Overview

Assignment	Due Date	Format	Grading Percent
Discussion 1: Food and Agriculture	Day 3 (1st post)	Discussion	3
Quiz: Week Two Quiz	Day 7	Quiz	5
Laboratory: Water Quality and Contamination	Day 7	Laboratory	7

Note: The online classroom is designed to time students out after 90 minutes of inactivity. Because of this, we strongly suggest that you compose your work in a word processing program and copy and paste it into the discussion post when you are ready to submit it.

Learning Outcomes

This week students will:

1. Identify advancements in agricultural technology.
2. Summarize the effects of advancements in agricultural technology on the environment.
3. Examine water quality and contaminants in the environment through laboratory experimentation.

Introduction

This week, you will begin to utilize the scientific method to further your knowledge of the human effects on water quality. Utilizing laboratory analysis and course readings, you will advance your understanding of human impacts on the water cycle. Furthermore, participation in discussion boards and completion of the weekly quiz will provide background into the many issues surrounding global food security and provide some of the sought after solutions to global hunger.

Required Resources

Required Text

1. Contemporary Environmental Issues 
   1. Chapter 3: Feeding the World
   2. Chapter 5: Water

Lab Kit

1. Lab 2: Water Quality and Contamination
2. Lab 3: Biodiversity

Multimedia 

1. AshfordScience. (2013, July 15). The scientific method presentation [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkGOJYZQwLQ
   • This video provides specific support for understanding how systematic scientific investigations are performed and why they are required for the laboratory experiments in the course.
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Supplemental Material

1. Selhorst, A. (2013). Week two lab reporting form [Word file]. College of Liberal Arts. Ashford University.
   • You will need this form in order to successfully complete this week’s laboratory, “Water Quality and Contamination.”

Discussion
To participate in the following discussion, go to this week’s Discussion link in the left navigation.

1. Food and Agriculture

   In the United States, we are fortunate to have an abundant supply of food. However, this abundance is largely due to advances in agricultural technology, which have in turn created numerous concerns surrounding our food sources. Provide at least two modern examples of how the United States has increased its food production. Using at least two scholarly or reputable resources and your textbook, discuss how these changes have affected the environment, and what impact they have on food safety.

   Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Utilize at least two scholarly or reputable resources and your textbook to support your claims. Cite your sources in APA format. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.

   Carefully review the Grading Rubric that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Quiz
To complete the following quiz, go to this week’s Quiz link in the left navigation.

Week Two Quiz

This quiz consists of 10 questions. The amount of time the quiz will take to complete will vary by individual.

Laboratory
To complete the following assignment, go to this week’s Laboratory link in the left navigation.

Water Quality and Contamination

Carefully review Grading Rubric before beginning the assignment.

Before you begin this assignment, watch the video titled The Scientific Method Presentation. Then, read “Lab 2: Water Quality and Contamination.” This lab will allow you to investigate the effects of common pollutants on groundwater as well as mimic the filtration process utilized by wastewater treatment facilities. Additionally, you will perform tests on your own tap water to compare differences in contaminants found in bottled versus tap water. Then, you will utilize this information and your eScience lab kit to complete Experiments 1 through 3 on the Week Two Lab Reporting Form. Make sure to complete all of the following items before submission:

1. Read through the introductory material and watch The Scientific Method Presentation video.
2. Perform Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination using your eScience lab manual and kit.
3. Complete Table 1 and answer Post Lab Questions 1 through 5 in complete sentences on the Week Two Lab Reporting Form.
4. Complete Experiment 2: Water Treatment using your eScience lab manual and kit.
5. Answer Post Lab Questions 1 through 4 in complete sentences on the Week Two Lab Reporting Form.
6. Complete Experiment 3: Drinking Water Quality using your eScience lab manual and kit.
7. Complete Tables 2 through 6 and answer Post Lab Questions 1 through 4 in complete sentences on the Week Two Lab Reporting Form.
8. Go to “Lab 3: Biodiversity,” and complete Experiment 1: Diversity of Plants steps 1 through 6. Steps 1 through 6 need to be completed in order to be prepared for Week Three; however, results for this experiment will not be calculated until next week. Thus, nothing is to be handed in for this experiment until the end of Week Three.7/25/2015 SCI207: Dependence of Man on the Environment (ACN1530F)

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   Week 2 ­ Discussion 1

   Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates.

   In the United States, we are fortunate to have an abundant supply of food. However, this abundance is largely due to advances in agricultural technology, which have in turn created numerous concerns surrounding our food sources. Provide at least two modern examples of how the United States has increased its food production. Using at least two scholarly or reputable resources and your textbook, discuss how these changes have affected the environment, and what impact they have on food safety.

   Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Utilize at least two scholarly or reputable resources and your textbook to support your claims. Cite your sources in APA format.

   Food and Agriculture