Course+Recommendations


 * Here are proposed upgrades to future FASTCE courses. No particular order and were compiled during the Fall 2011 semester.**

**Student Proposed Upgrades** [To be added]


 * Dr. Whelton and Webb Proposed Upgrades **
 * 1) Future courses could not only include a 3 hr lecture block (Monday) but another 3 hour lab period (Wednesday). This lab offering would enable students to all have time to meet out of the Monday field visit to work on course activities such as experimental plan development, writing, water quality testing, data analysis, and presentation preparation.
 * 2) For any future FASTCE course that involves lakes, students could be required to purchase a course textbook/reference that explains basic water quality processes for natural waters. This would enable students to refer back to an authoritative source they own and can use after completion the course. Similar action could also be applied for Water Resources or other CE sub-discipline topics covered in a FASTCE course.
 * 3) Students recommend a TA be supplied in future course to help prepare equipment for field visits, assist in data analysis and interpretation.
 * 4) In preparation for the first several field activities, faculty spent >15 hours organizing, cleaning, calibrating, fixing, labeling water quality sampling glassware, equipment.
 * 5) Students could be provided intense 1 class lecture on the basics of each CE sub-discipline before designing their experimental plan.
 * 6) Some concern was expressed by students about submission of one experimental plan report that represents all six students. To address this concern, students were required to submit one mid-project data assessment report for each team (Environmental v. Water Resources). Teams included three students per team, thus reducing the number of students contributing to each report and requiring those individuals responsible for the report to be more involved.
 * 7) Water quality sampling and analysis consumables used by students for this course (>$3000) were greater than the estimated pre-FASTCE cost ($1000). Drs. Whelton and Webb paid for these supplies from their research accounts, not department accounts. Monies need to be available for future courses with similar analytical demand. The amount incurred in this course was significantly less than a commercial laboratory expense because students conducted the water quality analysis (labor) themselves.
 * 8) Budget for the rental of DISL equipment should be considered in future water quality courses ($150/week). Drs. Whelton and Webb paid for these expenses out of their research accounts, not department accounts.
 * 9) Rented equipment may or may not work. Must consider how useful the device is if that equipment is inoperable.
 * 10) HACH sales representative provided Dr. Whelton loaner turbidimeter (free of charge). If this device was not provided, CE dept could not purchase ($900), and one of the teams would have had to go without turbidimeter.
 * 11) Some previously operational water quality monitoring equipment was found inoperable immediately before FASTCE start. CE Department paid for most new equipment which will be used in future ENV LAB courses.
 * 12)  Dr. Whelton's research students helped calibrate analytical equipment on occasion for FASTCE deployment.
 * 13) Dr. Whelton assembled the field book. Next time, students should be provided guidance on what this would consist of/contain so that they can assemble their own.
 * 14) Personal GPS unit was required to pinpoint lake water sampling locations. This was purchased by Dr. Whelton ($200) using personal monies. Unexpected expense.
 * 15) Boat transport and access was provided by utility staff. Boat excursions were 1.5-3 hour in duration depending on weather conditions and student preparedness to carry-out required activities.
 * 16) To access stream gaging areas and collect water samples at desired locations, students had to cut a pathway to their locations through thick wooded/brush areas before large-scale weekly activities were conducted. Pathway cutting required 1 class period + extra time outside of class period.
 * 17) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">May be helpful to collaborate with a local agency/firm/NGO/etc. for sponsorship. Having a "client" would make for a more realistic experience. The "client" would identify the problem and site... the students would develop an experimental plan and budget no to exceed the sponsor funds. This might eliminate two or three weeks of work on the front end of the semester.
 * 18) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If the course is taught again in the fall semester, must be sure to account for time change in November... this will limit the daylight hours if data collection is performed during a "lab period."
 * 19) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Field sampling activities were reduced from 8 to 6 before the class began, then 6 to 4 during the course. These reductions were necessary to enable students opportunity to analyze, interpret, report their data for the remaining part of the course.
 * 20) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some equipment purchased and received in preparation for this course was received inoperable.