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“We stand at a critical moment in Earth's history, a time when humanity must choose its
future.”
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Required Text and Materials
No Textbook Required
Technical Requirements
1. High speed internet access with a standard up-to-date browser, either Chrome or
Firefox. Opera and Safari are NOT compatible with Canvas.
2. Consistent and reliable access to Canvas as it is the official method of
communication for this course.
3. Hardware: laptop/desktop/tablet, phone camera, or other device capable of
capturing audio, images, and video.
4. Adobe Flash Player
Course Overview:
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Rationale
Why the Earth Charter?
Learning to live together relates to diversity. For learning to live together sustainably,
the issue of diversity must be understood as a motivating factor in all life systems, and
not just a matter of cultural politics. If diversity is the generative force in biological as
well as cultural systems, as Martusewicz & Edmundson (2004) state, it must be
concerned with the development of democratic and sustainable communities. The Earth
Charter in this sense as a tool for learning to live together sustainably moves beyond the
limits of environmental education or multicultural education.
The Earth Charter lays out the fundamental principles and practices underlying the four
pillars of sustainable development where the cultural ecological perspective necessitates
the development of eco-ethical consciousness as a core for learning to live together
sustainably. Eco-ethical consciousness should be thus defined as the awareness of and
ability to respond carefully to the fundamental interdependence not only among all
forms of life on the planet but also among all forms of living and non-living creatures
(Martusewicz & Edmundson (2004 p. 2-3). This way of thinking requires what Griffin
(1996) calls “a collaborative intelligence”, the recognition that human 8 intelligence is
part of a vast and complex system of reciprocal relations where the sense making
processes that lead to human cultural forms cannot be separated off from the patterns of
communication within the natural world, whether living and/or non-living. In this
perspective, the whole Earth, including all forms of living and nonliving creatures, is
seen as highly dependent upon a sustainable way of being.
The overriding goal of this course is to explore the links between Education for
Sustainability and the Earth Charter and to develop the requisite knowledge, skills and
attitudes to enable course participants to effectively use the Earth Charter as an
educational tool.
1. Understand the key vision and mission of Education for Sustainability as expressed
through the values, principles and ethical approach contained in the Earth Charter. In
particular, students will be conversant with the 4 key pillars of the Earth Charter and
apply these pillars in their daily lives.
2. Understand and cogently discuss the principles of sustainability through a study of the
values necessary to achieve sustainability. This will be achieved through a study of
the principles underlying values, the identification of values in The Earth Charter and
the significance of common core values that impact on ethical decision making in
relation to building a more just, sustainable and peaceful world.
3. Utilize the Earth Charter as an ethical framework to assess different aspects of
sustainability and make informed decisions for the future.
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4. Identify sustainable practices with regard to the environment, society and the
economy through analysis of the key principles of the Earth Charter and use this
identification to develop classroom discussions, videos, scenarios and group-work
Course Approach
This course is designed to be a unique and (hopefully) engaging learning experience. You may
think you know how to “play the game of school,” but the rules in this course may not be what
you’re expecting. Please read this syllabus carefully! The assignments (e.g., Main Quests and
Side Quests and grading system may seem confusing at first, but if you take a little time to read
the syllabus, everything will be explained. Almost everything you need to know is explained in
these pages. Did I mention that you should read this syllabus?
In this course, there will be Main Quests (MQs), which are required assignments that
have XPs attached to them with specific due dates and Side Quests (SQs), which will be
activities that are optional XP assignments and will have more flexible due dates. You’ll
manage how I assess your progress through the course by choosing some activities and skipping
others depending on the number of XPs you want to accumulate. Throughout the term, you’ll
choose activities that have an associated number of XPs. Many of the activities you choose also
allow you to determine how much of the activity you want to do, with different rewards for
different degrees of activity.
Badges and Leaderboards will also be included in this course for mastering material.
More on that as we get into the course!
Organizing the course this way gives you a lot of freedom but also a lot of responsibility in
managing how your performance is assessed.
As you’ll see in reading through the details, you’ll earn points most easily by being critically
engaged with the course material, with me and with your classmates, front-loading your course
work early in the term. Life will be easiest in this course with steady progress throughout the
term rather than heightened activity at a few points.
I reward engagement. Engagement in the course will be online and that means logging in
frequently in Canvas. You should be viewing all pages under each weekly module and logging
into Canvas a MINIMUM OF 3 TIMES A WEEK.
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Accumulating experience points (XPs)
You can earn up to 70,000 XPs for the mandatory activities, which are called Main Quests. If
you earn all 70,000 XPs, this represents a C in the course.
You can earn up to 60,000 XPs for the optional activities, which are called Side Quests.
Accumulating between 90,000 XPs and 130,000 XPs in this course will give you an A in the
course.
SEE PAGE 11 FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE XPs FOR B+. B. C+. C, D, or F.
Course Design
This course is designed to give you opportunities for
Attendance Policy: It is important that you regularly participate in ALL online class
sessions because these courses are structured in such a way that if you do not participate, you
cannot pass. This means that you need to log into Canvas a minimum of THREE days a week
and access the modules to do the readings, watch the videos and do the Main Quests (MQs) and
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the Side Quests (SQs). In order to earn a passing score (a grade of C or higher, you must
Verification of Attendance Assignment: As of fall 2015, all faculty members are required
to use Canvas to confirm a student’s attendance for each course by the end of the first week of
classes. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the disbursement of financial aid. The
confirmation of attendance is required for all students, not only those receiving financial aid.
Quests: In this course, you will have a variety of quests including but not limited to discussion
forums, shorter written quests, reflections, group work quests, quests submitted in a multimodal
format, participation at events on the FGCU campus or in the local community.
Please note: To fulfill the requirements for this course, turning in all mandatory quests is a
minimum requirement—but not a guarantee—for passing IDS 3304/IDS .
Plagiarism & Intellectual Honesty: Plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft and occurs
when students present the words or ideas of another without giving credit to the original source.
The University’s definition of plagiarism can be found in the Student Code of Conduct, which
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also outlines the University’s policies and procedures regarding academic dishonesty/cheating
(of which plagiarism is one form), students’ responsibilities, and the consequences for violating
this policy.
In this course, those who plagiarize, regardless of intent, will be required to meet in conference
with the instructor and may be referred to the Dean of Students Office for a hearing before the
Academic Integrity Committee. In all cases, an adjudication form will be filed with the Dean of
Students Office. The Adjudication form can be found at
http://studentservices.fgcu.edu/StudentConduct/files/Summary_Adjudication_Form-2011-12-
Updated.pdf
Based on these meetings and/or hearings, students found guilty of plagiarism are subject to
penalties including—but not limited to—receiving a failing grade for the assignment and/or
course, or even suspension or expulsion from the University. It is ultimately the student’s
responsibility to understand and avoid plagiarism.
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Attendance Verification: As of fall 2015, all faculty members are required to confirm a
student's attendance for each course by the end of the first week of classes. Failure to do so will
result in a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid. The confirmation of attendance is
required for all students, not only those receiving financial aid.
The following is a list of the main technologies used in this course. Accessibility
statements for each can be found on the Technology Accessibility Policies page.
The link to an interfaith calendar is at http://www.interfaithcalendar.org
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Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free counseling and therapy services
(including psychiatry) to all FGCU students. Please walk in to the second floor Howard Hall
office any week day between 8:30 and 4:30 to schedule an initial contact appointment. Visit the
CAPS website at www.fgcu.edu/caps for more information. CAPS offers a 24/7 Helpline at
(239) 745-3277 (EARS).
Grading Policy
Assignments: Some assignments will be turned in as a Word doc (.doc or docx) or Rich Text
format (.rft) document. These files must be labeled to include the name of the submitter and the
name of the assignment (e.g., JaneDoeProjectProposal).
Microsoft Works files (.wps) will NOT be accepted. To convert your .wps files to .doc files,
go to the free online file conversion program Zamzar.
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Other assignments will be submitted as LINKS to a video or as TEXT in a discussion
forum. Please read the assignment directions and follow them to the letter.
Side Quests (SQs) for Pillars 1 and 2 will be kept open from the beginning of
Module 3 (Sep. 3) until the midterm, or by the end of Module 8 (Oct. 15).
Side Quests for Pillars 3 and 4 will be kept open from the start of Module 9 (Oct.
15) until the end of the course (Dec. 3).
Life will be easiest in this course with steady progress throughout the term rather than
heightened activity at a few points.
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Attendance Verification Assignment 500 XPs
Syllabus Scavenger Hunt
Pillar 1: Respect & Concern for the Community of Life Side Quests 15000
Pillar 2: Ecological Integrity Side Quests 15000
Pillar 3: Social & Economic Justice Side Quests 15000
Pillar 4: Democracy, Nonviolence & Peace Side Quests 15000
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GRADING SCALE
Your coursework and final course grade are determined using the following scale.
Level 1 0 - 59,999 F
You will begin on the first day of class at Level 1. Level 7 is the highest level you can achieve.
CANVAS DOES NOT ROUND UP OR ROUND DOWN. IF YOU GET 89900 POINTS,
YOU GET A B+.
ALL MAIN QUESTS (MQ) will be due by 11:55 p.m. every Monday.
Week 1 August 20 – August 27 Getting Acquainted with Each Other and the Course
Week 3 September 3 – September 10 Pillar 1: Respect & Care for the Community of Life
● Discussion Forum 2
● Interactive Video 2 (IV2)
Week 4 September 10 – September 17 Pillar 1: Respect & Care for the Community of Life
● Discussion Forum 3
● Interactive Video 3 (IV3)
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● Interactive Video 4 (IV4)
● Project Proposal
● Project Execution
● Discussion Forum 4
● Discussion Forum 5
● Project Presentations
Project Reflection
IMPORTANT DATES
Last day to Drop/Withdraw via Gulfline (100% refund): Friday, August 24.
Last day to Drop/Withdraw without academic penalty: Friday, November 2.
Last day to Apply for Grade Forgiveness: Thursday, December 13.
TECHNOLOGY
It is expected that each student will take personal responsibility for developing the skills
necessary to use basic computing applications. Please complete the FGCU Self-assessment
survey to measure your skill level.
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Kaltura - https://corp.kaltura.com/privacy-policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external
site.
Connect -
http://connect.mheducation.com/connectweb/branding/en_US/default/html/privacy.html (Links
to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Adobe Connect - http://www.adobe.com/privacy/policy-linkfree.html (Links to an external
site.)Links to an external site.
Respondus - https://www.respondus.com/about/privacy.shtml (Links to an external site.)Links
to an external site
Technology Problems
If you experience problems with Canvas, please contact 590-7100 for tech support.
All students are expected to demonstrate honesty in their academic pursuits. The university
policies regarding issues of honesty can be found in the FGCU Student Guidebook under the
Student Code of Conduct and Policies and Procedures sections. All students are expected to
study this document which outlines their responsibilities and consequences for violations of the
policy. The FGCU Student Guidebook is available online at
http://studentservices.fgcu.edu/judicialaffairs/new.html
For general matters, if you wish to correspond with me and/or your fellow classmates, use the
Inbox tab in Canvas.
1. Inbox tab to send correspondence
Try to avoid using my faculty email address noted above as I like to keep all course-related
correspondence in the course itself.
You should expect feedback on any correspondence within 24 hours and feedback
on your assignments within 7 days of your submission.
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All students at Florida Gulf Coast University have a right to expect that the University will
reasonably accommodate their religious observances, practices, and beliefs. Students, upon prior
notification to their instructors, shall be excused from class or other scheduled academic activity
to observe a religious holy day of their faith. Students shall be permitted a reasonable amount of
time to make up the material or activities covered in their absence. Students shall not be
penalized due to absence from class or other scheduled academic activity because of religious
observances. Where practicable, major examinations, major assignments, and University
ceremonies will not be scheduled on a major religious holy day. A student who is to be excused
from class for a religious observance is not required to provide a second party certification of the
reason for the absence.
The link to an interfaith calendar is at http://www.interfaithcalendar.org
A list of the FGCU student services can be located by clicking on the “resources” button in
the blue ribbon on the left-hand side of the browser window.
Incompletes
Incompletes will only be granted when a student has a documented and unavoidable emergency
situation and has completed all course work except for a final project, paper, or exam
(approximately 75% of course work). In cases where students have not finished most of the
course assignments, they will be given the grade earned. In these cases, an "I" is NOT an
appropriate option.
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3/2 Withdrawal Rule: This rule is designed to help students stay on track for timely
graduation.
Beginning Fall 2017, FGCU students will be allowed to withdraw from a maximum of three (3)
lower-level courses (numbered 1000-2999) and two (2) upper-level courses (numbered 3000-
4999) without academic penalty after the drop/add dates. Any W’s that students acquired prior to
Fall 2017 do not count toward this limit. An appeal process will be in place. Withdrawals for
approved extenuating circumstances such as medical reasons and active duty military service
will not count toward this limit.
NOTE: The last day to drop/withdraw from this course without academic penalty is by
Friday, October 19.
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