ES110 syllabus F21 v2 9SEP PDF

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Syllabus - including all of the information from ES100, overall a really enjoyable and informative course about the environment...

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This syllabus last updated 2SEP21

Course Syllabus ES110 Environment, Sustainability, and Society Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts, Waterloo Campus Fall 2021 Remote Instruction In Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Brantford we are on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Instructor Information Professor Robert McLeman, [email protected] Office hours: Tuesdays 1030-1130H by Zoom, or by appointment https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-arts/faculty-profiles/robert-mcleman/index.html

Course Information An interdisciplinary introduction to humans’ interactions with the natural environment. Pressing environmental challenges are explored, and creative sustainable responses, using Canadian and international examples, are proposed. Topics include food, water and energy systems; climate change adaptation; environmental management; and, policy-making.

***Detailed weekly schedules are provided as a separate document*** Course Overview and Approach This introductory level course is a prerequisite for major and minor degree programs in Environmental Studies, as well as the Sustainability Option, but is designed to appeal to students in all degree programs interested in learning about pressing global environmental challenges and solution pathways. In the current semester, this course is delivered by remote instruction via Zoom, and is supported by an e-textbook. The course is structured around of 12 weekly modules, each one consisting of two meetings per week held via zoom.wlu.ca during the lecture timeslot that appears in the student’s LORIS schedule. Each weekly module focuses on a different environmental challenge, reviewing the key causes and potential solutions. Assessment consists of four assignments to be completed by students during the semester, three on-line multiple choice quizzes, and an at-home final exam. The assignments include two “your-choice” assignments, where students select from a list of four choices of fun assignments that explore the importance of the natural environment in modern culture. Two other assignments, selected by the instructor, are designed to take students through a ‘deep-dive’ into pressing environmental challenges our society faces.

Course Goals and Learning Outcomes Rarely a day goes by without some new scientific report warning that human activity is damaging the environment and that, if we don’t start making the right choices, the consequences for our future 1

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wellbeing will be severe. But what are the right choices? What are the wrong ones? What choices are available to us in the first place? Why don’t more people know or care about these choices? Where can we turn for reliable information in a time when social media is dominated by finger-pointing, namecalling, and “fake news”? And in a post-COVID-19 world, what will sustainability look like? In ES110, students explore key environmental challenges of the 21st century such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and growing scarcity of food and water. Using relevant science and social science concepts, students will learn how to make their own systematic interpretations of environmental issues, the underlying forces that shape them, the possible solutions that exist, and the political, economic and cultural values that influence if and how we take action. Students who complete this course will: - Be introduced how to observe, analyze, interpret and explain human-environment interactions using a basic systems approach - Acquire a greater understanding of key concepts used by researchers and experts in the study and discussion of human impacts on the environment - Be able to identify and describe how human activity is altering key bio-physical and socio-economic processes that underlay pressing environmental challenges at scales from the local to global - Become familiar with how political and economic values shape our attitudes and actions toward the natural environment - Be fully prepared to successfully complete higher-level courses in Environmental Studies

Course Tools and Learning Materials 1) All resources with the exception of the textbook are available on the course website on MyLearningSpace. Students are expected to consult the site regularly throughout the semester for updates and news. 2) The required textbook for this course is an electronic textbook that students access through MyLS and pay for via LORIS: Our Environment: A Canadian Perspective, 5th Edition. Dianne Draper & Ann Zimmerman. ISBN-10: 0-17-650260-2. Because it is a digital access textbook, it costs approximately half the price of the hard copy version. Students who desire a hard copy may order one through the bookstore or directly from the publisher. Note: This textbook company offers supplemental electronic resources and instructor companion materials for sale. Students are not expected to purchase these. For more info on how e-textbooks are accessed and paid for, click on this link from the WLU bookstore: https://www.wlubookstore.com/c-201-digital-textbook-access.aspx

Student Evaluation Grades for ES110 this semester will be assessed as follows: Multiple choice quizzes: 3 quizzes are offered during semester and students count only their best two scores; worth 20% of final grade

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“Your-choice” assignments: 2 assignments to be completed during semester, worth 20% of final grade “Prof’s-choice” assignments: 2 assignments to be completed during semester, worth 30% of final grade Take-home final exam, worth 30% of final grade

Learning Activities, Assignments, Quizzes and Examinations Learning activities Each week of the course is a separate module focussing on a particular topic. Two live meetings with the professor occur each week on zoom.wlu.ca, during the time slots for each section as found in the student’s LORIS timetable. Students are encouraged to participate live. These meetings are very interactive, and in addition to Dr. McLeman’s presentation there is a live chat room where students can pose questions and interact with one another in real time during the meeting. The chat room is moderated by an instructional assistant to ensure good conduct. For students who are unable to attend, Zoom meetings are recorded and transcribed, and are posted to MyLearningSpace within 24 hours following the meeting. Professor McLeman also hosts optional “office hour” meetings on zoom on Tuesdays; please drop in if you have any questions about the course. A complete schedule of Zoom meetings for the semester is found in MyLearningSapce by clicking on the Zoom Meetings tab. Multiple-choice quizzes On 3 occasions during semester, students will complete a multiple choice quiz via the course website on MyLearningSpace (see attached schedule for specific dates). The quizzes will be based on lectures and assigned e-textbook readings, and consist of 10-15 multiple choice/short answer questions. Each one should take 15-20 minutes to complete. Note that the questions are randomly drawn from a larger bank of questions, so that each individual student’s test is unique, thereby removing the temptation for students to collaborate on the test. The mean average of the student’s best 2 scores from the 3 quizzes will count 20% toward the student’s final grade for the course. The implication is that, if a student achieves a less-than-desirable score on one of the quizzes, or is unable to complete one because of illness, technical problems or other unforeseen circumstances, that quiz score will be dropped, and the student will still have an opportunity to achieve a good grade on this component of the course. “Your-choice” assignments These are short assignments designed to help students (1) reflect on the cultural significance of the natural environment, (2) practice a useful study or research skill, and (3) sharpen their communication skills. “Your-choice” assignments are meant to be fun, but at the same time, students should treat these seriously and produce a high quality product. Students are given four possible assignments to choose from, and must complete two. The first assignment must be submitted no later than October 17 and the second no later than December 1; however, students are welcome to submit both of them as early in the semester as they wish. Each is graded out of 10 and together they represent 20% of the student’s final grade for the course. “Prof’s-choice” assignments

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Professor McLeman has created two assignments that enable students to take a deep dive into the causes of key environmental challenges we currently face, and explore options for responding to these. The due dates for these are provided in the attached schedule. Each is graded out of 20, and together they represent 30% of the student’s final grade. The first will be due October 24, and the second will be due November 14. Final exam (at-home) At 1700H on the last day of semester, students will receive via MyLS and email a set of questions that make up the final examination for this course. Students will be given 7 days to complete the examination and submit their response via the MyLS Dropbox (no exceptions or extensions possible). The exam will provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding of the key concepts of the course and ability to apply them. The assignment will be designed so that it can only be successfully completed by the student in question. The submitted exam answers will automatically be screened with plagiarism detection software. The score on this exam will count 30% toward the student’s final grade for the course.

University and Course Policies 1. Academic Calendars: Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar for information regarding all important dates, deadlines, and services available on campus. 2. Plagiarism: Wilfrid Laurier University uses software on MyLS that detects plagiarism, and it will be used to inspect all assignments you submit, including the final exam. Do not attempt to pass off as your own the work of other students or submit material copied from students who took this course in previous years; you will be caught. For information on what constitutes plagiarism and how not to do it, visit https://students.wlu.ca/academics/academic-integrity/types-ofacademic-misconduct.html 3. Academic Integrity: Laurier is committed to a culture of integrity within and beyond the classroom. This culture values trustworthiness (i.e., honesty, integrity, reliability), fairness, caring, respect, responsibility and citizenship. Together, we have a shared responsibility to uphold this culture in our academic and nonacademic behaviour. The University has a defined policy with respect to academic misconduct. As a Laurier student you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with this policy and the accompanying penalty guidelines, some of which may appear on your transcript if there is a finding of misconduct. The relevant policy can be found at Laurier's academic integrity website along with resources to educate and support you in upholding a culture of integrity. Ignorance of the policy is not a defense. 4. Late Assignment Policy: Assignments must be submitted before their due dates. Late assignments will not be graded until the student has contacted the professor, made a zoom consultation appointment, and provided a valid and acceptable reason for the late submission. Prof’s-choice assignments that are submitted late without a valid reason will have 2 marks deducted from the grade awarded for every 24 hour period of lateness. “Your-choice” assignments that are submitted late without a valid reason will not be marked, and will automatically receive a grade of zero. The professor will determine what constitutes a “valid and acceptable” reason on a case-by-case basis. Examples of reasons that will not be considered 4

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acceptable are software or computer problems, forgetfulness, or time management-related issues. Note that every assignment in ES110 provides ample time for students to complete it, so long as it is not left to the last minute. 5. Final Examination: The take-home exam will be conducted during the exam period. Students are strongly advised not to schedule other commitments during the exam period. 6. Student Wellness Centre 

Student Wellness Centre: 519-884-0710, x3146. The Centre supports the physical, emotional, and mental health needs of students. Contact the Centre at x3146, [email protected]. After hours crisis support available 24/7. Call 1-844-437-3247 (HERE247).

Ending on a positive note It is bad karma to end the syllabus with a list of rules and consequences. By taking ES110 you are making a wise investment in your own intellectual, personal, and professional development. Ask yourself these questions: Do you think environmental issues are going to be less important or more important in coming years? Do you think there will be fewer jobs requiring basic knowledge of environmental systems or more jobs requiring such knowledge in coming years? Do you think your personal quality of life is going to be less influenced by the natural environment or more influenced by the natural environment as you grow older? If you think the answer to each of these questions is “more”, ES110 is a good place to start learning “more”. We hope you enjoy the course. ***Detailed weekly schedules for lectures, required readings, and assignments are provided as a separate document***

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