The semester project is a class assignment you must do outdoors, on your own individually or in small groups of two or three persons. (If four persons wish to work together they may form two 2-person groups and work together.)
Select the project you wish to do after reading the instructions (scroll down).
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
The Environmental Detective Project has more complex instructions than the Dog Walk. Please read them with care (click on the link). It can be submitted ONLINE at any times during the semester.
Read the submission instructions below with care.
I have tried to clarify the submission instructions according to questions submitted by some students. It doesn't change anything, except it has widened the acceptable submission options a little bit.
Environmental Detective (can only be submitted online).
Only method: Submit your presentation program (e.g., PowerPoint or Keynote) online on Blackboard (Semester Project folder on Blackboard Plaza) with a short message (with your presentation attached). The bulletin board for submission will NOT be visible until you have submitted the Midterm Exam. Hybrid and online students.
What must be in the Semester Project presentation when posted on Blackboard: 1. A short message identifying yourself and the project. 2. PowerPoint or Keynote Presentation of the project (MUST be attached).
Dog Walk.
Method 1: Submit your photographs and a scanned/photographed receipt from the Humane Society online on Blackboard (Semester Project folder on Blackboard Plaza) with a short message (with your presentation attached) as indicated in the semester calendar. The bulletin board for submission will NOT be visible until you have submitted the Midterm Exam. (Do NOT submit as an attachment!)Hybrid and online students
Method 2: Submit your photographs and the receipt from the Humane Society or Recycled Rovers in the Pecan Campus mailbox of the instructor as indicated in the semester calendar. Hybrid and Online students.
Method 3 (Hybrid Students Only): Submit your photographs and the receipt from the Humane Society or Recycled Rovers at the last class meeting (as per the semester calendar). To protect the project ALL ITEMS must be submitted in ONE plastic POCKET sheet protector (a POCKET sheet protector with ONE pocket, opening up, with standard holes allowing it to be stored in a binder). Note: Online students CANNOT use this method. Hybrid students only.
What must be in the Semester Project presentation when mailed (or similar): 1. A photograph with the dog you walked. 2. A photograph with you and the bag of dog food. 3. A receipt signed by the Humane Society (Palm Valley Animal Shelter). 4. A paragraph discussing your experience. Don't ask how long the paragraph should be. That depends among other things on what and how you write. Use your own judgment as to what can be considered the appropriate length of a paragraph in a college class. And yes, if it is too short I may deduct points...
Additional information, including address information, to all students submitting via the instructor's PECAN mailbox or the Biology department at the PECAN campus (ONLINE AND HYBRID STUDENTS):
To protect the project it must be inside a letter-size envelope (as close as possible to fit an UNFOLDED 8.5 by 11 inches letter-size envelope -- often called a manila envelope) when submitted to the biology department secretary (via mail or in person). (Much smaller or much larger envelopes will not be accepted. It has come to my attention that some students do not know what is a "letter size" paper. I suggest you read this web page.) Where a plastic sheet protector is required, it should also be "letter size", to fit into a class-binder provided by the instructor.
Make sure the assignments reach the instructor's Pecan Campus mailbox (NOT MY OFFICE) by the due date, e.g.,
(i) Walk in to the Biology Department secretary (Pecan Campus, building J, 3rd floor) with the envelope containing the assignments. The Biology Department secretary will put your envelope in my mailbox. Make sure you have your NAME and CLASS SECTION on the envelope.
-- or --
(ii). Send it via campus mail to the instructor (no postage necessary): Dr. Jan A. Nilsson, Biology Department, Pecan Campus mailbox. Make sure you have your NAME and CLASS SECTION on the envelope.
-- or --
(iii). Send it via U.S. Postal service, or any other carrier of your choice (postage necessary): Dr. Jan A. Nilsson, South Texas College, Pecan Campus, McAllen, TX 78501. Make sure you have your NAME and CLASS SECTION on the envelope.
The semester project is a class assignment you must do outdoors, on your own individually or in small groups of two or three persons. (If four persons wish to work together they may form two 2-person groups and work together.)
I have tried to clarify the submission instructions according to questions submitted by some students. It doesn't change anything, except it has widened the acceptable submission options a little bit.
Environmental Detective (can only be submitted online).
What must be in the Semester Project presentation when posted on Blackboard: 1. A short message identifying yourself and the project. 2. PowerPoint or Keynote Presentation of the project (MUST be attached).
