Course Announcements & learning achievement targets for Ecology Online

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All enrolled students will receive an introductory email about the course on the first day of the semester.
(all email is sent to your official University of Idaho email address)
 

Consultations with the professor about the course material are available via telephone.

Note. Carefully review the computer and browser settings in the Advisory section.

Apple OS users
 

Please attend to the preparatory aspects of the course before the start of the course.

After the introductory email note sent to your email account, all news/announcements, etc., will be posted on Announcements section of the course site. Therefore, please be sure to view this section regularly for information regarding your course. Please review the guidelines for this course carefully. It is important that you understand the guidelines for this course.

Please complete the following during the first week of the course:

Complete the Student information form. Be sure that the information is accurate.

Confirm the receipt of the introductory email about the course and confirm that you have carefully reviewed the guidelines for the course.

To prevent your email from being filtered by the university "SPAM" filter, be sure to identify the course title in your email subject line, e.g., Ecology (NR 321).

You will not receive access to the course learning materials until the items above have been received. After sending a confirmation email and after I have receive all of the required information, you will receive access to the course learning materials.

Review the Guidelines, Instructions, Advisory, and Tips. Also, review all sections and pages of the course internet site, especially the Syllabus, Course and Student Objectives, and Readings. The quizzes and examinations will cover material from the course internet site.

Make sure your computer system is configured correctly to access the course material (you will have access course materials only when you have confirmed the receipt of this email and have provided the items listed above). See the Announcements and Tips section of the course site for instructions and a tutorial on configuring your browser. Note: The course material and audio lectures are only compatible with computers that use the Windows-based operating system (Windows 8, 7, and Vista) and Internet Explorer.

Make sure that your computer system is configured correctly to access the Blackboard Learn courseware system and Skype (only if you wish to have consultations via video conferencing). You will receive a separate notification from the Blackboard system that your account is ready to access.

The course checklist is for your assistance. Let me know if you have any problems getting started with the items listed above or have other administrative problems related to the course.

Before the course begins
Complete your student information form and to the professor via email.
Log into the Blackboard courseware system and become familiar with its features.
Thoroughly and carefully review the course internet site so that you are familiar with all sections and pages.
Carefully read the course guidelines and summer session examination schedule.
Properly configure your computer system as summarized in the Advisory, Tips, and Instructions
Begin studying the readings for Section I

Apple OS users
 

For all students who have completed their student information form, your proctor for the assessments will be sent an email with information proctoring your assessments. Contact your proctor to confirm the receipt of my email and to make the appropriate arrangements to take your quizzes and examinations. If you have not yet submitted your student information form, please do so this week. All students should have received an introductory email from the professor during the first week of the semester. If you did not receive the introductory email, please contact the professor immediately.

If you did not receive the introductory email and checklist, please select the following documents to download:
Introductory note about the course (copy of email)
Student information form | Checklist (save both to your disk and email to the professor)

If you encounter technical problems with access to the course material, or the course material, please: (1) confirm that you computer figuration and browser are correctly configured (see Advisory, Tips, and Instructions sections), and (2) contact the professor to set up a diagnoses consultation to resolve the technical problem.

Apple OS users

on Blackboard

There will be 16 quizzes throughout the semester; the to 10 scores will be used in your course grade. The format is a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions: multiple correct answers are possible. Each quiz question may have more than one correct answer.

There are three examinations for this course.  The format is a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions: multiple correct answers are possible. Each examination question has only one correct answer. Note the dates of the three examinations for the course.

In order to increase your performance on the quizzes and the examinations, please be sure to follow the recommended learning procedures on a regular bases. Cycle through these steps repeatedly until you have mastered the material. An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology.

Carefully study the textbook for detailed information
Regularly study the glossary to master all terms and understand their meaning
Study and review the interactive lessons and games to guide your study and to evaluate your understanding
Take the quizzes on the recommended schedule
Study and review the sample questions for each examination

 More learning tips ...
 

Complete
Section I: Introduction to ecology
Course internet site, including summary of professional societies in ecology
All readings, and the interactive lessons and games for Section I
Interactive lesson: Course introduction
Lesson: Introduction to ecology (no audio; carefully study the sections on History, Glossary, Study)

New
Section II: Ecology of individual organisms
All readings, and the interactive lessons and games for Section II
Interactive lesson: Ecology of individual organisms
Interactive games: Ecology of species

on Blackboard
Practice quiz (no proctor supervision or password required)
Quiz 1: Introduction to ecology
 

In order to increase your performance on the quizzes and the examinations, please be sure to follow the recommended learning procedures on a regular bases. Cycle through these steps repeatedly until you have mastered the material. An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology.

Carefully study the textbook for detailed information
Regularly study the glossary to master all terms and understand their meaning
Study and review the interactive lessons and games to guide your study and to evaluate your understanding
Take the quizzes on the recommended schedule
Study and review the sample questions for each examination

 More learning tips ...
 

Complete
Section I: Introduction to ecology
Course internet site, including summary of professional societies in ecology
All readings, and the interactive lessons and games for Section I
Interactive lesson: Course introduction
Lesson: Introduction to ecology (no audio; carefully study the sections on History, Glossary, Study)

Section II: Ecology of individual organisms
All readings, and the interactive lessons and games for Section II
Interactive lesson: Ecology of individual organisms
Interactive games: Ecology of species

New
Section III: The physical environment & organismal adaptations
All readings, and the interactive lessons and games for Section III
Interactive lesson: Solar Radiation
Interactive games: Solar radiation
 

on Blackboard
Quiz 2: Ecology of individuals
Quiz 3: Ecology of individuals and solar radiation

Sample questions for examination I

An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology. If you can explain the course subject matter in a succinct and technically correct manner, then you have mastered the topic.

In order to increase your performance on the quizzes and the examinations, please be sure to follow the recommended learning procedures on a regular bases. Cycle through these steps repeatedly until you have mastered the material. An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology. If you can explain the course subject matter in a succinct and technically correct manner, then you have mastered the topic.

Carefully study the textbook for detailed information
Regularly study the glossary to master all terms and understand their meaning
Study and review the interactive lessons and games to guide your study and to evaluate your understanding
Take the quizzes on the recommended schedule
Study and review the sample questions for each examination

 More learning tips ...

on Blackboard
Quiz 4: Solar radiation
Quiz 5: Photobiology

Sample questions for examination I

Upcoming: Examination 1 - Monday, February 24 (target completion date date for quizzes 1 - 5: February 21)

As you advance in the course, be sure to regularly review previous material. In particular, practice explaining various topics to colleagues and friends - as if you were teaching the topic. This method will prepare you for the comprehensive final examination and mastery of the science of ecology.
 

on Blackboard
Examination 1 - Monday, February 24 (target completion date date for quizzes 1 - 5: February 21)
(subjects covered: Up to and including the topic of Energy balance)

More learning tips ...
  

All readings, and the interactive lessons and games for Section III
Section III:

Interactive lesson:

Interactive lesson:

Interactive games: Water relations

on Blackboard
Quiz 6: Climate
Quiz 7: Water relations
 

In order to increase your performance on the quizzes and the examinations, please be sure to follow the recommended learning procedures on a regular bases. Cycle through these steps repeatedly until you have mastered the material. An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology. If you can explain the course subject matter in a succinct and technically correct manner, then you have mastered the topic.

Carefully study the textbook for detailed information
Regularly study the glossary to master all terms and understand their meaning
Study and review the interactive lessons and games to guide your study and to evaluate your understanding
Take the quizzes on the recommended schedule
Study and review the sample questions for each examination

More learning tips ...
 

on Blackboard
Quiz 8: Water relations and photosynthesis

Your mid-term grade, available by late afternoon, March 16,  will be based only on your first examination. Since only the top 10 quizzes are counted in your final grade, this adjustment cannot be made until all quizzes are completed.

In order to increase your performance on the quizzes and the examinations, please be sure to follow the recommended learning procedures on a regular bases. Cycle through these steps repeatedly until you have mastered the material. An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology. If you can explain the course subject matter in a succinct and technically correct manner, then you have mastered the topic.

Carefully study the textbook for detailed information
Regularly study the glossary to master all terms and understand their meaning
Study and review the interactive lessons and games to guide your study and to evaluate your understanding
Take the quizzes on the recommended schedule
Study and review the sample questions for each examination

More learning tips ...
 

All readings, and the interactive lessons and games for Section III
Section III:

Interactive lesson:

Interactive games: Photosynthesis

New
Section IV: The physical environment & organismal adaptations
Interactive lesson: Populations: Growth & density
Interactive games: Population ecology

 

on Blackboard

Quiz 9: Photosynthesis
Quiz 10: Populations

Sample questions for examination II

Your mid-term grade (available on your Blackboard Learn and VandalWeb accounts) reflects the average of your performance on examinations I and II. Because only the top 10 quiz scores are included in your course grade, the quiz score thus far were not included in your mid-term grade. The mid-term grade is advisory and will not be an official part of your transcript.

If your performance in the course thus far is low, I would recommend that you carefully review the Learning Tips and Path to Mastery sections of the course web site, and revise your study methods accordingly.

More learning tips ...
 

on Blackboard

Quiz 11: Populations
Quiz 12: Populations: Human influences

Upcoming: Examination 1 - Monday, March 30 (target completion date date for quizzes 1 - 5: March 27)

Sample questions for examination II
 

on Blackboard

Examination 2 - Monday, March 30 (target completion date for quizzes 6 - 12: March 27)
 Topics covered: Section III: Climate, Water Relations, Photosynthesis, and Sections IV and V: Population Growth &
 Dynamics, and Species Interactions

Note. Your mid-term grade (available on your Blackboard Learn and VandalWeb accounts) reflects the average of your performance on examinations I and II. Because only the top 10 quiz scores are included in your course grade, the quiz score thus far were not included in your mid-term grade. The mid-term grade is advisory and will not be an official part of your transcript.

If your performance in the course thus far is low, I would recommend that you carefully review the Learning Tips and Path to Mastery sections of the course web site, and revise your study methods accordingly.

Community and ecosystem ecology integrates all of the processes, interactions, and concepts covered in ecology thus far. Because there is a great number of terms concepts to learn for these sections, I highly recommend that regularly and carefully study the terms and their definition. The last sections of the course, Sections VIII & IX: Ecosystems & Biomes, require considerable reading and study of the textbook. I highly recommend that you begin reading the chapters for these sections, which cover ecosystems of the world.
 

In order to increase your performance on the quizzes and the examinations, please be sure to follow the recommended learning procedures on a regular bases. Cycle through these steps repeatedly until you have mastered the material. An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology. If you can explain the course subject matter in a succinct and technically correct manner, then you have mastered the topic.

Carefully study the textbook for detailed information
Regularly study the glossary to master all terms and understand their meaning
Study and review the interactive lessons and games to guide your study and to evaluate your understanding
Take the quizzes on the recommended schedule
Study and review the sample questions for each examination

More learning tips ...
 

Complete any pending quizzes (i.e., quizzes 1 - 12)

Quiz 13: Introduction to communities, definitions, theories, and niche theory.

To prepare for the comprehensive final examination, regularly review previous topics to attain mastery.

Frequently study the glossary of the book and commit the terms to memory. Balance this study with more detailed understanding of the terms within each chapter. Use the interactive learning materials (lessons and various games) as practice and guidance for your study.

More learning tips ...
 

The last sections of the course, Sections VIII & IX: Ecosystems & Biomes, require considerable reading and study of the textbook. I highly recommend that you begin reading the chapters for these sections, which cover ecosystems of the world.
 

More learning tips ...
 

The last sections of the course, Sections VIII & IX: Ecosystems & Biomes, require considerable reading and study of the textbook. I highly recommend that you begin reading the chapters for these sections, which cover ecosystems of the world.

In order to increase your performance on the quizzes and the examinations, please be sure to follow the recommended learning procedures on a regular bases. Cycle through these steps repeatedly until you have mastered the material. An excellent way to prepare for the quizzes and examinations is to orally explain a topic, concept, or term to a colleague. Do this regularly as if you are teaching a course in ecology.

Carefully study the textbook for detailed information
Regularly study the glossary to master all terms and understand their meaning
Study and review the interactive lessons and games to guide your study and to evaluate your understanding
Take the quizzes on the recommended schedule
Study and review the sample questions for each examination

More learning tips ...
 

More learning tips ...
 

on Blackboard
Complete all quizzes by Friday, May 8. The top 10 quiz scores are counted in your course grade.
Final examination - Monday, May 11
By appointment for UI-Moscow campus students; 8 - midnight for off-campus students:
Comprehensive final examination (the subject matter for the final examination will be weighted toward material covered since the second examination, i.e., the material covered in Sections VI - X, but will contain questions for all topics in the course.