Instructors
E Art Bettis, associate professor and director of graduate studies
Adam Ward, assistant professor (is currently at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University)
Course Objectives
The main goal of this course is to improve students’ understanding of the relationship between their day-to-day life and Environmental Science, and develop students’ critical thinking to evaluate popular media articles to Environmental Science. The fully transformed course was delivered in the spring 2014.
Enrollment
The average enrollment of this course: 150 - 250.
College
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Large Lecture Transformation
- Adopt a blended learning model. Some of the traditional and didactic lectures were replaced with online activities that encourage students to come prepared to the class with understanding of the topic. Then, the class time spent more time engaging students in discussion, illustration, and problem solving activities rather than dissemination of information around fundamental concepts.
- The course structure was changed from two 75 minute lectures per week to one 50 minute lecture and one 50 minute TILE or project session (TILE and project sessions were alternated).
- Developed course materials so students did not need a textbook. Each module provided the following materials:
- Pre-class materials (Readings and videos)
- Lecture videos
- Pre-lecture online quiz
- Module cap online quiz
- Re-designed the course website (ICON) to support students’ self-regulated learning.
- Incorporated TILE sessions to engage students in hands-on projects.
- Incorporated guest-lectures to connect classroom learning to real world, issues.
- Added peer-review activities & authentic assessments (e.g., semester group project)
- Provide TA training to lead lab sessions and assist faculty in TILE and project sessions effectively.