This course is called Special Topics in Natural Resources (NR295). It is a 2-credit course that will be graded Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory. Because it is ungraded, it will not count as an elective in our curricula. If we want to change this, we can talk about it during the first class. We can tell you that past students have strongly favored leaving it ungraded to encourage risk-taking and avoid the pressure of trying to make a grade.
By the end of the semester, participants should be able to do several things. We will attain these objectives by selecting a natural resources-related topic to examine in depth during the semester, culminating in the creation of a written product by the end of the semester.
If you're reading this online, you've already found the official course website at ... go.ncsu.edu/NREnrichment or go.ncsu.edu/NREnrich or go.ncsu.edu/NR295
These links will take you to the public face of our site. From there, you will be able to access "back end" material on Google Drive. You will have to log in using your NCSU identification to access these portions of the site. I've (Hess, who is responsible for the site) set the site up this way so that we don't have to worry about having personal information open to the world. We are required by Federal law and NCSU policy to keep private any information about students in courses. Per NCSU policy, we're not even allowed to publish openly a list of who's in the course. The easiest way to deal with that, especially in a course like this, is to require a login to access private parts of the site.
There is a Word Folder on the Google Drive in which we'd like you to do all work associated with the course. You should keep it well organized from the start - we can provide tips on that if you need.
You can email everyone in the class, including the instructors, using the address nr295-001@wolfware.ncsu.edu
We will use a lot of active learning techniques during this course. What that means is that during most class periods you will do much more than listen to someone speak. Instead, you will be involved in discussions and activities of various kinds. Research has shown this to be a highly effective form of teaching and learning, because it engages students in the learning process. To get the highest value from this approach, you must prepare before coming to class. Preparation will include reading, doing preliminary writing or analyses, or other appropriate activities. In some cases, preparation will include submitting an assignment before class and sharing it with classmates. Preparation will usually be in the form of an assignment linked to the week-by-week calendar (home page).
There will be something to do for class almost every week. Some of the assignments will be in preparation for the next class (see above). Others will be steps toward longer-term goals. There will be one major, team assignment for the semester. Due dates will be specified on the week-by-week calendar (home page).
To the extent possible, we'd like to focus on learning in this course rather than grades. That shouldn't be too hard, as this is a pass/fail course. We'd like this course to be a place where the ideas get you excited and you can unleash your creativity - stop doing the same old thing, take risks, try something different, be bold! We will provide guidance and feedback and expect you to make appropriate changes to improve your products. The feedback may be blunt and even painful at times, but it is intended to help you take your work to the next level. And we expect the same from you - if you don't like something we're (not) doing, please let us know!!
Mid-course and at the end, we will ask members of each team to evaluate one another using some kind of peer evaluation form. We will share the results of these evaluations in summary and will not reveal who said what about who - don't even think about asking :-))
To pass the course, you must ...
We will not meet during final exam period nor will we have a final exam. Your final presentation and discussion will be during our last class period on Wed, 30 November.
It's pretty simple -- do your own work unless we tell you otherwise. That doesn't mean that you can't talk to others about an assignment -- in fact, we encourage interaction. However, you can't copy another person's work and submit it as your own. In the case of team projects, it means that each team should come up with their own solution to a problem. Again, interaction among teams is OK, but it has to stop short of doing things like stealing ideas and outright copying. If you have any question about the ethical implications of something you're about to do, please come and talk it through with one of the instructors.
Do not violate the University Code of Student Conduct -- particularly the sections on Academic Integrity -- in my class. I will refer violations to the Academic Integrity Board of the Office of Student Conduct. Violations can result in a failing grade for an assignment or course, or suspension from the University.
We will take appropriate steps to accommodate students with disabilities -- please let us know if you need assistance. The Disability Services Office staff are available to serve as a resource to help students obtain accommodations for their disabilities.
College can be a stressful place at a stressful time of life. If you are personally struggling emotionally, please visit the NC State Counseling Center for help. As members of the NC State community, we also share in a personal responsibility to express concern for one another. Occasionally, you may come across someone whose behavior concerns or worries you, either for the other person's well being or your own. If so, please visit the NC State Students of Concern website and decide whether to report the behavior to people who can help.