This course may be taken by anyone, anywhere, the only requirements being access to the web and proficiency in the English language. Ideal for those seeking professional advancement in their respective fields. Course coordinators are available via email, fax, "snail-mail" and telephone. Course materials and participation can be accessed anytime, anyplace, meaning that you can read the materials and post messages when it is convenient to you.
This web-based distance education course highlights more than 25 years of
international discussion, debate and ideas, with regard to the state of the
environment and our actions towards it. Key considerations and voices are
included, from both North and South. This unusual and challenging course
avoids the usual categorizations, and instead examines in a cross-cutting
approach the environmental and social issues that effect our lives.
Students become part of an "international learning community", by participating in on-line closed discussion. The emphasis is on presenting an international range of perspectives and case studies, linking the issues and ideas to up-to-the-moment occurrences as they effect students, when they happen and wherever they are. Arguably, on-line learning is particularly appropriate to an environmental issues course.
Course Goals
The course involves at least four ways of learning:
The course is organized into ten successive units: an introductory unit,
and then one unit corresponding to each of the seven major themes in the text,
future perspectives, and finally overall reflection and closing synthesis.
Here are a few ideas we'll be thinking
about
...
Course Resources
The course is offered via a web-based educational program called WebCT. If
you have a browser such as Netscape (version 2.0 or higher) or Microsoft
Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or higher) and have access to the world-wide
web, you can obtain the course materials without downloading or installing
any additional software. A WebCT student tutorial is included with the
course materials, and the first unit of the course is devoted largely to
helping you to feel comfortable with this on-line distance learning
environment. If you have never taken an on-line distance course before,
don't worry! We'll give you the time and information you need to feel
comfortable.
Because this is an online web-based distance learning course, you must be
able to regularly and readily:
Course Evaluation
Course evaluation will be based upon your response to critical thinking
questions assigned within each unit, as well as your contributions to
regular online Forum discussion. You will also be expected to submit a
brief report on a key issue of your choice, related to the course material,
and as approved by the course instructor.
This course is offered on a rotating basis. Check the curriculum page for
the dates of the next course.
.... won't
you join us?
Course Structure and Topics
Green Planet Blues: Environmental Politics from Stockholm to Johannesburg.
Edited by Ken Conca and Geoffrey D. Dabelko (2004, Third Edition, Westview Press).
This may be ordered through the Nova University bookstore.