"So, if the students do not have that background, then I think you are wasting your time teaching "ecology" and what you should be teaching is "environmental studies." That could easily be geared to unprepared undergrads, and could fill in some of those voids that you mentioned your students have.
Cheers, Jim" Yikes! As a self-teaching student with Vermont College myself, I am cringing at the thought of an "unprepared undergrad" attempting to grasp environmental studies WITHOUT a solid understanding of multi-disciplinary ecology. I am finding that too many of my fellow students are single-minded and wholly without any concept of basic scientific principles or methods. They are feeling with their emotions instead of thinking with their brains. That, in my opinion, sets the stage for disaster -- truly caring people out there attempting to "fix" nature's "problems" with "solutions" that cause worse problems than before. All in the name of The Environment...and no science in sight. No geology, climate history, basic chemistry or physics or thermodynamics. In other words, as a student, I do not consider myself a responsible scientists unless and until I realize that each question I answer leads to more questions. Respectfully, Kelly Stettner, Director Black River Action Team [EMAIL PROTECTED] Black River Action Team (BRAT) 45 Coolidge Road Springfield, VT 05156 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.blackriveractionteam.org ~Making ripples on the Black River since 2000! ~ --------------------------------- Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.
