Discus Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection
In this course, learners deepen their understanding of the importance of natural resources to humankind. Students explore physical, biological, and ecological principles, examine how human alterations affect the environment, and reflect on the controversies surrounding various approaches to addressing environmental problems and the steps some communities have taken to address these challenges
Course Design
The course is designed to introduce students to the scientific method and utilize this approach to study the interaction between humans and their environment on a range of scales, from individual to global. Through laboratory techniques, engaging multimedia, interactive assignments, and course readings, students will enhance their understanding of environmental issues. Course projects, journal writing tasks, and discussion forum activities will also be employed to achieve learning outcomes while fostering a community of deeply engaged interactive learners.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Apply the steps of the scientific method, along with qualitative and quantitative analysis and problem solving skills, to complete laboratory exercises on environmental issues and document the results.
Discus Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection
Explain basic ecological concepts and how they relate to the goal of achieving environmental sustainability.
Examine how human actions have affected Earth’s capacity to sustain life.
Discuss some of the major environmental challenges facing modern societies and the social, economic, political, and ecological choices and tradeoffs these challenges pose.
Describe ways in which natural phenomena affect living things and the physical world.
Apply changes to one’s daily life choices in order to promote sustainability by reducing one’s ecological footprint.
Course Map
Discus Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection
The course map illustrates the careful design of the course through which each learning objective is supported by one or more specific learning activities in order to create integrity and pedagogical depth in the learning experience.Learning OutcomeWeekAssignment1. Apply the steps of the scientific method, along with qualitative and quantitative analysis and problem solving skills, to complete laboratory exercises on environmental issues and document the results. Insert course learning outcome1112223334455
Week 1: Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection—Journal
Week 1 Interactive Activity—Learning Activity
Stream Morphology Laboratory—Assignment
Week 2: Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection—Journal
Week 2 Interactive Activity—Learning Activity
Properties of Soil: Agriculture and Water Availability Impacts Laboratory—Assignment
Week 3: Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection—Journal
Week 3 Interactive Activity—Learning Activity
Ground and Surface Water Interactions Laboratory—Assignment
Week 4: Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection—Journal
Climate Change Virtual Laboratory—Assignment
Week 5: Ecological Footprint Update and Course Reflection—Journal
Oil Spill Bioremediation Laboratory—Assignment
2. Explain basic ecological concepts and how they relate to the goal of achieving environmental sustainability.111222233344555