Survey of Environmental Science:

Sustaining Our Earth

ENVS&100 OL Course Number 3952 Fall 2018

Instructor: Jeff D Fennell Email: ​jfennell@everettcc.edu

Office Hours: By appointment Phone: 425.388.9964 x 7332
Office: SHK-124

Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Course Requirements

Course Description

Student Learning Objectives

Primary Core Learning Outcomes assessed by this course:

Program-specific Outcomes supported by this course:

Cheating

Deadlines

Canvas Etiquette

Instructor responsibilities

Student Responsibilities

Statement on Accessibility

Time Management

Material Availability

Grading Policy
Weekly Quizzes
In-Class Midterms

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 Group Discussions
Weekly Discussions
Assignments
SimBiotic (Simutext) Labs
Invasive Species Project

Course Requirements

● Karr, Interlandi, and Houtma. ​Environmental Science for a Changing World​, 3​rd​ ed.
2018.
● Simbiotic Software. During the first week I will provide information on this software
that must be purchased online or via the bookstore. You must purchase with a
credit/debit card. You must purchase your own copies, no sharing among students. ​If
you do not purchase the software you will not receive credit for these assignments​.
● On-campus exams: There will be 2 exams that must be taken on campus. Check out
Canvas for the dates.
● You must have a reliable internet connection! If you do not have your own computer with
internet access, there is a computer lab in SHK 231 that is free for student use. However,
it is strongly advised that you do not attempt an online class if you do not have a
computer with internet connection in your home. Experience has shown that students
who try to make do using school computers or friends/work computers find it difficult to
complete assignments and do poorly in online classes. The reliability of your connection
is especially critical when taking quizzes as I am not obligated to reset a quiz for you.

Course Description

Biological and ecological principles and how they pertain to current issues of population growth
and control, diminished food supply, water, air pollution, and similar environmental issues.

Prerequisites:​ ENGL 098 with a grade of C or higher or skills assessment at ENGL& 101 or
higher; and MATH 080 or skills assessment at MATH 081 or higher.

This online course is equivalent to the face-to-face course I teach on campus. You should expect
to spend 20-25 hours per week on course material. No kidding. This includes logging into our
Canvas page daily.

Student Learning Objectives

1. Describe the structure and function of ecosystem components.

2. Describe the interactions among the species in an ecosystem.
3. Describe the energy flow within an ecosystem.
4. Describe nutrient cycling in ecosystems.

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 5. Describe human interactions with nutrient cycles.
6. Evaluate the relationship between human population growth and environmental issues.
7. Evaluate local, regional and global environmental topics related to resource use and
management.
8. Propose solutions to environmental issues related to resource use and management.
9. Describe environmental issues that relate to energy production and use.
10. Evaluate alternative means of energy production.
11. Evaluate and summarize existing research and present it in written form.
12. Describe the elements of a sustainable society.

Primary Core Learning Outcomes assessed by this course:

1. Engage and take responsibility as active learners – students will participate in discussions
that explore and reinforce environmental topics and concepts.
2. Think critically – students will apply scientific methodology to evaluate, discuss, and
reach conclusions regarding current research problems involving environmental issues.
3. Communicate effectively - students will communicate the results of their assignments in
a visual presentation.
4. Identify elements of a sustainable society—students will integrate and apply economic,
ecological, and eco-justice concepts into a systems-thinking framework.

Program-specific Outcomes supported by this course:

1. Critically evaluate the science-related content in reports, popular media and public policy
- Students will read assigned articles, books and online resources, and evaluate these
sources in the context of the environmental topics presented in class.
2. Effectively communicate scientific processes - Students will use the results obtained from
projects, demonstrations and discussions to produce written reports and presentations.

Cheating

You, the student, are expected to conduct yourself with integrity. When you cheat​*​, or aid
someone else in cheating, you violate a trust. If you cheat, disciplinary action will be taken. At a
minimum, you will receive a zero on the assignment in question and the incident will be reported
to the Dean.

*Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying answers on tests and assignments, glancing at
nearby test papers, swapping papers, stealing, plagiarizing, and illicitly giving or receiving help
on exams and assignments.

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Deadlines

Quizzes and Exams must be taken on the day they are given, unless ​previous​ arrangements have
been made. Late assignments will only be accepted at my discretion ​within 1 day of their due
date​, for ​half credit​.

Canvas Etiquette

You may be surprised to hear that an online class environment is actually more participatory than
an on campus class, because ​everyone is expected to contribute to discussions in the discussion
board.​ Even though you may never meet, it is important to remember that you are not talking to
a computer, but to real people. Therefore, you must treat your classmates with respect.
Environmental Studies 100 is largely collaborative.

Instructor responsibilities

1. To facilitate learning of course objectives.

2. To teach you about Environmental Studies to the best of my ability.
3. My goal is to give you a greater appreciation of the environment around you and to make
science accessible and interesting for you.
4. To ensure students are comfortable approaching me with questions in person and online.
5. To be available for you via e-mail at least once a day during the week.
6. I will try to make myself accessible to you on the weekends as well, but please respect
that instructors need their down-time too.
7. To check the student question forum daily and to answer questions in a timely manner.
8. To treat all of my students with the respect they deserve.

Student Responsibilities

1. Your responsibility is to successfully learn the material I present to you.

2. To turn in assignments/exams when or before they are due. You must budget your time to
make room for this course. If you have too many other obligations and cannot spend at
least 20 hours a week on this course, you should reconsider taking it at this time.
3. If you are confused, you should ask me questions. There is no such thing as a dumb
question (relating to the course material anyway). If you have questions, likely so do
others in this class. Don’t be afraid!
4. If you are having trouble understanding the material or doing well on quizzes, it is your
responsibility to seek help from me outside of class and/or seek tutoring at the tutoring
center.
5. If you have any technological problems, it is your responsibility to get them resolved
either by e-mailing me or the Canvas help desk in a timely manner.

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 6. To provide a comfortable learning environment for your fellow students. You must treat
me and your fellow classmates with respect.
7. No discriminatory comments or attitudes towards your fellow classmates for ​any ​reason
will be tolerated, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender,
or disability.

Statement on Accessibility

If you have a specific physical, psychiatric or learning disability and require accommodations,
please let me know early in the quarter so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.
You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Center for Disability Services
(located in Parks 267 right across from the bookstore).

Time Management

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Ultimately, how you manage your time in this course is up to you
and how you best study. However, as a rule of thumb, you should be accessing and going
through lectures at the beginning of the week. You should try to have your assignments done by
Tuesday of that week. By having at least looked over and started your assignment by the middle
of the week, you will have time to assess if you understand the material and to get any of your
questions answered in a timely manner.

Also, should you have problems downloading materials or uploading materials, we can
troubleshoot these problems in a timely manner. If the subject matter is something you
understand, by finishing early, this will give you more time to spend on the next week’s material.
It is advised that you begin looking over the next week’s material by the end of the previous
week to stay on task.

You are responsible for your own education. Although this class does allow you some flexibility
in when you complete your assignments, there are still strict due dates for assignments. Quizzes
can only be taken when they are available. You will not be able to finish this class strictly at your
own pace.

You are responsible for making sure you understand the directions provided.

It is important that you complete assignments/quizzes in a timely manner in order to avoid any
technical difficulties that may arise. If you do encounter technical problems it is your
responsibility to get them resolved quickly and to inform me immediately. For example, if
internet problems hindered you from completing an assignment, if you inform me of this more
than 24 hours after the due date has past, you will not be allowed to make up the assignment. I
will not always be immediately available to help you if a problem occurs. I will check my e-mail
and the discussion board at least once a day during the week.

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Material Availability

Weeks begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday morning and end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday evening. All due
dates are by 11:59 p.m. of the date due. Quizzes are available on Thursday of each week.

Grading Policy

Your grade will be based upon the following assignments. All points are approximate.

Assignment Points Weight

13 Module Quizzes (approx. 236 points each) 468 40%
2 In-Class Midterms (approx. 110 points each) 220 20%
9 Group Discussions (10 points each) 90 10%
9 Weekly Discussions (5 points each) 45 5%
9 Weekly Assignments (10 points each) 90 10%
4 Simbiotic Lab Activities (20 points each) 80 10%
Invasive Species Project 20 5%
Total (approximate) 1013 100%
The point value for each class of assignments may change, however, the weights of the
assignments will not.

Final course grades will be assigned according the percentage of points you earn:

93% - 100% = A 87%- 89% = B+ 77% - 79% = C+ 67% - 69% = D+

90% - 92% = A- 83% - 86% = B 73% - 76% = C 62% - 66% = D

80% - 82% = B- 70% - 72% = C- <62% = F

Module Quizzes

These quizzes (points will vary) will be open Thursday - Sunday, and will cover the material
from that week. This includes module readings, supplemental readings via Canvas, and any
activities we do. The questions will be mostly multiple-choice, with perhaps a few short-answer
questions. You may use your text and notes during these quizzes (because I can’t stop you), but
you’ll only have approximately ​1 minute per question​, not enough time to look up all the
answers. Be sure you’ve studied! I will drop your 2 lowest scores on these.

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In-Class Midterms

These exams will be held on campus. Check Canvas for the dates, times, and location.

Group Discussions

This weekly discussion/assignment is a set of four questions that you will answer within an
online group. More information about these assignments can be found under the ​Environmental
Science 100 Course Information ​module in Canvas.

Class Discussions

Every week a discussion on a current environmental subject relating to material for that week
will be provided for you to post comments. You are required to post one comment ​and​ respond
to two of your fellow students each week. ​Your comment is due by​ ​Wednesday and your two
replies are due by Friday. ​Comments and replies should be at least a paragraph in length (4
sentences) and well thought out. It is recommended that you write your comments in a word
processing program and copy and paste them to the discussion board.

Assignments

During the weeks we’ll have various assignments to complete, designed to help you further
understand the course material.

SimBiotic (Simutext) Labs

You will be using these computer software programs to better understand concepts we discuss in
class and in your readings. You will need to purchase the software by Week 3. This software is
available for purchase online. More information can be found in the ​Environmental Science 100
Course Information ​module. Any student with technical issues downloading and installing the
program should contact the Web Store Support Team at webstoresupport@simbio.com.

Invasive Species Project

Sometime after the 5th week of the quarter (check Canvas for the date) you’ll prepare a 2-page
poster on an invasive species of your choice. More information is available in the
Environmental Science 100 Course Information​ module.

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