Environmental Science is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of the natural environment and humanity's impact on it. Through the study of ecological principles, human-environment interactions, and current environmental issues, students will develop an understanding of the complexities of our planet's systems. The course emphasizes critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and sustainable practices, encouraging students to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Topics include biodiversity, ecosystems, pollution, climate change, and environmental policies. Students will also develop communication skills and a sense of environmental responsibility, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the global pursuit of a sustainable future.
Prerequisites: None
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
- Examine the Earth's biophysical systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere
- Examine the interconnections and interactions between these systems
- Assess the consequences of environmental degradation on both ecosystems and human societies
- Explain global challenges like climate change, overpopulation, and environmental justice
- Examine the impact of human activities on the environment, including pollution, deforestation, climate change, and habitat destruction
- Identify and critically evaluate current environmental issues, such as air and water pollution, resource depletion, and loss of biodiversity
- Support an understanding of sustainable practices and the concept of sustainable development
- Examine the role of conservation, renewable energy, and resource management in achieving sustainability
- Investigate ethical considerations related to environmental issues
- Create a sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Earth Systems and Natural Resources
Unit 2: Effects on Biodiversity
Unit 3: Human Population
Unit 4: Sustainability of Natural Resources
Unit 5: Pollution
Unit 6: Energy and Climate Change
Unit 7: Global Change
Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.
Additional Costs: None
Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor for conversion to their own letter grading system.
Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.
Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.
Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/
Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.
Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments.
Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:
- Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
- Download and install software
- Use a messaging service similar to email
- Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
- Open attachments shared in messages
- Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
- Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
- Save a file as a .pdf
- Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
- Insert images or links into a file or html editor
- Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
- Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
- Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
- Use presentation and graphics programs
- Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
- Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
- Create and maintain usernames and passwords
Additional Information: None