Syllabus

NR Enrichment Experience - Syllabus - 2017

Course Name, Credits, & Grading

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.

Class Schedule

  • Class meets each Wednesday, excepting University holidays, from 13:55-15:45 in Room 3214 Jordan Addition.
  • Attendance is critical, because interaction, activities, and discussion form the core of what we will do.
  • You are free to bring food and drink into the classroom. If it smells really good, you may be required to have enough to share with everyone ;-)) Lids on drinks are probably a good idea to minimize damage to clothing, computer, and papers if your cup is knocked over - it has happened.

Course Learning Objectives

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.

  • Explain the concept of academic scholarship and demonstrate its application by completing a project in a team.
  • List and describe steps taken to complete a scholarly research effort.
  • Demonstrate a refined sense of leadership through participation in a team effort.
  • Present the work we completed and have a nuanced conversation about the complexities of the topic (we'll be working on improving data about how people are using Raleigh's greenway system).

Course Website

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

Preparation for Class

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).

Assignments

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).

Feedback & Grading

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 ...

    • participate actively during class
    • complete all assignments satisfactorily (follow instructions, meet standards for assignment)
    • obtain an average of at least a 3 in your end-of-semester team peer evaluation

Final Exam Period

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.

Required & Optional Books & Readings

  • These will be selected as the class proceeds, based on student interest and our project.
  • As part of the research you do, you should expect to read numerous articles.
  • Citations to assigned readings and links to articles will be posted in the Readings Library.

Academic Integrity

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.

Disabilities

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.

People in Distress

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.