Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Fieldwork Statement:

Fieldwork is a professional competence in many areas of Environmental Studies. Standard field practices include measurements of abiotic and biotic components in a variety of environmental conditions and habitat types. Fieldwork includes use of all the senses to make observations in natural and built environments. Field training may include developing skills in site characterization, application of key terms and concepts, species identification, and measurement and data collection using appropriate equipment. Fieldwork may include inherent risks (uneven terrain, off-trail work with map & compass, variable weather, insects, environmental irritants, travel, stress, etc.).

Evolution Statement:

To clarify the teaching of evolution and its place in the classroom, the Portland Community College Science Departments stand by the following statements about what is science and how the theory of evolution is the major organizing theory in the discipline of the biological sciences.

1. Science is a fundamentally non-dogmatic and self-correcting investigatory process. In science, a theory is neither a guess, dogma, nor myth. The theories developed through scientific investigation are not decided in advance, but can be and often are modified and revised through observation and experimentation.
2. The theory of evolution meets the criteria of a scientific theory. In contrast, creation "science" is neither self-examining nor investigatory. Creation "science" is not considered a legitimate science, but a form of religious advocacy. This position is established by legal precedence (Webster v. New Lenox School District #122, 917 F. 2d 1004).

Science (ESR) instructors of Portland Community College will teach the theory of evolution not as absolute truth but as the most widely accepted scientific theory on the diversity of life. We, the Biology Subject Area Curriculum Committee at Portland Community College, therefore stand with such organizations as the National Association of Biology Teachers in opposing the inclusion of pseudo-sciences in our science curricula.

After completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Apply concepts and knowledge of basic properties and functions of matter, energy and change in environmental systems, biogeochemical cycles, global climate, ecosystems services and human impacts and dependence on these systems.
2. Apply concepts and knowledge of factors influencing environmental quality, biodiversity, community ecology and population ecology.
3. Critically evaluate environmental problems and propose solutions on topics including soil and water resources, agriculture and energy.
4. Identify, summarize, synthesize, evaluate and appropriately cite information from the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
5. Apply the scientific method to environmental investigations including: gathering data in the laboratory and through fieldwork, analyzing data using descriptive statistics and graphical representations, formulating conclusions based on data, and writing lab reports to communicate findings.

Course activities will include:

1. Lectures
2. Active learning approaches including discussion of relevant case studies, modeling of environmental systems, and use of computer-based spreadsheet programs for data organization, analysis and graphing.
3. Laboratory sections will include fieldwork and laboratory analysis of environmental data using a variety of approaches and skills including: proper use of equipment, sampling techniques, experimental design, data analysis, microclimate data collection in the field, use of dichotomous key to identify common native and invasive plant species, water chemistry, water quality testing in the field, collection and analysis of benthic invertebrates as bioindicators,  describe diversity using a variety of common metrics, reading and creating maps, physical, chemical and biological analysis of soils.
4. Written lab reports will be used to communicate results of lab investigations.
5. Written papers will be used to develop skill in identifying, comprehending and analyzing scientific papers.
6.  Midterm and final exams will be given to test understanding and mastery of concepts and skills.

Assessment Tasks:

1. Midterm and final exams including a variety of types of questions including: matching, true/false, multiple choice, interpreting and creating diagrams, short answer and essay.
2. Typed lab reports describing laboratory and field exercises using a scientific writing style and including an introduction, methods, results and discussion section.
3. Written assignments that ask students to search, read, summarize, synthesize and cite the peer-reviewed scientific literature on a relevant environmental topic (e.g., the impacts of climate change).
4. In class assignments that ask students to interpret scientific data  and draw conclusions based on evidence and/or oral presentation or paper that describes an environmental problem and proposed solutions and demonstrates critical thinking based on evidence.

Themes, Concepts and Issues:

1. Scientific practices and experimental design.
2. Environmental systems: Matter, energy and change
3. Biogeochemical cycles
4. Ecosystem ecology
5. Global climates and biomes
6. Evolution and diversity
7. Population and community ecology
8. Soil and water quality and availability/use
9. Global change including climate change
10. Human impacts and interactions

Skills:

1. Effective teamwork and collaboration in the lab, field and classroom
2. Accurate measurement and data collection in the field and laboratory (e.g. perform water quality and soil testing analyses, use taxonomic keys for identification, use microclimate kits to measure environmental variables).
3. Data analysis including calculation of descriptive statistics
4. Quantitative analysis and problem solving using math
5. Interpretation and creation of accurate graphs to display data
6. Use of critical thinking and evidence to describe environmental problems and solutions.
7. Identify, summarize, synthesize and cite the peer-reviewed scientific literature
8. Communicate results using lab reports written in the scientific style.
9. Environmental awareness and proper disposal of hazardous waste