InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Lead in the Environment > Instructor Stories > Richard David Gragg III
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The materials are free and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Richard David Gragg III: Using Lead in the Environment in Fundamental of Environmental Science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University


About this Course

An introductory course for non-majors.

30
students

Three 50 minute lecture sessions
Syllabus (Acrobat (PDF) 2MB Oct14 16)


A Success Story in Building Student Engagement

My course, Fundamentals of Environmental Science, is one of four sections taught spring and fall semesters. The course serves an introductory environmental science course for non-science majors, with a fairly broad environmental emphasis. I engage the students through lectures and discussions in the context of case studies; a co-authored online textbook: Your Environmental Connections; essay assignments and exams; and a final creative project presentation. This module substituted an existing module on the same topic in the syllabus.

The module materials and activities increased my capacity to provide a rich reflective participatory learning experience linking science to existing health and public policy issues. I was more able to better instruct my students in the contexts of systems thinking and geoscience habits of mind as well as connecting the syllabus themes and topics.

In delivering the course and module materials, I engage the students to connect with local, regional, national and global current events and issues, including their respective communities.

My Experience Teaching with InTeGrateMaterials

The module was modified through the addition of a video on lead in the environment; an invited student guest speaker about the lead contamination in Flint Michigan; and we listened to rapper from Detroit talk about his families experience and perform a spoken word performance about the Flint crisis on the National Public Radio Show Fresh Air.

Relationship of InTeGrate Materials to My Course

Fundamentals of Environmental Science is a semester long course. Topics were introduced in the following order: Introduction and Overview: Framework of Environmental Science; Module I: The Context and Framework of Impact Assessment; Module II: Impact Analysis: Integrating Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives; Module III: The Built Environment: Impacts and Assessments; Module IV: Atmospheric Science, Environmental Chemistry, Geosciences and Ecology; and Module V: Environment and Society: Lead in the Environment. Module material was referenced throughout the course when the opportunity presented itself via lecture, case studies, current events/issues and/or supplemental materials.

Assessments

Time constraints prevented the use of all the required post assessments.

Outcomes

The intended outcomes that I hoped to achieve were accomplished. I wanted to deliver a more structured and engaged lecture format and the module enabled me to do so. I also was able to enhance student participation, engagement, awareness, knowledge and empowerment about community based issues and community based participatory research and problem solving.

Classroom Context

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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »