Communicating Wicked Environmental Problems

Inter-university Distributed CourseSpring 2014Communicating Wicked Environmental ProblemsLearning ObjectivesImprove understanding of wicked environmental problems and the necessity of communication and participatory approaches to solve themImprove oral and written communication skillsPrepare doctoral students to be educators

Course ActivitiesOnline and class-wide discussion of readings related to ASEPs and communicating wicked environmental problemsAs a member of a team, creation of an activity related to ASEPs. Tentative Weekly Discussion TopicsCourse introduction and pre-assessment (Judith Perlinger)Communicating wicked problems (?)Educating younger generations and the public through interactive data analysis activities (Joan Chadde)ASEP sources and environmental processing (Shiliang Wu)Biogeochemical cycles (Noel Urban)ASEP reservoirs in the terrestrial environment (Daniel Obrist)Human-natural systems as complex adaptive systems (Hugh Gorman)Global change (Noelle E. Selin)Social adaptation to wicked environmental problems (?)Human well-being and the environment (Nancy Langston)Measuring, monitoring, and predicting progress toward sustainable chemical management (Juanita Urban-Rich)ASEPs governance and the role of science (Henrik Selin)Participatory approaches to solving wicked environmental problems (Emma Norman)Sustainable chemical management (?)Activity presentations and post-assessment

Activity DevelopmentTeamsPotentially involve middle school and high school teachers as mentorsSelect topic from list or proposeDesign communicationmode (e.g., NPS Visitor Science Communication, social media, science museum programs, TED-talks, science-in-action photos)

Faculty MentorsExpertise Sustainability Teaching MethodsImplementationExpertise Application PhD Student MentorsUG & MS Student MentorsLogisticsPost course materials on MTU e-learning website made accessible to Non-MTU participating institutionsConduct weekly meetings using videoteleconferencing or web-based technology (Adobe Connect)Faculty select and summarize weekly reading(s) individually or in consultation with othersTeams work ad hoc on activity development; team members can be from different inter-universitiesRegistrationRegistration for 1 credit at students university at universitys tuition rate through arrangement of participating faculty member (UN5100 at MTU)Auditing is acceptable, with permission; participation in weekly discussions is expected.AssessmentCourse grade determined by:Participation in weekly on-line and virtual group discussion of readingsParticipation in activity creation Report on activity Presentation of activityOnline pre/post assessment Focus group discussion with Education Assessor Chris Anderson

Action Items for FacultyBy Dec. 15, confirm willingness to identify readings and provide summary of readings on the suggested topic

ASAP, to help customize the course, complete survey at:https://docs.google.com/a/mtu.edu/forms/d/18cOSQyjaJutUdQ2IDbmLGOQj0FXGLYJI67YAnN9px7U/viewform