Earth and Human Impact Course Description and Logistics

COURSE LOGISTICS

This course is designed to engage you, the adult learner, in an integrative and reflective learning experience that emphasizes application of course content to your teaching.   There are two ways to participate in this course.

1) Self-paced Tutorial- Participants may choose to complete the course as a self-paced tutorial. There is no cost and no due dates for completing the course in this way.  Self- paced participants can complete the assignments but are asked to not submit assignments.  As a courtesy to those taking the course for credit please refrain from participating directly in the forums.  It is very important for participants choosing this option to experience the course as it was designed by completing the activities and answering questions (including those in the forums) in a journal as a guide to structure your learning.

2) For Credit- Participants wishing to receive credit for completing this course can contact Ellen Metzger, ellen.metzger@sjsu.edu, to enroll and pay for the course. Participants choosing this option will have a timeline to follow with due dates for each assignment and are expected to participate in the forums.

Upon completion, participants will receive .5 unit of credit  from San Jose State University for Geology 104.  Cost for credit: $25. The course  begins Monday, July 6, 2015 and ends Sunday, August 2, 2015. Participants are expected to complete all assignments within that window, adhering to the due dates as listed for each assignment.

Your teachers for this course will be: Ellen Metzger, San Jose State University, Susan Santone, Creative Change Educational Solutions, Kim Reynolds, Creative Change Educational Solutions.

To contact someone through the Moodle course once logged in,  click on "My Profile".  Select "Messages".  Search for the name of the person you would like to message. Once you find their name you can add her to your contacts and send a message.

COURSE OUTLINE 


The course/module requires approximately 12 hours of time, and is divided into 4 lessons. Each lesson requires approximately three hours to complete all reading and assignments.

Lesson topics include:
1. Introduction to Human Environmental Interdependence

2. Human Impact

3. Reducing our Ecological Footprint

4. Classroom Connections

The course is designed to model for you how you might approach teaching these topics to your students.  You will be actively participating in lessons you can immediately use in your classroom. These activities include short readings that can serve as informational texts for your  students. The approach thus models strategies you can use to teach these topics keeping in mind that each of you will bring your own unique perspective and experience to this course. We encourage you to modify the lessons so they best meet the needs of your students.  For each lesson shared by Creative Change Educational Solutions we offer you a PDF and Microsoft Word version so that you may best utilize the information for your specific needs. Each lesson makes a direct connection to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND APPROACHES

Course activities combine

  • Reading selections and questions
  • Online discussions within provided forums
  • Digital media (short videos, website links and tutorials)
  • Reflecting on guiding questions and proposed topics in a personal journal
  • Finding/evaluating resources for teaching about sustainability in your classroom
  • Providing feedback on course itself

EVALUATION

Participants will have one week to complete each lesson and accompanying assignments.  This course is offered as Credit/No Credit. Credit can be earned by completing the following:

  • completing all assignments (lesson response forms) thoroughly and submitting them by the due date
  • participating in the forums

 To earn credit you must score either a 3 or 2 for each of the 4 lesson response form assignments and 4 forums.  The rubric can also be viewed within the final assignment for each lesson.The rubric for each lesson is slightly different but follows this model:

 

3 points

2

1

0

Response Form and Forum Participation

Assignment was turned in on time with thoughtful responses that completely respond to the assignment; responses make relevant connections to course materials and ideas; overall deep engagement with the ideas.  Responses move beyond simply answering the question to providing analysis -- addressing the “how”, “why”, “so what?” or “now what?” aspects of the issue.  Responses are supported with course resources as appropriate. 

 Meaningful and thorough contribution to the forum; thoughtful and relevant responses to other course participants

 

Assignment was turned in on time with adequate responses that answer the questions; analysis is not reflective or critical and makes few relevant connections to course materials and ideas.  Responses are rarely supported with course resources.

Adequate contribution to the forum; adequate responses to other course participants

 

Assignment was turned in late. Superficial responses that gloss over key ideas; or, responses lack analysis or reflect illogical thinking and make no connections to course material or ideas.

Superficial contribution to the forum; superficial or limited responses to other course participants

 

Assignment was turned in late or not turned in at all and/or responses are unrelated to the questions posed; or responses contradict key course ideas.

Little or no contribution to the forum; unrelated or illogical posts and responses; little or no response to other course participants.

 

 

To enhance your own learning as a professional educator we strongly recommend that you set up a journal as you begin the course. This can be used to take notes, jot down teaching ideas as they occur to you, and record any questions you'd like to pose to the instructors and other course participants.

Last modified: Sunday, 28 June 2015, 10:05 PM