically authorized, the presence and/or use of electronic devices during an examination, quiz, or other class assignment is considered cheating. Engaging in any behavior which a professor prohibits as academic misconduct in the syllabus or in class discussion is cheating. When direct quotations are used, they should be indicated, and when the ideas, theories, data, figures, graphs, programs, electronic based information or illustrations of someone other than the student are incorporated into a paper or used in a project, they should be duly acknowledged. No student may submit the same, or substantially the same, paper or other assignment for credit in more than one class without the prior permission of the current professor(s). Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an "Informal" resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement. Accommodation For Students With Disabilities: Important notice: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to arrange the necessary accommodations. Students should present appropriate verification from KSU disabled Student Support Services. No requirements exist that accommodations be made prior to completion of this approved University process. The web page may be accessed at: ASSESSMENT METHODS Exams: There will be four exams including one that will be given on the day that the final exam is scheduled. All four exams will be equally weighted. The lowest of the four exams scores will be dropped and only the three highest scores will count toward the student s grade in the class. No makeup exams will be given: if an exam is missed that will be the exam with the lowest score and will be dropped. No student will be permitted to take an exam if they arrive 20 minutes or more late for any of the exams. Any student who is not present by 20 minutes after the scheduled start time will receive a zero for that exam. If an exam must be canceled because of inclement weather (i.e., if the university is closed) it will be given during the next scheduled class period. If there are multiple days of inclement weather, I reserve the right to cancel an exam and adjust the total points for the course accordingly. Discussions: Four discussions on topics relevant to those covered in that module will be available to students; each will be worth 10 points. The lowest discussion grade will be dropped for a total of 30 possible points. Quizzes: Four quizzes will be given on GeorgiaView Vista each on a specific topic that is given in the course schedule; each will be worth 10 points. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped for a total of 30 possible points. MasteringEnvironmentalScience: MasteringEnvironmentalScience (MES) is an online homework platform that will assist you in understanding the material and will be worth a total of 90 points. The entire homework can earn a possible points but a maximum of 90 will count toward the final grade. Any points earned in excess of that 90 will be dropped.

4 4 Missed quizzes, discussions, exams or homework: There are no opportunities to make up missed quizzes, discussion, exams or homework in this course included to instances related to technical problems. However, since unforeseen events, technical failures and dropped internet connections do occur the course is designed to accommodate such occurrences by allowing students to drop their lowest grades on quizzes, discussions and exams or by offering many more points than can be counted in the homework. Students should take special care to minimize potential technical issues (see the following section for suggested approaches) throughout the course and should be especially prudent when planning if they have missed prior assignments. In most cases, technical issues can be rare with careful preparation and it is strongly suggested that students use such preparation to maximize their opportunities for success in the course. Minimizing the potential for technical issues: Technology issues (computer failures, losses of internet connection, etc.) are an inherent risk in any online course. Students in the course are required to have contingency plans in place at all times to deal with such potential issues, as technical failures will not provide students the opportunity to make up work lost to technical problems. It is therefore advisable to: complete assessments/assignments early in their availability period; have multiple computers available for use (campus computer labs are a good backup option) and always use a reliable internet connection (preferably wired over wireless) when completing assignments. If you lose connection with Vista while taking a quiz, realize that while the clock on the assessment continues to run, you may resume taking the quiz. Hence, it is always advisable to have a backup computer/internet connection available when taking assessments to facilitate quick recovery from potential technical issues and enable the completion of assignments. Reviewing Grades: Grades for homework will be available on the MES site until the end of the semester when the grades will be added to Vista. Quiz scores will be available on Vista immediately after the completion of the quiz and may be viewed at any time. Exam and discussion grades will be posted to Vista no later than 7 days after the assignment is due or the exam is taken. Graded Assignments and Grade Distribution: Graded Assignments Totals Final Course Grades 3 exams at 130 points each 390 points A = discussions 30 points B = MES (homework) 90 points C = quizzes 30 points D = Total 540 points F < 324

5 5 Detailed Course Schedule Week of Location Readings Graded Assignments 9 Jan 16 Jan 23 Jan 30 Jan 6 Feb 13 Feb 20 Feb 27 Feb Read documents in Orientation and Essential documents on Vista Introduction to syllabus and course topics Module 1: Unit 1 (Vista) Demographic Transition, age structure diagrams, global and national growth rates Module 1: Units 2 and 3 (Vista) No in class meeting this week. Please complete the online assignment on Module 1: Unit 3 instead. Module 1: Unit 4 (Vista) Module 2: Unit 1 (Vista) The importance of biodiversity to humans Exam I Syllabus Quiz on Vista Introduction to MasteringEnvironmental Science (MES) Current and Future Population Growth (MES) Discussion 1 (Vista) Factors Affecting Human Population Growth (MES) Resources to Produce Our Food (MES) Feeding an Expanding Human Population (MES) Biodiversity: What is it and why is it important? Video: Ending the Economic Invisibility of Nature (Vista) Module 2: Unit 2 (Vista) Hazards to Human Health (MES) Cultural, Physical, Chemical and Biological Hazards Video: Bill Moyers Journal: Chemicals in Our Food? With Quiz on Vista Module 2: Unit 3 (Vista) Video: Influenza 1918 Emerging pathogens where do they come from and should you be worried Discussion 2 (Vista) Module 2: Unit 4 (Vista) Determining the Danger (MES) Exam II 5 Mar No Classes SPRING BREAK (University Closed 3/3 3/9) 12 Mar Module 3: Unit 1 (Vista) (Last Day to Withdraw 3/12) The Water You Drink (MES) Water Treatment Facilities Video: Poisoned Waters Part 1 19 Mar 26 Mar Module 3: Unit 2 (Vista) Poisoned Waters Video and Environmental Justice Problems With the Water You Drink (MES) Video: Poisoned Waters Part 2 with quiz on Vista Module 3: Unit 3 (Vista) But I Don't Drink This! (MES) Seafood safety Discussion 3

6 6 2 Apr 9 Apr 16 Apr 23 Apr Module 3: Unit 4 (Vista) What Does That Have To Do With The Price Of My Dinner? (MES) Exam III Module 4: Unit 1 (Vista) Weather and Climate (MES) Climate Change Module 4: Unit 2 (Vista) Sustainable Economics Climate Change Activity and Quiz (Vista) Air Pollution Outdoors and Indoors (MES) Quiz on Sustainable Economics (Vista) Module 4: Unit 3 (Vista) Sustainability (MES) Sustainability and the Present Discussion 4 4 May EXAM IV 10:30-12:30

7 7 Science, Society and the Environment II (SCI 1102) Learning Objectives Goal: The goal of this course is to strengthen the appreciation for and understanding of science and its role in society and to provide students with the skills and information needed to make informed decisions in their personal and public lives. General Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: identify issues, acquire appropriate information, critically evaluate information sources, and integrate existing values and knowledge in reaching conclusions on reasonable solutions to environmental problems. Unlike SCI 1101, there are no specific required topics, although the concept of sustainability and the study of human population growth are encouraged. Specific Course Objectives: The requirements for this course are skill-based. Students completing the course should be able to: identify important issues or problems in the environment acquire appropriate information needed to understand the issue or problem evaluate the sources and validity of the information acquired evaluate information and reach a conclusion synthesize information to produce solutions integrate values and ethical considerations into potential solutions recognize the existence of multiple viewpoints