Participation

Participation
Throughout this 16-week course, you will work in groups and in teams. Depending on the number of people enrolled, teams will consist of four to six participants. You will be expected to contribute to online discussion sessions "asynchronously." That is, you will be able to log on to the Internet and post your thoughts to the virtual Classroom spaces as your individual schedules permit, but by the specific assignment deadlines. Team discussions will revolve around Earth system science and Earth system science teaching practices. As individuals and as teams, you will submit your best thinking from these discussions to your digital portfolio.

The course will be moderated by a facilitator. Additional support from an Earth scientist may be provided as the course progresses.

After the first three weeks, this course is structured in four, three-week cycles. You will study a new event (deforestation, volcanic eruption, ice shelf disintegration, hurricane) in each of the four cycles. As a participant in this course, you will play a different role during each week of the cycle.

Sphere Study
Weeks 4, 7, 10, 13

(8) Individual: At the beginning of the week, submit your questions, theories, and prior knowledge. Refer to the Reflection Goal & Rubric [2 points per module]

(16) Team:Create and submit an analysis of your sphere in relationship to the event to the Portfolio. Refer to the Sphere Study Goal & Rubric [4 points per module]

Event Study
Weeks 5, 8, 11, 14

(32) Team: Create and submit an Earth Systems Science analysis to the Portfolio. Refer to the Event Study Goal & Rubric [8 points per module]

Classroom Applications
Weeks 6, 9, 12, 15

(16) Individual: Create and submit your own classoom application to the Portfolio. Refer to the Classroom Application Goal & Rubric [4 points per module]

(8) Be a critical friend to a fellow classmate by applying the rubric to their classroom application [2 points per module]

(8) Reflect on what and how you have learned about ESS in this module. Discuss the answers to your original questions, new questions you have and insights you gained. Refer to the Reflection Goal & Rubric [2 points per module]

You will have the option to complete an extra credit Local Event Study at the end of Weeks 6, 9, 12, and 15. At the end of the course, you will complete an individual final project. All assignments are expected to be submitted by the posted deadlines. Instructions and deadlines for the assignments and rubrics can be accessed from Weeks 4-16 in the Outline.