PCC/ CCOG / ESR

Course Content and Outcome Guide for ESR 203

Date:
30-MAY-2007
Posted by:
Curriculum Office
Course Number:
ESR 203
Course Title:
Applied Environ Studies:
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture hours:
20
Lecture/Lab hours:
0
Lab hours:
60
Special Fee:
$24

Course Description

Uses project work involving work with an environmental agency, industry, service or research organization. Prerequisite: ESR 202.

Addendum to Course Description

To clarify the teaching of evolution and its place in the classroom, the Portland Community College Science Departments stand by the following statements about what is science and how the theory of evolution is the major organizing theory in the discipline of the biological sciences.

• Science is a fundamentally nondogmatic and self-correcting investigatory process. In science, a theory is neither a guess, dogma, nor myth. The theories developed through scientific investigation are not decided in advance, but can be and often are modified and revised through observation and experimentation.

• The theory of evolution meets the criteria of a scientific theory. In contrast, creation "science" is neither self-examining nor investigatory. Creation "science" is not considered a legitimate science, but a form of religious advocacy. This position is established by legal precedence (Webster v. New Lenox School District #122, 917 F. 2d 1004).

Science (ESR) instructors of Portland Community College will teach the theory of evolution not as absolute truth but as the most widely accepted scientific theory on the diversity of life. We, the Biology Subject Area Curriculum Committee at Portland Community College, therefore stand with such organizations as the National Association of Biology Teachers in opposing the inclusion of pseudo-sciences in our science curricula.

Lab B Notes: The lab for this course has been approved as "Lab B". This means that Faculty effort in preparation and evaluation generally occurs outside of scheduled class hours. Class format is a combination of Faculty lectures and demonstrations, guided student interactions and supervised student application of lectures. Students produce written work such as lab notebooks, reports, and responses in writing to assigned questions, and the Instructor is expected to comment on and grade this written work outside of schedule class hours. This evaluation will take place on a regular basis throughout the term.

Intended Outcomes for the course


A student will be able to collaboratively and independently:

  • Identify and express how humans interact with the environment
  • Demonstrate an understanding of ecosystem functioning and human impacts
  • Design, carry out, and complete assessment (writing) of environmental project

Outcome Assessment Strategies

:
Assessment Tasks:
  • Written report of field and laboratory experiences or internship
  • Oral presentation of project
  • Self-assessment of group dynamics

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)


Concepts and Themes:
  • Human Impacts
  • Understanding environmental parameters
  • Application of environmental information (interpretation and analysis)
Process Skills (Competency skills):
  • Read and process environmental information
  • Write using the scientific format
  • Use basic math and statistics appropriately
  • Apply scientific method
  • Locating and accessing information
  • Think critically
  • Collaborate with peers -- work effectively in groups
  • Present conclusions logically
  • Problem solving
  • Communication (oral and written)