Syllabus

(Tentative Schedule of Activities)

As a "collaboratorium" this course will not follow a rigid schedule. The instructors expect to learn as much or more than the students do. Participants are encouraged to make suggestions about selection of activities and their scheduling during the week. Topics not on the list are most welcome if they help to fulfill learning objectives.

Monday

AM

Course introduction: objectives, format, schedule for week, course web site
Review of EALRs for science
Adopt-a-Forest as opportunity for meeting non-science EALRs
Discussion of possible course modification
Introduction to field skills: compass and pacing

PM

Practice basic plant classification
Inspect "adopted forest," including identification of species of plants, animals, and vegetation types
Assess "adopted forest"
Soil pit and collect samples
Set up animal tracking stations

Tuesday

AM

Review results of animal tracking
Map study area, using maps and aerial photographs
Identify boundaries
Delineate topography
Show major feature, including roads, water, trails, and bridges
Delineate vegetation types
Show water bodies or streams
Identify human uses, by land-use type
Delineate animal habitats
Calculate land surface by type of cover (improvements, lawn, and forest)

PM

Measure trees and other vegetation
Measure tree height
Measure tree diameter
Measure tree age
Calculate tree density
Calculate basal area of trees
Calculate wood volume in trees using ratio of volume to basal area

Wednesday

AM

Identify and discuss invertebrate life in the soil
Dig soil pits, classify soils, and compare upland and wet land soils
Soil classification
Soil pH and nutrient measurement
Water relations assessment

PM

Establish study plots
Identify and count vegetation in tree, shrub, and herbaceous layers
Measure tree density
Calculate tree basal area
Calculate wood volumes
Compare and contrast three plots in different forest types (old forest, young forest, and hardwood forest)
Report to group as a whole

Thursday

AM

Describe and assess change in land cover
Compare aerial photographs taken at two points in time
Map vegetation cover, water, roads, and other surfaces at both times
Measure change in cover types over time
Measure changes in roads and other surfaces over time
Obtain precipitation records and calculate runoff from ONRC site before and after construction
Depart on field trip to study change

PM

Visit sites to assess changes at stand and landscape scales
Measure and compare stand densities and basal areas
Examine higher elevation stand
View and discuss change at the landscape scale

Friday

AM

Discuss processes of scientific research and need for caution in drawing inferences from limited information
Steps in development of any scientific discipline
Guidelines for screening information about forests
Review major recent discoveries in forest science
Discuss major issues needing attention
Begin preparing draft curriculum plans for use in classrooms focused on an adopted forest

PM

Complete draft curriculum plans
Share and critique curriculum plans
Review, questions, and course evaluation