Instructor: Crima Pogge

• Email: cpogge@ccsf.edu
• Office Hours: by arrangement via email
• Office Location: zoom
• I will respond to all course email within 24 hours Monday-Friday, exclusive of school holidays.

Learning objectives

Through individual research, presentations, guided field observations and hypothesis forming students will increase their knowledge and appreciation of the ecology of the San Francisco Bay. Here are the official student learning outcomes:

1. Apply the process of science and the scientific method, and demonstrate an understanding of the the relationship between scientific research and established knowledge pertaining to ecology.
2. Illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of ecology by outlining contributions from the natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering and technology to our understanding of human impacts San Francisco Bay.
3. Analyze and integrate evidence from research in natural science, social science, engineering, and technology to critically evaluate proposed solutions to environmental and resource issues facing San Francisco Bay
4. Summarize ecological issues of San Francisco Bay, demonstrating content knowledge of key ecological concepts and their social, political, and historical context.
5. Identify organisms common to San Francisco, explain their adaptations and analyze their role in their community.

How will we achieve those objectives?

We will visit six different areas of SF Bay and discuss factors that shaped the Bay and led to the diversity of plants and animals that use and depend on it. We will experience first-hand some of the wonders of and threats to this incredible natural resource so close to seven million people.

Important Dates

Evening orientation : In the three-hour mandatory evening meeting on Wednesday, September 1st from 6:00 to 8:50 (wrong/confusing in schedule) we will meet each other and review this syllabus and the plan for the weekend. There will be a lecture introducing the ecology of SF Bay, and some activities building field observation skills.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://ccsf-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlcuiorTstHN1dQhT_7xs_dIIMm0P-nr17 (Links to an external site.)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Field trips: We will explore SF Bay on Saturday, October 16 and October 23 from 9:00-16:15 pm. The days will be a mix of guided tours, peer presentations, and field investigations.

Meeting on Saturday, October 16: 9:00 am sharp at the Bay Model, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965

Meeting on Saturday, October 23: 9:00 am sharp at the entry to Heron’s Head Park, corner of Cargo Way and Jennings in San Francisco

TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PROVIDED, COVID-19 allowing, we will form car pools during the orientation for those who are comfortable with that.

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it  to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length, which means right after the orientation).

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

EDIT TO REFLECT YOUR COURSE You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with WEB4 or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by date listed above. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Attendance

Students who fail to attend the orientation will be dropped from the class. Because you will be receiving one full unit for only 17.5 hours of class/field time, full attendance and absolute promptness is required. Arriving late or leaving early will assure you of losing a full grade point (from an “A” to a “B”). You must come to ALL of the class meetings for the FULL time. 

Course Requirements

If you are satisfied with a C or are taking the class for credit only you must be present during the full 17.5 hours, participate in field activities and pass the open notes quiz at the end with a C or better. If you are aiming for an A or B: In addition to the requirements for a C, you will have to do a research paper on a particular topic that will be assigned to you (click here for more details) and present your findings to the class in an informal 4-5 minute presentation. Believe it or not, after initial reluctance, most students find that researching a topic on their own enhances their experience in the course! 

Open notes quiz: There will be an open notes or take home quiz covering the information presented in the orientation lecture and in the field – take clear and detailed notes.

Grading

C or pass: satisfactory attendance, field notes or 12 iNaturalist observations, and quiz
B: satisfactory attendance, quiz, observations, and good research paper/presentation
A: satisfactory attendance, quiz, observations, and excellent research/presentation

Canvas

Canvas is the learning management system used by CCSF (all most other California Community Colleges). Since this is a short course I am not requiring that you learn the ropes of Canvas. If you are familiar with it or like to use it, please upload assignments to Canvas, otherwise, just email me.

For 24/7 help with Canvas call: 1-844-592-2198.

Field preparation

This is a field ecology course that will take place regardless of weather. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions (rain, wind, bright sun) and terrain (sturdy, comfortable shoes, long pants). Notebooks and pens or pencils are obvious necessities; clipboards and backpacks are suggested. Bring a lunch and whatever snacks you'll need, along with plenty of water. Several of the sites do not have bathrooms, so be prepared for that as well. 

We will be using the smartphone app inaturalist . Inaturalist was developed by the California Academy of Sciences, a very reputable institution. If you are comfortable, download the app to your smartphone.  No smartphone? No problem, we will share!

• What to wear and bring

  • Prepare for hot and cold weather: the onion approach
  • Sturdy shoes that can get muddy
  • Sun protection
  • Water, lunch and snacks ! Note that there won’t be enough time for you to go get a lunch.
  • A clipboard or a notebook to write in and on and pens.
  • Optional: binoculars, field guides, camera

If you need classroom or testing accommodations because of a disability, or have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

Students seeking disability related accommodations are encouraged to also register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the  DSPS website (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site.  for more information and alternate locations.

Students who register in CCSF classes are required to abide by the  CCSF Student Code of Conduct (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. . Violation of the code is basis for referral to the Student Conduct Coordinator or dismissal from class or from the College. See the  Office of Student Affairs.

(Links to an external site.) At this point (August 13, 2021), wearing masks and keeping a distance of 6 feet between students and students and instructors is mandatory. PLEASE stay home if you are feeling symptoms on our field dates and let me know as soon as possible.