Environmental Science
Workplace Preparation

This course provides students with the fundamental knowledge of and skills relating to environmental science that will help them succeed in work and life after secondary school. Students will explore a range of topics, including the impact of human activities on the environment; human health and the environment; energy conservation; resource science and management; and safety and environmental responsibility in the workplace. Emphasis is placed on relevant, practical applications and current topics in environmental science, with attention to the refinement of students’ literacy and mathematical literacy skills as well as the development of their scientific and environmental literacy

 

Prerequisite: Science, Grade 9, Academic or Applied, or a Grade 9 or 10 locally developed compulsory credit (LDCC) course in science

 

COURSES DETAILS

Type

Workplace Preparation

Credit Value

1.0

Curriculum Policy

https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/2009science11_12.pdf#page=166

 

OVERALL CURRICULUM EXPECTATIONS

 

A. SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION SKILLS AND CAREER EXPLORATION

A1. demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, and communicating);

A2. identify and describe careers related to the fields of science under study, and describe contributions of scientists, including Canadians, to those fields.

B. HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

B1. analyse selected current environmental problems in terms of the role human activities have played in creating or perpetuating them, and propose possible solutions to one such problem; B2. investigate air, soil, and water quality in natural and disturbed environments, using appropriate technology;

B3. demonstrate an understanding of some of the ways in which human activities affect the environment and how the impact of those activities is measured and monitored.

C. HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

C1. analyse the effects on human health of environmental contaminants and a significant environmental phenomenon;

C2. investigate how different environmental factors can affect people’s health and their lifestyle choices;

C3. demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which environmental factors can affect human health and how their impact can be reduced

D. ENERGY CONSERVATION

D1. evaluate initiatives and technological innovations related to energy consumption and conservation, and assess their impact on personal lifestyles, social attitudes, and the environment;

D2 . investigate various methods of conserving energy and improving energy efficiency;

D3 . demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of energy production, with reference to both renewable and non-renewable sources, and of various methods of energy conservation.

E. NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT

E1. assess the environmental impact of the harvesting and/or extraction of resources, including ways of reducing this impact, and analyse threats to the sustainability of natural resources;

E2. investigate methods scientists use to classify and monitor natural resources, and conduct investigations using those methods;

E3. demonstrate an understanding of the sustainable use of resources and its relationship to the biodiversity and sustainability of ecosystems

F. THE SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WORKPLACE

F1. assess workplace situations with respect to safety and environmental issues, and propose a course of action to address unsafe working conditions;

F2. investigate a variety of safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices;

F3. demonstrate an understanding of general workplace safety procedures and environmentally responsible practices

 

TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES

Teachers will bring enthusiasm and varied teaching and assessment approaches to the classroom, addressing individual students’ needs and ensuring sound learning opportunities for every student. The activities offered should enable students to relate and apply these concepts to the social, environmental, and economical conditions and concerns of the world in which they live. Opportunities to relate knowledge and skills to these wider contexts will motivate students to learn in a meaningful way and to become life-long learners. Teachers will help students understand that problem solving of any kind often requires a considerable expenditure of time and energy and a good deal of perseverance. Teachers also will encourage students to investigate, to reason, to explore alternative solutions and to take the risks necessary to become successful problem solvers. Effective instructional approaches and learning activities draw on students’ prior knowledge, capture their interest, and encourage meaningful practise both inside and outside the classroom. Students will be engaged when they are able to see the connection between the scientific concepts they are learning and their application in the world around them and in real-life situations. Due to its importance, students will have opportunities to learn in a variety of ways- individually, cooperatively, independently, with teacher direction, through hands-on experiences, and through examples followed by practice. The approaches and strategies teachers use will vary according to both the object of the learning and the needs of the students. Teachers will accomplish this in online environment with the use of: virtual labs, online simulations, animations, videos, discussion forums, live chat and other interactive objects.

 

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

As summarized in Growing Success 2010, the primary purpose of assessment and evaluation is to improve student learning.

The seven fundamental principles given below lay the foundation for rich and challenging practice. When these principles are fully understood and observed by all teachers, they will guide the collection of meaningful information that will help inform instructional decisions, promote student engagement, and improve student learning.

To ensure that assessment, evaluation, and reporting are valid and reliable, and that they lead to the improvement of learning for all students, teachers use practices and procedures that:

• are fair, transparent, and equitable;
• support all students;
• are carefully planned to relate to the curriculum expectations and learning goals and, as much as possible, to the interests, learning styles and preferences, needs, and experiences of all students;
• are communicated clearly to students and parents at the beginning of the school year or course and at other appropriate points throughout the school year or course;
• are ongoing, varied in nature, and administered over a period of time to provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate the full range of their learning;
• provide ongoing descriptive feedback that is clear, specific, meaningful, and timely to support improved learning and achievement;
• develop students’ self-assessment skills to enable them to assess their own learning, set specific goals, and plan next steps for their learning.

 

Seventy per cent of the final grade (a percentage mark) in a course will be based on evaluation conducted throughout the course. This portion of the grade should reflect the student’s most consistent level of achievement, with special consideration given to more recent evidence. Thirty per cent will be based on a final evaluation administered at or towards the end of the course.

 

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS

All students can succeed. Some students are able, with certain accommodations, to participate in the regular course curriculum and to demonstrate learning independently. Accommodations allow access to the course without any changes to the knowledge and skills the student is expected to demonstrate. The accommodations required to facilitate the student’s learning can be identified by the teacher, but recommendations from a School Board generated Individual Education Plan (IEP) if available can also be consulted. Instruction based on principles of universal design and differentiated instruction focuses on the provision of accommodations to meet the diverse needs of learners.

Examples of accommodations (but not limited to) include:

• Adjustment and or extension of time required to complete assignments or summative tasks
• Providing alternative assignments or summative tasks
• Use of scribes and/or other assistive technologies
• Simplifying the language of instruction

 

THE FINAL GRADES

The final Grades

The evaluation for this course is based on the student’s achievement of curriculum expectations and the demonstrated skills required for effective learning. The final percentage grade represents the quality of the student’s overall achievement of the expectations for the course and reflects the corresponding level of achievement as described in the achievement chart for the discipline. A credit is granted and recorded for this course if the student’s grade is 50% or higher. The final grade will be determined as follows:

• 70% of the grade will be based upon evaluations conducted throughout the course. This portion of the grade will reflect the student’s most consistent level of achievement throughout the course, although special consideration will be given to more recent evidence of achievement.
• 30% of the grade will be based on final evaluations administered at the end of the course. The final assessment may be a final exam, a final project, or a combination of both an exam and a project.

 

THE REPORT CARDS

Two official report cards are issued – midterm and final. Each report card will focus on two distinct but related aspects of student achievement. First, the achievement of curriculum expectations is reported as a percentage grade. Additionally, the course median is reported as a percentage. The teacher will also provide written comments concerning the student’s strengths, areas for improvement and next steps. Second, the learning skills are reported as a letter grade, representing one of four levels of accomplishment. The report cards contain separate sections for the reporting of these two aspects. The report card also indicates whether an OSSD credit has been earned.