 
Photo: Dr. Nilsson by Rio Grande, Roma, Starr County, Texas, U.S.A.
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  Welcome to Environmental Biology! This is the welcome page for the regular, the hybrid class and the online class. As you proceed throughout the semester you will notice that there is not much difference between the classes -- and there shouldn't be, they are all Environmental Biology!
 If this is the first time you’ve been in one of my classes, or if you are an "old" student, I’d like to welcome you! I have designed this web site called Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice located on the STC server, to assist and facilitate your learning. The Environmental Biology class is based on the web pages on the CyberOffice, and with addition parts on the STC Blackboard server.
If you read this page with care you will have a pretty good idea how this class is organized, and what is the instructors idea behind them. But keep in mind that in order to become really familiar with the organization of the class it is not enough to just read about the class pages -- you also must navigate and visit the class pages -- MANY TIMES.
  There are no assignment deadlines the first week! Use the time to become familiar with the course. (Actually, most assignments are due at the end of the semester. See the Semester Calendar for the exceptions.)
Before we start just a note about "overlib links". You will see a few on this page and on other class web pages.
OVERLIB LINKS INFORMATION: To reduce the length of this page it contains nifty "overlib links" for comments and additional information in boxes hidden until you move your mouse over the link. It is your responsibility to read the information on these "overlib links". It is possible to read this page without "clicking" on the "overlib links", but you might not understand some parts until you read the text in the "overlib link" box. You open the link by moving your mouse over the link, and closing it by removing the mouse. To separate the "overlib links" from regular links the text in an "overlib link" is colored blue, and has a small colorful arrow in front of it. Regular links, which takes you to another page, are NOT blue. I have found one "draw-back" so far with these links, in that one cannot use " signs and ' signs in the posted text -- since these characters, " and ', are part of the overlib code. Kind of like Data in Star Trek. He cannot say "don't", only "do not". Oh well, guess we can live with that flaw...  Erik Bostrup, at www.bosrup.com, wrote this JavaScript code.
  Here is an "overlib link". If you don't know what it is -- try it!
Most students find their way to this "Welcome -- Start Here!" page from a link on the Blackboard Plaza page, but a big portion of the class is located on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice with the Environmental Biology Hub as the center of the class. (We will discuss these pages later.) The pages are updated every semester, but still look somewhat similar to the figures below.
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Blackboard Plaza Page
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Environmental Biology Hub
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To access Blackboard you need to use your STC username/password. To access Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice -- where instructions and reading assignments are located, you do not need a username/password. Below is the phone number to the Blackboard Help Desk if you need assistance.
Student Blackboard
Help Desk
872-2598
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You could be reading this without having accessed Blackboard, but I will assume that you have already accessed the Blackboard course shell, read the first page you get to when clicking on the class link, and are reading this and ready to pass the START QUIZ (maybe you have already submitted it). I will also assume that you have the textbook -- or at least know what textbook to use, and plan to get it immediately.
If you have not yet visited the Class Communication page here is a link (we will mention the page again below):
If you have not yet visited Blackboard there are several links on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice where you can click on the same wine red hexagonal icon as you see below, to log in to Blackboard:
The things you are going to do during the semester are listed in the Semester Calendar and the Grading Criteria -- located in the online Syllabus. However, to help you get a good start below are some things I recommend you do the first few days (if you have not done it already).
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Take the Start Quiz. (You must pass it with a minimum 90, indicating that you have read this page to learn about the class.)
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Spend the first few days becoming familiar with the learning tools. Click around on Blackboard. Click around Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice. Look through the textbook.
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Read the Syllabus Information. Spend time reading the Grading Criteria -- so you will become familiar with the assignments. Pay attention to the Semester Calendar -- so you know when the assignments are due. There are no immediate deadlines, but you need to keep an eye on the calendar. Most, but not all, assignments are due at the end or close to the end of the semester. However, that doesn't mean you can procrastinate and do everything the last week. This class is a WORK CLASS, and you work the whole semester.
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Note the so called "critical deadlines" in the calendar. Since you are reading this you have probably already taken care of the first. Reading this you are taking care of the second. To participate in the class discussions -- a VERY important part of this class -- you need to take care of the third...
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I wrote this page to help you succeed in this class; to get a general overview of the class and to understand what it is about -- read it carefully!
 Start Quiz. To help students to understand the class and become familiar with the class pages, and to open up Blackboard Plaza (where all assignment submission folders are located) -- you will proceed to answer a series of questions in a quiz called the "Start Quiz". The Start Quiz is located on Blackboard in a folder appropriately called "Start Here".
Since you are already starting this class by taking the first quiz, you need some information about the quizzes before you start. (You will get additional information later.)
If you have already visited the Blackboard page called "Blackboard Plaza" (opened up when you submitted the Student Contract with 100) and looked in the folders found there, you have notice that the "Start Here" is the only folder that is not empty. This will change as you proceed through the semester. Quiz taking using Blackboard is a very effective teaching tool, and other quizzes can remain hidden until needed. Below you can see a picture of the textbook chapter quiz folder actually already "stuffed full"  with quizzes you will take, but they will remain hidden until you need them. You should also have noticed things showing up in the Blackboard Home Page after you submitted the Student Contract. See the long green banner with the text "CLICK to read this information page?
Have you CLICKED on it? 
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Textbook Chapter Quiz folder
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Blackboard Content (Home) Page for the class
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The next quiz you will take, and other assignments, will remain hidden until you EARN a minimum 90 on the "Start Quiz". When you have answered all Start Quiz questions -- and EARNED at least a 90 -- the next quiz, and some other assignments, will open up (become visible) in the folders on Blackboard Plaza. Then it is up to you to proceed with the quizzes at a speed you feel comfortable with -- as long as you finish within certain due dates listed in the Semester Calendar.
Each quiz may have a slightly different format and number of questions, but all have in common that if you do not pass with a certain minimum grade, you must take it again until you EARN at least that number grade. The Start Quiz requires 90, the chapter quizzes and geography drills 94, and the so called short "key" quizzes require 100 (all answers must be correct). If you don't get the required grade the first time -- many students don't -- don't worry; taking a quiz several times will help you learn the material. You have UNLIMITED amount of attempts until you EARN the required minimum. This is not a speed race.
Learning is the name of the game.
So, when you pass the Start Quiz with at least 90, assignment like quizzes and drills on Blackboard Plaza will open up.
For chapter quizzes and geography drills you have 3 hours, plenty of time. If you don't score 94 you can take the quiz or drill again. For the Start Quiz you can retake it 3 minutes after the first submission. For the chapter quizzes and geography drills you must wait 8 hours. For the worksheet quizzes you must wait 3 hours. Use the time you have to wait to read up on the material you missed. For more Chapter Quiz information click on the button below.
Do you know that you can have both this page and the Blackboard quiz page open -- or any other web page you wish to see while reading this page? You should! If you have a wide screen you can have both windows next to each other, if not they can overlap. Don't waste time surfing between the pages using only one window.
 Unlike many other science classes, "academics" take a back seat to "exposure" in this class.
The cartoon above is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, scanned from The Monitor, McAllen
   
This is the most important class you will ever take! 
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 Sure, you say, I bet all college professors say that! Hmm!? Perhaps! But this class really is the most important class you will ever take if you care about the Earth, your kids, and your grandkids! Seriously! 
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After the Summer 2008 Semester a student made this comment:
I remember reading from Dr. Nilsson's instructions that this class is the most important class of our academic life. Honestly, I started thinking about it, and as the semester was going by, I continued supporting his thoughts. At this point I can say that I will never forget this class, because this class provided me with important knowledge of what should be in top of our priorities' list and that is to take care of our environment.
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The cartoon above is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, scanned from The Monitor, McAllen
This is a "WORK CLASS" -- work OUTSIDE of the classroom. You do the work -- according to the instructions -- you get a 100...
With the help of your textbook and online reading assignments, you do "work" using open-book-learning-drills, and various types of open-book-quizzes. Hopefully when you do this work, and repeat it (if you have to) , you learn. The goal of the class is not to make students learn a ton of facts, but rather "expose" students to environmental problems and wrongdoing to the REAL world -- and with help of critical thinking you will, hopefully, form your own educated opinion about what is happening to our planet.
The cartoon above is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, scanned from The Monitor, McAllen
Noticed that above it said "with help of critical thinking you will, hopefully, form your own educated opinion..."
One reason for the planets environmental problems are wide spread ignorance (lack of educated knowledge) about how the REAL world works and what is presently happening to the planet.
The word "education" means to "lead forth" and implies leading forth away from "imprisonment in ignorance". If people were better educated about the REAL world and had a better grasp of reality based on facts -- rather than being satisfied with uneducated opinions and beliefs not based on facts -- we would have much less problems.
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We will have class discussions where we will debate various environmental issues. Based on observations from previous semesters, ignorance, belief, knowledge and opinions will be part of these discussions. But after reading the textbook, viewing videos (hybrid class) or cases studies (online class), and participating in eye opening discussions, hopefully, there will be less ignorance and beliefs, and more knowledge and educated opinions, at the end of the semester.
 In this class it is not enough to "show up" or "go online" -- you have to do the work... And don't come the day before the final exam and ask if you can make up all the assignments you never turned in by doing something else -- preferably easy.
A previous semester a student asked to make up 19 quizzes/drills and both parts of the final exam the day before the grades were intended to be submitted to STC. Another student asked to be allowed to walk a dog at the Humane Society every day for as many weeks I wished if the grade could be changed from a D to a C. (The students actually EARNED an F, but I prefer to push students just below 60 to a passing grade...)
Again, this is a "WORK CLASS" -- in this class you do the same work REQUIRED BY ALL STUDENTS (not just the A students)...
 If you don't understand this policy here is something for you to read. If you understand you can scroll down to number  Actually, why not read it anyway just to stay informed...
The cartoon dated 1927 -1938 is used for educational purposes by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, reposted here, from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain/projects/ejn/ejn_comics/. For further source information and fair use statement see bottom of page.
 Education a main priority!
A previous semester student posted the following on the Class Help Desk: "Dr. Nilsson, you're making me use every available cell in my brain!"
I replied: A challenging course? Excellent!
Used for educational purposes by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, reposted here, from the cover page of Advocate, summer 2008. For further source information and fair use statement see bottom of page.
Unfortunately, the public education system is not necessarily challenging. Some students enrolling to STC must, before they qualify to take college level courses, take "developmental courses". The lowest level of Developmental English at STC is 3rd grade level! How can that be? How can students who have gone to school for 12 years write like 3rd graders? Unfortunately part of the answer is, in my opinion, students go through 12 years in a low quality education system where one thing one learns very quickly is that one does not have to care about quality.
Sometimes when I grump about how many students don't care that they write like third graders in this class, I remember a "Student of the Week" article in the Monitor during the summer semester 2008. I am sure that there are many excellent exceptions, but some of you should read it and take the advice from that student. If for nothing else you may get inspired to say something in the Education Class Discussion. Click on the article icon for a readable page.
We all do spelling mistakes -- the point here is that SOME don't care...
Maria DeLeon also stated: "students should... become adults."
Adults? Hmmm!? That must mean that you should not spell like a third grader when you turn in assignments in a college class... 
In addition Maria DeLeon stated: "students should be making their education a main priority."
Right, that is what we wish... So, let's do that this semester in this class, folks!!!!
The cartoon is used for educational purposes by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, scanned, from The Monitor, McAllen.
Some semesters ago (fall 2007) there was a series of articles discussing the problems with education in the Valley. Perhaps you can use them in the Education Class discussion.
Holeywell, R. and E.P. Hernandez. 2007. 'Dropout factories' -- Is your teenager attending one? The Monitor, McAllen, Texas. (November 02): 1A
"Nearly two dozen Rio Grande Valley high schools were being labeled "dropout factories" by a national study citing them for having substantially fewer seniors enrolled than freshmen -- considered by some to be a telltale sign of dropout problems."
Editorial. 2007. Our view -- Owning up to dropouts. The Monitor, McAllen, Texas. (November 04): 1D
"The time has come for area school officials to knock off the song and dance and start facing up to the issue. An alcoholic has no hope of cure until he or she admits to having the problem... Nothing much depends on it -- except, maybe, the economic wellbeing of the Valley and the quality of life our children are able to enjoy in the future."
Berghom, J. 2008. South Texas schools to be part of pilot literacy program. The Monitor, McAllen, Texas. (March 29): 4B
"Worried about the low graduation and high illiteracy rates in South Texas, U.S. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa hopes a pilot program he is starting will reverse those statistics. ... to end the chronic problem of reading apathy and illiteracy plaguing our region."
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Florida before...
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Florida after...
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The photos above are used for educational purposes by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, downloaded, from this web page.
One subject covered in this class is Global Warming. The photos of Florida above (Copyright Rodale press, downloaded from this page -- see copyright and fair use notice at the bottom of this page.) is perhaps a little more dramatic than what would happen to the Rio Grande Valley, if the climate change, but we would get flooded too. (Go to this page for larger photos.)
There is some "Global warming controversy" because some people feel that we are not changing the climate. Are we changing the climate? You will, hopefully, in this class come up with your own conclusion, using critical and reflective thinking based on facts. Below are some links on the web you might want to explore. However, don't drift away from this welcome page, for too long -- come back here if you click on the links (the underlined text)! You can come back to the links later...
 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation into the future.
For 17 years, former Vice President Al Gore has been on the forefront of warning against global warming. But in his new documentary, The Inconvenient Truth, he says that he "failed to get the message out." He's now getting the message out with his documentary and new book of the same name. The Washington Post calls the book "downright chilling." The documentary has been critically acclaimed.
This is what Florida would look like if Greenland melted or broke up and slipped into the sea, or if half of Greenland and half of Antarctica melted or broke up and slipped into the sea. Sea levels worldwide would increase by between 18 and 20 feet.
Many evangelicals think that because they don't believe in evolution, they have to reject the science of global warming, too.
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Need a break? Go get your favorite poison. Good thing about doing class work online...
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Lets continue with what this class is about...
 College classes in the 21st century. Depending on what class you have registered for, you might be in a hybrid class or an online class. Both kinds of classes use the amazing resources of the Internet as a learning tool -- especially the World Wide Web. Note that a hybrid course is not an on-line course, because on-line courses have no regular class meetings, but Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice gives you access to class material, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hybrid courses and online courses are the same as traditional classes in terms of academic quality and credit hours, but have required web components, and students access classroom content and material via the web and e-mail. If you are in a regular -- traditional class -- you are in a dying type of dinosaur class that is soon going to disappear...
Whatever type of class you are in (regular, hybrid or online) in this class -- to help you succeed in the real world after college, you will be using the Internet...
 The Environmental Biology Hub is the central area of the class. It is NOT located on Blackboard, but on Dr Nilsson's CyberOffice.
 The icons displayed to the left, can be found on almost all web pages on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice, and it will always take you to the Environmental Biology Hub. Notice that one icon is a small photo of the forest that serves as the background on the hub page. In case you get lost surfing on Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice, locate the icons with the link back to the Environmental Biology Hub. On the hub page click on the button
 if you wish to get back to this page.
 The "hub".
Let's take a look at the Environmental Biology class hub. As stated, this is the center of the class. We have already mentioned the
button. The button you click to get to this page that you are reading at the moment.
The
 button takes you to the page with a description of the general goal of the class. Note the background picture taken north of Edinburg a beautiful spring bloom day.
If, after reading this page, you are still confused about what to do next in this class the
 button takes you to a good place to continue.
If you click on the
 button you will find information about the instructor. That button is followed by the
 button. The syllabus is a very important document. While much in the syllabus is obvious, such as you are not allowed to cheat, as a student in class you are responsible for the content, and to make it easier to read it has been divided into four separate web pages. The Semester Calendar, The Grading Criteria, the Main Document and the Student Contract. The first two are so important that we will discuss them separately later. Click on the Syllabus button (here or on the hub page). To read the full syllabus click on the
 button. The button below is to the Student Contract (Syllabus Acknowledgment), which you most likely have already read...
We will return to the syllabus again and discuss the two most important parts the
 and the
 . But CLICK on both links NOW so that you know what they are about -- then come back here and continue reading this page.
Next we will discuss the
 . There is a link to the publisher on the Environmental Biology Hub.
The Textbook.
 
 The most important learning tool in this class, your textbook, is not online. You can read in this Monitor article that professors often fuse textbooks with technology. You will use the textbook to read and answer questions using online quizzes and participate in online class discussions.
Without the textbook you will get lost in this class. The textbook is an STC requirement -- all students must purchase a textbook. The textbook for both the hybrid classes and the online classes is Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry & Applications.
 Make sure you obtain the textbook illustrated. Do NOT get the book used in Weslaco, and do NOT get the old book previously used for the regular course. The present edition used is Edition 5. You could possibly use an older edition of the textbook -- at least edition 4 -- if you are willing to live with some differences in page numbers, figures, and tables -- which could make it harder -- but not necessarily impossible -- to answer some quiz questions.
  Before we continue with the contents on the Environmental Biology Hub, let's discuss the computer requirements for this class.
The Computer
 Computer? A computer with Internet access from your home is not required for the class -- although if you are enrolled in the online class it is almost silly if you didn't. (I think you might have misunderstood what online classes are about.) If you are in the online class you SHOULD have a computer at home, connected to the Internet. In the hybrid class, although you have class meetings and can do class work when coming to campus, it is really convenient if you can do some work at home.
General class communication, such as reminders from the instructor, tips on the assignments, announcements, or news for the class, will come to all students via the Internet. It is very important that you check online class messages and communications several times each week. Also, I check the Blackboard bulletin boards (used for class discussions, several times each day, and I RECOMMEND that you do the same. If you do not have Internet access at home you can use a computer at STC (e.g., student success center or the library), or a public library, but it is more convenient from home in your pajamas and with your favorite beverage...
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Computers are necessary in today's society, and they are very helpful tools to help you receive a college education! If you have never had an online or a hybrid course before perhaps you are afraid of computers or perhaps last time you went to school the Internet was not invented.
 The first serious personal computer was introduced in 1984. That was the year Macintosh revolutionized computer technology with a mouse and graphical interface method, instead of merely using the computer as a typewriter. It is understandable if people back then, who were getting close to retirement age -- and today are over 80 years old, were and still are uncomfortable about computers. However, two decades later, I unfortunately often have students who were not even born in 1984, but are afraid of computers and have barely or never used one.
Computer literacy is a Texas higher education requirement regulated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This is the 21st century. One skill necessary in today's world is the ability to work with computers. If you have the misguided idea that you should not have to use computers in your college classes, either quickly change your mind, or find something else to do with your life. In Texas each higher education institution's core curriculum must be designed to satisfy a series of "basic intellectual competencies" - reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy. Note the last "competency" in the list. Just as it is a requirement to be able to read and write, knowing how to use a computer is a "must" in the 21st century. But don't worry you will quickly "catch on", as you can read in this Monitor article.
For the online class: This IS an online class
These days you cannot do much without the help of a computer -- this is especially true within the field of education. If you are not familiar with computers and the Internet, you should not take this class. If you are familiar with computers and the Internet, but have never had an online class before, soon you will see how practical and helpful it is to have course information available online. This is an online class that uses the Internet to DELIVER the course. You should have a computer with Internet connection at home. It is unrealistic and not very smart to register for an online class if you don't have a computer with Internet connection at home. In addition it helps if you are the kind of students called a "self-starter". Let me make very clear: You will not, unlike a regular class that meets in the classroom, have the instructor or other students pushing you to do class work.
The difference between the classes is decreasing. As STC enrolls more and more students -- the college is running out of land, parking area, and classrooms -- more classes will go ONLINE. STC is expected to have close to 50,000 students 2020. The number of students in 2007 was 18,000, in 2008 22,000, in 2009 26,000.
For the regular (web-enhanced) class or the hybrid class: This is NOT an online class
Some of you, not familiar with the Internet, might struggle at first with the online part of this course, but relax, keep at it, and soon you will see how practical and helpful it is to have course information available online. But let me make very clear: THIS IS NOT AN ONLINE CLASS. This is either a web-enhanced class or a hybrid class -- a regular class that uses the Internet to ENHANCE the course. The computer part of the class really isn't hard, and you do NOT have to have a computer at home. However, you need to start to use the online part as soon as possible. If you don't have a computer at home you must use a computer elsewhere, e,g.. at STC or a public library. These days you cannot do much without the help of a computer -- this is especially true within the field of education.
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 The next two links on the Environmental Biology Hub are about education in general
 .
Be sure that you click on the latter  if you are one of those students who think you don't have time to study for college classes. You might also want to read the article by Chris Ardis (click on the article icon).
Next we will have the
button.
This button links to the page where the instructor will put messages, such as hints and reminders, to all students in class. It is therefore a good information page for the class. It is also the entry page to the STC Blackboard for all Environmental Biology classes taught by Dr. Nilsson. Although you can reach Blackboard from other links, e.g., the STC home page, I recommend that you access Blackboard from this page -- so you also can take advantage of messages posted here. There are already messages on this page posted the first day of the semester, which will help you succeed in this class. Click on the button now, then come back here.
 We are getting closer to the bottom of the class hub page.
This rectangular button  is not a link but a sign for all the class assignment folders found below. All class assignments instructions can be reached from this location. (To submit the assignments you must log in to Blackboard.)
You must explore these links on your own. If you don't, remember this: The instructor may -- if deemed necessary -- clarify instructions, but will normally not answer student questions about assignments explained in these online instructions. If you don't understand this read the information about self-starters again, and -- again -- read the article by Chris Ardis.
The cartoon is used for educational purposes by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, scanned, from The Monitor, McAllen.
Bulletin Board Class Discussions
Blackboard. You will communicate with the instructor and with other students through web postings on various STC Blackboard Bulletin Boards. The class bulletin boards are class blogs (class discussions) where you debate educated opinions about current environmental issues, which can be read by the instructor and all the other students in class. These class blogs have associated reading assignments -- usually online. Some discussions will last the entire semester, while other discussions have specific dates noted in the Semester Calendar. Also, on the Blackboard you can communicate on a one-to-one basis with me or other students.
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Close to the bottom of the class hub page you have two links to the most important syllabus documents, the
and the
. The semester calendar informs about the order and WHEN you must do things in the class to EARN a grade. The grading criteria informs about HOW you will EARN a grade and how much each assignment is worth. The grading criteria are on a scale between 0 and 100. An A in the class is minimum 90 points or 90 percent.
In online and hybrid classes these two documents may be updated during the semester, so you must check each one at last a couple a times every week. Do NOT rely on printed copies. Use these two documents to answer the quiz questions below.
Web pages are dynamic (changing). That is one of the strengths of the Internet. The following statement can be found on many pages:
Comment: The page may be changed due to unforeseen circumstances to meet the needs of a particular class. The instructor therefore reserves the right to alter (add, delete, or revise) any items of the above, online or via verbal instructions in class. The student is responsible for taking note of any such changes and acting accordingly.
Learning
Student-centered learning. One of the goals of Dr. Nilsson’s CyberOffice is to help you learn how to learn; that’s called student-centered learning. This kind of learning puts the responsibility for learning on the student, YOU. The term student-centered learning is fairly new, but it has actually always been that way in higher education.
College is quite different from high school. In college students are responsible for their learning. In high school they should also be responsible for their learning, but that is -- unfortunately -- often not the case, as you can read in this Monitor different from high school article by Chris Ardis. (Did you click on the link?) Some high schools are not doing a good job teaching students facts about the real world. (Did you click on the link?) High school and college is often very different, as very well described in another article by Ms. Ardis (did you click on the link?), and the sooner college students understand this difference the better their chance for college success is going to be.
One of the Class Discussion topics is about "education". If human education was better, so that more people had knowledge and understood how the real world works, we would not have any environmental problems --we would take care of things BEFORE they became problems.
Learning is a lifelong process. You can't possibly learn everything you need to know in a few years of college. Instructors can point you in a direction for what is important in a course, explain how to approach problems and issues, show how to find and make some sense out of the information. Much of what you learn in this class can be applied to other classes or other things you choose to pursue in life. That's why every college class you take is important, whether it's in your field of study or not.
In this class you can improve skills necessary in any life situation, such as your critical thinking skills, your ability to write and speak, and to use technology.
Since the STC biology department teaches this class, it takes a "biology slant", but if you take a look at chapter 1 in your textbook, or the figure below, you will notice how many areas and subjects this field covers. (This figure was for some mysterious reason not included in the last edition of the textbook.)
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Again -- unfortunately the textbook authors removed this excellent figure (the one above with all the overlapping fields of Environmental Science) from the present textbook edition. It had been included in all editions from the start. I have recommended the authors to put it back in the next edition. We will see if they listen...
Student comments
Here are some comments from ten former students:
 “To my classmates and Dr. Nilsson. I wanted to take some time to say Thank you! This class has been my favorite from over 25 years of college classes. I know that our views didn't always mesh and I'm sure I ruffled a few feathers but you have to admit...this class made us think past the easy answers. Ya'll were great and I hope everyone takes a bit of this class and incorporates it into the everyday life! We only have ONE planet...Let's clean it up! Let's keep it Green! Let's keep it HEALTHY! Congrats to those who will be graduating! And good luck to those who have more classes to go! Thank you Dr. Nilsson!”
 “I feel kind of sad that this semester is over and I will be missing this class. I learned that not everything is easy and that there is a price that we have to pay in order to get a good quality education as Dr. Nilsson has mentioned. Thanks to Dr. Nilsson I have learned that we always have to READ and especially THINK so we don't make the mistake and do it all over again.”
 “I always have an open mind when it comes to learning. There is always an opportunity to learn something new. Some students take advantage of the opportunity while others miss out on learning. Dr. Nilsson, you are excellent teacher! I have learned so much in your class..”
 “Overall I like the structure of the class, if you want to learn it is up to you, all the necessary information is always available to you online, I think that is what I enjoyed the most, the fact that I had access to anything I needed to know by going online.”
 “ I must admit that when I first saw the calendar for this class I was a bit overwhelmed with what had to be accomplished. When I began completing the assignments, the topics were so interesting and I felt good about the progress I was making. Working in an educational setting, I have observed that the students will rise up to meet higher levels of expectations. When you raise the standards, the students will produce. I feel that this is what has happened in this course. Thank you Dr. Nilsson! You have made us aware of our endangered surroundings. This course should be required for every degree plan. I was watching the news yesterday and felt so good when I actually knew the location of the distant countries they were reporting about. Hooray for geography! I feel like I have gained a world of knowledge that will most definitely be put to good use. Again, thank you for raising the standards Dr. Nilsson. ”
 “ The course was very educational, it teaches knowledge that can be practiced on an everyday basis, not the type that you learn because you have to in order to pass the class and that you might never need again, but the type that can and should be used everyday. I really think this class should be a requirement for any degree plan; everybody should be well educated on the environment, how it works and how we can help to make it a better place to live in. I feel this class taught me a valuable lesson, how to appreciate nature and how to preserve it. I must admit that at first I was a little upset at the fact that so many of the assignments were done online because it seemed like to much, all the sites that were available to browse, but after the first couple of weeks after browsing trough the sites it wasn't so bad, it's actually very well organized, it's impressive. I don't think the course was hard, as long as you tried and did the assignments it was all pretty simple, but I will admit that I could have done a little better. ”
 “ The first time I went to class I was nervous, anxious, and scared to death. I heard from a friend that the course was hard because you had to do part of it on-line. I have always been terrified about computers, but this semester I have been able to overcome this phobia thanks to this class. In turn, I already registered for an online class next semester. Many of the educational articles that you placed on your web site for us to read helped tremendously, especially the articles by Chris Ardis, the one about spelling, and the one about geography.”
 “ One of the first things that I notice right away and I enjoyed the most in this class was the way the professor teaches the class. Dr. Nilsson, you are one of the first professors that I have had so far in my two years of college that actually treats students like college students, and also pushes for the best of everything making us the students to try to do our best. When I first started the class I was a little nervous because it was my first time using WebCT. But it was not a big problem as long as I would follow instructions. Overall this class was one of the best classes I have taken so far, because everything I learned can be applied to the real world, both from the environmental point of view and from an academic point of view.”
 “ I learned more than what I thought. I remember reading from Dr. Nilsson's instructions that this class is the most important class of our academic life. Honestly, I started thinking about it, and as the semester was going by, I continued supporting his thoughts. At this point I can say that I will never forget this class, because this class provided me with important knowledge of what should be in top of our priorities' list and that is to take care of our environment.
 “ At first I was overwhelmed by all the links and the assignments, but soon learned how to navigate through the website and manage my time effectively. I learned a great deal of information about our environment, how to read instructions, and the geography of our world. A great accomplishment for me was learning where continents, oceans, countries, and states were located on the map because it seemed almost impossible for me at the beginning of the semester. Everything is possible as long as we work hard and never stop reaching for our dreams. Thanks Dr. Nilsson for a great semester of learning!
I thank these students for the kind words!
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We are not finished yet... Maybe you need another break?
Get a good start!
In review, the main components of the course are on a web based "Class Forum" with two main components -- Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice and Blackboard.
Note that these components are two different but interconnected WWW locations. They are located at different servers. As the web master of Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice, on the STC server, I have full control of that web site. As the course builder on STC's Blackboard, on the Blackboard server, I have a fair amount of control, but much less than the CyberOffice. When things go wrong on the Blackboard it is often out of my control.
 We have just discussed the Environmental Biology Hub housed on a web site called Dr. Nilsson's CyberOffice. The hub page for this part of the course should now be familiar to you.
The background picture is from a temperate rainforest in Washington State...
 Now we will look at Blackboard, the second component. Blackboard for this class can be best reached from the Class Communication page, the page you reach by clicking on the hexagonal button with the text "BlackBoard" on the Environmental Biology hub. The hub page for this part of the course is illustrated below.
Do you recognize the location of the picture? You might recognize it if you have seen The Davinci Code...
The background picture is of the Louvre Pyramid outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
To get to Blackboard Plaza you must log in using your username and password. As stated earlier I recommend that you do this over the  Class Communication page by clicking on the hexagonal burgundy colored button on the Environmental Biology hub. When you reach the Class Communication page you click -- again -- on the hexagonal button on top of that page. This will take you to the log-in-screen.
After logging in you will first be on the "My eCourses" page. It will look somewhat like the figure below, but different depending on what courses you are registered for.
When selecting your class you arrive at the Course Content page, the Blackboard Home page for the class. Until you have passed the Student Contract Quiz you will not see much more than a beautiful waterfall somewhere in a tropical rainforest -- and at the beginning of the semester a link to the TEMPORARY Help Desk. However, as soon as you have passed the Student Contract Quiz you will notice several links. CLICK ON THEM!!!
Located on the Course Content page is some information you most likely have already read and a link to the Blackboard Plaza. Blackboard plaza was illustrated above.
Some of the things you can find on Blackboard Plaza:
TEMPORARY HELP DESK. (A link is also located on the Blackboard Content Page.) Here students can help each other out by posting and replying to messages until permanent Study Group / Class Help Desk opens up in the separate Town Hall course shell (more about that later).
I encourage you to use this bulletin board feature for class communication, but there will be limitations to how much the instructor will participate (see below about the instructors typical answer to student questions). If you need to contact the instructor and other students Blackboard is the safest and most convenient way. You can of course use you car, fill it with expensive gasoline, and pollute the air while you drive it to my office. However, if you need to do that you probably are in the wrong class, or you might even be living in the wrong time period -- when gas was cheap and the Internet didn't exist. These days we travel using the Internet! "Beam me up, Scotty!" will soon be something we all will say and do? If you decide to waste gasoline, pollute the air, and drive to my office, make sure you have an appointment -- I am personally trying to pollute the air as little as possible and prefer to do work via the Internet... (You get the appointment -- ONLINE -- in the class help desk or via e-mail when the e-mail box opens up after a couple of weeks into the semester. )
One of my teaching philosophies is to teach students to teach themselves, which was well noted by this spring 2009 environmental biology student:
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One more thing, I have to say that the unique way Dr. Nilsson answers questions or doubts is very detailed and perhaps the best way I have seen to make us learn and really think about what we are writing and asking. What I am really trying to say is that he doesn't answer the question he makes you think! Perhaps this is the only way an educator can get students to think on their own.
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My answers to many class questions asked by students -- whether online or in my office -- often come in the form of a question back to the student. Often that question is: Have read the online instructions...
Another question asked by some students is if they can turn in an assignment late. The answer is in the syllabus, and here it is again: NO. Another popular question is if they can make up a missed assignment. The answer is in the syllabus, and here it is again: NO. So, now you know the answer to these two questions, and you don't have to ask during the semester. You have the whole semester to finish almost all assignments in class. Finish them early if something unexpected should happen. If you procrastinate -- you are on your own. ..
It is called CONSEQUENCES!!!
So, after this a little bit of advice: The STUDY GROUP / CLASS HELP DESK is a very helpful tool, however, it is your responsibility to first read online instructions and take responsibility as a students. Don't continue "typical" (?) high school behavior, and go here and ask uninformed questions because you think you shouldn't have to read online instructions, or because you think it is too hard to think for yourself. (Take a Tylenol if you get a headache!)
When this is said, when I get questions I always check to make sure that the answer is online (if I am not already sure it is), and if I then think it is unclear I often try to clarify in the help desk, and rewrite the instructions online to make them more clear...
If you don't understand what I mean with all of the above, perhaps reading the students of the week article below again -- from earlier on this page -- will help you. (Click on the article icon for a readable page.)
Among several excellent things Maria DeLeon stated (read the article for more): "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it!" I like to add my own (and Richard Bach's) interpretation.
YOU MAY HAVE TO WORK FOR IT!!!
So, if you any time during the semester feel nostalgic about high school or an earlier college class where you didn't have to do much, or a class where Blackboard was set up differently, or the instructor did not use his own web pages, you better lock those memories away and start working in THIS class.
When the Class Help Desk on the Town Hall shell opens up, the Temporary Help Desk in the regular class shell will close (disappear -- i.e., you will not see the already posted questions and answers anymore).
We spent a lot of time on the STUDY GROUP / HELP DESK. Let's now continue with the other things found on Blackboard Plaza:
A LINK to the Environmental Biology hub. We have already discussed this page. Scroll back up the page if you need to read about it again.
SELECTED FOLDERS: You must explore these folders yourself. Each folder has a name that explains the content, and the instructions can be reached via links on the Environmental Biology hub. The content will be available as per the semester calendar, and online instructions.
The "Start Here" folder is probably where most of you started. It has a link to this page, the "Welcome -- Start Here!" page, and since you are reading this you must have probably found your way.
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OK, that was Blackboard Plaza. Now back to the Blackboard Content page (the one with the waterfall in a tropical rainforest). OR DO YOU NEED A BREAK?
To the left of the main frame of the Course Content page are some frames with links. In the Course Tools frame you have a link to the Course Content page (useful if you are not on that page). Mail -- the Blackboard e-mail box, a feature not always be available. (Again all class related questions should be addressed to the Class Help Desk. Class related questions sent via e-mail to the instructor will NOT be answered. E-mail of private nature that you don't want to share with other students can be sent, but the instructor claims the right to decide if the message needs an immediate answer.). And Who's Online -- where you can see who is visiting Blackboard.
In the My Tools frame you have a link to My Grades (which displays SOME Blackboard grades), My files (not used in this class -- but some students think it is useful), and My Progress (very useful feature which displays other aspects of your Blackboard grades -- your "progress", time and postings on Blackboard).
Note that as an instructor I have only limited control over these features, and some are not used in this class, but cannot be removed. For example, the Midterm column and the Final column are not used in this class -- but cannot be removed. Just ignore them. Also -- and perhaps most important, your final Environmental Biology grade, EARNED at the end of the semester, cannot be displayed in Blackboard. You get that grade from STC (probably by snail mail or on JAGNet).
OK, by now you should have started to get "the hang" of this class. This college class attempt to be challenging, uses the Internet to communicate class instructions, and puts the learning responsibility on the students -- including figuring out how the class works -- on YOU!
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FIRST WEEK. For the online class there is no first class meeting. Successful online students are usually "self-starters" and don't need a teacher to tell them to get started. This is, however, also the characteristic of any good college students. But some students in the hybrid class and the regular class with some class meetings, often students think the first class meeting is not important -- the instructor will just call the roll and hand out the syllabus. Not so in this class! The first class meeting is very IMPORTANT -- especially if you are nervous about the online part of the course. During the first class meeting, I will give an overview of the course. It will probably be helpful to you, if beforehand you have looked around Dr. Nilsson’s CyberOffice, especially the class web pages. During the class meeting I will give you information about the textbook, however, you can already find the textbook information on the publishers web site (or go to the STC bookstore and ask for help). If you miss the first class meeting you are "on your own" -- I don't give private lectures... 
If you are a student who have found this web page BEFORE the start of the semester -- excellent! I lift my hat!
During the first week -- outside of class for those of you who have class meetings (some students are used to, from high school, not having to do anything outside of class -- forget that this is a college class), you should as a MINIMUM familiarize yourself with the links on the Environmental Biology Hub Page, especially the Syllabus -- in particular the Grading Criteria and the Semester Calendar and the Class Communication Page.
The Class Communication Page has information you need to read about what to do the first week.
Then you need to obtain your Blackboard account information a.s.a.p. (i.e., your user ID and password -- if you haven’t already done so). And, perhaps most important, start reading your textbook!
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The cartoon above is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES by Dr. Nilsson, South Texas College, scanned from The Monitor, McAllen
Cartoons, Opinions, Academic Freedom, and Freedom of Speech
If you haven't already, you will soon discover that this class uses cartoons to deliver opinions and discussion topics. Political, educational, and other forms of cartoons, can be very effective communication tools. As we go through the semester you will study, think about, and react to many cartoons.
When a cartoon artist makes a cartoon about something -- that something has become a serious problem in society. Just like the artist drawing a cartoon is usually not doing it to be mean or disrespectful, the educational cartoons in this class are not included to be mean or disrespectful to anyone. Flag burning is not required, because they are included as tools for critical and reflective thinking. Please study the cartoons and think (and smile if you think they are funny).
For cartoons and for the various discussion topics it is very important that you understand one of the "background philosophies" for this class:
In this class you listens to other peoples opinions (hopefully the opinions are educated, but it doesn't matter if they are not). You have no right to become offended by cartoons or anything said in this class!
If you don't agree with what someone say and the language used, don't get offended -- "slap back" with an educated reply instead. However, all opinions must be delivered in a civilized manner and with a civilized language (and spell checked ). The instructor has the ability to remove students from discussions with the help of Blackboard technical features. Read the Class Discussion Philosophy, Scope and Instructions -- it is mandatory reading for all students.
 Especially if you are a woman, you should appreciate that this is not Afghanistan -- you don't have to have a burqua over your head. If you don't like this philosophy, accept it as something you have to do this semester -- or DROP THE CLASS.
This is not Afghanistan, this is a college in the United States -- where we have Academic Freedom, Freedom of Speech, and Freedom of Expression!.
Grades
Photo: Dr. Nilsson sitting by his orange tree.
I like to end with something about the grades you can expect from this class...
Remember? This is a "WORK CLASS" -- work OUTSIDE of the classroom. You do the work -- according to the instructions -- you get a 100...
Below are the spring 2010 semester letter grades. Understanding what to expect from a class by looking at EARNED grades from previous semesters can be very useful information.
Letter Grade Distributions, all classes Spring Semester 2010 .
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A (25)
B B B B B B B B B B B B (12)
C C C C C C C C C (9)
D D D D D D D D D D (1o)
F F F F (4)
 One comment about the F F F F F and the D D D D D D D D D D . All these students decided that it was not worth their time to do all the assignments in class. In this class you EARN your grade. These students EARNED their F F F F F or D D D D D D D D D D .
Note that there are many more A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A and B B B B B B B B B B B B . They DID all assignments and EARNED the A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A or the B B B B B B B B B B B B .
How about the C C C C C C C C C ? Well, some students didn't do all the assignments. However, some just didn't want to spend that much time on the class, thought the class was fairly easy, and was happy with letter grade C. And there is nothing wrong with that...
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Remember YOU decide your life... no one else! We all need time to relax -- or as the French say "joie de vivre", so sit by your orange tree now and then, but if you are serious about your education you must study every day! No one else is going to do it for you! Understand that college instructors do not GIVE grades; students EARN them. Earning a C is usually pretty easy, but students who make A’s accept that they must study hard -- for hours every day, not just five minutes! Off and on there are students who EARNED a D in this class, and some of them have no clue why they got such a low grade. All students who received letter grade A know why -- they E A R N E D it!
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Did you click on the links on this page? 
The Internet is a place full of information and misinformation. When you read a web page, don't just read the page. You are supposed to click on the links on the page not just to learn more, but also to investigate sources and cross references to help you establish the reliability of the information given on the page you are reading. A page without any links is not a very good web page and should be taken with "a grain of salt" -- it may simply be the personal opinion of the author or misinformation and/or propaganda written to mislead.
Finally, if you get lost -- the link below with a small picture of the rainforest page background photo will always take you to the Environmental Biology Hub Page. Try it!
This is the end of the Welcome Page. Let's have an interesting semester!
Dr. J.A. Nilsson -- your Environmental Biology professor
-- bye!
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If anyone feels that his or her material cannot be used this way I will immediately remove it if notified. 
