Course structure:
The course schedule includes the following components on a weekly basis:
- Live sessions with the instructors will take place on a weekly basis, consisting of (a) open discussion based on prior material (e.g. questions about last week’s readings, comments on the discussion forum), and (b) material related to that week’s topics and readings.
- Participation is encouraged, but not mandatory.
- The sessions will be recorded and available to view afterwards.
- In some weeks, guest lecturers will join for part of the live session.
- In some weeks, live sessions may be replaced by office hours as needed.
- Each week has required readings and most have optional additional readings. Guidance on where sections of readings to focus on will be provided in Resources “Book” on Moodle, where you will also find recorded guidance from the instructors to assist with getting the most out of the readings.
- Assignments and discussion forum posts are due Sundays by 7 pm (Pacific), unless otherwise noted.
| Date | Course Activities | Assignment / Weighting (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | Contribution/Participation (Individual and Team – see Assignments 1, 3, and 4) | Assignments 1, 3, 4 |
| Unit 1: Introduction and Overview (Weeks 1 & 2) | ||
| Before live session | Review the course websites (WordPress and Moodle), the course overview/welcome video and instructor Padlet introductions, and (if you have time) the recorded instructor guide on the readings for week 1 | |
| September 21 | Join the live session or watch the recording 3:00pm Pacific | |
| September 23 | Review the recorded instructor guide on readings for week 1 (if you haven’t already) and complete at least two of the optional cross-cutting readings | |
| September 23 | Introduce yourself (using Padlet, on Moodle) | |
| September 23 | Post one “I wonder” question in the Wonder Discussion Forum | |
| September 23 | Respond to the two surveys on scheduling live sessions and availability for teams | |
| September 26-30 | Review the recorded instructor discussion on readings for Week 2 and complete the readings | |
| October 1 | Join the live session or watch the recording | |
| October 2 | Submit Critical Reflection #1 – drawing upon the required and additional readings | Assignment 1 #1/ 10% (for all 3) |
| Unit 2: Earth and climate Systems (Week 3) | ||
| October 3-9 | Complete the readings and review the recorded instructor discussion | |
| October 8 | Join the live session or watch the recording | |
| October 9 | Submit Critical Reflection #2 | Assignment 1 #2/ 10% (for all 3) |
| October 9 | Begin Individual Practical Application #1 – Glossary by contributing at 1 entry to the glossary – preferably a term you learned during these weeks | Assignment 4 #1/ 5% (for all) |
| Unit 3: Climate scenarios (Week 4) | ||
| October 10-16 | Review the recorded instructor discussion and complete the readings for week 4 | |
| October 15 | Join the live session or watch the recording | |
| October 16 | Submit Critical Reflection #3 | Assignment 1 #3/ 10% (for all 3) |
| October 16 | Continue Individual Practical Application #1 – Glossary | Assignment 4 #1/ 5% (for all) |
| Unit 4: Climate models: estimating future and regional impacts (Weeks 5-6) |
||
| October 17-23 | Review the recorded instructor discussion and complete the readings for week 5 | |
| TBD | Join the live session or watch the recording | |
| October 23 | Submit Team Practical Application #1 – Review Slide Deck | Assignment 3 #1 / 10% (for both parts) |
| October 23 | Continue Practical Application #1 – Glossary | Assignment 4 #1/ 5% (for all) |
| October 24-30 | Complete the readings for week 6 and Join the live session or watch the recording | |
| October 30 | Submit Assessment of your team’s response to Team Practical Application #1 – Review Slide Deck | Assignment 3 #1 / 10% (for both parts) |
| October 30 | Submit Draft WordPress Blog Post | Assignment 2 / 5% |
| October 30 | Continue Individual Practical Application #1 – Glossary | Assignment 4 #1/ 5% (for all) |
| Unit 5: Projections of biophysical impacts (Week 7) | ||
| October 31 – Nov 6 | Review the recorded instructor discussion and complete the readings for week 7 | |
| November 5 | Join the live session or watch the recording | |
| November 6 | Submit Team Practical Application #2 – Lightning Presentation | Assignment 3 #2 /10% |
| November 6 | Submit Anonymous Peer Review of 2 blog posts (assigned by instructors) | Assignment 2 / 5% |
| November 6 | Continue Individual Practical Application #1 – Glossary | Assignment 4 #1/ 5% (for all) |
| Unit 6: Using Climate Projections (Weeks 8-10) | ||
| November 7-13 | Review the recorded instructor discussion and complete the readings for week 8 | |
| November 12 | Join the live session or watch the recording | |
| November 13 | Finalize Individual Practical Application #1 – Glossary by submitting a list of the glossary terms that you defined, and a brief summary of what you learned from this assignment | Assignment 4 #1/ 5% (for all) |
| November 13 | Submit Individual Practical Application #2 – Review of Lightning Presentation | Assignment 4 #2 / 5% |
| November 14-20 | Review the recorded instructor discussion and complete the readings for week 9 | |
| November 19 if not replaced by office hours | Join the live session or watch the recording – note this week may be replaced by office hours | |
| November 20 | Submit Individual Practical Application #3 – Choose Your Own Adventure | Assignment 4 #3 / 5% |
| November 20 | Submit Team Practical Application #3 – team assessment | Assignment 3 #3 /5% |
| November 26 | Join the final live session as we wrap the course (or watch the recording)! (no readings for week 10) | |
| November 27 | Submit final WordPress blog | Assignment 2 / 10% |
| November 27 | Submit Public-facing Climate Report | Assignment 5 / 30% |