My students and I have selected these substantiative current issues in Science and Technology, and will show you the results of our efforts on these pages. Students worked individually or in groups to examine these important current issues using critical thinking skills. The students in the class are demonstrating their ability to model those skills and show evidence of improving their ability to use the Student Learning Outcomes. We hope you enjoy the material, and please let us know what you think! This Fall of 2012 students' issues include: |
Welcome! Have you ever wondered how much your childhood experiences shape who you become?Were you a curious youngster? I sure was! I remember taking camping trips with the family in our Plymouth station wagon. The car was always full (unless you also have 9 other siblings you can only imagine how full). Of course, when I was real young I NEVER got a window seat. Dad had us play the typical road games- all our eyes closed and competing to see who could come closest to estimating when we went a mile. And there were the math games- ‘Count in base 4’. That will keep you busy for a while on a thousands of mile road trip through Mexico! In between games, and sing-a-longs I would ask questions. Especially when I was older and had been bequeathed a window seat, the questions were endless. Why is that tree shaped like that? What kind of animal is that? It is no wonder I became a scientist; I have an insatiable curiosity.I get to continue to feed that curiosity by ‘teaching’ this class. Each of you gets to select your own questions and fill your curious mind about issues in Science and Technology! I get the benefit of learning about all of it, and so do your fellow studentsLet’s get started and have some fun!Here is a 10 minute You tube video called Skewed views of science that summarizes what science is and why I so enjoy this class- I hope you do too! Did you know? A five minute video about how fast information is growing. |
Nora E. Demers, Ph.D., Comparative
Immunology and Interdisciplinary Studies Office Hours: T/R 11:00-12:15W 1:00-2:00 and by appointment Just send a
note, stop by or give me a call to make an appointment. Are you curious about topics that affect the world today? Is the rapid increase in technology exciting yet distressing? Have you ever heard of "fracking", environmental endocrine dirsuptors or the effect of sonar on marine mammals? I encourage you to work with others on similar topics. Take advantage of this opportunity to work as a member of a highly functional group of your design and control. WARNING: This class is not for the light-hearted- those wanting an "easy A" are strongly encouraged to look elsewhere! You will be challenged at least as much as your most rigorous disciplinary course. I believe that IDS courses are where you should synthesize and apply your disciplinary experience to interdisciplinary issues that our community faces. If you do not desire this sort of rigorous and challenging exercise, then please do us both a favor and enroll in a different section of IDS 3303. I look forward to meeting an enthusiastic group of undergraduates at every class session. Cheating, dishonesty, and plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in failure of the assignment and/or course. If you are at all unclear on the conventions or expectations on academy regarding providing proper citation to your research sources, then please take a moment to review these articles on plagiarism "How to Avoid Plagiarism"; "Avoiding Plagiarism" Disability Accommodations Services Florida Gulf Coast University, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the university’s guiding principles, will provide classroom and academic accommodations to students with documented disabilities. If you need to request an accommodation in this class due to a disability, or you suspect that your academic performance is affected by a disability, please contact the Office of Adaptive Services. The Office of Adaptive Services is located in Howard Hall 137. The phone number is 239-590-7956 or TTY 239-590-7930 |
Fall
2012: IDS 3143 Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30 - 1:45 Holmes Engineering 202 This course is part of the Collegium of Integrated Learning and is required for the B.A. in Liberal Studies. Students and faculty will work together to investigate selected contemporary science/technology issues and problems and how they have developed across time. Individually and in teams, students will develop "intellectual histories" of an issue or problem and take a stance on an issue. These "histories" will require building an integrated context by examining issues through the perspectives and methods of knowing in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Organized in interdisciplinary ways and problem-based, the course will stress engaged learning. Students will be expected to formulate their own interpretations and responses to the issues. Consequently, success in the course will rely heavily on critical, creative, systematic, and collaborative thinking and the sophisticated use of communication, information, and technological skills. Students will also be expected to identify and use a wide variety of resources available through the library and world wide web. I will be
corresponding with you through your student email account. It is
very important for you to have your student email activated. If you
need assistance with this, please
review the instructions for activating, forwarding, and getting help
with your email. Some current issues that you may want to consider exploring:Are alternative cancer therapies (nutraceuticals) effective, or just a way for unregulated comapnies to make a fortune? See CsCl for example Rachel Carson and the legacy of Silent Spring (the Guardian May 26, 2012) Biofuels from food crops, linked with Global warming. Hunger Games: The rich world is causing famines it claims to be preventing (Monbiot blog Aug 13, 2012)Warm seawater forces Conn. nuclear plant shutdown (Aug 13, 2012) (another outcome of Global Climate change?) Commercial Space Transportation (NASA's portal)
Fracking for Natural Gas-- National Geographic Special report PCB's, BPA and other plastics as endocrine disruptors Nanotech Particles Pose Serious DNA Risks to Humans and the Environment Pesticides in food the Big Ag side of the story or the Environmental Working Group issue-- Foodnews.org Should the EPA be exempting 'green power' facilities from legal requirements for Agency review?
Here are some more recent Science and Technology 'issues': Government statement on Vitamin D questionable Documentaries of interest regaring this year's issues:
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IDS 3143 Home | Outcomes | Schedule | Assignments | Grading
Click here to see the IDS 3143 Portal- see past issues students examined in previous semesters.