FYF 101J - Alternative Energy: Separating
Myth From Reality
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Like all First Year Foundations courses at Wilkes, FYF 101J is aimed at
satisfying two objectives. The first is to provide students with
some skills-based and conceptual information that will help them
acclimate to Wilkes, and enable them to be successful in their
majors. The second is to provide substantive content relating to
the course topic.
In that light, FYF 101J - Alternative Energy: Separating Myth From
Reality can be viewed as
consisting of two parts. The first is a series of sessions in
which students will learn skills such as group decision-making,
effective use of email, bibliographic concepts, and evaluating
web-based information. The second is a series of sessions in
which students will learn about individual forms of alternative energy.
For students to best learn the issues surrounding each type of
alternative
energy, FYF 101J will incorporate a mixed strategy in which the general
concepts for each energy type will be covered via lecture (some by Dr.
Klemow and others by outside presenters), whereas the
bulk of the learning will be accomplished via a student-active approach
involving Webquests.
In order to allow students to gain some diversity of experience with
different forms of alternative energy, yet not force them to examine
all of the potential forms, the following plan has been put into place:
Nine topics have been developed: the first focusing on the validity of
the Hubbert Curve, and the other eight that each focus on a form of
alternative energy. Students will be organized into six teams of
four students. Each team will be responsible for three topics
throughout the semester, and teams will be reconstituted after each
round.
During weeks 6-8, the course will focus on three of the topics.
During week 6, students will hear presentations pertaining to those
topics. During week 7, students will meet and conduct their
webquests to examine their topic in more depth. During Week 8,
students will present their findings as oral reports. For each of
those days in which presentations are to be given, two teams will give
separate presentations on the same topic. Each presentation
is to last 18-20 minutes, with 5 minutes for questions.
We will then repeat that plan for three additional energy forms
on Weeks 9-11, and
again for the final energy forms on Weeks 12-14.
Students will be graded on their presentations. Approximately 1/2
of the grade will be on individual performance, while 1/2 will be based
on how well the entire team did. Detailed rubrics will be
presented in class.
Return to
Homepage for FYF 101J
This page posted and maintained by Kenneth
M. Klemow, Ph.D., Biology Department,
Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre,
PA 18766. (570) 408-4758,
kklemow@wilkes.edu.