Environmental Biology

BIOL2406

Updated September 19, 2011

State Approval Code: 0301035101
Semester Credit Hours: 4
Lecture Hours per Week: 3
Lab Hours per Week: 3
Contact Hours per Semester: 96

Catalog Description

Human Interaction with and effect upon plant and animal communities. Conservation, pollution, energy, and other contemporary ecological problems.

Prerequisites

none

Course Curriculum

Basic Intellectual Compentencies in the Core Curriculum

Reading
Writing
Speaking
Listening
Critical thinking
Computer literacy

Perspectives in the Core Curriculum

Establish broad and multiple perspectives on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which he/she lives, and to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally and ethnically diversified world.
Stimulate a capacity to discuss and reflect upon individual, political, economic, and social aspects of life in order to understand ways in which to be a responsible member of society.
Develop a capacity to use knowledge of how technology and science affect their lives.
Integrate knowledge and understand the interrelationships of the scholarly disciplines.

Core Components and Related Exemplary Educational Objectives

Natural Sciences

To understand and apply method and appropriate technology to the study of natural sciences.
To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the differences between these approaches and other methods of inquiry and to communicate findings, analyses, and interpretation both orally and in writing.
To identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific theories.
To demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern science, including issues that touch upon ethics, values, and public policies.
To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and their influence on, and contribution to, modern culture.

Instructional Goals and Purposes

Panola College's instructional goals include 1) creating an academic atmosphere in which students may develop their intellects and skills and 2) providing courses so students may receive a certificate/an associate degree or transfer to a senior institution that offers baccalaureate degrees.

General Course Objectives

To help students understand the basic need to maintain the Earth's ecosystem
To help students understand the basic Earth life support systems
To make the students aware of changing global problems as related to environmental science

Specific Course Objectives

Discuss the characteristics of living organisms.
Identify Earth's life support systems.
Explain why biodiversity is important in ecology.
Describe the Earth's major biomes. Explain the major cause of the distribution of biomes on the Earth.
Draw and explain an exponential growth curve. Distinguish between exponential growth and linear growth. Discuss overpopulation as related to carrying capacity.
Distinguish between the following terms: physically depleted and economically depleted

Assessment

Grading: Lecture average (50%) + Lab average (50%) = 100%

For example: Lecture average is 70 and the lab average is 80 then the class average and letter grade would be a 75 & “C”.

Lecture grades will be as follows:

Part 1 Testing at college

Midterm 200 pts. At the testing center

Final 200 pts. At the testing center

Part 2 online work

Online Quizzes:

There are 15 quizzes in the course over the topics in lecture. These are mastery quizzes. Which means you must score 90% on the quiz to earn credit for the quiz. For example, if a quiz has 20 questions, then you must score 18 to get full credit. If you don’t score 90% a quiz it will not count for credit. Each quiz is over the major point and terms in the chapter. You have 5 attempts per quiz. The number of quizzes scored as credit will be divided by 15 for the quiz average. Average of the online quizzes will be counted twice and is worth up to 200 points.

Online Discussion Topics:

The discussions are over environmental / biological topics. The student must submit an original post for each topic. The original post must be at least 5 sentences. Then the student must reply to 2 other student’s original post. The grade will be based on both post and replies that are made during the week. The instructor will post the topic by Tuesday and the class must complete their post and replies by Saturday at Midnight. The number of completed post will be counted up and divided by the number of topics for an average. This will be counted twice and is worth up to 200 points.

Lecture Total = 800 Points

Lab grades will be as follows:

Journal articles = 100
soil lab = 100
Graphing = 100

Metric = 100
Water = 100

Weather and environmental data and report = 100

2 test worth 100 points each = 200
Lab Total = 800

Text, Required Readings, Materials, and Supplies

Textbook. Environment Science a Study of the Interrelationships, by Enger& Smith

12th Edition New York, NY

Lab Manual. Currently prepared by faculty online

Supplements. Instructor Handouts

Helpful Links

Panola College Store

Course Syllabi

BIOL 2406