Introduction to Environmental Science
I served as a teaching assistant for this 100 level course for the Fall 2015 semester. This course serves as an introduction to the field of environmental science and policy. Approximately 90 undergraduates enroll each semester, and the majority of the class is first- and second-year students. The course was primarily lecture-based, with breakout discussion sections that met four times during the semester. I led one of the breakout sections of 14 students, and we discussed topics such as GMOs and dam removals. Students led the discussions; a team of three-four students developed questions and directed the flow of topics each session. Each team worked with me before their breakout session to craft the discussion questions. Most teams led fairly successfully, but in the event of difficulties, I assisted in moderating and proposing topics of discussion. At the end of the semester, students chose an environmental issue to discuss in a popular blog post format, which they then submitted to EcoWatch.com.
In addition to discussion moderation, I also presented a guest lecture on human population growth. My goals for the lesson were that students would 1) understand how population growth occurs, and the pressures it places on the environment, 2) be familiar with some of the more prominent thinkers on the subject and what their arguments were, and 3) understand what current policies and practices are in place in various parts of the globe. The midterm tested students on their comprehension of my lecture with the prompt, "Draw a figure showing the four stages of population growth through time, including birth rate, death rate, and total population. Be sure to label the stages."
A description of the course is available here.
In addition to discussion moderation, I also presented a guest lecture on human population growth. My goals for the lesson were that students would 1) understand how population growth occurs, and the pressures it places on the environment, 2) be familiar with some of the more prominent thinkers on the subject and what their arguments were, and 3) understand what current policies and practices are in place in various parts of the globe. The midterm tested students on their comprehension of my lecture with the prompt, "Draw a figure showing the four stages of population growth through time, including birth rate, death rate, and total population. Be sure to label the stages."
A description of the course is available here.
