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Web Schedules

Fall 2024
Spring 2024
Summer 2024

One Credit Courses

Fall 2024
Spring 2024
Summer 2024

No Cost Textbook/Resources Courses

Fall 2024
Spring 2024
Summer 2024

Low Cost Textbook/Resources Courses

Fall 2024
Spring 2024
Summer 2024

Course Planning by Program

2023-24

Essential Objectives

Course Syllabus


Revision Date: 29-Jan-24
 

Summer 2024 | BIO-1240-VO01 - Forest Ecology


Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Location: Online
Credits: 3 (45 hours)
Day/Times: Meets online
Semester Dates: 05-21-2024 to 08-12-2024
Last day to drop without a grade: 06-10-2024 - Refund Policy
Last day to withdraw (W grade): 07-08-2024 - Refund Policy
Open Seats: 14 (as of 03-28-24 5:05 PM)
To check live space availability, Search for Courses.

Faculty

Kristel Guimara
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Danielle Lafleur Brooks

General Education Requirements


This section meets the following CCV General Education Requirement(s) for the current catalog year:
VSCS Natural Science
    Note
  1. Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.
  2. Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course examines the structure and dynamics of forest communities. Consideration is given to geographic and ecologic factors shaping forest communities, to biological and chemical interactions among forest species, and to the human impact on forest stability. All forest types are discussed with an emphasis on temperate deciduous and northern coniferous forests. Field trips required.


Essential Objectives

1. Demonstrate understanding of the methods of scientific investigation in forest ecology including observation and hypothesis testing.
2. Define energy and trace the energy flow in a forest, including the grazing and detritus food chain.
3. Describe the stages of forest succession.
4. Discuss the impact soil type, moisture, light, and temperature have on the forest ecosystem.
5. Analyze how forestry practices impact forest ecosystems, local economies, and local cultures.
6. Using a global scale of analysis, examine the impact of human behavior on forest ecosystems and discuss the role that forests play in the biosphere.
7. Identify common trees and the major forest types in Vermont.
8. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding, interpreting, applying, and evaluating the accuracy of data and information sources.
9. Discuss how laws and politics prevent or promote human access to healthy forests, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Wilderness Act, and Vermont’s Act 250.
10. Explain how knowledge created in the natural sciences has contributed to the creation, maintenance and dismantling of social inequalities and discuss the impacts of diversity and inclusion on scientific research and practice.


Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.


Required Textbooks and Resources


*** This is a low cost ($50 or less) textbook or resource class. ***

BIO-1240-VO01 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.


Methods

Discussion forums

Homework Assignments (case studies, reviewing supplemental materials)

Field Journal

Final Paper


Evaluation Criteria

Course Grading:

·Grading will take place under a percentage-point system. To calculate your grade for a given assignment simply divide points earned/points possible.

Percentage

Tasks (Assignments)

35

Discussion Forum

25

Homework Questions

25

Field Journal Entries

15

Final Paper


Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

 HighLow
A+10098
A Less than 9893
A-Less than 9390
B+Less than 9088
B Less than 8883
B-Less than 8380
C+Less than 8078
C Less than 7873
C-Less than 7370
D+Less than 7068
D Less than 6863
D-Less than 6360
FLess than 60 
P10060
NPLess than 600


Weekly Schedule


Week/ModuleTopic  Readings  Assignments
 

1

Discuss Syllabus, Introduction to Course and Why Study Forest Ecology

  

Assigned textbook Readings

Supplemental readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday (This will give your peers time to respond to your feedback/comments).

Homework: Monday

 

2

Ecosystem Ecology: Ecosystem Concepts, Biomes of the World

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental Readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Field Journal: Monday

 

3

Abiotic Factors and Their Ecological Roles: Forest Variation

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental Readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Homework: Monday

 

4

Part I: Biotic Factors: Populations and Communities

Community structure, species interactions and niche concept)

(Discuss details and topics of interest for Final Paper)

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental Readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Field Journal: Monday

 

5

Part II: Biotic Factors-Community Ecology

Ecological Interactions and Species Co-Existence

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Homework: Monday

 

6

Invasion ecology and forest ecosystems

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Field Journal: Monday

 

7

Disturbance ecology: Fire Ecology

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental readings

  

Topics chosen for final paper

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Homework: Monday

 

8

Ecological succession: Primary and Secondary

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Field Journaling: Sunday

(Alternative-Day of Kindness)

 

9

Biogeochemistry and Nutrient Cycling: Forest water cycle & Soil Water-Plant interactions

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Homework: Monday

 

10

Landscape ecology: terminology; fragments and edges, and their ecological effects

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplemental readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Field Journal: Monday

 

11

Disturbance: Adapted traits and survival strategies

(Discuss final paper progress and feedback)

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplementary readings

  

Discussion

Original Response: Thursday

3 Peer Reflections: Sunday

Homework: Monday

 

12

Course Wrap-Up

  

Assigned textbook readings

Supplementary readings

  

Discussion Forum

Final Paper Due

 

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

  • In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
  • Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
  • Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.


Participation Expectations

  • Attendance Policy
    • Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.
    • In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
    • Attending an asynchronous course means a student appeared in the online classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
    • Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.


Missing & Late Work Policy

oDue to the design of the online course the attendance is allocated only in the submission of the weekly completed assignments.

oLate work

      • All assignments have a specific due date and timeframe. This information is presented in the course outline, weekly module checklist and individual weekly assignments.
      • Extra Credit: Extra credit not provided.
      • Late Submissions: All assignments have a specific due date and timeframe. Late submissions will not be accepted.
        • However, consideration will be made-on a case by case scenario- should you accrue a zero due to illness or family matters. Send me an email of the circumstance. I will work with you to catch up on missed assignments.
          • (Please note if this becomes a habitual request-a broader discussion will take place to include tutoring/student resources to address/offer assistance to aid in internal/external factors affecting grades in the course.)
        • To receive credit on a missed assignment(s) due to an absence (and you would like to submit the late assignment) requires the following in your email:
        • Kindly do the following:
          • Check the syllabus to see what module was covered in the class.
          • In the event of a missed assignment. Include in the email the missed assignment(s) that you would like to receive credit due to an absence (and you would like to submit the late assignment).
          • Please use the below format within an email:
            • Place a subject in the subject box that describes the email content
            • Indicate the title of the course
            • Indicate the assignment(s) you missed and would like to submit the late assignment(s)
            • Kindly use proper capitalization, grammar, and spelling in the email.
              • This may seem tedious. However, this aids in providing/discussing the answers to the missed assignment(s) to your fellow classmates.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:


CCV strives to mitigate barriers to course access for students with documented disabilities. To request accommodations, please
  1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
  2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
  3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.


Academic Integrity


CCV has a commitment to honesty and excellence in academic work and expects the same from all students. Academic dishonesty, or cheating, can occur whenever you present -as your own work- something that you did not do. You can also be guilty of cheating if you help someone else cheat. Being unaware of what constitutes academic dishonesty (such as knowing what plagiarism is) does not absolve a student of the responsibility to be honest in his/her academic work. Academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and may lead to dismissal from the College.