Instructor Joanne Tippett - Biology 40/140 (3 units)

Lectures Tuesday and Thursday 10:50-11:50 AM Guzman 307

Lab Tuesday 1:00 - 3:00 PM Guzman 302

Office Albertus Minor (last office on the right)

Office hours

Tuesday 3:30 - 4:00 PM

Thursday 10:00 - 10:30 AM

Email (expected response time 2 days) email@holocene.net

Home telephone (expected response time 2 days) 510 527 5887 I prefer for you to email me unless this is difficult.

Required text:

Environmental Science (Seventh Edition) by G. Tyler Miller, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999

A small number of selected readings, which will be photocopied and handed out in lecture classes.

There are several books on reserve in the library which will be important for your papers and group projects, and there are many resources and sources of information posted on the class web site at www.holocene.net/sustainability/dominican.htm

Course Description

An investigation of ecological principles involved in human relationship to, and interaction with, the environment. Includes an exploration of the interrelated nature of ecology, economy and social equity, with a focus on systems thinking and analysis. Emphasis is given to political, economic and planning aspects involved in solution of environmental problems. Lab sessions will cover a range of skills for planning ecologically sustainable projects.

1. To gain a basic understanding of ecology and sustainability and to apply this understanding to today's environmental issues.

2. Learn to use critical and creative thinking skills to understand environmental problems and find solutions.

3. Provide an opportunity to investigate environmental issues and apply sustainability principles in a planning project.

4. Develop your ability to communicate to others what you have learned.

Written paper - evaluated on synthesis of information during the course, evidence of critical and original thinking and writing (spelling, grammar, etc.)

Group project - oral presentation evaluated on content and presentation, supplemented by written and graphic presentation, evaluated on content and synthesis of principles taught on course

Journal - evaluated on student's reflection on learning process and principles

Participation in class discussions and exercise

Short assignments - presented as short written summaries or Mind Maps (see notes at end of syllabus)

Written exams - multiple choice, short answer and essay

Course Process

Lectures will include a lot of images and practical examples. There will be an opportunity for small group work and discussion during both lecture and lab time.

The labs will be project-oriented, focusing on a planning exercise to enhance sustainability at Dominican College. This semester, we will be looking at the proposed new science building. This will be done in small groups. The final project will be presented during the time allocated for the final exam. It is a group project, and each student will be assessed on the final project and the presentation. The instructor will facilitate these projects during lab time.

During lab sessions, you will learn and practice several different techniques of creative thinking. The skills you will learn can be applied to many other projects and disciplines and will enhance both your ability to think creatively and to communicate with others. The teaching style will be participatory, with a high degree of involvement from students. There will be use of verbal, written and graphic techniques. Lab sessions will include work outside, such as observation of the campus and ecological conditions on the campus. The graphic techniques will not be assessed on artistic merit or skill, anyone can use them to enhance their thinking and communication. They will be assessed on content and on showing the application of critical thinking skills to the material presented during the course.

Attendance

Responsible students attend lectures and labs regularly and arrive before class begins and remain until it ends. Three unexcused absences per semester will prevent the student from obtaining a grade higher than a C regardless of the examination grades. Five unexcused absences will result in an F for the class. Three tardies constitute one unexcused absence. Attendance will be taken at each meeting.

General

The participatory and involved nature of the teaching mean that disturbances from cell phones and pagers are disruptive to the entire class.

 Grading Policies and Practices

A Outstanding work, showing a mastery of material and synthesis with your own original thinking. Students is always prepared for class, shows a high caliber of oral and written work, which includes reading outside of the textbook and a clear analysis of theories. Student participates fully in class discussions and in group project.

B Very good work, significantly better than average, with thorough preparation, clear cogent prose in written and oral work, shows frequent and appropriate contributions in class, mastery of content with evidence of original thought and analysis.

C Average work, satisfactory. Students is well prepared for class, uses clear, correct prose in written and oral work, including class discussions.

D Below standard work, credit is given for the work, though the amount and/or quality falls below the standards of the class.

F insufficient and/or unacceptable work because the amount and/or quality falls below the standards of the class.

Assignments:

1. Before the class, read the chapters in text book, as assigned in schedule. This reading includes the guest essays in yellow boxes, the case studies in green boxes and the solutions in blue boxes. It is wise to think about the Critical Thinking Questions at the end of each chapter. When the readings are photocopied handouts, they will be distributed in the lecture session prior to the session for which they are assigned.

2. There will be 4 short assignments, these are noted in the course schedule. These will be due in the lab session of the following week. These are individual assignments.

3. Each student will keep a journal that will include a response to what they learn from the practical sessions in lab. This includes an entry for each lab session, describing what the student feels to be of importance in their learning process from the practical exercise. There should also be an entry for information gathered on the field trip and an evaluation of the field trip, e.g. 'what did you think about what you learned or saw?'. They can include mind maps, quotes and clippings from readings which student has found of interest and drawings.

4. Each student will be evaluated on a group project. The evaluation will consist of: observation of input into the group process, assessment of the content and presentation of the final project. Each group will choose one aspect of the overall planning project that they wish to explore in more depth and will investigate this further outside of class as a group. This will involve learning more about the principles being explored in lab, an elaboration of their application to the overall design process and investigation into how the chosen topic fits into the overall plan. There will be more information on this group project once we have gone further into the lab sessions.

5. There will be two exams, each worth 100 points. Exams will consist of essay and short answer questions. Each exam will cover material presented since the last exam from readings, lectures and discussions.

6. There will be one written essay, chosen from a range of essay questions to be assigned by the instructor. This essay will be 1000 words in length (2000 words for Upper Division Credit). Each student will hand in work towards this essay in the middle of the term (Mind Map, working bibliography and thesis statement) for assessment. This is in order to enhance the opportunities for the student to write a good essay and to learn from the experience. There will be a handout describing this mid term stage of work and the essay questions.

7 . There will be a field trip, which will be written about in the journal (see above). Attendance is mandatory.

EVALUATION WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

FINAL GRADES WILL BE ASSIGNED ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS:

A = 90 - 100 % of total points

B = 80 - 89 % of total points

C = 70 - 79 % of total points

D = 60 - 69 % of total points

F = below 60 %

Assignments must be handed in on time (see course schedule for dates). Any late assignments must be discussed and agreed by instructor one week before the deadline, and must stem from unexpected and extreme circumstances. Exams must be taken on the date specified unless arranged in advance with instructor.

Notes:

A Mind Map is a graphic technique for representing ideas, using words, images, symbols and color. Tony Buzan, president of the Brain Foundation, founder of The Brain Trust and creator of the concept of mental literacy, developed the technique. Mind Mapping is based on patterns found in nature and research on how humans think and use their minds. These techniques will be used through-out the course, and participants will learn how to use mind maps for teaching, in group work and for design, creative thinking and organizing ideas.

 Course Calendar: