GEOL 1305: Environmental Science: Spring 2016 Syllabus Updated: 8/20/16 1

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HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCE GEOLOGY Program SYLLABUS FOR GEOL 1305 Environmental Science Fall 2016 8-week course Class Number 14746 ONLINE Instructor contact information

1 HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCE GEOLOGY Program SYLLABUS FOR GEOL 1305 Environmental Science Fall week course Class Number ONLINE Instructor contact information Karen Blair Yip Most of your communication with me and with your classmates will be via the Inbox tool in Canvas. It allows your s to always be connected with the course and stay organized. Always use your HCC student account when contacting instructors or campus staff. This is your official address. Office Location and Hours Tuesday 11am-noon Stafford Campus Scarcella room N105 cubicle #21. Mon & Wed noon-2pm Spring Branch room TBA. Contact me to set up a meeting place. If these times don t work for you we can certainly schedule something that works! Just contact me. Course Location/Times Online Course Semester Credit Hours (SCH) Credit Hours 3.00 Lecture Hours 3.00 Total Course Contact Hours Course Length 8 weeks Type of Instruction Online. EagleOnline Canvas Course Description: A survey of the forces, including humans, that shape our physical and biologic environment, and how they affect life on Earth. Introduction to the science and policy of global and regional environmental issues, including pollution, climate change, and sustainability of land, water, and energy resources. 3 credit (3 lecture). Course Prerequisite(s) Qualify to take GUST 0342 (9th -11th Grade Reading) or higher -AND- Qualify to take ENGL 0310 or 0349 or INRW 0420 Academic Discipline/CTE Program Learning Outcomes 1. Students will recognize scientific and quantitative methods. 2. Students will evaluate the differences of scientific approaches and communicate these findings, analyses, and interpretations in oral and written communication. 3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern science, including issues that touch upon ethics, values, religion, and public policies. 4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and their influence on, and contribution to, modern culture. 5. Students will identify and recognize the differences in competing scientific theories. Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLO): 1. Recognize, describe, and quantitatively evaluate earth systems, including the land, water, sea, and atmosphere, and how these function as interconnected ecological systems. 2. Assess environmental challenges facing humans caused by their interaction with the physical and biological environment (e.g., population growth, energy resources, food production, pollution, water and resource use). GEOL 1305: Environmental Science: Spring 2016 Syllabus Updated: 8/20/16 1

2 3. Acquire a scientific vocabulary and critical thinking skills related to environmental science. 4. Assess the effectiveness and feasibility of environmental policy and its impact. Learning Objectives 1.1 List the four categories of limiting factors for organisms in an ecological systems (raw materials, energy, waste products and interactions among organisms). 1.2 Interpret environmental trends from data (graphs or histograms or tables) 2.1 Utilize population data (e.g., from the US Census Bureau at to determine population growth rate, and analyze impact on resource demand and waste production Calculate personal energy or resource consumption (e.g., via household electric meter readings or water usage) Compare the use of fossil fuel, nuclear, and renewable energy consumption (wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric) Discuss current events related to environmental science as reported by news media Discuss the reliability of science through the Scientific Method in resolving environmental problems Discuss the chemical behavior of matter and states of matter (solid, liquid, or gas) in relation to kinetic and potential energy Support the notion that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but when energy is converted from one form to another, some energy is converted into a less useful form. 4.1 Explore how the political process impacts environmental decision making. 4.2 Evaluate significant environmental policies (e.g., clean air act, recycling nuclear fuel rods) related to what procedures are actually in place. Core Curriculum Objectives This course is in the Life and Physical Science Core Curriculum functional component area and meets the objectives of: Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication Empirical and Quantitative Skills - to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions Teamwork - to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal Yip GEOL 1305: Environmental Science 8-week Fall 2016 updated: 8/20/16 2

3 Class Schedule as of 8/20/2016 WEEK DATE TOPICS, DEADLINES and ASSESSMENTS week 1 8/22 8/28 Complete LearnSmart assignments via the textbook s Connect system Introductions, Overview of Course. Mandatory Online Orientation LearnSmart Chap 1: Environmental Interrelationships LS Chap 2: Environmental Ethics (+ National Park video segments) Syllabus Quiz & Quiz #1 & Complete quiz #2 **NEWS RESPONSE 1 due ** week 2 8/29 9/4 week 3 9/5 9/11 week 4 9/12 9/18 week 5 9/19 9/25 week 6 9/26 10/2 week 7 10/3 10/9 LS Chap 3: Environmental Risk: Economics, Assessment, and Management LS Chap 4: Interrelated Scientific Principles: Matter, Energy & Environment LS Chapter 5: Interactions: Environments and Organisms quiz #3 & Complete quiz #4 **NEWS RESPONSE 2 due Monday ** LS Chapter 6: Kinds of Ecosystems and Communities LS Chapter 7: Populations: Characteristics and Issues Prepare for mid-term exam Complete quiz #5 ** Mid-Term Exam ** (chapter 1-7) LS Chapter 8: Energy and Civilization: Patterns of Consumption LS Chapter 9: Nonrenewable Energy Sources LS Chapter 10: Renewable Energy Sources Complete quiz #6 (big quiz) News Response #3 LS Chapter 15: Water Management LS Chapter 11: Biodiversity Issues LS Chapter 12: Land-Use Planning *Connect Chap 12 assignment* LS Chapter 18: Solid Waste Management and Disposal Complete quiz #7 Complete quiz #8 ENERGY CONSUMPTION PROJECT DUE Withdrawal deadline 4:30PM, Monday, Sept 26 LS Chapter 13: Soil and its Uses LS Chapter 14: Agricultural Methods and Pest Management LS Chapter 16: Air Quality Issues Complete quiz #9 Complete quiz #10 WATER CONSUMPTION PROJECT DUE LS Chapter 17: Climate Change LS Chapter 19: Environmental Regulations LS Chapter 20: Environmental Policy and Decision Making Complete quiz #11 Complete Quiz #12 **NEWS RESPONSE 4 End of term 10/10-10/15 FINAL EXAM weekend. Final Exam will be given in person at specific testing centers the weekend of October 7, 8, 9. Your choice of which date. Grades will be posted by Monday Oct 16 NOTE: Course Class Schedule subject to modification. Any updates to the syllabus and schedule will be posted on LearningWeb and Eagle Online and an announcement will be sent. Yip GEOL 1305: Environmental Science 8-week Fall 2016 updated: 8/20/16 3

4 Instructional Methods Online. Eagle Online Canvas (EO) is available at Student Assignments There will be weekly reading assignments taken on the Connect system with the e-book. These are called LearnSmart assignments (LS in the calendar). The Connect system will help you approach the chapter, determine how well you have mastered the material and give you a chance to really check your learning before taking the weekly Quiz. These weekly reading assignments and the LearnSmart completion is part of your grade. Environmental Science current events are around us everyday, and everyday there are new ones. In addition to reading the textbook students will be expected to explore some current events related to the course material. Especially good news! Students will use their developing understanding of Environmental Science vocabulary and environmental concepts to analyze and reflect on real-world happenings. These News Responses will be submitted via EO and will be graded via the guidelines published in the assignment description. Two larger projects during the semester are an Energy Consumption Project and Water Consumption Project. Students will track their energy use via a spreadsheet and use on-line tools to calculate their overall carbon footprint and then reflect on these values and their lifestyle. Later students will track general water consumption on a data table and then reflect on the week s total value in the context of issues raised in the course. Student Assessment(s) Quizzes will be given on EO weekly. Quizzes will cover information from specific chapters or pairs of chapters. Pay attention to the quiz deadline so that you don t miss out on the points! These will be the most frequent way of determining if you are keeping up with course material and will allow me to know what topics might need additional clarification. The quizzes will be available for a certain number of days. Once the deadline has passed you will not be able to take the quiz. There are no make-ups. Mid-term Exam and Final Exam will consist of a variety of question types including multiple choice, fill-in, short answer, image labeling and sketching. Exams are an opportunity for the student to show what they have learned and practiced in reading and quizzes. The Mid-Term Exam will cover chapters 1 7. The Final Exam will cover material from the entire semester cumulatively. THE MID-TERM EXAM WILL BE GIVEN ONLINE VIA EAGLE ONLINE. THERE WILL BE A NARROW WINDOW OF TIME TO TAKE THE EXAM. FINAL EXAM! IMPORTANT DATES! The final exam for this class will be taken in-person on paper. The HCC Online Department has specific testing center times/locations for Online courses. The weekend of our final exam is October 7, 8, 9. Please view this website to find the times and locations available: You do not need to make a reservation or sign up for a time, simply show up at one of those locations during that weekend. Instructor's Requirements Attendance Online: Your success is very dependent on your engagement with course materials and time on task. Online students who do not log into their class AND participate as defined by the instructor before the Official Day of Record may be AUTOMATICALLY dropped for non-attendance. Completing the Mandatory Online orientation does not count as attendance. Missed Examinations: As a rule, no make-up exams will be given and a grade of 0 will be earned if an exam is missed. Should an exam be missed due to an exceptional situation beyond the student s control, the situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis but the instructor should be notified of the situation as soon as possible. Ideally, students should contact the instructor prior to missing a scheduled examination in-person or by . Contacting the instructor well in advance of any known exam date conflict is more likely to result in a permitted alternative exam date but is not guaranteed. Yip GEOL 1305: Environmental Science 8-week Fall 2016 updated: 8/20/16 4

5 Technical Compliance: Students are expected to maintain a state of technical compliance, including (but not limited to): up-to-date software as required by Connect and EagleOnline Canvas;; a stable Internet connection;; and use a supported browser when using EagleOnline. The instructor is NOT required to give consideration for lost/missing/unacceptable work stemming from technical non-compliance and/or enduser technical issues. Browsers supported by Canvas. Program/Discipline Requirements: All HCC policies regarding attendance, withdrawal, academic honesty, students with disabilities, grading, and student rights will be followed in this course. Refer to syllabus section titled "Instructor's Requirements", "HCC Policy Statements", and "Grading" for more details as well as the Student Handbook HCC Grading Scale A = points per semester hour B = 89-80: 3 points per semester hour C = 79-70: 2 points per semester hour D = 69-60: 1 point per semester hour 59 and below = F 0 points per semester hour IP (In Progress) 0 points per semester hour W(Withdrawn) 0 points per semester hour I (Incomplete) 0 points per semester hour AUD (Audit) 0 points per semester hour IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must re-enroll to receive credit. COM (Completed) is given in non-credit and continuing education courses. FINAL GRADE OF FX: Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw themselves prior to the withdrawal deadline may either be dropped by their professor for excessive absences or be assigned the final grade of "FX" at the end of the semester. Students who stop attending classes will receive a grade of "FX", compared to an earned grade of "F" which is due to poor performance. Logging into a Online course without active participation is seen as non-attending. Please note that HCC will not disperse financial aid funding for students who have never attended class. Students who receive financial aid but fail to attend class will be reported to the Department of Education and may have to pay back their aid. A grade of "FX" is treated exactly the same as a grade of "F" in terms of GPA, probation, suspension, and satisfactory academic progress. Instructor Grading Criteria Grades for this course are earned according to the scale below. Some consideration is given, when assessing borderline grades, to those students who have demonstrated steady progress and who have actively contributed to class sessions during the semester. (Note: Students are responsible to keep upto-date on their cumulative grade total.) EagleOnline Quizzes = 15% LearnSmart Assignments = 10% Mid-Term Exam = 20% Final Exam = 30% News Article reports (3) = 10% Group project = 2.5% Water Consumption Project = 5% Energy Consumption Project = 7.5% Total = 100% Final letter grade will be assigned according to the following scale: A = %, B = 80 89%, C = 70 79%, D = 60 69%, F = < 59% Extra Credit: There will be a few extra credit opportunities during the semester. These are good opportunities to add more points to your total score. Yip GEOL 1305: Environmental Science 8-week Fall 2016 updated: 8/20/16 5

6 Instructional Materials Textbook: Connect access to Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships, 14 th ed., by Enger and Smith;; McGraw-Hill, 2016 (ISBN ) You will purchase an access code to use the e-book via McGraw-Hill s Connect system. Access to Connect costs less when purchased directly from Connect website versus from the HCC bookstore. Students should register for this Connect course at: HCC Policy Statements Read the HCC Student Handbook: All students are responsible for reading and understanding the HCC Online Student Handbook, which contains policies, information about conduct, and other important information. For the HCC Online Student Handbook click on the link below or go to the HCC Online page on the HCC website. The HCC Online Student Handbook contains policies and procedures unique to the HCC Online student. Students should have reviewed the handbook as part of the mandatory orientation. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the handbook's contents. The handbook contains valuable information, answers, and resources, such as HCC Online contacts, policies and procedures (how to drop, attendance requirements, etc.), student services (ADA, financial aid, degree planning, etc.), course information, testing procedures, technical support, and academic calendars. ***Refer to the HCC Online Student Handbook by visiting this link: Online Student Handbook Withdrawal Policy: The withdrawal deadline is 4:30PM, Tuesday, September 26. It is the student s responsibility to withdraw from class. A week or 2 prior to the withdraw deadline I might contact you to ask if you intend to stay in the class based on your attendance or scores. You are able and capable of adding the course to your schedule, so you are able and capable of removing it when you decide to drop. If you do not drop and simply stop participating without withdrawing you WILL receive an FX at the end of the semester. HCC Sexual Harassment Policy and Title IX: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires that institutions have policies and procedures that protect students rights with regard to sex/gender discrimination. Information regarding these rights is on the HCC website under Students-Antidiscrimination. Students who are pregnant and require accommodations should contact any of the ADA Counselors for assistance. It is important that every student understands and conforms to respectful behavior while at HCC. Sexual misconduct is not condoned and will be addressed promptly. Log in to Sign in using your HCC student account, and then go to the button at the top right that says Login and enter your student number. Access Student Services Policies on their Web site: And also check out the HCC Student Handbook: Tutoring and Help Students should contact the instructor to meet in person during office hours (see page 1). Additional help is available EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time near the end of the term, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and department chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term. Yip GEOL 1305: Environmental Science 8-week Fall 2016 updated: 8/20/16 6

Course Syllabus Advanced-Intermediate Grammar ESOL 0352

Semester with Course Reference Number (CRN) Course Syllabus Advanced-Intermediate Grammar ESOL 0352 Fall 2016 CRN: (10332) Instructor contact information (phone number and email address) Office Location