Bio20: Ecology (online)

SPRING 2022

welcome

I will be your online instructor for Bio 20: Introduction to Ecology (online). I did my graduate work in ecology and evolutionary biology, studying a local invasive ant and its affects on local communities. I've been happily teaching at CCSF since 2007.

If you want to add

Instructors no longer give out add codes. Before the first day of classes, you can add through registration. But if the class and wait list are full, you need to wait until class begin. After classes have started, follow the instructions below. (source)

How to Submit a Class Add Request

Login to your myRAM portal and select ‘Student Portal’
Select ‘Class Add Request’
Enter the CRN of the course you are requesting to add and press the Go button
You will be prompted with a confirmation screen. Review the information and press Confirm to submit the request
You will receive confirmation that your request has been submitted. Currently, you can only have a maximum of six (6) class add request at any time.
Press Main Menu to return and you will see your request listed. Currently, you can only have a maximum of six (6) class add request at any time.

After You Submit a Class Add Request

You will receive a confirmation to your CCSF email
You will also receive an email to your CCSF email if you have been approved.
If approved, you must add the class through your myRAM portal. Please follow the How To Add a Class steps (see here).

EcoCenter Internship Program 2021.pdf

Internship Spring 2022

EcoCenter at Heron's Head, SF

The overview

For Spring 2022 semester: The course is a late start class and will start on January 31.

This course fulfills the requirements for CSU GE (Area B2) and IGETC (Area 5).
This course if fully online - there are no on campus meetings.
You will learn in a community of your peers - in other words, this is not a self-paced course. Weekly participation is required.
This class does NOT meet on zoom. In other words, your learning is conducted asynchronously (not "live").
All course materials except for the textbook will be posted here on Canvas.
Our textbook is Essentials of Ecology by Begon, Howarth and Townsend, 4th edition. The third edition is much more affordable than the fourth edition, and adequate for this course. You can usually get it online. I will provide you with the first chapter of the textbook (with permission from the publisher). ISBN's: 978-0470909133 and 978-1405156585.
If you have trouble logging in, please check out the online course support center at CCSF.
For supports and alternatives to instruction, please contact CCSF’s Disabled Students Services. You can find out more information here.
Official course outline of record.
Instructor syllabus (not available yet).

The expectations

What you can expect from me

I will provide you with a clear, organized course that is designed to ensure you meet our course outcomes.
I will assess your learning in a variety of ways. My goal is to assess your learning, not your ability to take an exam.
I will be actively present in your learning.
I will provide a supportive and safe environment for you to share and discuss ideas with your peers.
I will reach out to you when I sense that you need support.
I will treat you with dignity, compassion, and respect. I will be flexible to support your individual needs.
I won't be perfect. I am human and will make mistakes at times. I will view mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.
I am still in the process of learning about diverse perspectives and identities. I will actively work to improve. I will seek out feedback and will give you the opportunity to give it anonymously.

What I expect from you

You strive to be an active participant in this course and strive to meet due dates.
You will maintain and open line of communication with me so I understand how to support you.
You will contact me if you have a concern with meeting a due date. You will contact me before you get behind when possible.
You strive to regularly contribute to collaborative activities to ensure other members of the community have ample opportunity to read/listen, reflect, and respond to your ideas.
You will treat your peers with dignity, compassion, and respect. You will be open to learning from your peers as well as from your instructor.
You will do your best to have patience with technology. There will be hiccups, expect them. We will get through them together.
You will give yourself grace. You will make mistakes. Failure is part of the learning process.

The Basics

From the course catalogue: Introduction to Ecology is a lecture course examining the fundamental concepts of ecology. Application of the scientific method; chemical and energy cycles; effect of the physical and biological environment on community structure; diversity and distribution; population dynamics and interspecific relationships; biodiversity on the genetic, species, and ecosystems level and relevant social ecological problems. This course fulfills the requirements for CSU GE (Area B2) and IGETC (Area 5).

Course learning outcomes:

Organize basic scientific and ecological concepts on a variety of scales and levels of organization.
Evaluate the validity of scientific information, particularly to make informed political and personal choices pertaining to ecology.
Analyze biotic and abiotic factors shaping ecosystems, community structure, population dynamics, and species' adaptations, particularly on the local level.
Apply models to explain the behavior of commonly occurring ecological phenomena.
Apply ecological theory and concepts in practical applications.

student support and resources

Tech support

I can help you with navigating the course and SoftChalk lessons, being timed out of an assignment/exam due to computer problems, broken links, and accessibility issues. I cannot reset your password. If you have trouble logging in, please check out the online course support center at CCSF.

SoftChalk: We will be doing our lessons on SoftChalk. These lessons will be graded and are designed to be done concurrently with the book. Use this SoftChalk student guide for general questions.

Other useful resources

Student Services for Online Students
Library and Learning Services
Student Health Services
Tips for Succeeding in Online Classes
Student resources (on right column is a list of all college resources)
Book loan program
How to study for College
If you think you're not good at math (I think it also applies to science)

contact information

For a general course question, I encourage you to use the Pronto app. For help with using this app, go to the Canvas Student Support Center, click on "I'm a credit student" and scroll down - it will be near the bottom on the right. I get notified when you post and it's the quickest way to reach me. Alternatively, I will post a forum called "Ask a question" in Canvas. It's open to all students and someone may have an answer to your question before I can give one to you. If I don't answer within 24 hours, send me a message to nudge me.

For personal questions message me in Canvas.

I will be available before and after each lab to talk, or we can set up a time to talk in Zoom.

If you are not registered for the class, email me at ldigirol@ccsf.edu. Put the class you have a question about and a synopsis of the question in the subject.

If you prefer a phone call, please send me an e-mail with a couple of times to reach you and your phone number. I rarely check my voice mail. Use email and include in the subject line the class and question.

I will give individual feedback on many assignments, and respond to your emails within 48 hours Mondays through Fridays.

You will have a few opportunities to give me anonymous feedback about the course. Be on the look-out over the semester for the surveys titled "check-in".

What to expect the first week

You must log in by Tuesday of the first week of class or you will be dropped. No exceptions. A lot of students want to add this class and I need to make room. This class moves fast - it's a full semester course compressed into 7 weeks. You will have a lesson, quiz, discussion all due that first week. On Friday, you will have a unit exam.

important dates

January 31: first day of class

February 9: last day to drop with full refund

February 17: last day to add

February 17: last day to drop without a "W"

April 28: Last day to drop with a "W"

grading

I use an array of assessments to gauge your learning. Exams are only 1 part of those assessments. For a variety of reasons, some students' learning is not reflected accurately in their exam scores, so these other assessments are necessary for me to see the totality of learning in the class. In order to be successful in this course, you must complete the assignments. Doing well on the exams alone will not earn you a passing grade. Final grades are assigned as follows:

- - 90-100% is an A
  - 80-89% is a B
  - 70-79% is a C
  - 60-69% is a D
  - below 60% is failing.

Careers in Environmental Work

CCSF offers a major in Environmental Science and one in Environmental Studies. We also off a certificate in Sustainability. These degrees and certificate are designed to evaluate and address environmental and resource challenges locally and globally through an interdisciplinary study of the connections between humans and the environment. Please take a look at our website for more information on types of careers and how to obtain the certificate.

For a general course question, I encourage you to use the Pronto app. For help with using this app, go to the Canvas Student Support Center, click on "I'm a credit student" and scroll down - it will be near the bottom on the right. I get notified when you post and it's the quickest way to reach me. Alternatively, I will post a forum at the end of each week called "Ask a question" in Canvas. It's open to all students and someone may have an answer to your question before I can give one to you. If I don't answer within 24 hours, send me a message to nudge me.

For personal questions message me in Canvas.

I will have office hours posted on our class page in the CityZoom section of Canvas (look on the left navigation bar). You do not have to use the video function of zoom - we can do it via audio only. Zoom allows us to share screens while we talk.

If you are not registered for the class, email me at ldigirol@ccsf.edu. Put the class you have a question about and a synopsis of the question in the subject.

I will give individual feedback on many assignments, and respond to your emails within 48 hours Mondays through Fridays.

You will have a few opportunities to give me anonymous feedback about the course. Be on the look-out over the semester for the surveys titled "check-in".

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