15. Debriefing entry: Reflect upon how you made meaning out of this colloquium class experience from a personal, academic, and relationship to your c

15. Debriefing entry: Reflect upon how you made meaning out of this colloquium class
experience from a personal, academic, and relationship to your chosen major or future
profession. Describe some of the highpoints and some of the things you found most difficult.
Make any suggestions you might have for how the class is taught including my teaching methods
and strategies.

Knowing that this Colloquium class was required, I went into it rather... well, excited. I mean, I wasn't happy to have to pay for an extra class when I already was aware of our local nature, the current situation of our globe, and the value of recycling; however, where else do you take field trips in college?
Though I have often felt overwhelmed by the reading and writing required for the class, the topics have been rather important. So many of us, my generation included, do not know where our food comes from, or what it takes to get it to us. We often feel that we are left with no choice, and that our voice does not matter. What we have to realize is that with every purchase, we are making a choice. There is value in knowing where your personal items, such as food and clothing, come from. We are often so disconnected that we have a blind eye.
I have found the field trips to be somewhat enjoyable and informative. I personally am very familiar with the area, growing up here, so I felt it more valuable for my classmates. I do highly value the places such as ECHO and The Estero Historical Cottage. I know it is difficult, due to time restraints, but places such as these I really would have preferred more time. There were many times, even at Corkscrew that I had interested in simply looking around, asking more questions, or visiting the welcome center.

As a commuter, as well as a fellow classmate and friend, I feel I also would have benefited with the option of meeting at the location. I do understand that we ofetn covered materials on the bus, but other times we would piratically back track, passing my apartment on the way to the location. It would be frustrating knowing that the only reason I went to campus was for this class, and then spend over an hour on the bus when I in fact lived just a few mins away from where we were going. Have the option of driving myself would also give me the opportunity to stick around if I was interested in seeing more. Again, I do understand the difficulties in having people meet up and the possible late comer making the whole class wait... but it is just a thought. It would be nice if transportation was "optional" if correctly arranged with the instructor.
I know that there was often time for group participation or discussion, but with a very "non-talkative" class, it proved to be more frustrating than interesting. I know such issues are hard to fix, I just hate feeling as though we are wasting time. Maybe more personal topics would provide a better discussion.

Some of the power points were again informative, yet often redundant. I enjoyed seeing pictures from the past, and learning about other cultures. I am a bit tired of being told to recycle my water bottles to save the planet though...
All in all, I do strongly feel that the message of sustainability and eco-friendly knowledge, is an important one, and fairly new to some people. Education is a vital thing. We don't know, what we don't know. As a future educator myself, I know how difficult it is to reach everyone. I know Colloquium tries hard to include as many different avenues as possible to teach our students, maybe it just takes time to really figure out what is best.

14. Reflect upon your observations as to how well FGCU is doing as an institution with a mission that includes modeling best sustainability practices

14. Reflect upon your observations as to how well FGCU is doing as an institution with a
mission that includes modeling best sustainability practices.



The first thing that you notice about FGCU is the lush property and nature throughout the campus.
Native plants are the most popular on campus. They are easier to take care of, since they require less water and are accustom to the weather and the common temperature. Man made lakes have been produced on campus. The were created with a slope to invite animals and allow for a variety of plans to grow.
The campus even utilizes solar trash and recycling bins. Solar energy is as sustainable as it comes, and the compacting the binds do, help to reduce waste and the amout of work needed to empty the bins.
Other things around the campus such as the rock beds, and pavers allow water to soak into the ground at a slow, gradual rate which helps the water be filtered naturally as it reaches the water sheds. Water is such a vital natural resource, and this action also helps to keep it from simply running off and collecting pollutants.

By making educated decisions on building supplies, and building techniques, the school works hard to leave the least impact possible.
Buildings utilize metal roofs, and awnings to reduce the interior temperature and thus the required electricity to power air conditioning.
I really was quite amazing to find out that the campus utilizes freezing water into ice to cool off the buildings. The schools calls it the "Chiller Plant". That is such an old practice with low emissions. Understanding that the electricity is needed to freeze the water, but the school utilizes the time of day so that the process is done the most effective way.

It is obvious the FGCU has a mission to not only do the best they can to support a sustainable mission, but also education people on the things they can do as well.
No one is perfect, but we are constantly learning new things and FGCU is obviously utilizing that.


Picture from FGCU website, http://www.fgcu.edu/about.asp

13. Reflect on the field trip to Downtown Fort Myers. Define the changes to the social and economic role of downtown over time. How has the use of

13. Reflect on the field trip to Downtown Fort Myers. Define the changes to the social and
economic role of downtown over time. How has the use of the river changed through time, if
any?


Even though I have grown up in Fort Myers, I still enjoyed our field trip downtown. I always enjoy downtowns, no matter where they are. The mixture of old and new, historical and modern, I always am awed by it all.

Though I knew a lot of the history, I was not aware of some of the things. I am glad the city has places many monuments to remind us and inform others. Though I should have know, I didn't realize we had so much of a connection to the war. I also could not imagine having to travel to Key West to handle my court issues.

The river has obviously been an important part of downtown. Though not all, most major cities are built up around water. When we did not have cars, the water was the best way to travel. The demand has dropped, but the water is still a vital part of our economy. It is mostly now for pleasure, not so much for triad.
It is obvious the in impute of malls and such have detracted from our downtown. The city is trying to build it back up and have entertainment and events to bring people back down. I am sure we all have our own ideas as to what would make it more popular. Though I like it semi quiet, I knoq it is the bustle of people that makes downtown the valuable source that it is.

12. Write an entry about poverty! You might want to drive by an area that is impoverished, and make some notes on what you see and what you think con

12. Write an entry about poverty! You might want to drive by an area that is impoverished, and
make some notes on what you see and what you think contributes to the neighborhood's
condition. What do you think is the most important crisis? How do they interlock? How, then,
can they be solved? Do you see signs of hope and success? Explain.
When I think about poverty, I immediately thing about other countries and areas around the world. I picture dirt, and shanty villages. I have mentioned before that I have friends who are currently missionaries, one in Haiti, and one who is traveling to multiple countries throughout the year. I can only imagine the things that they see, and face daily. Small children partly clothed, who barely receive one meal a day.
That is what I picture when I think of poverty. The problem with that thinking, is that poverty does not only exist in other countries. Poverty, I believe, is not directly related to money, but to a standard of life. When certain standards are not met, a person is in life affecting poverty.
For over five years, I worked for a summer mission camp, TEAMeffort. Our mission was to work in low income are elderly areas, improving tangible things like their house.

In areas all across the country, TEAMeffort has worked with families that live in all kinds of conditions. Children that share a room with multiple other family members. Some do not have working restrooms, or even running waters. Many people do not have adequate trash removal and therefore live an an area that is unclean.
With my passion for children, it is hard for me to see young kids in such circumstances that hinder their health and quality of life. When parents have to spend all their time working just to make enough to cover basic needs, young children are often expected to grow up at a hideous rate. Children should play, not have to take care of other children and the home.

Regarding health, I feel that so much is linked to clean and adequate water. As we have studied in our class this semester, pollution can travel. Everyone is linked and can affect others. Many areas around the world are not linked to water, other areas do not have proper knowledge of clean water and have multiple things that damage their water.
I believe the issues of poverty and proper quality of life can be fought. A lot has to do with knowledge. People who have, can easily give a little and help a lot. People that don't have much, can be taught to live in a healthier way.
We all have to be willing to go to the areas we are not familiar with, and help out in ways we didn't know we could. If we all did a little, a whole lot of change would be made.

11.Reflect on the field trip to Matanzas Pass Preserve and Estero Bay Historic Cottage. What are the dynamic elements that shape the barrier isla

I think our whole class enjoyed our trip to the Historic Cottage on Fort Myers Beach. I honestly, in all my years here and many school field trips, did not know that is existed. I was happy to have the opportunity to view some of the old artifacts and personal things that had been donated to the Historic Society.

Barrier Islands are very critical, and often ever changing. They protect the main land from damaging erosion and provide refuge and shelter for many plants and animals. I think we has people get very angry when there is change that we did not control. Fact of the matter is though, we can not control the weather, and weather can change the shape and flow of land with its mighty power.

I honestly was not aware that the water of Fort Myers Beach was once so clear. I know that brackish water, the mix of fresh and salt water, is often darker, and not so clear. When our guide told us that she remembers a time when she could see the bottom of the sea, many feet down, I was pretty surprised.

Our land has changed and adapted to our use, or even abuse, of it. Nature is resilient that way, however, if we continue to damage the water and take no heed to the space space and care that the land and water require, it will soon become a place that we will not even want to visit.

photos from Estero Island Historic Society, http://uffedison.org/esteroislandhistoricsociety/index.html

10. Review and write about corporate ethics. In preparing for this entry, you might find it useful to visit some controversial corporate web sites li

10. Review and write about corporate ethics. In preparing for this entry, you might find it useful
to visit some controversial corporate web sites like those of Monsanto, Exxon, Nestle, etc. and
see what "ethical" issues relative to the environment and the use of human resources these
corporations face. The entry will be a review of your reflections of these sites.


The argument of "ethics" has always, and will always be just that; and argument. With our free thinking minds and personal opinions, it is hard to make such matters black and white. What is "ethical"? More importantly, what isn't?
When is comes to corporate ethics, the debate can seem even more confusing. It is more important to provide a good product, no matter the cost? Or is the process more important than the actual product?
Take for instant, Exxon. They provide a project, gasoline, that we value pretty high. It is something we could technically live without, but ask just about anyone here in America and they will tell you they wouldn't want to. Since they provide something so important to us, we tend to not look into how we get it. They are a large company and easily control a lot of the gasoline industry. Their website focus was more on the consumer concept, how to buy and where to buy.

Nestle provides a verity of foods and ingredients. They advertise as being "Good Food, Good Life". There is easy admissibility to information on the missions they support and focus on. Global issues like clean water, and sustainably products.

Monsanto advertises their company as a "for the people" company. Visually their site shows pictures of happy families, and hard working farmers in their field. They work to better the food that are grown, and the way they are grown.

I personal believe that it is not only important for a company to provide a good and safe product, but also the process in which it is produced. A company that take an interest and a stand for not only their neighborhood, but the global community shows good ethics. We are all in this together, and it is important we all do our part with the resources we have.

6. Start making it a habit to read the paper daily watching the Discovery Channel, PBS etc., and surfing the web. Write at least one page overview of

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/parks/

Starting back towards the end of January, PBS has been airing a documentary series on our nation's parks. There were 10 parks featured, including:

Acadia – Maine

Biscayne – Florida

Denali – Alaska

Everglades – Florida

Grand Canyon – Arizona

Great Smoky Mountains – Tennessee

Kenai Fjords – Alaska

Mesa Verde – Colorado

Yellowstone – Wyoming

Yosemite – California

I saw an advertisement for the series prior to it's airing and it really perked my interest. I had intended to catch as many as possible, but unfortunately I missed quite a few. Maybe I will have an opportunity to go back and watch some on line.

I was able to watch a some of the episode on the Everglades, and since it was after our readings from the Colloquium Reader, I felt a bit more informed going into it.

Growing up, I often, and somewhat still do, have the sense that everything is as it is and will forever be. When I came along, cars were already the norm, TVs and phones as well. Parks were established and we were long past the Industrial Revolution and the invention of the light bulb. I was surprised to see and learn more about the struggle it took to make parks Parks. A select few stood up and said "This needs to be protected" and without them, we would have lost a lot of land.

The Everglades were even more of a struggle. Many of the parks listed previously were already established in the late 1800s or early 1900s. People liked and wanted to protect places like Yellowstone because of it's vast and beautiful views. Backdrops of mountains and lakes that one could play in were easily agreed upon by people to protect. The Everglades were another story.

Since the Everglades are not that easy to cover by foot, vehicle, or sometimes even boat, not many people at ventured to see it. Finding help from people like Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who wrote beautifully and exquisitely in detail about the natural beauty, the importance of the Everglades grew.

It faced many dangers from plume hunters killing off the bird wildlife, and developers wanting to drain the marsh, but eventually, the Everglades became protected as a National Park in 1934.