Syllabus

AP Environmental Student Expectations

Teacher: Jeff Colborn

Email: jcolborn@jeffcoschools.us

Course Scope: The AP Environmental Science content corresponds to the APES course exam description, produced by the college board

Course Themes:

1. Science is a process.

Science is a method of learning more about the world.

Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.

2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.

Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.

As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.

The Earth itself is one interconnected system.

Natural systems change over time and space.

Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.

3. Humans alter natural systems.

Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.

Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment.

4. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.

Understanding the role of cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions.

5. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.

A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.

Management of common resources is essential.

Homework / Assignments: Homework is assigned each day and is due the next day. Classwork is due the same day in most cases. For most assignments, an electronic version of the class activity will be available for those who miss class. Due dates are in place to help you pace yourself and will not receive a point reduction until the day of the assessment on that topic. Quizzes and Tests: If your score is unsatisfactory, you may do corrections on the questions that you got wrong at which point you can gain 30% of your missed points back.

Textbook: The textbook is not required to pass the class. It is used for homework exclusively, but students will have a choice of other homework options. Students can rent or purchase (This can be done through the amazon link below:

Living in the Environment (MindTap Course List) 19th Edition by G. Tyler Miller (Author), Scott Spoolman (Author) ISBN-13: 978-1337094153 / ISBN-10: 1337094153

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Environment-MindTap-Course-List/dp/1337094153/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

You are expected to have access to your text anytime in and after class. So, pay attention to your assignments and homework. "I didn't have my book at home," is not an excuse that will be accepted for not having homework done. You will be required to READ your text and take notes on your readings.

Grading Policies: Anyone can succeed in AP Environmental. Because this class is advanced coursework in science, your participation each day is key to your success in class (as it is in life). Peer grading may be used in this course. Your minor assignments may be graded by students, so learn to write legibly and understandably.

Grade weight: The final grade in the class will be a rough composite of approximately 60% assessments and quizzes, 30% labs and class activities and 10% homework. Quizzes will be small tests covering short-term lesson goals and information presented in class. Tests will be larger exams covering chapter/unit goals. Note about unit tests: Each test after the first unit test may have questions from past tests. So, resist the temptation to mentally bury unit content after you take a test. Science and school vocabulary may be on tests and quizzes. Also, don’t cram for quizzes and exams. Our brains don’t work that way. Patiently study new material more often over a longer time period. Finally, expect at lease one research paper or project per semester.

90-100% A 80-89.9% B 70-79.9% C 60-69.9% D <60% F

Tardy policy:

3 Tardies = Conference with teacher and time after school for classroom clean up

6 Tardies = See Mr. Manier: Loss of privileges to go off campus at lunch for 6 days and campus clean up during lunch

9 Tardies = See Mr. Manier: Loss of privileges to go off campus at lunch for 9 additional days and campus clean up during lunch

Absences: Absences can and will affect your grade. If you are going to be absent, get your work ahead of time. Even if you are excused absent, you are responsible for your missed work. If you missed an assignment due to an excused absence you have the number of days you were absent from the time you return to complete that assignment. Further, unexcused absences can seriously impair your ability to pass this course, as outlined in your student handbook. If you miss a lab or class activity for any reason, you must come to class after school within one week of the missed lab to remake the lab. Bring a classmate with you (to help), but carry out the lab and collect your own data. Prior to turning in any late assignment, write “Absent, the date, and submit the assignment.

Lab partnerships: You will be a member of a lab group. I recommend getting the phone numbers, email addresses, and internet chat/messenger names of each member of your lab group and keeping that information handy. Schoology will be an excellent resource for you in terms of class/group discussions and help from your peers. Check your account frequently for updates here. If you notice that a member of your group is not in class, step up and take good notes for him/her. Do keep in mind though that if you miss class, it is still your responsibility to get class content and makeup work. Lab partnerships tend to change throughout the year. A good lab partner is invaluable, and the best way to keep good lab partners is to BE a good lab partner.

Lab Rules and Conduct: In addition to the school rules identified in your student handbook, we will observe certain rules and procedures particular to the laboratory environment. By enrolling in AP Environmental you have made a claim that you are mentally and emotionally ready for a college-level lab-based class. Your conduct in the laboratory setting should be of the highest caliber. Pleas treat yourself, your classmates, and the lab equipment provided for you with the utmost respect.

Prelab Assignments: Most of your labs have pre-lab assignments that are to be completed prior to your starting lab. These shall count as homework assignments. Read the lab and complete the pre-lab assignment prior to coming to class on a lab day.

Equipment: Respect all lab equipment and chemicals. Use only equipment you have been instructed to use. Do not use any lab equipment in a manner other than directed. If you are unsure how to use an apparatus, ask your instructor for assistance. Do not remove lab equipment, experiments, or chemicals from the lab, unless you obtain specific permission from your instructor to do so.

Safety: You will be provided with a safety sheet outlining some of the safety rules that we will be living by. Read this sheet and have your parents/guardians read it. Your signature and theirs indicates that you and they have read the rules and you have agreed to follow them. No student will be allowed to do chemical-wet labs until he/she has turned in his/her safety sheet. Completion and submission of your safety sheet is the first and easiest assignment of this class.

Preparedness: Be in your seat or working in lab promptly at the start of the class period. Have all applicable class materials with you as you enter the classroom. Don't come to class and expect me to allow you to return to your locker to pickup materials you neglected.

Speeling and Grammor: Youse propar Speeline ‘n gramer whne riting. Itz much exeer 2 red ‘n graad. Excessive grammatical or spellings errors will reduce your grades on all writing assignments. Effective communication of ideas is at the heart of science.

Calculators and Cell Phones: You are required to have a working scientific or graphing calculator in class. You may NOT use your cell phone as a calculator. Any game playing on your calculator will result in having its memory wiped back to factory settings. Also, cell phones are not tolerated during assessments. I will ask you to turn your device in before being handed a test, if you have a phone out during an assessment, I will confiscate it and turn it in to the administration. During lecture, consider your phone an unwanted distraction - Please keep them where I cannot see them.

Academic Integrity/Plagiarism: Conifer High School actively encourages students to incorporate the Lobo Honor Code in every aspect of their daily lives. The honor code, rooted in the virtues of Honesty, Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility, is the core of Lobo pride. Occasionally, this trust is violated when academic misconduct occurs, either inadvertently or deliberately. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, and knowingly making possible any act of misconduct. Violations of academic integrity may result in actions outlined in the CHS Honor Code. Serious and/or habitual violations of the Honor Code will be subject to administrative review and may result in consequences as outlined in the Jefferson County Code of Conduct.

A few last thoughts about AP Environmental: The nature of AP environmental is unique, because it allows a combination of a variety of sciences to help examine our impact on the world around us. This course will require us to evaluate current practices and brainstorm solutions. Remember, some of the greatest ideas in the world started in minds just like yours. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say….