Students gain a basic scientific understanding of the Earth’s major physical and biological systems within the context of global environmental issues, and explore global environmental change and potential solutions from interdisciplinary economic, ethical, political, and social perspectives. I have taught this class numerous times since the fall semester of 2017.

The assessment below is my own personal evaluation of how the course content and assignments relate to the college-wide learning outcomes.

Summary: After having taught this course at least nine times, I have adjusted the content and assessments so they are fully in line with the college-wide learning outcomes. In addition to in-class discussions, each of the outcomes is represented in written work as well that includes short papers, projects, online discussion posts, and exam answers.

The Outcomes & Scores:

Critical Thinking: Students are required to read selected journal articles, book chapters, and web pages related to contemporary environmental issues and form an opinion based on those readings. Assessments include a written paper that requires the students to summarize, compare, and contrast the opinions of two different authors. Click here for an example assignment.

Score: 5 On Target.

Creative Inquiry: Students in this class complete a project in which they research a particular topic, create a visual presentation, and deliver an oral presentation to their classmates.

Score: 5 On Target.

Intercultural Competence: Students learn about how differing cultural values has an impact on the environment and how poverty and the status of women plays a role in how people think about the natural world. Students view videos and read articles to formulate an opinion that they express through in-class discussions and in online discussion posts.

Score: 5 On Target.

Civic Engagement: Students explore a variety of environmental issues that have implications for environmental justice and the equal treatment of people regardless of race, sex. etc. Students are encouraged to express their opinions through written assignments and discussion posts. Click here for an example assignment.

Score: 5 On Target.

Commitment to Well-Being: Students in this course are exposed to many environmental health and toxicity issues that people in this country and others are dealing with. In addition, the concept of food, and how it is grown and processed, is frequently discussed. Students consider the environmental impact of their eating choices through online discussion posts.

Score: 5 On Target.

Sustainability: Students consider their own impact on the environment in this class through an exercise in which they calculate their own carbon footprint. Sustainability is a major factor in every unit of the course. Click here to see the assignment.

Score: 5 On Target.