Introduction to Environmental Sociology (ENS216)

                                     Mgr. Benjamin Vail, M.Sc.

                                            Autumn 2007

                        Environmental Studies Department e-learning program

•      Cooperation with Lillehammer University College (HiL) in Norway

•      Started in 2005

•      First e-learning course in Autumn 2007

                                             THANKS TO:

•    Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D.

•    Jana Kačurová

•    Lukáš Krempaský

•    Ing. Pavlína Večeřová

                                              Purpose

•      To make course available to MU and HiL students

•      To make the course content interesting and educational by use of multimedia

                                           This semester

•      14 students registered

•      All MU students

•      9 participate regularly

                                           Course content

•      Interactive syllabus

•      Multimedia lectures (PowerPoint)

•      Written literature

•      Videos

  –   Online

  –   Streaming

•      Weekly quiz

•      Weekly essay



                                        Multimedia lectures

•      Present themes of environmental sociology

•      Based on course textbook

•      Based on existing lecture materials



                                        Multimedia lectures

•      Process:

  –   Started with existing lecture notes

  –   Created PowerPoint slides

  –   Recorded lecture over the slides

  –   Saved as “PowerPoint show” and uploaded

                                        Multimedia lectures

Use of text, graphics, animation: Examples

                                             In Part 1

•      What is environmental sociology?



Goal of class – to introduce:

•      Topics

•      Theories

•      Methods of research



                           Spectrum of environmental concern and activism

                                  Development of environmentalism

•      Rising awareness

•      National legislation

•      First Earth Day: 1970

                                      US environmental history

•      Conservation movement: Preserve wilderness and natural resources from industry

•      Nature – “the Frontier” – seen as part of US national identity

•      Nation defined by struggle to tame the continent & spread civilization in the wilderness

                           Competing social functions of the environment

                                  Spatial and demographic analysis

                                        Multimedia lectures

Example of a narrated slide show:



Environmental health risks and pesticides

                                     Health and the environment

                                             Pesticides



•      Threaten environment and people



•      Examples: insecticides, fungicides



•      “Interaction effects”

                                      Pesticides and pollution

•      Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

•      Harm Eskimo health & culture

•      Biomagnification

•      Bioaccumulation



                                      Pesticides and pollution

•      Rich can afford organic food and to live in places less affected by pollution

•      Bell: “vanity food”

                                       Evaluation of students

•      Weekly quiz

  –   Online



•      Weekly essay

  –   500-750 words



•      Final essay

  –   At end of semester



                                          Student feedback

November mid-term survey:

•      Satisfied with course

•      Technology not hard to use

•      Mixed reviews of lectures

                                          Practical advice

                                             Pedagogy:



•      It takes a long time to prepare PowerPoint lectures

•      Use a template

•      Don’t put too much information on one slide

•      Survey students to ask what works



                                          Practical advice

                                            Technology:



•      Keep it simple

•      Translate all ISMU pages to English





                                           Thank you for
                                          your attention!

                                           Any questions?