BIO 111 Environmental Science 

Summer Session, 2007 

Distance Learning Section 51

Instructor: J. Swan

email: jimmy@unm.edu  

Updated: May 29, 2007

BIO 111 - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE - SYLLABUS FOR Summer, 2007

I.  General Information

Instructor: Jim Swan                                        

Office: L111                             Section 51:     Distance Learning

Office Phone: 224-3516,   Mailbox 1899,  E-mail: jimmy@unm.edu

Web Page: http://envirosci.net/111/envirosci.htm    All materials are available on the Web Page.

BIO 111 is WebCT enabled: http://elearning.cnm.edu  See reverse for Introduction Assignment.

Office Hours: Wed.: 8:30->11:10 AM                     

II. Course Description:

This course introduces the study of the environment, including basic principles of ecology, relationships of humans to the environment, and solutions to local, regional and global environmental problems. The course is mainly for non-science majors, but can be an informative overview of topics related to study of the environment and ecology for anyone. Those interested in using BIO 111 as a science credit toward a bachelors degree should check with the appropriate department of the degree-granting institution to be certain of its acceptance.

 

III. Texts:

All materials used in class are available on the web page.

Reading assignments are in the following Optional text:

Environment, The Science Behind the Stories. Scott Brennan, Jay Withgott. Pearson, Benjamin Cummings, 2004.

IV. Course Objectives:

Students will:

1. Demonstrate competency in using the scientific method and analyzing scientific data related to ecological problems, and compare the scientific method with other approaches to environmental problem solving.

2. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze the biosphere and its components and explain their functions and interrelationships;

3. Discuss and explain the role man plays in environmental problems and in solutions to those problems.

V. Course Requirements:

Students are expected to meet all deadlines. Distance students not submitting any two assignments or taking any test by its deadline are subject to involuntary withdrawal. Students wishing to receive a W must formally withdraw through the records office by July 20^th, 2007. Students are responsible for obtaining information about missed work. Missed tests must be made up within one week of originally scheduled date or will be counted as zero. Makeup tests are essay format. Allow one week for tests to be graded and returned. Essays and other assignments will take longer.

VI. Grading Policies:

Four unit tests worth 100 points each and either:

1) comprehensive final exam worth 100 points, or

2) a final project approved in advance worth 100 points.

In addition 50 points will be given for essays or other assignments.

Total points = 550. The following will be the grading scale for this class:

495 to 550 = A, 440 to 494 = B, 385 to 439 = C, 330 to 384 = D, below 330 =F

One of the unit tests, Test 4, will be taken online via WebCT.

There will be opportunities to earn extra points. The first such opportunity will be for 5 points, to be earned by submitting a Student Profile and taking the Introduction Quiz on the use of web materials.

Be sure to read Orientation to Using WebCT, linked to the What’s New banner of the main class web page: http://envirosci.net/111/envirosci.htm). 

First log on to the Elearning page, and click on Create My WebCT. Fill in the form, give yourself a WebCT ID and select a password. Be sure you write these down somewhere in case you forget them! You will be asked to confirm the ID and password. When you do so your WebCT page will appear with no courses. Select Add Courses. Use the drop down menu to find Spring 07 DL  and then find BIO 111 - Environmental Science 51 – Swan - DL. Click on this course and when the next page appears, select register. (Important: DO NOT  RE-ENTER YOUR ID AND PASSWORD AT THIS POINT). You will need to enter the section, either 102 for on-campus, or 51 or Distance Learning. The course should now appear on your page when you select Return to My WebCT.  Once you have added to the course click on the link to it and do the following:

Look at the resources available and the organization on the WebCT page. Click on the Assignments logo to get your first assignment, Introduction to Course Materials.  This assignment will introduce you to WebCT  and get you started in the course materials. As part of this assignment, after you have familiarized yourself with the WebCT organization, take the Introduction Quiz. You find this under Quizzes and Self-Tests. You also need to fill out the Student Profile which includes a place to give your Username (NOT your password). Taking this quiz and submitting your student profile will earn you five points  toward your final grade in the class!

NOTE: The deadline for completing this assignment to receive the extra points is May 25^th, 2007.

A note about submission of assignments:  You must submit assignments via WebCT, or as a hard copy. Electronic submissions must be in Microsoft Word format with either .doc  or .rtf  extensions.* NO OTHER FORMAT WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

Email is used for communication with the instructor. If you use an anonymous computer, or send from an account belonging to a spouse or a friend, BE SURE to change the preferences so that your name is identified as the sender, not your spouse or friend. Failure to do so may result in your submission not being recognized or accepted. The paper should be written as if you were submitting as a hard copy in person with name, section, title, etc. The filename for your paper must be your name plus an identifier, for example: john_smith_sci_method.doc.

*NOTE: If you have Microsoft Works you may need to also install Microsoft Word 97/2000.

Assignments may be submitted via WebCT or as an attachment to an email sent to:  jimmy@unm.edu. To do so they must be in Microsoft Word format with either .doc  or .rtf  extensions. NO OTHER FORMAT WILL BE ACCEPTED.   If you use an anonymous computer, or send from an account belonging to a spouse or a friend, BE SURE to change the preferences so that your name is identified as the sender, not your spouse or friend. Failure to do so may result in your submission not being recognized or accepted.

^{Filename of submission must be your first and last name run together, or with an underscore between, and an identifier for the assignment. For example: jim_swan_sci_method_assignment.doc would be my file for submitting the scientific method assignment.}