Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources
Instructional and Educational Materials
All materials are available free-of-charge. Scroll down the page to see a complete list of available materials. Click on a subject's title for more information about that item. Due to the cost of international shipping, NCSR is unable to ship our books to nations outside the United States and Canada. For international requests for materials in hard copy, we will continue to ship our CD’s, which include all the material contained in a book. The files can be printed from the CD to create books. The content and format is protected and may not be directly edited. Select the text to be copied and paste selected text into a separate WORD document for editing and adaptation into your own courses. Click on Topic Search to access a menu of products by instructional units listed by topic. To access any of the items listed below, click here for the order form. The materials are available in hardcopy and/or CD and for download in PDF format. NCSR gives permission for all materials to be copied and pasted into other formats for editing purposes to be adapted for use in the classroom. |
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Courses | Instructional Manuals | Instructional Modules | Educator Guides Community-Based Secondary Education Guides | Curriculum Guides |
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Courses (Designed for College-level, undergraduate educators) Courses are an academic term length set of detailed lessons that include applications of scientific and technological themes, ecosystem management and laboratory and field-based activities. |
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| Aquatic Field and Lab Methods I | A natural resources and fisheries course that introduces aquatic field and laboratory methods. 133 pages. 6 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture, 9 hours lab |
| Aquatic Field and Lab Methods II | A natural resources and fisheries capstone course featuring measurement techniques and a comprehensive field study of
local stream and lake ecosystems. 121 pages. 6 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture, 9 hours lab |
| Environmental Ethics | A lecture-only course that uses current references to explore views on the humans/nature relationship. 61 pages. 3 Quarter hour credits:3 hours lecture |
| Environmental Science I | Introduces the structure and function of ecosystems as a background for the coverage of environmental issues and
ecosystem management. 169 pages. 4 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab |
| Environmental Science II | Focuses on environmental problems associated with biological resources, using ecosystem management as an underlying
theme. 125 pages. 4 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab |
| Environmental Science III | Examines environmental problems and issues related to energy and environmental contamination. 175 pages. 4 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab |
| Geographics Information System | Provides a lecture-only format suitable for introducing the use of GIS in a wide variety of disciplines. 232 pages. 3 Quarter hour credits: 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab |
| Introduction to Mammalogy | Introduces the characteristics, evolution, classification, adaptations, ecology, and natural history of mammals. 107 pages. 3 Quarter hour credits: 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab |
| Principles of Wildlife Conservation | A lecture-only course that uses current references to present concepts and practices of wildlife conservation. 59 pages. 3 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture |
| Instructional Manuals (Designed for College-level, undergraduate educators) These materials contain classroom, laboratory or field-based applications of scientific and technological themes in ecosystem management. |
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| Aquatic Ecology Lab | Describes a cost-effective way to develop a "constructed wetlands" for field-based student applications including instructional modules that can be used in the lab. 79 pages. |
| Special Topics I - Forest Surveying and Silviculture | Forest Surveying and Silviculture. Provides a compilation of forestry-related laboratory exercises and field activities selected from course materials in forest resource technology programs. 56 pages. |
| Special Topics II - Watersheds, Soils and Ornithology | Watersheds, Soils and Ornithology. A compilation of natural resources exercises used to evaluate watershed ecosystems, soil characteristics and estimating bird populations. 115 pages. |
| Instructional Modules These materials contain classroom, laboratory or field-based applications of scientific and technological themes in ecosystem management. |
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| Human Impacts |
This module presents activities to evaluate human impacts on the environment using several different approaches and resources. 36 pages. |
| Town Meeting: an Approach to Exploring Environmental Issues | This module introduces case studies in a "town meeting" format as a new teaching method for evaluation of a complex environmental issue. 18 pages. |
| Forest Regeneration - An Evaluation of Seedling Mortality, Growth and Stand Development | This module describes a field-based laboratory that evaluates tree seedling growth and mortality and stand development as part of a reforestation project. 51 pages. |
| Evaluation of Media Coverage of an Environmental Issue | This module provides students with some skills and practice in evaluating claims made in written accounts of environmental issues. 21 pages. |
| The Impact of Land Use on Water Quality | This module provides information on conducting a multiple session classroom, laboratory, and field-based experience to determine the impact of non-point sources of pollution on watersheds. 49 pages. |
| Willamette Valley Land Use Change |
This module provides materials that allow module students to examine various images and prepare a detailed analysis of land use changes in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. 35 pages. |
| An Evaluation of Genetically Modified Organisms | This module examines the production of genetically modified organisms as an environmental issue. Potential environmental impacts of genetically modified crops are emphasized, although human health concerns are also addressed. 29 pages. |
| Illustrations of Interconnectedness in Ecosystems | This module introduces the idea of interconnectedness among ecosystem components and describes a number of scenarios that illustrate the concept. 41 pages. |
| NCSR Fire Ecology and Management Series | |
| Ecological Role of Fire | A lecture-based module intended for use in courses such as Environmental Science, General Biology and Introduction to Natural Resources and presents the current understanding of the role of wildfire. 46 p. |
| Historical Fire Regimes and Their Application to Forest Management | This module introduces the concept of historical fire regimes and describes how they are applied to modern forest management. 49 pages. |
| Anatomy of a Wildfire - The B&B Complex Fires | A case study module that presents an examination of the B&B Complex Fire in central Oregon. The module introduces the basics of wildfire behavior in the context of historical fire regimes. 42 pages. |
| Pre-Fire Intervention: Thinning and Prescribed Burning | This lecture-based module provides an introduction to the issue and uses case studies in California and Oregon to illustrate the main points. 61 pages. |
| Post-Wildfire (Salvage) Logging - The Controversy | This module examines the contentious wildfire issues of whether or not to remove trees after a wildfire based on our current state of knowledge on salvage logging. 48 pages. |
| An Evaluation of Media Coverage of Wildfire Issues | A class-room exercise designed to develop student objectivity in evaluating articles published about wildfire-related issues such as salvage logging, wildfire impacts and thinning as a tool for reducing the probability of catastrophic wildfire. 38 pages. |
| NCSR Marine Fisheries Series | |
| Marine Fisheries Overview | A lecture-based module presenting an overview of issues related to marine fisheries resources. It covers causes for declines of marine fish stocks, the implications of fishery declines for marine communities and ecosystems, and, fishery management practices. 73 pages. |
| Marine Fisheries - Introduction and Status | A lecture-based module presenting a detailed examination of the nature of marine fisheries and their status as natural resources. 76 pages. |
| Marine Fisheries - Causes for Decline and Impacts | A lecture-based module presenting a detailed examination of the causes for the decline of marine fisheries and the community- and ecosystem-level impacts of these declines. 84 pages. |
| Marine Fisheries - Management and Proposed Solutions | A lecture-based module presenting a detailed examination of traditional, market-based and ecosystem-based approaches to marine fisheries management. 105 pages. |
Declining Expectations - The Phenomenon of Shifting Baselines |
An instructional guide designed to provide instructors with lecture support on the concept of shifting baselines and its application to marine fisheries. Shifting baselines are defined and their contribution to fishery declines discussed. Various methods that are used to establish historical baselines are described and illustrated with case studies. 38 pages. |
The Role of Marine Reserves in Ecosystem-based Fishery Management |
A lecture-based module presenting the role of marine reserves including the implementation of marine reserve networks in ecosystem-based fishery management. 59 pages. |
| The Decline of Atlantic Cod - A Case Study | This module provides materials for a comprehensive examination of the decline of the Atlantic cod and brief descriptions of other fisheries for developing case studies. 87 pages. |
| Where Does Your Seafood Come From? | An activity designed to evaluate the sustainability of locally available seafood. 42 pages. |
| Shrimp Farming - Environmental and Social Impacts | An evaluation of the environmental and social impacts of shrimp aquaculture. 20 pages. |
| Comprehensive Resources for NCSR Marine Fisheries Series | This document provides detailed summaries for six videos that examine various aspects of the marine fisheries issue, a comprehensive glossary of terms commonly used in marine fisheries and a complete set of citations of web, print and additional video resources. 77 pages. |
| Educator Guides These guides are designed to provide educators background information for developing curriculum modules or courses. |
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| American Indian Perspectives: Nature, Natural Resources, and Natural Resources Education | Nature, Natural Resources, and Natural Resources Education. Provides historical and contemporary information on American Indians and natural resources. 117 pages. |
| Visions for Natural Resource Education and Ecosystem Science for the 21st Century | Documents new directions in creating educational programs to meet the needs of the Twenty-first Century natural resource workforce. 125 pages. |
| Poles Apart | A pictorial visit to the Arctic and Antarctic is part of the NCSR pictorial series designed for presentation to general audiences. It is comprised of images made from photographs from the Arctic and Antarctic regions presented in a PowerPoint format supported by instructors notes. 73 slides. |
| A Visit to Southern Africa | A pictorial visit to Southern Africa is part of the NCSR pictorial series designed for presentation to general audiences. It is comprised of images made from photographs from Botswana and Zambia in a PowerPoint format supported by instructor notes. 104 slides. |
| The West – The Columbia Gorge and Monterey Bay | A pictorial visit, The West- The Columbia Gorge and Monterey Bay is part of the NCSR pictorial series designed for presentation to general audiences. It is comprised of images made from photographs from The Columbia Gorge in Oregon and Washington, and Monterey Bay in California. Photos are presented in a PowerPoint format supported by instructor notes. 77 slides. |
| Community-Based Secondary Education Guides (designed for high-school/middle school educators) These Educators Guides are designed around the community-based approach which unites the classroom and the community in the teaching and learning process. |
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| Educator's Guide to Program Development in Natural Resources | An introductory guide to developing community-based education and ecosystem management instruction as organizing frameworks around natural resource-based studies. 90 pages. |
| Community as a Context for Learning | A detailed guide for developing community-based lessons including tools and resources to connect the classrooms to the community. 252 pages. |
| Community-based Natural Resource Activities for Biology | A series of community-based activities designed for high school biology classes. 114 pages. |
| Educator's Guide to American Indian Perspectives in Natural Resources | For educators looking to include American Indian perspectives in their courses, this manual provides current information and approaches to tribal use and management of natural resources. Two leading Indian authors discuss Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science as well as current work and important background information necessary for inclusion into a natural resource or environmental program. 231 pages. |
| Community-based Education: Model Programs | This educator’s guide provides a glimpse into what is possible when teachers and their students embrace the community-based approach. It contains the stories of 5 programs that have effectively used community-based education in their respective school settings. The stories included here will provide both inspiration and ideas on how to take your students and school on this journey. 74 pages |
| Curriculum Development and Application Guides These guides are designed to assist educators in the development of curriculum, application of supporting instructional technology and in supporting other aspects of natural resource education. |
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| A Toolbox for Curriculum Documentation and Testing | Contains detail strategies for use by educational professionals in documenting curriculum products and protocols for test products. 24 pages. |
| Imaging Technology Using Google Earth and NASA World Wind | This module provides information and instructions on access to and manipulation of high resolution remote sensing imagery. 7 pages. |
| Student Questionnaire - Science as a Process | This questionnaire has been developed to assist faculty in determining the effectiveness of an instructional unit in increasing student knowledge of the scientific process of gathering and using data. 18 pages. |
| Natural Resource Education Student Outreach and Recruiting Presentation | This guide provides a PowerPoint presentation with accompanying notes designed to advise students about employment opportunities and education requirements. 17 slides. |
Updated May 2010.
Copyright 2007 Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources,Salem,Oregon.