Instructor:	Dr. Jan Pearce		C.P.O.:	1815
Office:	304-B Draper Hall (859) 985-3569		Office Hours:	MWF 1:00 to 1:50 pm T 10:00 to 10:50 am
E-mail:	pearcej@berea.edu		Feel free to send e-mail for appointments at other times.

The Course Goals To better understand and to critically examine current major local and global environmental issues. To become familiar with mathematical modeling of environmental data using the computer as a tool. To develop skills in formulating, solving, and interpreting appropriate environmental models. To help to awaken ourselves to civic responsibilities and help empower ourselves to act. To gain experience in effectively communicating mathematical ideas.

The Texts The first modeling text we will use is Environmental Issues, by McConnell and Abel which does a nice job of describing environmental issues while interweaving mathematical modeling. The second modeling text we will use is Earth Algebra, by Schaufele, Zumoff, Sims, and Sims. This text contains detailed explanations of the mathematical techniques written in an understandable fashion. There will also be selected readings from a wide variety of sources.

The Course Home Page Our course home page is located at http://www.berea.edu/faculty/pearcej/MAT108/. Use this page as a resource to find this syllabus and other course-related information.

The System of Evaluation
Maximum Final Grading Scale             Grade    93 %   A 90% ≤ Grade < 93 %   A- 87% ≤ Grade < 90 %   B+ 83% ≤ Grade < 87 %   B   80% ≤ Grade < 83 %   B- 77% ≤ Grade < 80 %   C+ 73% ≤ Grade < 77 %   C   70% ≤ Grade < 73 %   C- 67% ≤ Grade < 70 %   D+ 63% ≤ Grade < 67 %   D   60% ≤ Grade < 63 %   D-             Grade < 60 %   F			Evaluated Items Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Quiz Total Assignments Journal Final Project	Grading Percentages 15.4 % 15.4 % 15.4 % 15.4 % 15.4 % 7.6 % 15.4 %

Please refer to the GRADING section of the current Berea College Catalog for the College-wide interpretations of these letter grades.

The Tests and Quizzes Tests and frequent short quizzes will be given in this course. Approximately one announced quiz will be given each week in which there is no test. In general, the announced quizzes will consist of questions on the assigned text readings or assignment-like problems. The most likely time of the three tests will be:
Test 1: Week of February 20 Test 2: Week of March 13 Test 3: Week of May 1
Problems that appear on the tests will be more varied in nature, ranging from assignment-like problems to problems that require a deeper synthesis of ideas and from true or false questions to short-answer questions.

The Final Exam There will be no comprehensive written final exam given in this course. Instead, a final project will be due during finals week.

Technology Policies Some of the modeling work in this course will require use of the computer, so these policies are designed to help students better understand how to be effective in a technology-rich environment. In order to reduce the use of paper and the many negative impacts of paper creation on the environment, we will try to have as paperless a course as possible. Thus, each student is required to bring his or her appropriately equipped and working laptop to class as announced. This means that students are required to keep their computers in good working order and to get a loaner as necessary. Each student must have a scientific calculator with logarithmic and scientific notation in class every day. This may be a calculator program running on the computer or a more traditional calculator. As all of these calculators work slightly differently, students are encouraged to find a comfortable one and it most of the term. The scientific version of the standard Windows calculator program (located in the Accessories folder) is essentially sufficient. However, if this calculator program is selected over a traditional calculator, then that student must bring his/her laptop computer to class everyday. Because work will frequently be submitted electronically, students are warned and required keep back-ups of all assignments done electronically. The normally understanding instructor will not be at all sympathetic to loss of electronic work, so it is the student's responsibility to protect his/her work in advance from such heartbreaking loss. The in-class use of unapproved technology will not be tolerated and in certain cases will constitute a violation of academic honesty. For example, no games or communication programs, including e-mail or instant messaging programs, are ever acceptable during class, so must be disabled before class. Likewise, cellular phones and pagers must be disabled before class. To help students to appreciate the gravity of this policy, each and every in-class use of unapproved technology will result in a 1% reduction of the student's homework assignment grade. On the other hand, electronic communication programs are useful when used appropriately, so each student is required to have and use a Berea College e-mail account to facilitate electronic communication outside of class. Exceptions to any of these technology policies will be considered on an individual case-by-case basis but will only be granted under extremely unusual circumstances.

The Class Atmosphere The members of this class constitute a learning community. Learning in such a community best takes place in an atmosphere in which instructor and the students treat everyone with mutual respect. Students need not always raise their hands in order to ask questions or to make comments, but they should not interrupt the instructor or fellow students in doing so. Students typically find the atmosphere set by the instructor to be a sometimes playful and nearly always relaxed one, but students will still need to work hard and consistently both in and out of class in order to do well. If at anytime you have thoughts, comments, or suggestions about how the class atmosphere could be improved or made into one which is more supportive of your learning, please come by or drop me a note about it. I welcome such suggestions.

The Grading Policies For the benefit of the students in the class, all course grade computations are continually updated by the instructor, so students may check frequently on their in-progress course grade during the term.
	As agreed in class, there will be no written final exam, only a required final project.
	A student's final grade may be raised above her or his earned percentage grade if in the instructor's opinion the student shows significantly improved work in the course or on the comprehensive final exam.

The Assignment Bonus

Assignments will be assigned on a near-daily basis, since doing assignments thoughtfully and conscientiously is one of the keys to success in this course. Through assignments students become familiar with the environmental issues and get the needed practice of application of the mathematical concepts. Because the instructor desires to strongly encourage a diligent effort on assignments, students who turn in each of their assignments with no more than three assignments submitted late, will be awarded an additional 10% on the assignment grade!

On Assignment Collection All written work should be neat, organized, and should show sufficiently many steps to demonstrate a clear understanding of the techniques used. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the announced date due. If a student must miss class due to either a sickness or a planned absence, assignments are still expected to be submitted on time. Assignments are posted on the web and may be requested in advance. Late assignments will be accepted for reduced credit up until the assignment is returned, and late work must be labeled as late. Written assignments may be turned in before class or at the instructor's office, but should NOT be sent through the CPO, attached in e-mail, or given to a student assistant. A selection of the assignment problems will be graded for credit, and assignments not meeting the above standards may receive reduced credit.

On Teamwork Learning to work in teams effectively is strongly encouraged. Some assignments may be specifically designed for teamwork, others for individual work, but on most assignments you can choose to work alone or in a team. All assignments must clearly include all of the authors' names at the top of each page. On any assignment in which half or more of the work was completed in a team, a single copy of the assignment should be handed in with all of the team's participants listed as authors. Teams can generally consist of one, two, or three members due to the nature of the work in this course. Unless otherwise stated, teams shall not consist of more than three members for most work. On any assignment where less than half of the work was completed in a team, individual assignments should be handed in with the author acknowledging all of the help received for each problem. This includes significant help received from the instructor or in the Math/CS Lab Consultants. Note that the instructor or a Math/CS Lab Consultant may help with assignments or labs, and while this help should not be acknowledged as co-authorship, it should still be mentioned. This is meant to be a sharing process; do not "give credit" to other students who have not attempted to contribute to the work or to the team's work, because it is ultimately not a help for the student who did not contribute to the work. Thoughtful practice, not (even mindful) copying, is ultimately the best way to learn. Note that on all team-completed assignments, students must describe the roles played by each author on the assignment. Warning: Please be careful to conform to these standards for teamwork, since they are designed to encourage good learning practices. (Furthermore, copying another person's work or otherwise failing to adhere to these standards may even result in a charge of academic dishonesty.)

The Attendance Policy Class lectures, discussions, and in-class computer work are considered to be a vital key to success in this course. It is the hope of the instructor that class sessions are both informative and useful, therefore attendance is expected at each class session unless a specific exception is made. This policy will be enforced in several ways. Quizzes may be announced or occasionally "popped," and because the lowest quiz grade will be dropped, under nearly all circumstances, make-up quizzes will not be given. Likewise, make-up tests will under almost no circumstances be given, so missed tests will therefore count as the student's dropped 100 points. Absences from class are noted, and repeated absences will adversely affect the student's grade. The final grade may be lowered by one third of a letter grade for each absence after the fourth. Thus, it is the responsibility of the student to speak to the instructor about each absence from class. This should be done as soon as possible, and if at all possible before the absence occurs. Students who miss class are held responsible for all of the material covered, assigned, and collected during their absence.

Work in our Community and Final Project Some assignments in this course will involve service to the community. The frequency and nature of these assignments will be decided in class discussion. Past service has included roadside garbage cleanup, starting a composting program, and mathematical modeling of issues related to the Blue Grass Army Depot's nerve gas stockpile for the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. Student teams will complete a final project in this course on a topic selected by the student team. These projects will involve mathematical modeling, analysis, as well as an action component. Action components are selected by the student team but have involved things such as organizing a public forum, writing letters to congress, holding a rally, etc.

Electronic Journal In this course students keep an electronic journal. The journal should serve several purposes. It will serve both as a place for students to summarize and reflect on the assigned readings and as a forum for a continuing dialogue between the student and the instructor. The written format will allow time for reflection about certain topics and may be helpful in forming and clearly expressing views. It is the hope of the instructor that in the journal students will feel free to be honest in comments about the course content, structure, instruction, etc., as well as about goals, hopes, and fears in relation to the course. The instructor will try to use these comments to alter the structure and pace of the course to best fit the class. The journal should be useful to the student as well. For example, some of the questions will be directed to helping students discover (or confirm) their own most effective learning, problem-solving, and studying styles. Assignments of ongoing as well as required topical journal entries will be announced.

For Additional Help The main teaching assistant for this course will be Erin Hodges. She and most other Math/CS Lab Consultants will be able to answer questions about the mathematical and modeling content in the course during consultations in the Math/CS Lab. Located in Draper 302, the Math/CS Lab is open Monday through Thursday 5:00 to 6:00 pm and Sunday through Thursday from 7:00 to 9:15 PM (except on evenings of convocations when it closes early). Students are strongly encouraged to make use of the help available in the Math/CS Lab, as well as in the instructor's office hours. Best results are obtained trying to solve problems alone or in a group before asking for help, so in either place, students should be prepared to show what they have already tried. Topics in this course build throughout the course, so students should be sure to do their best to keep up with the class, so as to not get behind and possibly forever lost. No question to which one does not know the answer is "dumb" unless it goes unanswered because it remained unasked.