Instructor Stories

Hear directly from faculty about how they used the BASICS teaching materials. Use this page to search all faculty perspectives on using the BASICS modules.


Results 1 - 10 of 34 matches

Using the Mississippi River Watershed Module in Introduction to Environmental Economics
Anna Klis, Northern Illinois University
This course offers an overview of economic analyses of environmental issues like pollution and resource management for non-majors. Students will receive an introduction to marginal thinking, market-based solutions, valuation techniques, and government intervention, with a focus on current issues and applying economics in an interdisciplinary manner to other environmental fields.

Subject: Environmental Science:Water Quality and Quantity, Policy:Environmental Economics, Economics:Micro, Macro
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):College Introductory
BASICS Institution: Northern Illinois University

Using the Mississippi River Watershed Module in CHEM 305: Molecular Toxicology
Daniel Marous, Wittenberg University
This course will focus upon common environmental toxins and the biochemical processes by which they are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted from mammalian systems. Particular attention will be paid to understanding these processes at the molecular level.

Subject: Chemistry
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16)

Using the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module in Herpetology
Richard Phillips, Wittenberg University
We will study the unique anatomy, physiology, natural history, and evolution of reptiles and amphibians. Our course includes a weekly field experience/lab in which students travel to parks and reserves around the Springfield area.

Subject: Biology:Ecology, Evolution, Diversity, Zoology
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16)
BASICS Institution: Wittenberg University

Using the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module in Environmental Science and Sustainability
Elizabeth Stoner, Bentley University
This course is an introduction to environmental sciences, highlighting current issues in environmental and ecological sustainability. This lab-based course places a strong emphasis on developing critical thinking skills to assess questions such as: how do we decide what to "believe" about environmental issues? How are humans linked to the environment, and can we modify our interactions with the environment? How can we learn from past environmental problems to solve environmental dilemmas of the present and future? How can environmentally sustainable business practices address environmental challenges?

Subject: Environmental Science:Sustainability, Environmental Science
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16)
BASICS Institution: Bentley University

Using the Mississippi River Watershed Module in Science of Sustainability
Melissa Hey, Bentley University
In this course, we investigate the science underlying a range of environmental sustainability topics. Specifically, this course explores issues pertaining to several planetary boundaries including global climate change, ocean acidification, nutrient loading, land-system change, and freshwater resource depletion.

Subject: Environmental Science:Sustainability
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):College Introductory, College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)
BASICS Institution: Bentley University

Using the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module in History of Sustainable Design
Rebecca Houze, Northern Illinois University
History, theory, and criticism of design, sustainability, and the environment from the 18th century to the present.

Subject: Environmental Science, Fine Arts:Art History
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):College Introductory, College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)
BASICS Institution: Northern Illinois University

Using the Mississippi River Watershed Module in Religion, Nature, & the Environment
Travis Proctor, Wittenberg University
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the complex interactions between religion and "nature," including nature-based religions and spirituality, religious understanding of nature, the role of nature in religious practice, and the impact of religious traditions on the treatment of the environment.

Subject: Environmental Science, Religion
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16)
BASICS Institution: Wittenberg University

Using the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module in Global Social Entrepreneurship
Sunny Jeong, Wittenberg University
This course is a mix of reading, case discussion, group and individual projects, social entrepreneur interviews and social venture business plan. There are three major components to the course: 1) reading and critically debating chapters and articles prized within the global leadership and social entrepreneur community; 2) completing and presenting the portfolio project; 3) creating a social venture model of your own passion and skills

Subject: Business:Entrepreneurship, Management
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14)
BASICS Institution: Wittenberg University

Using the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module in Nature in Society: Environmental Social Sciences and Humanities
Emily McKee, Northern Illinois University
Examination of how the social sciences and humanities contribute to our understanding of contemporary environmental problems and our efforts to solve them. Focus on how human communities and institutions respond to and serve as agents of environmental change. Practice in effective communication about environmental challenges.

Subject: Environmental Science, Anthropology
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14)

Using the Mississippi River Watershed Module in Biological Fate of Drugs
Zoë Wagner, Bentley University
This course will cover the process of drug discovery, where we find new drugs, and how these drugs are approved by the FDA. We will look at the clinical information used to drive approval decisions and look at how drugs are priced and marketed to the public. We will then transition to a closer analysis of how drugs actually work in the body. We will look at what drugs actually are, and how their chemical structure will impact their ability cause a biological effect. We will end with an investigation into where drugs end up once taken – why can we find antibiotics in most drinking water, and what can we do about it?

Subject: Geoscience:Hydrology:Ground Water:Water quality/chemistry , Water and society, policy, and management, Biology:Anatomy & Physiology, Environmental Science:Water Quality and Quantity, Waste:Toxic and Hazardous Wastes:Bio/Medical Wastes, Health Sciences
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16)
BASICS Institution: Bentley University