Class Syllabus: Global Warming

Office Hours:	Online
Course Meeting Times:	Self-Paced / Online

Course Description

There have been few environmental issues that have polarized a nation as much as Global Warming. From those who predict that the Earth will eventually get so hot that it will self-incinerate to those who believe that the entire notion of a warming planet is something manufactured by political operatives anxious to please their constituents, Global Warming is an issue that has been and will continue to be hotly contested in both public and private arenas.

Unlike many other hot-button issues, however, Global Warming is widely misunderstood by the general public. Confusion surrounding Global Warming comes at many levels: there are some who steadfastly believe that it is entirely a man-made issue while others equate Global Warming with the expanding hole in the atmosphere's ozone layer (a condition widely believed to be caused by widespread use of aerosols).

In this course, we will learn exactly what Global Warming is, why supporters believe it is a real problem and the ways in which it is thought to affect the world in which we live. Along the way, we will learn a little bit about the climatic history of the Earth and take a look at some of the ways in which we can help to reduce the warming effects of some of our activities.

To be sure, the issues surrounding Global Warming are complex and there is still a great deal that we don't know about how the Earth will respond to changing conditions. This course is not intended to teach you everything you need to know about Global Warming -- such a course probably doesn't exist. What this course will provide, however, it an overview of the issues as they are currently known which should help to provide a basic understanding of the topic.

Course Requirements

There are no requirements for this course other than a high school reading level and a desire to learn more about the health status of our world.

Course Goals

What you will know:

--Definition of Global Warming

--History of the Global Warming “issue”

--Common terminology

--Basics in climatology

--Overview of observations which led to the Global Warming debate (i.e. Polar

ice caps, marine life, climate trends).

--The Greenhouse Effect

--El Nino and other causes of Global Warming

--Why is Global Warming a concern?

--The effects on Marine Life

--The effects on the Environment

--The effects on the Polar Ice Caps

--The effects on our health

--Other effects

--What will the future bring?

-- The Scientists’ Point of View

-- The Argument Against Global Warming

-- What is currently being done to address this issue?

-- Every day tips to help prevent Global Warming

Course Materials

All course materials will be provided in your online classroom.

Grading Policy

Each lesson will include a lesson review quiz along with an assignment. Students will successfully complete this course with 70% or better.

Course Topics

Lesson 1: Introduction to Global Warming

Lesson 2: Understanding Climatology

Lesson 3: The Greenhouse Effect

Lesson 4: Where is all the Hot Air Coming From?

Lesson 5: The Effects of Global Warming - Part 1

Lesson 6: The Effects of Global Warming - Part II

Lesson 7: The Scientific Support for Global Warming

Lesson 8: The Argument Against Global Warming

Lesson 9: Our Response Thus Far

Lesson 10: Doing our Part

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

Define global warming.
Describe climatology.
Describe the greenhouse effect.
Summarize the effects of global warming.
Summarize the scientific support for global warming.
Summarize the argument against global warming.
Describe our response thus far, and
Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

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