Course Design Guide SCI/275 Version 5

Syllabus
Axia College/College of Natural Sciences SCI/275 Version 5 Environmental Science
Copyright 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description This course focuses on the causes of, impacts of, and solutions to environmental issues. Students identify global environmental issues as well as develop and critique environmental action plans. Topics include ecosystems, energy, populations, resources, pollution, and sustainability. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Berg, L. R., & Hager, M. C. (2007). Visualizing environmental science. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons in collaboration with the National Geographic Society. All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Environmental Issues and Sustainability

Details
Objectives 1.1 Discuss human behaviors that threaten environmental sustainability. 1.2 Defend an environmental worldview. 1.3 Relate a current environmental problem with possible causes. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own. Read Appendix A. Read Ch. 14 of Visualizing Environmental Science. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. Day 2&4 10 10

Due

Points

Course Preparation Readings Participation Discussion Questions

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CheckPoint Local Environmental Issue

Many environmental problems, such as the depletion of natural resources, air pollution, and overpopulation, exist throughout the world. The root of most of these problems stems from the local environment and decisions made at local levels based on lifestyle choices, such as those regarding food, transportation, and housing. Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following: Discuss an environmental problem you feel is significant in your town or city. What are some causes? Are any of these causes related to human values and environmental ethics? Explain your answers.

Day 5

30

Week Two: Politics and Environmental Risk

Details
Objectives 2.1 Differentiate environmental conservation and preservation efforts. 2.2 Utilize the steps of risk assessment in determining adverse health impacts. Conservation and preservation activities are currently part of all national forest management programs. The Bridger Teton Video Learning Resource (VLR) discusses one controversy between those who want to harvest the resources of one section of the forest in an environmentally friendly way and others who believe it should be left in its original state. View the Ch. 2 Bridger Teton VLR located in the Week Two Materials of your student web page. Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following: Provide a brief summary differentiating conservation and preservation. Do you believe humans may harvest forest resources in an environmentally friendly way, or should national forests be left in their natural state? To which side are you inclined? Provide specific examples from the video as you defend your position. Day 7 90 Day 5 30

Due

Points

CheckPoint Conservation and Preservation

Individual Risk Assessment

Review the three assignment options provided in Appendix B.

Select and complete either Option 1 or Option 3 only.

Note. View the video link Introduction to Differentiated Assignment

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Options before beginning this assignment located on your student website.

Week Three: Ecosystems

Details
Objectives 3.1 Discuss the flow of energy in ecosystems. 3.2 Describe living and nonliving components of a biome. 3.3 Apply the concepts of natural selection and succession to a changing ecosystem. Read Ch. 57 of Visualizing Environmental Science. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. View the Ch. 6 Succession animation located in the Week Three Materials of your student web page. Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following items: View the ecosystem succession in the animation. Is it primary or secondary? Explain your answer. Respond to question 9 in the Critical and Creative Thinking Questions in Ch. 6 of Visualizing Environmental Science. Review natural selection to help with your response. Day 2 & 4 Day 5 10 10 30

Due

Points

Readings Participation Discussion Questions CheckPoint Succession and Natural Selection

Week Four: Human Population and the Environment

Details
Objectives 4.1 Explain the factors that produce changes in population size. 4.2 Discuss the environmental benefits and challenges of urbanization. View the Ch. 7 Alien Invasion VLR located in the Week Four Materials of your student web page. Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following: Individual Urbanization Explain the four factors that produce changes in population size. Which factors affect population size in the video? What do you predict will happen to the nutria population after the land is depleted of the food resource? Day 7 90 Day 5 30

Due

Points

CheckPoint Population Size

As a science teacher at the local elementary school, you were honored with the chance to attend the United Nations Conference

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focusing on human population and the environment. Upon your return, you wanted to share the knowledge you learned with your students. Review Ch. 7 of Visualizing Environmental Science, which discusses the benefits and challenges of urbanization and how the conference gave awards for urban development projects that improved human settlements. Read summaries of the 1996 winners of the Dubai awards on their websites: o o o o o o Institutionalizing Community-Based Development: http://www.unesco.org/most/africa17.htm A Women's Self-help Organization for Poverty Alleviation in India: SEWA: http://www.unesco.org/most/asia1.htm Shelter Upgrading in Agadir: http://www.unesco.org/most/africa3.htm City Management in Tilburg: Past, Present and Future: http://www.unesco.org/most/westeu14.htm The Bronx Center Project Dont Move, Improve: http://www.unesco.org/most/usa1.htm Project of Sites and Services for Low-Income Family Groups: http://www.unesco.org/most/southam1.htm

Create a 7- to 10-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation that describes environmental benefits and challenges of urbanization. Include descriptions of two award winners, discussing how they overcame a challenge mentioned in your presentation. Include detailed speaker notes. Review the PowerPoint Tutorial if you need assistance building your presentation. o o o o o o Enter your student website at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/ Log in with your username and password. Click the Library tab. Select Center for Writing Excellence. Choose Tutorials & Guides. Click PowerPoint Tutorial under Software Tutorials and Guides.

Format your citations consistent with APA guidelines. Post the Microsoft PowerPoint as an attachment.

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Week Five: Atmospheric Issues

Details
Objectives 5.1 Summarize the causes and effects of an atmospheric issue. 5.2 Discuss a key challenge to controlling air emissions. 5.3 Discuss impacts of and solutions for indoor air pollution. Read Ch. 811 of Visualizing Environmental Science. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. Review Ch. 8 & 9 of the text. Complete the Air Pollution Chart in Appendix D and respond to the questions. Day 2 & 4 Day 5 10 10 30

Due

Points

Readings Participation Discussion Questions CheckPoint Atmospheric Issues

Week Six: Water Resource Issues

Details
Objectives CheckPoint Water Resource Challenges 6.1 Identify the impact of human activities on a water resource. 6.2 Formulate a sustainable plan to manage a water resource. Complete the Water Resource Challenges table in Appendix E by briefly identifying three freshwater and three ocean water resource issues. Respond to the questions. Individual Water Resource Plan Review the four assignment options provided in Appendix I. Day 7 90 Day 5 30

Due

Points

Select and complete Option 1, Option 2 or Option 3 only.

Week Seven: Terrestrial Resource Issues

Details
Objectives 7.1 Describe challenges associated with managing a terrestrial resource. 7.2 Formulate a sustainable plan to manage a terrestrial resource. Read Ch. 1218 of Visualizing Environmental Science. Participate in class discussion. 10

Due

Points

Readings Participation

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Discussion Questions CheckPoint Terrestrial Resource Plan

Respond to weekly discussion questions. Choose a terrestrial resource issue discussed in Ch. 1216 of the text. Post a 5- to 7-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation including the following: A brief description of the issue A management and sustainment plan for the resource Challenges or implications of your plan

Day 2 & 4 Day 5

10 30

Use Appendix F as a guide when developing your plan. Use speaker notes to provide your plans details. Format your citations and references consistent with APA guidelines.

Week Eight: Energy Issues

Details
Objectives 8.1 Describe challenges associated with energy resource management. 8.2 Formulate a plan for energy conservation education. View the Alternative Energy VLR located in the Week Eight Materials of your student web page. Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following: Individual Energy Resource Plan Describe all of the renewable energy alternatives presented in the video. What are some challenges with using and managing these alternatives? Name at least one other renewable energy resource not presented in the video. Include a response to the following statement: Nonrenewable energy resources include coal, oil, and natural gas. Describe three common challenges with managing nonrenewable energy resources. 90 30

Due

Points

CheckPoint Energy Resource Challenges

Review the three assignment options provided in Appendix J.

Select and complete either Option 1, Option 2 or Option 3 only.

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Week Nine: Core Concepts Application

Details
Objectives 9.1 Rationalize a sustainable plan for addressing an environmental issue. 9.2 Evaluate mitigation strategies and solutions to an environmental problem. Participate in class discussion. Respond to the capstone discussion question. If you were an environmental researcher given funding to assist with one environmental issue, on which of the following topics would you spend your funds? o o o o o Human population Atmospheric pollution Water resources Terrestrial resources Energy conservation 10 10

Due

Points

Participation Capstone Discussion Question

What influenced your choice? What would be the ultimate goal of your research? Final Project Mitigation Strategies and Solutions Resource: Appendix A Use the topic you chose for the Capstone Discussion Question or choose another topic you have learned about over the past 8 weeks. Focus on a specific environmental problem in your topic. Your topic, for example, could be atmospheric issues, and your problem could be global warming. Write a 1,750- to 2,100-word paper that formulates a mitigation plan for your specific environmental problem. Include the following: Detailed description of the problem Nonliving and living factors that contribute to or are affected by the problem Positive or negative human effects Evaluation of current sustainability strategies and solutions Your plan to reach sustainability; see Appendix F Benefits and challenges of your plan Required government, societal, and global support 300

Include at least four outside sources. Two of the sources must be peer-reviewed. If you need assistance with identifying a peerreviewed article, review Appendix G. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

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Copyright
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