GBIO 103: Contemporary Biology
Course Topic: Food Sustainability
In this class we will learn biology through the lens of Food Sustainability. I try to make what we learn very practical. All of us eat, so how do the choices we make about food affect our health and the health of other people around the world? What are the social justice implications for our actions? For example,
-What do we need to know about genetics to understand Genetically Modified Organisms?
-What do we need to know about our endocrine system to understand the effects of pesticides on us and our farm workers?
-What do we need to know about ecology to understand how our choice of burrito here in Harrisonburg affects the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay?
-What do we need to know about basic economics to understand how our choice of coffee affects people in Guatemala?
-What do we need to know about genetics to understand Genetically Modified Organisms?
-What do we need to know about our endocrine system to understand the effects of pesticides on us and our farm workers?
-What do we need to know about ecology to understand how our choice of burrito here in Harrisonburg affects the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay?
-What do we need to know about basic economics to understand how our choice of coffee affects people in Guatemala?
Class Setup
In this class we use what is called a “Flipped Classroom.” The goal is to have everyone interact with the material numerous times before the exam. So, instead of just memorizing something for an exam and then forgetting it, we will
-Read the material before class
-Use an (open book) online learning tool to review the material (called a WarmUp)
-Take a team-based IFAT quiz in class
-Do a team-based project in class
-Have a question-and-answer based lecture/review
Hopefully this setup will help us work with, remember, and understand the material better.
-Read the material before class
-Use an (open book) online learning tool to review the material (called a WarmUp)
-Take a team-based IFAT quiz in class
-Do a team-based project in class
-Have a question-and-answer based lecture/review
Hopefully this setup will help us work with, remember, and understand the material better.
Contact Dr. Shelly Thomas at James Madison University. Email: thoma3sl at jmu dot edu, Phone: 540-568-5521