Syllabus for ENS-314-OL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Global Environmental Change will enable you to develop a clear understanding of the fundamentals of global environmental science and the factors required to maintain ecological stability and preserve worldwide resources. The course materials are organized and presented from a global perspective.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the conclusion of this course, you should be able to:

• Course Objective (CO) 1 Describe the biosphere and how it works and identify causes of environmental problems.



• CO 2 Explain ecosystem equilibrium and how it can be disrupted by human activities.



• CO 3 Describe the effects of population growth on the ecosystem.



• CO 4 Explain the need to balance the human population, food, and energy resources.



• CO 5 Explain the importance of maintaining biological diversity.



• CO 6 Describe the importance of heritage resources such public lands and wilderness.



• CO 7 Identify issues related to energy consumption, including use of alternative energy sources.



• CO 8 Discuss issues related to mineral resource management and the use of nuclear power.



• CO 9 Identify major air pollutants, their dangers to health, and ways to control this type of pollution.



• CO 10 Identify threats to aquatic resources and the water supply and methods for protecting them.



• CO 11 Describe dangers of and problems surrounding the disposal of hazardous waste.



• CO 12 Explain the role of ethics in environmental decision making.

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COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following textbooks to complete the work of the course. These texts are available from the textbook supplier, MBS Direct.

• Living in the Environment: Concepts, Connections, and Solutions, 16th ed., by G. Tyler Miller, Jr., and Scott E. Spoolman (Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole CENGAGE Learning, 2009).
  
  ISBN-13: 978-0-495-55671-8

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COURSE STRUCTURE

Global Environmental Change is a six-credit online course. It consists of six modules.

The course requires you to complete six written assignments, take a proctored midterm examination, and submit a final project. You are also required to participate in six graded online discussions and an ungraded "Introductions" forum.

For the course's assignment modules (reading assignments, online discussions, and written assignments), go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site. (See the Course Calendar for a detailed schedule.)

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ONLINE PARTICIPATION

In addition to an ungraded "Introductions" forum, Global Environmental Change requires you to participate in six graded class discussions.

Communication with the mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a posted question (discussion thread) and subsequent comments on classmates' responses.

You will be evaluated both on the quality of your responses (i.e., your understanding of readings, concepts, and practices as demonstrated by well-articulated, critical thinking) and quantity of your participation (i.e., the number of times you participate meaningfully in the assigned forums). Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful.

Meaningful participation in online discussions is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement.

For additional information on online discussions, see Online Discussions in the Online Student Handbook.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Global Environmental Change has six (6) written assignments, one per study unit. For the assignment topics and questions, see the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.

The written assignments are the primary means for you to express yourself verbally, controlling content and meaning. Due dates for each assignment are listed in the Course Calendar.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site, and read through the written assignment questions before you begin each reading assignment.

Your answers to the assignment questions should be well developed and convey your understanding of readings, concepts, and practices. Formulate responses in your own words. Do not merely copy answers from your reading materials. When quoting or paraphrasing from the text or other sources, be sure to cite the source of information properly according to APA guidelines (see also Basic Documentation Rules).

Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.

Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor through the appropriate submission link within the Submit Assignments area of the course. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and submit your assignment file.

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MIDTERM EXAMINATION AND FINAL PROJECT

This course requires you to take a proctored midterm examination and to complete a comprehensive final project.

Midterm Examination
The midterm is a closed-book, proctored exam. It is two hours long and covers material in Modules 1 through 3. It consists of 40 multiple choice questions and 4 short essay questions.

You may take the examination only during the designated midterm exam period, by choosing one of the following two options:

• Online Proctor Option: If you have a webcam with a microphone and a reliable, high-speed Internet connection, you can take the exam online in the convenience of your home. During the first week of the semester, you will select an appointment through the ProctorU scheduling system. Then, on your selected day and time, you will be monitored by a remote proctor who will communicate with you via your video and audio connection. For further information on scheduling and taking an online proctored examination, see Tests & Quizzes > Midterm Examination.
  
  
• Pen-and-Paper Option: You may choose your own proctor or take the exam at Thomas Edison State College during midterm exam week. You should schedule your exam and submit your "Proctor Request Form" no later than the end of the first week of the semester (see Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site). For more information on scheduling a pen-and-paper proctored examination, see the Online Student Handbook in General Information.

If you are on a course extension and have not yet taken the midterm exam, you must let your examination proctor know when you plan to take the exam and contact the Office of Test Administration (609-984-1181) two weeks in advance to request that your exam be sent to the proctor.

Final Project
There is no final proctored examination in this course. A 10- to 15-page paper, described in fully in the Assignment Modules area of the course site, acts as your final assessment and is worth 20 percent of your final grade. You must complete the paper and submit it to your mentor via Blackboard by the last day of the semester. Your paper will provide an answer to a particular environmental issue and will include a technical summary of the science behind the issue, using at least three (3) outside sources.

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GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, and the examinations are based on the following numerical grades:

Note: To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, projects, papers, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.

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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.



2. Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams and arrange for proctors, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.



3. Arrange to take your midterm examination by following the instructions in the Online Student Handbook. Then complete the "Proctor Request Form" and submit it to the Office of Test Administration (OTA). You must send in your "Proctor Request Form" to OTA before the end of the first week of the current semester. (See Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site.)



4. Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.



5. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning, or specifically with the Blackboard platform, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips
Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking your examinations. For details on each assignment module and a complete listing of learning activities, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.



2. Check the Announcements page and class Discussion Board regularly for new course information.

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