NS-150: Introduction to Natural Sciences

Project Overview

NS-150: Introduction to Natural Sciences is a general education course that I have taught both online and in the classroom for eight semesters.

When I began teaching the course as an adjunct instructor, I inherited an existing course shell, established course learning outcomes, and the selected textbook. Rather than rebuilding the course from scratch, I focused on enhancing the learning experience by developing original instructional content, improving course organization, integrating supplemental multimedia, and creating a more engaging and consistent learning environment.

Each semester, I continue to evaluate and refine the course based on student feedback, instructional best practices, and my own teaching experience. The result is a course that has evolved over time while maintaining the original learning objectives.

Course Homepage

The course homepage utilizes the required eLearning Services Canvas template while providing students with a clear starting point for the course. It includes a welcome message, links to essential course information, and quick access to resources that help students successfully navigate the learning environment.

Consistent Course Organization

A consistent course structure helps students focus on learning rather than navigation. Every module follows the same layout and sequence, allowing students to quickly locate readings, videos, assignments, discussions, and learning resources. Maintaining a predictable structure reduces cognitive load and creates a familiar learning environment throughout the semester.

Assessment: Science in the News

One of the required course learning outcomes focuses on exposing students to current science topics beyond the textbook. To support this objective, I developed a recurring Science in the News assignment that encourages students to connect course concepts with current scientific discoveries.

Each week, students locate a science news article published within the previous four weeks, summarize the article in their own words, and explain how the topic is relevant to the average person. Because students choose their own articles, every submission is unique, exposing the class to a wide variety of scientific topics while encouraging students to recognize the role science plays in everyday life.

Science in the News - Text from Canvas (Screenshot to the rigth):

NS-150 — Science in the News Assignment

Find a recent news article (published within the past 2–3 weeks) about a scientific topic. You may choose any science-related news story that interests you.

Possible websites to search include:

Your article must be available online so the instructor can access and read it. If you do not provide the link and the article cannot be located, you will receive a ZERO.

Your Assignment Must Include

1. Source Information

You must include all four of the following:

Author’s name
Publish date
Title of the article
Direct link to the online article

This information is required because the instructor must be able to locate and read the article in order to evaluate your work.

You do not need to use a formal citation style such as APA or MLA, but you must give proper credit to the original author and source.

2. Summary of the Article

Write a summary of the article in your own words (usually 1–2 paragraphs).

Your summary should:

Explain the main points of the article
Be written professionally using complete sentences and paragraphs
Include correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure
Be paraphrased in your own words

Do not copy sentences directly from the article or use direct quotes.

3. Relevance: Why This Story Matters

Write about the article’s importance or relevance to the general public (usually 1 paragraph).

Try to answer questions such as:

Why does this scientific topic matter?
How could it affect everyday people?
Why should the average person care about this discovery, research, or event?

Write professionally using complete sentences, proper grammar, and paragraph structure.

Formatting Requirements

Submit your assignment as a Word document (.doc or .docx).

At the top of your paper, include:

Your name
Course name: NS-150
Date or semester
Assignment title: Science in the News

Content Design

Course content is organized into manageable sections that combine text, graphics, and embedded multimedia to support student learning. Rather than relying primarily on links to external websites, I developed original content pages that present information in a clear, engaging format while incorporating supplemental videos to reinforce key concepts.

Each page is designed with consistent formatting, clear headings, and visual elements that improve readability and make information easy to locate.

Design Challenge: Prison Education Program

Challenge

Students enrolled in the Idaho Department of Correction's Prison Education Program are housed at multiple correctional facilities. Because communication between students at different facilities is not permitted:

Canvas Discussions could not be used.
Group projects and peer collaboration were not allowed.
A key learning activity centered on discussing the course readings needed to be redesigned.

Solution

To preserve the learning objectives while complying with correctional policies, I developed an anonymous peer review activity. Students submitted their weekly Book Chat reflections (previously a discussion board prompt) and were assigned another student's submission to review anonymously. This allowed students to engage with different perspectives and provide thoughtful feedback without direct communication.

Outcome

The redesigned activity maintained the instructional benefits of peer interaction while meeting the security and privacy requirements of the correctional education environment. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting that the anonymous format made them feel less self-conscious about their writing and more comfortable sharing thoughtful responses.

Continuous Improvement

NS-150 continues to evolve. Student feedback, changes in scientific knowledge, and ongoing course evaluation all contribute to regular updates that improve the learning experience while maintaining the established course objectives.

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