Onondaga Community College ENV 101: Intro. Environmental Technology
Course Information:
Room: Ferrante 367 Textbook; Introduction to Environmental
Section: 001 (Mon & Wedn 1:35-2:55 pm Technology, by Ann Boyce, John Wiley & Sons
Lab - Thur 2:00-4:50 pm) ISBN# 0-471-28733-4
002 (MWF 8:00-8:55 am
Lab – Tues 8:00-10:55 am)
Instructor: phone: (315) 498-2722 office number
Mr. Brian McAninch http://myhome.sunyocc.edu/~mcanincb/
Office: 369 Ferrante E-mail: mcanincb@sunyocc.edu
Env/Geo tutoring Mon 11:05-1:00 pm
Office Hours: Wedn & Fri 12:30-1:30pm, & Thur 9:00-10:00.
Course Objectives: Applying earth sciences to environmental issues that our society, and relate this study to various possible career paths within the environmental and regulatory industry. Topics covered will include: governmental processes; federal environmental regulations, hazardous materials and related health effects; basic ecology; soil, water & air and related pollution for each of these media; hazardous & non-hazardous waste; pollution prevention and waste minimization.
In addition, the laboratory section will provide hands-on experience with numerous aspects of work associated with the environmental industry. These experiences will include: identification of rocks and minerals; soil description and profiles; logging drill core; observing a drilling and well installation, interpretation of topographic maps, geologic maps, and aerial photos, and measurement and analysis techniques for surface and groundwater.
This course will fulfill the requirements for the Geoscience option of the Environ. Technology AAS Degree program and has applications to any of the other program options. This course consists of two (2), one and one-half hour lectures and one (1), three hour laboratory per week.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time, and remain until class is completed. Tardiness will be counted as an absence. Make-up times for exams will ONLY be allowed if you have given the instructor prior notification of your absence and have arranged to complete the missed exam or quiz. Make-up work must be completed within two weeks of the original exam or quiz. Frequent absences will lower your course grade.
Academic Honesty: Students are allowed to work together on any exercises handed out in class; however, written class work that is turned in must be in your own words. Students who hand in identical answers will be subject to disciplinary action. All work performed on exams & quizzes are to be performed by you. Any student violating these rules will automatically fail the entire course.
Evaluation: Your final grade will be determined as follows: 25% laboratory exercises; 25% written assignments (chapter questions and course notebook) and quiz; 50% exams (the average of three (3) exams w/ the final non-comprehensive). Information on interview will be passed out in subsequent class. Your lab grade will be based on your performance on lab exercises, with lab exercises due within one week of completing the lab. Written assignments will be due within one week of being handed out to the class, unless otherwise noted.
Weekly Course Schedule
|
Week |
Activity |
Reading/Lab/Assign. |
|
Aug 30, 2010 |
Class Introduction, & provide introduction and background to environmental field |
Ch’s 1-1, 1-2, & 1-3 No Lab |
|
Sept 7, 2010
|
Cont. Introduction Begin Governmental Processes Sept 8th (Wednesday) In-Class Quiz on Chapt 1 |
Ch’s 2-1, 2-2, & 2-3 Lab: Topo Maps I Ch 1 questions due |
|
Sept 13, 2010
|
Cont. Governmental Processes |
Ch’s 2-4, 3-1, & 3-2 Lab:Topo& GW Maps II |
|
Sept 20, 2010
|
Health Effects of Haz. Materials COLLECT NOTE BOOKS Sept 23/24th |
Ch’s 3-3, 3-4 & 4-1 Lab:Basics of GW I FT Chpt 2 questions due |
|
Sept 27, 2010
|
Begin Basic Ecology Review Session |
Ch’s 4-2, 4-3 & 4-4 Lab: Stream Flow I FT Chpt 3 questions due |
|
Oct 4, 2010
|
Fate & Transport of Pollutants in soil, air & water First Exam Oct 4th (Monday)
|
Ch’s 5-1, 5-2, & 5-3 Lab: Stream Flow II Chpt 4 questions due |
|
Oct 11, 2010 |
Air: Clean Air Act & air pollution |
Ch’s 6-1, 6-2, & 6-3 Lab: Basics of GW II Chpt 5 questions due |
|
Oct 18, 2010
|
Water & Wastewater, water quality laws & treatment COLLECT NOTE BOOKS Oct 21/22nd |
Ch’s 7-1, 7-2, & 7-3 Lab: Soil Logging I Chpt 6 questions due |
|
Oct 25, 2010 |
Cont. Water & Wastewater
|
Ch’s: 8-1 & 8-2 Lab: Drilling wells FT Chpt 7 questions due |
|
Nov 1, 2010 |
Hazardous Materials |
Ch’s: 8-3 & 8-4 Lab: Review Session |
|
Nov 8, 2010 |
Cont. Hazardous Materials 2nd Exam Nov 8th (Monday) |
Chpt: 9 Lab: Soil Logging II Chpt 8 questions due |
|
Nov 15, 2010 |
Occupational Health & Safety COLLECT NOTE BOOKS Nov 18/19th |
Ch’s: 10-1, 10-2 & 10-3 No Lab T-Day Break Chpt 9 questions due |
|
Nov 22, 2010 |
Sources of Energy & Materials, Alternatives Thanksgiving Break |
Handouts in Class Lab: Geologic Maps |
|
Nov 29, 2010 |
Hazardous & non-hazardous waste
|
Ch’s: 11-1, thru 11-4 Lab: Air Photos |
|
Dec 6, 2010 |
Pollution Prevention & Waste MinimizationReview Session |
No Lab |
|
Dec 13-19, 2010 |
Final Exam (to be scheduled)
|
|
Out
standing possible scheduling items; drilling demonstration, & visiting
speaker. FT = Field Trip
Onondaga Community College ENV 101: Introduction to Environ.Tech.
Writing Assignment #1
Semester-Long Note Assignment
Introduction: As part of this programs attempt to give you as good a foundation as possible for the environmental field, I want to emphasize the importance of organization and clear note taking, which is an important element of professional development. To this end:
· I will be collecting your notebooks three times during the course of the semester (see your syllabus), and grade your note books on the following elements; 1) completeness of material, 2) organization of notes & handouts, and 3) legibility of notes. The average of the three (3) grades for this assignment will constitute half of your writing assignment grade.
· Your notebook will include the following elements; 1) all class handouts, 2) class notes (neat & legible), 3) all graded writing assignments received back from me, 4) all graded labs received back from me, 5) and 1-2 pages of notes for each chapter assigned for reading (format is up to you, but they must be included and must be neat & legible).
· These materials will be stored in a 3-ring binder or equivalent, and each of the above five (5) elements will be separated by a divider. Materials in each element must be chronologically arranged.
Helpful hints:
· Keep your notes organized from the get-go; waiting until the last minute to organize your materials will not work well and will result in a poor grade for you.
· Re-write your notes each night after class or at the end of the week. This works well for those of us who generally have poor handwriting and is very effective study guide.
Notes from your reading do not have to be complete with respect to what is in each chapter; instead focus your notes on elements of interest to you, or areas of difficulty for your understanding. Another idea, provide definitions in your notes for the terms & concepts identified at the front of each chapter.
Onondaga Community College ENV 101: Introduction to Environ.Tech.
Writing Assignment #2
Short Written Answers
Introduction: To increase retention for reading, I am assigning one section of questions (Titled “Checking Your Understanding”) for Chapters 1 thru 9. Generally there are 3 to 4 sections of questions for each chapter, pick one of these and turn them in to me the week following scheduled reading assignment (i.e., generally the Monday following the week the reading was assigned, see ‘weekly schedule’). To this end:
· Each assignment will be neatly written or typewritten, and will be properly titled (Chapter & date) and have your name at the top. I will discount for poor legibility.
· Questions will be written out with the answers.
· All answers must be written in complete sentences, and must provide a clear answer. Poor grammar, spelling, and unclear writing will be discounted.
· Late assignments will not be accepted without valid excuse.
One unavoidable truth about college is that it is not easy. If it were, everyone would be a college graduate. How you react to the normal periods of frustration that all students face says a lot about you and directly determines your likelihood of success.
Many students make the mistake of giving up on themselves too quickly. Remember, sometimes it’s in struggling with a challenging assignment and actually figuring it out that the most powerful learning happens. So, at the first sign of trouble, take action:
q Dig Deeper Don’t quickly give up or immediately ask somebody for help. Rely on yourself first. Devote additional study time to the class. Struggle with it for a while - you’ll be amazed at how often the pieces will begin to fall into place. At the first sign of trouble, visit me during office hours and I would be happy to give you ideas on how to use your study time most effectively.
q Get Help Onondaga Community College offers a variety of support services. If you have given it an honest effort and are still struggling, please come to my office hours so we can determine together what type of support you need to be successful. Tutoring services require a faculty referral because it is important that we work together as a team.
Successful students take quick action when they are faced with a course that challenges them; they don’t just think about it. They have the courage and the determination to do what it takes to meet their goals. They do not give up. I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity.
* includes excerpts from Invest in Yourself
by Barbara Risser McGraw-Hill 1999