My Approach to Teaching this Class:
This is a field class and as such we will spend nearly all of class outside in the field, which presents some challenges (and rewards). As a class we’ll have the privilege of exploring our beautiful winter surroundings together for several weeks, with the culminating event being a weekend trip. Because this class is academic, expectations may be different than those you have for personal trips. Please bring a pocket sized notebook and a pencil (or 2) with you into the field for taking notes. In addition, be prepared to teach; though the instructor will teach much of the material covered throughout class, students will be invited to teach as well.
This class is essentially ungraded, I will not be awarding points for assignments, but I will be providing feedback and insight on them. You will ultimately get a final grade for this class. I will ask you to reflect on your performance and effort then propose a final grade to me. There are points for quizzes, but you can take them as many times as you want. Though there are no points for the assignments, you are still expected to turn them in, and they still have due dates. As you reflect and justify your grade for the class, having shown up regularly, turned in your assignments and shown that you put effort into them will go a long way toward gaining my supporting for the grade you recommend. Unless there are glaring differences between what I perceive and what you perceive, I will honor your grade recommendation.
Learning Tasks (aka assignments):
This is a list of the tasks you’ll be expected to complete this session. All written assignments will be due via Canvas unless otherwise noted. Teaching experiences will primarily be in the field (outside). The list below represents a quick version of each assignment, thorough details for each task will be on Canvas, under the ‘Assignments’ tab.
Waiver Quiz (1 point)
There's a quiz online that is actually just the waiver for the class.
The White Death (35 points)
Read The White Death by McKay Jenkins and write a short paper (details to be found on Canvas under the specific assignment)
Teaching Topic Declaration (5 points)
Look over the list of optional topics and choose your top three choices (in order)
Teaching Experience Lesson Plan (10 points)
Teaching Experience (20 points)
Each student will get to teach the class about a topic related to the winter backpacking setting. Students will choose from a list of topics but must reserve it through the instructor (first come first served). If you prefer a topic that is related to this class and not on the list, discuss it with the instructor. A rubric for teaching expectations will be provided.
Video Discussions (3 x 5 points each)
Watch the videos on the discussion board and comment on your thoughts or ideas while watching them. You may also comment on classmates comments.
Professionalism (Priceless)
Professionalism can mean lots of things--including being on-time for class, coming to class with the proper equipment, supporting classmates that are struggling in some way, your attitude, what you discuss while in class, pro-active self care (i.e. hydrating, eating, using sun protection, etc…).
Weekend Trip (100 points)
This will be a culminating event for the class. We’ll be able to put our learning to action during a 2 day 1 night winter backpacking trip. The trip will include a lot of information in addition to what we will have already covered in class.
Trip Reflection (10 points)
Disaster in the Alps case review (15 points)
Grading Scale: A = >94%, A- = 90-93%, B+ = 87-89%, B = 84-86%, B- = 80-83%, C+ = 77-79%, C = 74-76%, C- = 70-73%, D = 60-69% F = <60% (I round final grades up one percentage point —i.e. 93.1% gets rounded to 94% which would equate to an A rather than an A-)