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Approved by Faculty Senate. University Studies Course Approval
jfranz@winona.edu
Department Approval and Date: _____________
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FLAG COURSE PROPOSAL Chemistry 436: Topics in Environmental Chemistry (3 s.h.)
Effective written and oral communication skills are no less essential to the well-trained scientist than to the humanist. Frequent exercises in writing and speaking are a part of the Chemistry curriculum and are critically evaluated by the chemistry faculty. This course, an advanced topics course in environmental chemistry, is taught in an active, student-centered mode. As in the real world, students are frequently called upon to articulate their ideas in small group and large group discussions in class. In addition, every student will give at least two formal presentations during the course of the semester accounting for greater than 50% of their grade. Ample time will be allotted in class to discussing what makes an effective presentation. This will fit well with the curriculum as risk communication is an essential part of completely understanding and acting upon issues of environmental concern. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to more effectively communicate through both oral and written media. Evaluation of the students’ presentation is based on content, visual aids, style, delivery, and audience involvement. The ACS Style Guide, published by the American Chemical Society, is a valuable resource for directions on the organization of scientific presentations and papers, including correct grammar and style, and the accepted formats for citing chemical names, chemical symbols, units, graphs, tables, and references. Each presentation is critiqued by the professor and other students in the class (anonymously). The results of these critiques are shared with the presenter individually to provide a feedback mechanism for improvement upon subsequent presentations.
Catalog Description: This course covers advanced topics in environmental chemistry. Topics studied will depend upon the interest of the class and may include topics such as acid rain, endocrine disruption, risk assessment, global warming, and bioaccumulation. Meets three credits toward the University Studies Oral/Communication Flag requirement. Prerequisite: Chemistry 320 or permission of instructor. Offered every other year.
This course includes requirements and learning activities that promote students' abilities to...
Requirements: Students are expected to give effective oral presentations appropriate to a scientific audience, in this case, their peers and chemistry faculty. At least one student presentation will be geared toward what would be given at a scientific meeting. Activities: Students will follow acceptable formats and guidelines for scientific speaking. After each presentation, a question and answer time will be conducted, as is done at most scientific meetings. c. adapt their speaking to field-specific audiences; Requirements: Students are expected to give effective oral presentations geared toward a wide-variety of groups. It will be emphasized that a most important component of public speaking is to speak to and at the level of the audience. Activities: In at least one formal presentation, students will demonstrate effective risk communication techniques. They will gear their presentation to an audience of their choosing, i.e. legislators, environmental groups, parents, farmers, or the general public and will demonstrate the use of important stylistic differences that are essential for effective risk communication. d. receive appropriate feedback from teachers and peers, including suggestions for improvement; Requirements: For each presentation, whether practice or formal, students will be critiqued by both the professor and by other students in the class (anonymously). Critiques cover content, visual aids, style, delivery, and audience involvement. The results of these critiques are shared with the presenter individually to provide a feedback mechanism for improvement upon their subsequent presentations. Activities: Students will complete and submit critique forms for each presentation attended, both in class and outside of class. e. make use of the technologies used for research and speaking in the fields; and Requirements: Students are required to use at least one type of visual aid, preferably a computer presentation, such as a PowerPoint presentation. It is stressed, however, that a backup presentation method is often warranted. The written paper assignments will also utilize technology in their production and display. The research necessary to prepare the presentation and papers will often utilize the general internet and specific scientific search databases such as online journals. Activities: Students will create presentation-quality visual aids to accompany their oral presentations. A computer-based presentation is required for all of the formal, oral presentations. A comprehensive list of resources used is required to be compiled and distributed to the instructor and classmates f. learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields. Requirements: Students are required to follow conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation as given in the ACS Style Guide or as common for technical speaking. Activities: Proper formatting of references, chemical structures, chemical reactions, etc. will be presented in the oral presentations and the written papers. Submitted with this proposal is a sample CHEM 436 syllabus, which includes the course description, course outcomes and a sample grading sheet.
Chemistry 436 Topics in Environmental Chemistry I 3 credits Winona State University Spring Semester 2002 Course Web Page: http://course1.winona.edu/jfranz Instructor: Dr. Jeanne Franz Office: Pasteur Hall 312F Phone: (457)-5297 email:jfranz@winona.edu Lecture: Switched to:T Th 12:30-1:50 Pasteur 309 Office hours: M and W 1-5 and T 2-4, or by appointment *Note I will not be on campus at all on Fridays, I can be reached on this day via my voicemail or email. Strongly recommended text:: Modeling the Environment by Andrew
Ford Island Press, 1999 Required materials: Students should have access to a networked computer. Networked copies of Stella computer software have been purchased on your behalf for your use in this class. Computers will be used frequently in class, if you have a laptop, it would be to your advantage to bring it to class on these days. General Information: This course will use an active, student centered approach to learning about two topics of importance to environmental scientists and chemists in the modern world, namely risk assessment and global warming. Much of the work in this class will be done in groups. Grading:
The culminating activity for both the risk assessment and global warming sections of this course will consist of a formal presentation and paper. Criteria for the evaluation of the paper will include both content and more stylistic things like style, delivery, use of visual aids, and audience involvement for the paper and organization, writing ability for the paper. Attendance: The nature of this course includes a lot of time for in-class group activities. It is therefore expected that students will come prepared to class everyday. Graded in-class activities cannot be made up except in cases of extreme hardship such as serious illness documented by a physician or death or serious illness in the family. Timeliness Policy: Late assignments will have 1% of the value deducted per day including weekends and holidays. Plan ahead! Oral Presentation will adhere to the following format: 1. Length of presentation should be approximately 25 (±5) minutes (not including questions). Talks shorter than 20 minutes or longer than 30 minutes will adversely affect your presentation grade. 2. Visual Aids: The use of at least one type of visual aid is required. This may include, but is not limited to, overhead transparencies, slides, computer projection, and demonstrations. The use of computer projections is strongly recommended because it is one of the easiest ways used to make professional presentations. Not using computer generated visual aids will adversely affect your grade. Regardless of the type(s) used, the material displayed should be informative, to the point, and legible. 3. Grading of presentation: A grading sheet such as the one attached will be completed by the professor. You will also be asked to complete critiques of your colleagues presentations. These critiques will not affect your grade. Written papers for culminating activites: 1. The written papers will be due at the beginning of the period during which the oral presentation is made. 2. Length: The paper should be 12-15 double-spaced pages in length excluding figures and supplements. 3. Supplements: The following should be attached at the end of your paper in the order given below. Endnotes - Denote citations with a superscript in the text and arrange references at the end in the proper format. See ACS Style Guide. You should have at least 15 references. Figures, Schemes, Tables, etc. - If not incorporated into the paper text, these should be numbered and titled and limited to one per page. 4. Grading: Grading will be based on content and adherence to the format above. In addition, writing quality (including grammar, spelling, clarity, and overall organization), quality of the supplements, completeness and correctness will also be graded. Additional written assignments will be assigned throughout the semester. Chemistry 436: Topics in Environmental Chemistry (3 s.h.)
Effective written and oral communication skills are no less essential to the well-trained scientist than to the humanist. Frequent exercises in writing and speaking are a part of the Chemistry curriculum and are critically evaluated by the chemistry faculty. This course, an advanced topics course in environmental chemistry, is taught in an active, student-centered mode. As in the real world, students are frequently called upon to articulate their ideas in small group and large group discussions in class. In addition, every student will give at least two formal presentations during the course of the semester accounting for greater than 50% of their grade. Ample time will be allotted in class to discussing what makes an effective presentation. This will fit well with the curriculum as risk communication is an essential part of completely understanding and acting upon issues of environmental concern. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to more effectively communicate through both oral and written media. Evaluation of the students’ presentation is based on content, visual aids, style, delivery, and audience involvement. The ACS Style Guide, published by the American Chemical Society, is a valuable resource for directions on the organization of scientific presentations and papers, including correct grammar and style, and the accepted formats for citing chemical names, chemical symbols, units, graphs, tables, and references. Each presentation is critiqued by the professor and other students in the class (anonymously). The results of these critiques are shared with the presenter individually to provide a feedback mechanism for improvement upon subsequent presentations.
Completion of this course will include requirements and learning activities that promote your abilities to achieve the following outcomes: a. earn significant course credit through extemporaneous oral presentations; b. understand the features and types of speaking in their disciplines; The completion of this course will satisfy three credits toward the Oral Communications flag requirement in the University Studies Program.Course Details/Requirements/Activities: In order to do well or pass the course, students are expected to:
Students are encouraged to consult with the instructor regarding questions encountered during the preparation for the oral seminars or preparation of any of the written assignments including the long papers.
Presentation Evaluation Form Name: ________________ Title: __________________________________________ Start time: ___________ Circle all that apply End time: _________
Chemistry 436 - Topics in Environmental Chemistry Approval/Disapproval Recommendations
Department Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved_____ Date___________
Dean's Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved _____* Date___________
USS Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved_____ Date___________
A2C2 Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved______ Date___________
Faculty Senate Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved_____ Date___________
Academic VP's Recommendation: Approved_____ Disapproved_____ Date___________
President's Decision: Approved_____ Disapproved_____ Date______
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