Lecture Times:
2:00-3:00 pm. TR, CS 122
Lab Times:
3:00-5:00 pm TR, CS 204
Office:
Carhart Science Bldg. Rm. 229
Telephone:
402-375-7344
e-mail:
bahayfo1@wsc.edu
Office hours:
1:00-2:00 pm, M-F
Text Books
Johnsgard, P. 2001. The Nature of Nebraska. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.
McConnell, R. and D. Abel. Environmental Issues: Measuring, Analyzing,
and Evaluating. Prentice Hall, NJ.
Additional Materials You must purchase a notebook of any kind.
Welcome to Environmental Concerns. This may be the most valuable in
your college career. There is no prerequisite for Environmental Concerns
besides knowing why you are taking this course. My goals for the course are
as follows.
· First, with an understanding of the scientific
method and through laboratory activities, I hope that your critical thinking
and problem solving skills will improve. This will be a value to you whatever
your major is in college.
· Second, through analysis and discussion of class
topics, I hope you improve your level of scientific literacy in the areas
of basic biology and ecology.
· Third, through our brief exposure to this amazing
natural world in which we live, I hope that your appreciation and connection
to nature is strengthened. According to Senegalese conservationist Baba Dioum,
“In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we
understand, we will understand only what we are taught.”
How is this course relevant to the general education goals? (For the general education goals, see the college catalog.)
· In Environmental Concerns you will be communicating in both written and oral forms.
· By learning about human’s effects on various ecosystems,
you will understand more about your role in society.
· In lab you will be making observations, interpreting data and using information resources.
· As John G. Neihardt said in his Poet Laureate
address, “Education is fundamentally a spiritual process. In its proper
function it is concerned less with the problem of acquiring the means of
life than with the far more difficult one of knowing what to do with life
after one is in possession of the means to live.”
There are various learning resources and services available at WSC:
* Computer labs are located in Conn Library, Carhart, Connell, Brandenberg and Gardner Halls
* Peer tutoring and counseling is located in the Learning Center (Student Union, 375-7496)
* Further scholastic assistance is available at the Dean of Students Office (375-7213)
Lecture/Lab:
For most of the semester lecture and lab will be combined.
After the first week of classes you will only need to come on the day that
your lab is scheduled. These lecture/lab sessions will involve a variety
of experiences including: basic lecture, workbook activities, discussion,
lab activities, field work, recycling, and exams.
Exams
There will be three exams during the semester. There is
no schedule for when the exams take place. If you are not present when
an exam is announced, that is not an excuse to miss the exam. You are
responsible for that information. THERE WILL BE NO LATE EXAMS.
IF YOU MISS AN EXAM YOU MAY TAKE THE FINAL FOR DOUBLE POINTS. The final
is partially comprehensive.
Your grade for this class will be comprised of a percentage of total points
(e.g. 100%-90% = A, 89%-80% = B, 79% -70% = C, 69% - 60% = D, 59% or lower
= F). If class is cancelled during an exam day, the exam will be scheduled
for the next class period.
Environmental Service Projects
During most of the lab sessions you will be working on
one Environmental Service Projects that involves implementing and investigating
a plastic recycling program on campus. You will write one lab report.
Reading Journals: You will be responsible for a journal of critique
and commentary on the chapters in Nature of Nebraska. Each entry is
worth ten points. YOU MUST SHOW ME THE JOURNAL ENTRY DURING YOUR LAB
PERIOD OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO LECTURE/LAB ACTIVITY. Follow
these instructions explicitly:
1. Type your journal entry and tape it into the notebook you have purchased.
2. Journal entries should include the following information:
a. Your Name.
b. Chapter Number and Title.
c. A list of five points you found most important in the article.
d. A list of any bias you found in the article.
e. A paragraph summary of the article.
Grammar—Use your spell check and grammar check. You will miss a point
for every misspelled word and any incorrect grammar that I find
Grading:
Exams
200 points (2 x 100 points each)
Final
150 points (Comprehensive and new material)
Lab Experiences
100 points (10 x 10 points each)
Lab Reports
100 points (1 x 100 points each)
Journal Entries
150 points (12 x 10 plus 30 points final)
Total
700 points
Late Policy
No late assignments will be accepted.
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
Any first offense of cheating or plagiarism will result
in no points for that assignment. A second offense will result in an F for
the course. Plagiarism means taking the words or ideas of someone else and
passing them off as your own. Any text that you copy should be clearly labeled
as such and should have a reference citation to the original author and place
of publication. Any ideas taken from someone else should also include a reference
citation to that person.
Class Participation and Attendance
It is expected that you will attend and participate in
all scheduled class and laboratory periods. Your grade for the class will
suffer if you have many absences. However, attendance is not mandatory
except for during the concept map sessions (see above).
Additional course responsibilities (WSC ‘Academic Responsibility & Integrity’ statement):
· To perform to your potential, inform me of any
condition that may require some modification of seating, testing, or other
class requirements.
· Be knowledgeable of academic requirements and
College policies concerning registration, academic standing, payment of tuition
and fees, withdrawal and graduation.
· Initiate communication with faculty, advisors,
and the administration regarding questions, concerns and intellectual dialogue.
· Understand my requirements concerning attendance and assignment deadlines.
· Show courtesy and respect toward others with diverse points of views.
· Display a positive work ethic and a genuine interest in the welfare of others.
A Note To Teacher Education Students
The intellectual thrust of all teacher education programs on the Wayne State
campus centers around reflection and inquiry. This course affords you
an opportunity to improve at both by reflecting on the environment and by
using the scientific method as a method of inquiry.
Exam Schedule. Exams will be scheduled when a section has been completed and will be announced one week prior to an exam.