Welcome to FYF 101J Alternative Energy: Separating Myth From Reality Course instructor: Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D. Course instructor: Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D.

Purposes of today’s session  Review Saturday session  Provide some context for course  Discuss course objectives  Review information dissemination, student assessment, and contact information  Review Saturday session  Provide some context for course  Discuss course objectives  Review information dissemination, student assessment, and contact information

About your instructor:  Member of Biology Department, cross appointed into Environmental Sciences Department  Plant ecologist; interested in restoration of disturbed lands and conservation of rare species  Courses include BIO 122, upper-level botany and ecology courses.  Active consultant on wetland and rare plant issues.  Member of Biology Department, cross appointed into Environmental Sciences Department  Plant ecologist; interested in restoration of disturbed lands and conservation of rare species  Courses include BIO 122, upper-level botany and ecology courses.  Active consultant on wetland and rare plant issues.

A few words about FYF 101  Before 2000, no universal freshman course  Engineers had “Technological Survival”  FRF 101 initiated fall 2001  H.S. students uneven preparation  Enhance retention  Renamed FYF 101 in 2005  Each course contains unique content, with core skills provided  Before 2000, no universal freshman course  Engineers had “Technological Survival”  FRF 101 initiated fall 2001  H.S. students uneven preparation  Enhance retention  Renamed FYF 101 in 2005  Each course contains unique content, with core skills provided

Mission, Goals and Objectives of FYF 101  Mission:  To provide an academically rigorous experience that challenges students to develop the strategies essential for a successful transition into the Wilkes University culture.  Mission:  To provide an academically rigorous experience that challenges students to develop the strategies essential for a successful transition into the Wilkes University culture.

Mission, Goals and Objectives of FYF 101  Goals:  To facilitate significant learning experiences through which first-year students develop:  self-knowledge and intellectual curiosity  an openness to diversity  a commitment to lifelong learning  civic responsibility  Goals:  To facilitate significant learning experiences through which first-year students develop:  self-knowledge and intellectual curiosity  an openness to diversity  a commitment to lifelong learning  civic responsibility

Mission, Goals and Objectives of FYF 101  Objectives:  Each First Year Foundations (FYF) course will provide techniques that assist first-year students in achieving long-term academic success at Wilkes University. Specifically, each of these courses will:  help develop the student's critical thinking skills  provide techniques for the effective evaluation and utilization of information resources  aid the student in making the necessary academic transition from high school to the collegiate level.  Objectives:  Each First Year Foundations (FYF) course will provide techniques that assist first-year students in achieving long-term academic success at Wilkes University. Specifically, each of these courses will:  help develop the student's critical thinking skills  provide techniques for the effective evaluation and utilization of information resources  aid the student in making the necessary academic transition from high school to the collegiate level.

A few additional points about the FYF 101 program  Consists of volunteer faculty across university  Goals and objectives decided by FYF committee  Each year have central theme  Assessment is important  Students  Each course  Entire program  Consists of volunteer faculty across university  Goals and objectives decided by FYF committee  Each year have central theme  Assessment is important  Students  Each course  Entire program

Our place in the universe  FYF 101 is supposed to segue into University Core  Relevant to all majors  Links to Capstone Courses  FYF 101 is supposed to segue into University Core  Relevant to all majors  Links to Capstone Courses

So let’s talk about energy

Coal power Nuclear power Oil and gas

Hubbert Curve

www2.nature.nps.gov/

So, many people think we need alternative sources of energy

Description and Objectives of FYF 101J – Alternative Energy  Modern human civilization depends upon energy to drive our machines, give us light, and regulate our thermal environment. Over the past century, the energy has largely come from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Many scientists are concerned that the byproducts of fossil fuel combustion are leading to potentially catastrophic climatic change. To address that problem, and overcome dwindling energy supplies, many are advocating the development and implementation of alternative renewable energy like wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydrogen. But are those alternatives more sustainable and environmentally friendly? This course will explore the growing scientific evidence relating to the costs and benefits of alternative energy, and will help you to distinguish between reality, hype, and fanaticism.

Description and Objectives of FYF 101J – Alternative Energy

FYF 101J Objectives  Understand the current trends of traditional energy production and consumption locally, nationally, and on a worldwide basis  Learn and critically evaluate arguments about the sustainability of current forms of energy production and use  Identify potential sources of alternative energy being explored  Understand the current trends of traditional energy production and consumption locally, nationally, and on a worldwide basis  Learn and critically evaluate arguments about the sustainability of current forms of energy production and use  Identify potential sources of alternative energy being explored

More FYF 101J Objectives  Learn and critically evaluate information about the benefits and weaknesses of each alternative energy source from a variety of perspectives  Potential energy yield  Economic  Environmental  Sociopolitical  Learn and critically evaluate information about the benefits and weaknesses of each alternative energy source from a variety of perspectives  Potential energy yield  Economic  Environmental  Sociopolitical

Even More FYF 101J Objectives  Develop a well-reasoned personal philosophy about the present energy situation and the best way to move forward on developing and implementing alternative sources  Develop the ability to meaningfully participate in a group seeking to understand a complex issue from a variety of perspectives, and communicate its findings to others.  Develop a well-reasoned personal philosophy about the present energy situation and the best way to move forward on developing and implementing alternative sources  Develop the ability to meaningfully participate in a group seeking to understand a complex issue from a variety of perspectives, and communicate its findings to others.

The long-term objective:  Students will develop a mature attitude about - and lifelong interest in - energy issues, and will assert leadership on that topic long after the course is completed.

Students will gain information about traditional and alternative energy by way of:  Presentations given by the course instructor  Presentations given by guest lecturers  Guided inquiries via “Webquests”  Handouts distributed by the class instructor  Information provided by students  Presentations given by the course instructor  Presentations given by guest lecturers  Guided inquiries via “Webquests”  Handouts distributed by the class instructor  Information provided by students

Students will be assessed by:  Periodic exams  Individual and group writing assignments  Group presentations (in which each student will present)  Periodic exams  Individual and group writing assignments  Group presentations (in which each student will present)

Grading system  Exams 50 points each)………150 points  Writing assignments………..………150 points  Group presentations….……200 points  Total……………..………………….400 points  Grades will be assigned as follows: >90% = 4.0; 85-90% = 3.5; 80-85% = 3.0; 75-80% = 2.5; 70-75% = 2.0; 65-70% = 1.5; = 3.0; <60% = 0.0. These cutoffs may be adjusted downward.  Exams 50 points each)………150 points  Writing assignments………..………150 points  Group presentations….……200 points  Total……………..………………….400 points  Grades will be assigned as follows: >90% = 4.0; 85-90% = 3.5; 80-85% = 3.0; 75-80% = 2.5; 70-75% = 2.0; 65-70% = 1.5; = 3.0; <60% = 0.0. These cutoffs may be adjusted downward.

Miscellaneous  Office: SLC 351  Phone (570)  FAX: (570)   Facebook:  Office Hours: MWF: A.M., TR: 9-10 A.M.  Course webpage:  Office: SLC 351  Phone (570)  FAX: (570)   Facebook:  Office Hours: MWF: A.M., TR: 9-10 A.M.  Course webpage: