K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Syllabus Outline for an Online Unit of Instruction

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Course AP Environmental Science Did you include course title,

Information Kelly Pilgrim Cassidy instructor information, grade
10-12 Graders level, subject area, office
Science Blended Class (F2F and Online) hours and required textbooks
Office Hours: Tues/ Thurs 3:15-4:30 pm or resources?
Textbook:
Withgott, J. & Brennan, S. Environment- The Science Behind the
Stories (AP Edition). 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. San Francisco, CA

Expected Students are in grades 10-12 in the United States. Their primary Is the expected student
Student language is English; however, some students may be English audience described? (Are
Audience Language Learners. ELL students and SWD students will be your students in the USA?)
provided with accommodations and adaptations to curriculum to
allow for individual student success.

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 K-12 Blended and Online Learning
Teacher Mrs. Cassidy can be reached by email at Did you provide at least two
Communicatio kcassidy@madison.k12.ga.us forms of communication are
n Google Hangouts can also be used as a communication tool. Mrs. included in the syllabus?
Cassidy also uses Remind.com to communicate through text
messages and allows students to text her using her Remind
account or through her Google Voice number (706) 363-0519
Mrs. Cassidy will respond to texts sent between 7 am and 10 pm
usually within the hour. Texts sent between 10pm and 7 am may
not be answered until the following morning.

Emails are normally answered within the same working day.

Minor assignments such as discussion posts, quizzes and other
classwork will be graded within 5 days. Research projects, major
papers or other lengthier assignments will be graded within 10
days. The instructor will keep students informed on grading
progress and reserves the right to modify this as circumstances can
arise where grading windows become unreasonable due to illness
or other factors.

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 K-12 Blended and Online Learning
Course The course adheres to the objectives set forth in the Course Does this clearly identify the
Description Description for AP Environmental Science, which says it is broad goals or topics to be
designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory covered? Does it outline the
college course in environmental science that includes a laboratory general topics, concepts and
and field investigation component. Emphasis is placed on the skills to be covered?
scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to
understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify
and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-
made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these
problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or
preventing them.

All students who are enrolled in AP Environmental Science are

required to maintain organized laboratory data, conduct laboratory
work according to safety rules, and submit lab reflections as
assigned. They are expected to complete the assigned readings
(approximately a chapter a week plus supplemental readings and
case studies) with periodic quizzes on topics.. Each quarter there is
a benchmark test and constructed response questions modeled
after the AP exam questions. These benchmarks are required but
the AP exam is optional. As the AP exam gets closer, each student
will evaluate their knowledge and readiness and take a practice
test to help determine if they want to take the AP test. It is one of
the hardest AP tests simply because of the broad nature of the
course.

By the very nature of the topics and their relevance to current

events, this course appeals to a wide diversity of students who
have interests in the environment and nature, science, engineering,
social sciences, law, economics, computers, literature, and drama.
This diversity lends itself to lively discussions and interesting
presentations of scientific topics, concepts, and data. The
implication of empowering a diversity of students with scientific

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 K-12 Blended and Online Learning
Learning Students will be able to answer a Free Response Are these measurable and/or
Outcomes Question and obtain 90% of the points available. observable? Do they describe
At least 90% of students will be able to complete an what students must know and
online portfolio of their APES work. be able to do? Do they
Of the students who complete the APES exam, the involve some cognitive
challenge and active
percentage that earn a score of 3 or higher will meet or exceed the
learning?
national average.

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 K-12 Blended and Online Learning
Topics by Week Unit 1: Environmental Science and Sustainability (Sustainability) (3 weeks) Did you list the topics to be
Chapter 1: Science and Sustainability covered each week?
Chapter 24: Sustainable Solutions

Unit 2: Principles of Ecology (Ecology) (6 Weeks)

Chapter 2: Earths Physical Systems: Matter, Energy & Geology
Chapter 3: Evolution, Biodiversity and Population Ecology
Chapter 4: Species Interactions and Community Ecology
Chapter 5: Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology
Chapter 11: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Unit 3: Environmental Decision Making (Enviro-decisions) (3 weeks)

Chapter 6: Environmental Ethics and Economics: Values and Choices
Chapter 7: Environmental Policy: Decision making and problem solving

Unit 4: Human Population Dynamics (Population) (2 Week)

Chapter 8: Human Population

Unit 5: Earths Land Resources and Use (Land) (5 Weeks)

Chapter 9: Soil and Agriculture
Chapter 10: Agriculture, Biotechnology and the Future of Food
Chapter 12: Forests, Forest Management and Protected Areas
Chapter 23: Minerals and Mining

Unit 6: The Urban Environment (Urbanization) (4 Weeks)

Chapter 13: Creating Livable and Sustainable cities
Chapter 14: Environmental Health and Toxicology
Chapter 22: Managing our waste

Unit 7: Water Resources and Pollution (Water) (3 weeks)

Chapter 15: Freshwater Systems and Resources
Chapter 16: Marine and Coastal Systems and Resources

Unit 8: Atmospheric Science (Air) (3 weeks)

Chapter 17: Atmospheric science and air pollution
Chapter 18: Global Climate Change

Unit 9: Energy Resources and Impacts (Energy) ( 4 Weeks)

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 K-12 Blended and Online Learning
Expectations of Students will participate in online discussion weekly by posting in Did you outline class
Student their APES portfolio. There will be a rotation to determine the participation with descriptions
Participation groups each week who will be reading and responding to posts. of how it is measured
Students should notify the instructor if there is a problem posting (expectations for discussion
on time or replying to at least 2 peers. forums, number and
frequency of logins, amount
Students will participate in group projects each quarter. When the of time in online class, group
project is complete, each individual will grade the members of their project participation,
group on participation. Students should also notify the instructor if synchronous sessions, etc.)?
there are any concerns with group participation.

Since this is a blended class, synchronous sessions are considered

the face-to-face part of the class. Attendance is expected at all
classes unless there is illness or another excused reason for
missing class. See the instructor if you have concerns about
attendance.

Student Students will be respectful to others in the online community. We Did you describe the
Communicatio will use the ABC protocol when completing online discussions. A- expectations for student
n Expectations acknowledge the response of the author, B-build upon the response behavior when
with additional thoughts or questions, C- contribute something communicating online?
original to the discussion.

Late Work Students should notify instructor if there is an issue with Did you explain the
Policy completing work on time. We will follow the school policy on make- consequences for not
up work but the instructor can seek a waiver from the submitting assignments on
administration to best support the mastery of material by students time?
using a growth mindset.

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 K-12 Blended and Online Learning
Grading Policy 1st Quarter Benchmark (10%) 35% Is a grading policy defined
Midterm (15%) with point distribution or
3rd Quarter Benchmark (10%) weighting scheme? Is the
Unit Coursework (articles, outline, worksheets, projects, 35% grading scale is included?
quizzes)
Writing Assignments (FRQs and Discussion posts) 10%
Final Exam 20%

Assessments Area a variety of assessment

Benchmarks are modeled after the AP exam. They consist of 60 types included? Is at least one
MCQs and 2 free response questions. The FRQa require applying assessment requiring either
information learned in the units. They are all cumulative and cover applying, analyzing,
the information covered to that point in the course. evaluating, or creating?
Each unit has a point value. Points are accumulated from quizzes,
writing assignments, lab reflections, reading reflections, etc.
Frequently you will be required to create original material and
evaluate the work of your peers. Collect as many points as you can,
extra points will be bonus points. Once we finish a unit and the
make-up window is over, those points are gone; however, you can
earn bonus points in the next unit and they will all average
together in the end. The Final Exam is cumulative and there are no
exemptions. It is entirely multiple choice. There are no FRQs on the
Final. The Final Exam is 20% of the Course Grade.

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Academic Ethics All assignments submitted in fulfillment of the course Do conduct and academic
Honesty requirements must be the students own work. All assignments honesty requirements clearly
except those designated as team projects are meant to be explain the policy on cheating
individual efforts. Projects are meant to be equal efforts of all team and plagiarism. Are
members. All work should be on the date on which it is due either consequences for
in F2F class or submitted online by the time deadline. Coursework inappropriate behavior
is intended to be an original work by each student. Work that is included?
plagiarized from another student or another online or printed
source will not receive credit. Repeated violations will be referred to
the administration as cheating. Please remember that when in
doubt, it is always better to cite your sources. We will use APA
format when applicable for in text and bibliography citations.

Acceptable Use All students will abide by the AUP policy of Madison County Schools Is the Acceptable Use Policy
Policy https://www.madison.k12.al.us/departments/it/SharedDocuments/P (AUP) described or linked? Are
olicies/aup.htm consequences for
noncompliance described?
Students who violate the AUP will be referred to the administration
and may be forced to complete work in an alternate form if network
access is redistricted for noncompliance.

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Student Right At MCHS we follow the rules for student privacy as outline in the Did you include the conditions
to Privacy Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which can be for sharing or not sharing
found at http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html student information?
1. Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review
the student's education records maintained by the school.
2. Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a
school correct records, which they believe to be inaccurate or
misleading.
3. Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent
or eligible student in order to release any information from a
student's education record.
4. Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information
such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and
place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance.

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Technology A large part of this course will be completed with technology. A Do the technology
Requirements primary goal of the course is to expose students to the material in requirements outline
the same way that it is being utilized in the real world. The course technical specifications for
will follow a BYOT policy (Bring your own technology) and also use student computers? Did you
computers or iPADs frequently. Each week there will be at least one describe the procedures to
assignment that will need to be completed and submitted using follow when technical
technology. The problems occur?
assignment will be posted and available for the week. In addition to
any technology you may have at home, each student has access to
the following sources of computers, internet and printing as follows:

Daily at school-
Before school (computer lab and media center)
During lunch (media center)
Afterschool (media center and tutoring classroom)

Weekly-
Enrichment- (media center)
Madison County Library- open daily and also late 2 nights a week

If you have any technical problems, use the contact information for
the instructor. You can also ask our media specialists or our
technology specialists for assistance.

Copyright This course is managed by Mrs. Cassidy who created and owns the Did you provide a copyright
Statement content. The only exception is the content from the textbook which statement and disclaimer that
is owned by Pearson. Course and course materials are not to be identifies the owner of the
copied, edited, or redistributed for any purpose. If you have course?
questions regarding materials created by Mrs. Cassidy, you may
request details at kcassidy@madison.k12.ga.us

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Students with This course will follow all IEPs and 504 accommodations. In Did you indicate your
Disabilities addition, any student who is being served by the ESOL program will willingness to provide
also receive appropriate modifications. reasonable accommodations
to a student with a disability?
*This document pairs with Designing a Syllabus for an Online Unit of Instruction (Peer Evaluation Checklist)
by Lokey-Vega (2014).

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