SC 117 Tropical Pacific Environments

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Course title: SC 117 Tropical Pacific Environments
Campus: Career and Technical Education Center, Kosrae, Chuuk, Yap	Initiator: Brigeen Lawrence	Date: 05/15/19
Course description: This course will present ecological principles made relevant by examples from Pacific Island ecosystems and from interactions of humans with our island reefs and forests. It will focus on the close interrelationship between the physical (hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere) and biological (biosphere) environments of tropical Pacific islands and the impact of human colonization. Emphasis will be placed on islands as “closed” systems with limited surface area and resources. Drastic alteration to Pacific island environments by rapid population growth, industrialization and modern technology within the last century will be explored.

COURSE HOURS/CREDITS:

	Hours per Week		No. of Weeks		Total Hours		Semester Credits
Lecture	3	x	16	x	48	=	3
Laboratory	3	x	16	x	48	=	1
Workshop		x		x		=
			Total Semester Credits				4

PURPOSE OF COURSE:

[X] Degree requirement

[ ] Degree elective

[ ] Certificate

[ ] Other

PREREQUISITES: ESL 089 Reading V and SS 150 History of Micronesia.

PSLOs OF OTHER PROGRAMS THIS COURSE MEETS:

PSLO#	Program

CAC Chair signatures:_________ Date recommended:__________

VPIA signature:___________ Date approved:__________

1. INSTITUTIONAL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES(Check all that apply and are linked to the course student learning outcomes.)

[X]	1. Effective oral communication:capacity to deliver prepared, purposeful presentations designed to increase knowledge, to foster understanding, or to promote change in the listeners’ attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors.
[X]	2. Effective written communication: development and expression of ideas in writing through work in many genres and styles, utilizing different writing technologies, and mixing texts, data, and images through iterative experiences across the curriculum.
[X]	3. Critical thinking: a habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.
[X]	4. Problem solving: capacity to design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.
[X]	5. Intercultural knowledge and competence: a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.
[X]	6. Information literacy: the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use and share that information for the problem at hand.
[X]	7. Foundations and skills for life-long learning:purposeful learning activity, undertaken on an ongoing basis with the aim of improving knowledge, skills, and competence.
[X]	8. Quantitative Reasoning: ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations; comprehends and can create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence and can clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats.

2) PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (PSLOs): The student will be able to:

Demonstrate understanding and apply mathematical concepts in problem- solving and in day to day activities.
Present and interpret numeric information.
Communicate thoughts and ideas effectively using proper mathematical terms.
Define and explain scientific concepts, principles, and theories of a field of science.
Perform experiments that use scientific methods as part of the inquiry process.

3) COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (CSLOs) (General): The student will be able to:

Describe the scientific concepts of environment and ecology.
Demonstrate an understanding of the four major Pacific island types and explain their origins.
Compare the past and present impact of humankind on the tropical Pacific island ecosystems.
Develop a vocabulary that allows students to discuss environmental realities linked to environmental challenges.
Identify “global issues” concerning the world environment and describe their impact on tropical Pacific islands.
Describe the relationship between environmental ethics and traditional or cultural knowledge of the environment.
Recognize sustainable patterns in tropical island environments.

4) COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (CSLOs) (Specific): The student will be able to:

CSLO (General) 1: Describe the scientific concepts of environment and ecology.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific)	ISLO	PSLO	Assessment Strategies
1.1 Describe in writing the relationship among the scientific concepts, principles and theories of the environment as they pertain to the physical and biological environments.	6,*7	4	Written exam by which the student identifies and defines and the relationship among scientific concepts, principles, and theories of environment as they pertain to the physical and biological environments. Graded with a rubric.
1.2 Describe in writing the relationship among the scientific concepts, principles and theories of ecology as they pertain to the ecosystem and lower levels of organization.	6,7	4	Written exam by which the student identifies and defines and the relationship among scientific concepts, principles, and theories of ecology as they pertain to the ecosystem and lower levels of organization. Graded with a rubric.
CSLO (General) 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the four major Pacific island types and explain their origins.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific)	ISLO	PSLO	Assessment Strategies
2.1 Identify and explain the geologic processes development of Pacific islands as well as their resources and limitations.	3,6,7	4	Quizzes and exams on the different types of Pacific islands (continental, volcanic, low limestone, raised limestone), the geological processes of Pacific islands formation and their resources and limitations. Graded with a checklist.
2.2 Use procedures of scientific methods as part of the inquiry process in weekly lab experiments on topics of island geologic development, resources, and limitations.	*2,4,7	5	Lab experiments /reports on the difference in resources and limitations in relation with island’s geological properties, grade by rubrics.
CSLO (General) 3: Compare the past and present impact of humankind on the tropical Pacific island ecosystems.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific)	ISLO	PSLO	Assessment Strategies
3.1 Solve mathematically human impact, including how technology influences these impacts on a variety of ecosystems.	8	2,5	Quiz and exams on the different types of technologies linked to environmental problems. Oral presentation on resources and traditional uses and values, graded by rubrics.
3.2 Describe how human activities affect and exploit land resources.	1,2,3,7	4,5	Quizzes and exams on identifying human impacts on ecosystems
3.3 Describe how human activities affect freshwater resources and the importance of protecting this resource.	1,2,3,7	4,5	Oral presentation on the effects of human activities on ecosystems, graded by rubrics.
3.4 Describe how human activities affect the saltwater environment, its potential and overuse.	1,2,3,7	4,5	Oral presentation on the effects of human activities on ecosystems, graded by rubrics.
3.5 Describe the impact of human population growth on land, water and waste management.	1,2,3,7	4,5	Oral presentation on the effects of human activities on ecosystems, graded by rubrics.
CSLO (General) 4: Develop a vocabulary that allows students to discuss environmental realities linked to environmental challenges.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific)	ISLO	PSLO	Assessment Strategies
4.1 Use appropriate vocabulary to discuss environmental topics.	1,2,3,4	4	Written assignment by which the student defines and explains vocabulary used in environmental topics, graded by rubrics.
4.2 Apply vocabulary in the use of scientific methods in lab reports.	1,2,4,7	4	Written report where the student discusses environmental issues using appropriate vocabularies, graded by rubrics.
CSLO (General) 5: Describe “global issues” concerning the world environment and their impact on tropical Pacific islands.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific)	ISLO	PSLO	Assessment Strategies
5.1 Explain graphic presentation related to global issues	1,2,3,7	4	Oral /written presentation where the student illustrates and discusses a graphic presentation related to global issues, graded by rubrics.
5.2 Describe and explain global environmental issues and link them to projected catastrophes in tropical pacific island communities.	3,4,7	4	Written exam/assignment in which the student describes the global environment issues linked to projected catastrophes in tropical island communities, graded by rubrics.
5.3 Apply procedures of scientific methods as part of the Inquiry process in weekly lab experiments related to “global issues”.	1,2,4,7	4	Written lab reports on experiments using the scientific method, graded by rubrics.
CSLO (General) 6: Describe the relationship between environmental ethics and traditional or cultural knowledge of the environment.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific)	ISLO	PSLO	Assessment Strategies
6.1. Compare and contrast traditional and modern ethics related to the environment, and identify those that would benefit our environment today.	3,5,7	4	Written assignment in which the student compares and contrasts the traditional and modern ethics related to environment, graded by rubrics.
6.2 Apply procedures of scientific methods as part of the inquiry process in weekly lab experiments related to traditional practices of benefit today.	1,2,4,7	4	Written exam/assignment in which the student describes the global environment issues linked to projected catastrophes in tropical island communities, graded by rubrics.
CSLO (General) 7: Recognize sustainable patterns in tropical island environments.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific)	ISLO	PSLO	Assessment Strategies
7.1 Identify best conservation practices, as presented by guest speakers from local conservation agencies.	3,4,7	4	Written exam/assignment where the student lists the best conservation practices, graded by rubrics.
7.2 Describe and identify best conservation practices in the context of scientific methods.	1,2,3,4,7	4	Written lab report by which the student explains, interprets, and summarizes the best conservation practices in the context of scientific methods, graded by rubrics.

COURSE CONTENTS

Scientific methodology
Principles of ecology
Biogeography/biodiversity
Geology/geomorphology
Islanders and traditional knowledge
Resource management
Environmental ethics
Global environmental issues

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

[X] Lecture [X] Cooperative learning groups

[X] Laboratory [X] In-class exercises

[X] Audio visual [X] Demonstration

[ ] Other

REQUIRED TEXT(S) AND COURSE MATERIALS:
Lobban, S.C. and M. Schefter. Tropical Pacific Island Environments. Guam: University of Guam Press.1997 (or most recent edition).

REFERENCE MATERIALS:
PCunningham, W. P. and B. W. Saigo.Environmental Science. A Global Concern. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education. 2001 ( or most recent edition).
Enger E.D. & B.F. Smith. Environmental Science. A Study of Interrelationships. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. 2000 ( or most recent edition).
Tyler Miller G. Jr. Living in the Environment. 11th ed. New York: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. 1999 (or most recent edition).

9.INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS:
Field Trip
Fees

10. EVALUATION:
In order to pass the course the student must acquire a summative of 70% or higher.

11. CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
None

SC 117 Tropical Pacific Environment

Approved by VPIA: 04/08/22

College of Micronesia - FSM

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SC 117 Tropical Pacific Environments

Hours per Week

No. of Weeks

Total Hours

Semester Credits