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.

Courses | Instructional Manuals | Instructional Modules | Educator Guides

Community-Based Guides | Curriculum Guides

Courses
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.
Aquatic Field and Lab Methods I A natural resources and fisheries course that introduces aquatic field and laboratory methods.

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.

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.

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.

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.

4 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
Environmental Science III Examines environmental problems and issues related to energy and environmental contamination.

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.

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.

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.

3 Quarter hour credits: 3 hours lecture
Instructional Manuals
These materials contain classroom, laboratory or field-based applications of scientific and technological themes in ecosystem management.
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
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.
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.
Instructional Modules
These materials contain classroom, laboratory or field-based applications of scientific and technological themes in ecosystem management.
Human Impacts
(also available in hardcopy w/CD)
This module presents activities to evaluate human impacts on the environment using several different approaches and resources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Willamette Valley Land Use Change
(also available in hardcopy w/CD)
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.
Educator Guides
These guides are designed to provide educators background information for developing curriculum modules or courses.
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.
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.
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.
Community-Based Secondary Education Guides
These Educators Guides are designed around the community-based approach which unites the classroom and the community in the teaching and learning process.
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.
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.
Community-based Natural Resource Activities for Biology A series of community-based activities designed for high school biology classes.
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.
A Toolbox for Curriculum Documentation and Testing Contains detail strategies for use by educational professionals in documenting curriculum products and protocols for test products.
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.
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.
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.





Updated January 2008.

Copyright 2007 Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources,Salem,Oregon.