Seminar in Natural Science (online)

Fall 2009 Online Section Preview

Interested in taking the Seminar in Natural Science online?  Already signed up, but want more information on what this course will involve?  Read on for a preview of Mike Bryson's Fall 2007 online section of PLS (formerly BGS) 391-98.

: : Click here for a list of required texts.

Content and Focus of BGS 391

PLS 391 is an introduction to the methods and analytic framework of the natural sciences, an exploration of the relationship between science and society, and a critical examination of the values and assumptions associated with the production of scientific knowledge.  This section will cover a range of natural sciences, with a special focus on biology (including genetics and evolution) and ecology.  In particular, we will explore the ecosystems and biodiversity of the Chicago region.

In our readings, discussion, research, and field work, we will address several key questions about the scientific enterprise, including:

• How does science function?  What are the fundamentals of the scientific method, and how it is applied to various questions about the natural world?  How does one go about solving problems scientifically?
• Who does science?  How do scientists characterize themselves and their work?
• How is science depicted in popular media, especially newspapers and magazines pitched at a mainstream audience?   How can we critically evaluate journalists' use of scientific "evidence"?
• What key ethical and social issues are raised by scientific and technological developments today?
• What are some of the important scientific controversies in contemporary America, and how can we become critical thinkers about such controversies?

The Online Format

What makes this particular section of PLS 391 special, of course, is that it takes place completely online.  We'll be using the virtual learning interface at Roosevelt, called RU Online, which is supported by Blackboard (hereafter referred to as "Bb," for short).  The key thing to understand about online courses, including this one, is that they're interactive--just as my on-campus 391 students read assignments, write papers, construct arguments, do research, and come to class to engage in lively discussion, so too will online 391 students share ideas and interact in real and virtual time.  Bb gives us the web-based tools to do just that.  

For the vast majority of our interaction, we'll use threaded discussion forums, which are asynchronous (i.e., not in real time) means of communicating, to exchange ideas and materials on a weekly basis.  Reading and posting to the discussion board is like coming to class, except that you can do it any time of day throughout a given week.  Just as the on-campus version of 391 requires you to be in the classroom for 5 hours per week, the online version necessitates your devoting at least 5 hours per week to exploring our website, reading and posting to the board, etc. -- and that does not count the time you'll need to spend reading your assignments and writing papers.  Another important point here is that 391 online is not an independent study experience:  you'll be moving through the semester with your fellow students, week by week, and interacting with them and me regularly.  And of course, you can always contact me by email, by phone, or simply by dropping by during my office hours.

: : More specific information is available on this must-read question and answer page on participation and interaction (from my spring 2009 section).

Before you go any further in your consideration of my 391 online section, check out the RU Online Bb site.  Go to Roosevelt's homepage, www.roosevelt.edu, and click on "RU Online" link near the top; then click on "Students."  Work through the interactive links that starts with "what makes a successful online student?"; then, come back to this page and continue reading.

OK, you're back!  If you're still interested in taking this course, simply get in touch with your advisor to register for 391-98.  You can also call or email me (312.281.3148; mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for additional information.  If you go back to RU Online, you can preview the Bb environment by logging in as a Guest and surfing around various courses.  Get a taste of what's to come!

Course Content and Basic Requirements

The online section is approximately 14 weeks, including finals week, and the unique format dictates a different and distinct rhythm for the course.  Basic class activities will include regular reading assignments, class discussions, short "lectures" by yours truly, and possibly a couple of field trips.  Required reading will include Ecology: A Pocket Guide (by Ernest Callenbach), The Chicago Wilderness Atlas of Biodiversity, the weekly science section of the New York Times which appears every Tuesday, assorted websites related to each week's topic, and selected handouts distributed via mail.  Key requirements and assignments tentatively include active weekly participation on the discussion board, two short analytic essays (4-5 pages), two quizzes, a research proposal (3-4 pages), a research project on a scientific issue or controversy.  

I try to plan or or two field trips to sites such as the Field Museum of Natural History, Volo Bog State Natural Area, The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Argonne National Laboratory, or Fermilab, which are among many fascinating scientific institutions right here in the Chicago area.  These trips not only will be a fun change of pace but also will give us a chance to meet face-to-face.  We will discuss logistical information for the trips early in the semester, and they will probably take place on either Saturday or Sunday.  For those unable to attend a given trip, you may complete an alternative activity (a different but related site near your home, or a web-based exploration), or you may attend the selected site on another date. 

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Roosevelt's National Landmark, the Auditorium Building, downtown Chicago

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Last updated 06/15/09