Environmental Science A

Course Description:

Environmental science is an integrated science course that continues to develop conceptual understanding of the interactions in Earth science, physical science, and life science systems. The standards for environmental science engage students in the core ideas, scientific and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts to support the development of knowledge that can be applied to understanding, explaining, and improving human interactions with Earth systems and resources. There are strong connections to mathematical practices of analyzing and interpreting data with creating mathematical and computational models.

Course Details:

Course Title (District): Environmental Science A
Course Title (NCES SCED) : Environmental Science
Course Provider : Michigan Virtual
Content Provided By : Michigan Virtual
Online Instructor Provided By : Michigan Virtual
Standards Addressed : National Collegiate Athletic Association, Next Generation Science Standards
Alignment Document : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1c3C5Ypuy7qxdkGpI1okue_J_vrM8m-zxIS4Nk8rBSeI/edit?usp=sharing
Academic Terms : Accelerated, Semester, Trimester, Open Entry / Fixed End
NCES SCED Code :
Subject Area : Life and Physical Sciences
Course Identifier : Environmental Science
Course Level : High School (Secondary)
Available Credit : 0.5
Sequence : 1 of 2

How To Enroll:

Enrollment Website : https://slp.michiganvirtual.org/
Email : [email protected]
Phone : (888) 889-2840

Students and Parents: It is important to work closely with your local school counselor or registrar to follow the school's enrollment procedures. By clicking the "Start Registration Request" button below, you will be able to notify the school of your interest in registering for the online course. However, it is the responsibility of the district or school to review the registration request and approve or deny the request. Please make a note to follow up with your school after submitting a registration request.

Start Registration Request

Additional Course Information:

Additional Cost: $0.0

Additional Cost Description:

None

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...

  • examine data to develop models to analyze and explain changes in Earth systems that took place in the past and are occurring in the present.
  • explain changes in the Earth’s interior.
  • describe Karst topography and explain how water travels through it.
  • investigate water including its properties, unique role in earth systems, and intricate support of various life forms.
  • develop a model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
  • analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
  • explain how energy drives ocean floor formation, supports the vast oceanic life, and creates ocean stratification.
  • identify factors that drive the process of geothermal activity and influence weather.
  • plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).
  • design a solution to a complex, real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.

iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses

Academic Content Standards and Assessments Rating Comments
The goals and objectives clearly state what the participants will know or be able to do at the end of the course. The goals and objectives are measurable in multiple ways. Pilot: Review Pending
The course content and assignments are aligned with the state’s content standards, Common Core curriculum, or other accepted content standards set for Advanced Placement® courses, technology, computer science, or other courses whose content is not included in the state standards. Pilot: Review Pending
The course content and assignments are of sufficient rigor, depth and breadth to teach the standards being addressed. Pilot: Review Pending
Information literacy and communication skills are incorporated and taught as an integral part of the curriculum. Pilot: Review Pending
Multiple learning resources and materials to increase student success are available to students before the course begins. Pilot: Review Pending
Course Overview and Introduction Rating Comments
Clear, complete course overview and syllabus are included in the course. Pilot: Review Pending
Course requirements are consistent with course goals, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Pilot: Review Pending
Information is provided to students, parents and mentors on how to communicate with the online instructor and course provider. Pilot: Review Pending
Legal and Acceptable Use Policies Rating Comments
The course reflects multi-cultural education, and the content is accurate, current and free of bias or advertising. Pilot: Review Pending
Expectations for academic integrity, use of copyrighted materials, plagiarism and netiquette (Internet etiquette) regarding lesson activities, discussions, and e-mail communications are clearly stated. Pilot: Review Pending
Privacy policies are clearly stated. Pilot: Review Pending
Instructor Resources Rating Comments
Online instructor resources and notes are included. Pilot: Review Pending
Assessment and assignment answers and explanations are included. Pilot: Review Pending
Accessing Course Effectiveness Rating Comments
The course provider uses multiple ways of assessing course effectiveness. Pilot: Review Pending
The course is evaluated using a continuous improvement cycle for effectiveness and the findings used as a basis for improvement. Pilot: Review Pending
Course Updates Rating Comments
The course is updated periodically to ensure that the content is current. Pilot: Review Pending
Certification Rating Comments
Course instructors, whether faceto-face or virtual, are certificated and “highly qualified.” The online course teacher possesses a teaching credential from a state-licensing agency and is “highly qualified” as defined under ESEA. Pilot: Review Pending
Instructor and Student Support Rating Comments
Professional development about the online course delivery system is offered by the provider to assure effective use of the courseware and various instructional media available. Pilot: Review Pending
The course provider offers technical support and course management assistance to students, the course instructor, and the school coordinator. Pilot: Review Pending
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, have been provided professional development in the behavioral, social, and when necessary, emotional, aspects of the learning environment. Pilot: Review Pending
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, receive instructor professional development, which includes the support and use of a variety of communication modes to stimulate student engagement online. Pilot: Review Pending
The provider assures that course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, are provided support, as needed, to ensure their effectiveness and success in meeting the needs of online students. Pilot: Review Pending
Students are offered an orientation for taking an online course before starting the coursework. Pilot: Review Pending
Instructional and Audience Analysis Rating Comments
Course design reflects a clear understanding of all students’ needs and incorporates varied ways to learn and master the curriculum. Pilot: Review Pending
Course, Unit and Lesson Design Rating Comments
The course is organized by units and lessons that fall into a logical sequence. Each unit and lesson includes an overview describing objectives, activities, assignments, assessments, and resources to provide multiple learning opportunities for students to master the content. Pilot: Review Pending
Instructional Strategies and Activities Rating Comments
The course instruction includes activities that engage students in active learning. Pilot: Review Pending
The course and course instructor provide students with multiple learning paths, based on student needs that engage students in a variety of ways. Pilot: Review Pending
The course provides opportunities for students to engage in higher-order thinking, critical reasoning activities and thinking in increasingly complex ways. Pilot: Review Pending
The course provides options for the instructor to adapt learning activities to accommodate students’ needs. Pilot: Review Pending
Readability levels, written language assignments and mathematical requirements are appropriate for the course content and grade-level expectations. Pilot: Review Pending
Communication and Interaction Rating Comments
The course design provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student interaction, including opportunities for timely and frequent feedback about student progress. Pilot: Review Pending
The course design includes explicit communication/activities (both before and during the first week of the course) that confirms whether students are engaged and are progressing through the course. The instructor will follow program guidelines to address non-responsive students. Pilot: Review Pending
The course provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student and student-student interaction to foster mastery and application of the material. Pilot: Review Pending
Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Students have access to resources that enrich the course content. Pilot: Review Pending
Evaluation Strategies Rating Comments
Student evaluation strategies are consistent with course goals and objectives, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Pilot: Review Pending
The course structure includes adequate and appropriate methods and procedures to assess students’ mastery of content. Pilot: Review Pending
Feedback Rating Comments
Ongoing, varied, and frequent assessments are conducted throughout the course to inform instruction. Pilot: Review Pending
Assessment strategies and tools make the student continuously aware of his/her progress in class and mastery of the content. Pilot: Review Pending
Assessment Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Assessment materials provide the instructor with the flexibility to assess students in a variety of ways. Pilot: Review Pending
Grading rubrics are provided to the instructor and may be shared with students. Pilot: Review Pending
The grading policy and practices are easy to understand. Pilot: Review Pending
Course Architecture Rating Comments
The course architecture permits the online instructor to add content, activities and assessments to extend learning opportunities. Pilot: Review Pending
The course accommodates multiple school calendars; e.g., block, 4X4 and traditional schedules. Pilot: Review Pending
User Interface Rating Comments
Clear and consistent navigation is present throughout the course. Pilot: Review Pending
Rich media are provided in multiple formats for ease of use and access in order to address diverse student needs. Pilot: Review Pending
Technology Requirements and Interoperability Rating Comments
All technology requirements (including hardware, browser, software, etc...) are specified. Pilot: Review Pending
Prerequisite skills in the use of technology are identified. Pilot: Review Pending
The course uses content-specific tools and software appropriately. Pilot: Review Pending
The course is designed to meet internationally recognized interoperability standards. Pilot: Review Pending
Copyright and licensing status, including permission to share where applicable, is clearly stated and easily found. Pilot: Review Pending
Accessibility Rating Comments
Course materials and activities are designed to provide appropriate access to all students. The course, developed with universal design principles in mind, conforms to the U.S. Section 504 and Section 508 provisions for electronic and information technology as well as the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility guidelines (WCAg 2.0). Pilot: Review Pending
Data Security Rating Comments
Student information remains confidential, as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Pilot: Review Pending

Review Conducted By: Michigan Virtual
Date of Review: 04/01/2020

Module 1: Geological Cycle

Module 2: Hydrological Cycle

Module 3: Biogeochemical Cycle

Module 4: Modeling Energy

Module 5: Transferring Energy

Module 6: Conserving Energy

Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends Random Draw Date Enrollment Drop Date Course Starts Course Ends # of Seats Course Fee Potential Additional Costs
Drop Policy Completion Policy Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends
Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.
School Year Enrollment Count Pass Count Completion Rate Notes
22-23 218 156 71.56%
21-22 175 151 86.29%

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.

Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/