The following abbreviations are used to indicate the assigned readings and exercises:
Date
Before
class:
(on-line)
Activity/Topics
Feb 11 -Feb
17 (on-line)
Assignments Due
 pre-knowledge survey
Survey: do the pre-knowledge survey (link in D2L) BEFORE
you do any of the readings or answers for the assigned
questions (survey is anonymous)
Pre-Surveys (do BEFORE any readings, class) (on D2L)
 Env. Bio Pre-Survey
 Nature of Science Literacy Survey
 Introductions
Intro: Your own experience! 
Readings:
Nature of Science
 Withgott and Brennan (W & B): Ch. 1: Intro to
environmental science. Especially pp. 10-15.
 Internet Resources (Links in D2L):
o NSTA Position Statement : Nature of Science
o Ch. 1: The Nature of Science (AAAS)
o Nature of Science: U.C. Museum Paleontology

Post in Introduction Forum (5 comp. pts)
o F2F Prep: Be prepared to share your
“Science Memory” in intro on Sep 10.



Readings & Nature of Science Q’s (5 pts)
Post on forum by noon Sat, Feb 9th
F2F Prep: Identify comment posted in forum to
respond to in F2F discussion on Feb 10.
 Course Introduction
See above
 Introductions (share from forum)
 What is Science: intro & discussion
(share from forum)
 Science: body of knowledge & methodology
 The Cube Activity
 Isopod Lab
Complete During Class:
 The Cube Activity (10 pts)
 Isopod Lab Report –(10 pts)
Evidence for Evolution
 Evidence for evolution Q’s and group
summary
 Evidence for Evolution forum
Readings:
Evidence for Evolution:
o David Quammen, 2004 “Was Darwin Wrong? – No:
evidence for evolution is overwhelming”
o UCMP: “Lines of Evidence”
o Imperfections Website
Science and Religion:
o Kennith Miller: “Finding Darwin’s God” excerpt
Evidence for evolution:
 Complete assigned Q’s** and post answers in
assigned forum by Thurs. Feb 14:
Reading: Science: Truth Without Certainty
 Truth Without Certainty Q’s (5 pts)
Participate in discussion forum (10 pts)

Great Transformations Video (NOVA)

Gould, S. J. 1981. pp. 50-69 The Mismeasure of Man
Complete before Class:
 Quiz 1 (5 pts)

W&B: Chapter 6: Section on Culture, Worldview, and the

Feb 24
(F2F)
F2F= Face to face (versus online)
Resources To Read/View for Class
 Nature of Science readings and Q’s –
practice comment in forum
Feb 10
F2F
W&B = Withgott and Brennan text
MES = Mastering Environmental Science website
Truth Without Certainty discussion
 Review and discuss:
Evidence for Evolution: forum
(jigsaw and concept map)
 Discussion Truth Without Certainty (forum)
 Create and post a team summary of
Q answers by Sat Feb 16 (10 pts)
 Participate in discussion forum (10 pts)
F2F Prep: Read group summaries and be prepared
to discuss in F2F discussion Feb 24.
 Great Transformations Video
& Mismeasure of Man
Environment. (pp. 136- 146)
 Mismeasure of Man Q’s (5 pts)
 Social context of science

W&B: Chapter 3: pp. 51-61 (especially 52-56).
 Graph It exercise (5 pts)
 History of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

W&B Ch 2: pp. 33-39 (Geology: Physical Basis for Env.
Science) & pp. 40-46 (Geologic + Natural Hazard)
Complete during class:
 Natural selection exercise (10 pts)

MES – Ch 2 Animation: Global Geography through
Geologic Time
 Data Analysis (complete in lab) (10 pts): Bring
 Natural Selection Exercise
 Data Analysis Lab

Feb 25-Mar
3
(on-line)


 NOVA Video: Judgment Day and On
Becoming Human
Textbook with On-line Access Code to the
Mastering Environmental Science website to Lab
MES: Ch 3 Animation: Causes of Evolutionary Change
Ch 3 Bioflix: Mechanisms of Evolution
Science and Religion:
 NOVA Video: Judgment Day: (Watch All sections):
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/program.html
 Participate in Nova discussion. (Post by Thurs Feb
28; respond twice by Sun Mar. 2) (15 pts)
 NOVA Video: Becoming Human
 Flies in the Barn
 Resistance Case Study: Superweeds, HIV,
Staph, DDT, MRSA
Mar 10
(F2F)




Nova discussion
Case Study (jigsaw)
Genetics and Heredity
Introduce Group Projects
 Intro to Mod. 2: Dead Zone KWL
 Lab: Water Quality and Inquiry
What is Natural Selection
 Watch Flies in the Barn lecture
 Natural selection readings (see F2F Feb 24th)

 Flies in the Barn Q’s (5 pts)
 Begin solving assigned Resistance Case Study:
Superweeds, HIV, Staph, DDT, MRSA (use assigned
forum to help you solve the case) (group response 10
pts)
 F2F Prep: Have a group answer to case study by
Mar. 10th and be prepared to discuss in f2f
discussion Mar 10.
Complete Before Class:
 Group response: assigned Resistance Case:
 Quiz 2 (5 pts)
Complete During Class:
 Water Quality report (module 2) (10 pts)
 On-line #1 (Due March 17th)
Take-Home #1 (Due March 20th)