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Gavin Walton
- October 18, 2024
Hi there soon to be an Environmental Science expert! Well, you are going to immerse yourself into study.com Environmental Science 101: Environment and Humanity, Awesome choice! This course is like your portal to how people go about their business in this world and everything, from productivity to pollution… well, let’s include the kamikaze birds. Regardless of your goals – be it to ace the next test or just to find out why the world is going gaga over sustainability, this course will set the basic knowledge.
The cool part about this class is that this instructor is really good at simplifying things that would otherwise seem confusing to us and difficult to grasp—such as ecosystems and pollution, resolvable resources, and the like. No jargon overload here! The cultural factors also become clear by the end to the extent that you are able to see how human behavior contributes to environmental matters. It is like gaining the know-how of all the reports that you receive on your news about climate change, pollution, and any form of conservation. But wait!!—It is not yet all bad news as you will learn as you continue reading! You will also get to know about solutions and sustainability that are being implemented as we speak. Stay tuned and I guarantee that you will find this subject approachable as well as quite entertaining.
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What to Expect from Study.com Environmental Science 101 Class📖
Let us discuss what you will be facing by going through study.com Environmental Science 101: Environment and Humanity. Well, this class encompasses a lot of information, but do not worry because the target here is to make that knowledge fun and easy to grasp. You will focus on the interactions of people with their environment or simply what may be referred to as environmental anthropology, which comprises the coverage of natural resources, environmentally friendly systems such as renewable energy, and the not-so-pleasant effects of pollution and industrialization. It is particularly like being given an intensive introduction to the method by which the whole wide world functions, yet without getting a headache.
One of the major topics you will study is ecosystems and the earth’s biodiversity, or how the tiniest plant and the largest animal co-exist. I promise this will be applied in your exam more than once; thus, the flow of energy and food chains is important. Another burning issue is pollution where water and air are the most significant threats to people’s health and the conditions of the surrounding world. You’ll have to know more about the causes of pollution and ways of minimizing pollution impacts. Yes, you will be expected to understand the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources such as ‘solar energy’ and ‘fossil fuels’ among others.
Finally, “watch out” when the class discusses sustainability and ethics to the environment. Some of these may look a little theoretical, but these ones are the pulse of this course. Why? This is because the future of how human beings will interact with the environment and meet his or her needs is at the heart of sustainability. Awareness of such a thing as the Western and Deep Ecology paradigm shift is the number one thing that will help you pass your exam. It will, therefore, be useful to have your notes close by each time these are mentioned.
Week-by-Week Study Plan to Ace Study.com Environmental Science 101 Exam📝
Here’s a simple but effective 7-week study plan to help you ace the Study.com Environmental Science 101: Environment and Humanity course. Stick to this schedule, and you’ll feel prepared and confident by exam day!
Week 1: Introduction and Ecosystems
- Focus: Start with understanding basic environmental science concepts and ecosystems.
- Tasks:
- Watch all lessons on ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Make flashcards for key terms like “trophic levels,” “food chains,” and “energy flow.”
- Complete any quizzes in this section to test your retention.
- External Resource: Watch this quick Ecosystems 101 YouTube video for extra clarity.
Week 2: Pollution and Its Effects
- Focus: Dive into the impact of pollution—air, water, and land—and how humans contribute.
- Tasks:
- Review lessons on pollution sources and effects (Chapters 8 and 9).
- Take detailed notes on point-source vs. non-point-source pollution.
- External Resource: This pollution overview Quizlet deck can help you memorize important facts.
Week 3: Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
- Focus: Understand the difference between energy sources like fossil fuels, solar, and wind energy.
- Tasks:
- Study renewable vs. nonrenewable energy sources.
- Create a comparison table of their pros and cons.
- External Resource: Watch this video on renewable vs nonrenewable resources.
Week 4: Human Impact on the Environment
- Focus: Learn about how population growth, deforestation, and industrialization impact the planet.
- Tasks:
- Focus on Chapters 10-13, covering population growth and resource consumption.
- Use real-world examples to connect concepts to current events.
- External Resource: This study guide provides a great overview of human environmental impacts.
Week 5: Sustainability and Environmental Ethics
- Focus: Get a handle on sustainability, environmental ethics, and the push for greener solutions.
- Tasks:
- Review lessons on sustainability (Chapters 16-18).
- Understand different environmental worldviews and how they impact policy decisions.
- External Resource: This video on sustainability and ethics is super helpful for this section.
Week 6: Review Key Concepts
- Focus: It’s time to review the most crucial topics before the exam.
- Tasks:
- Go through your flashcards and notes from Weeks 1-5.
- Take the practice quizzes again to identify weak areas.
- Tip: Try teaching key concepts to a friend—it’s a great way to see how well you know your stuff!
Week 7: Practice Test and Final Review
- Focus: This week is all about practice tests and refining what you’ve learned.
- Tasks:
- Take a full-length practice test to simulate the exam environment.
- Go over any incorrect answers and revisit weak spots.
- Re-watch any tough lessons and give extra attention to confusing sections.
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Free External Resources to Study Environmental Science📂
To complement your Study.com Environmental Science 101: Environment and Humanity coursework, here are some free external resources that can help you understand tough concepts and ace your exam.
YouTube Channels
- CrashCourse: Known for breaking down complex subjects into easy-to-understand lessons, their Ecology Playlist is perfect for reviewing topics like ecosystems and biodiversity.
- SciShow: This channel dives deep into various environmental science topics. Their video on pollution and the environment is great for understanding the different types of pollution.
Khan Academy (Free Learning Platform)
- Khan Academy offers a wealth of free resources, including environmental science courses. Their section on Ecology and Environment covers many key topics like ecosystems, biomes, and environmental issues.
Quizlet Flashcards
- Quizlet is great for sharpening one’s terms and definitions though I prefer to use Quizlet alongside other materials. The following is an Environmental Science Flashcard Set that tackles all the basics from ecosystems to pollution so that you get through the language, terms, and ideas.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The EPA has a plethora of resources readily available to the public on its website on environmental policies, sustainability, and pollution control. Another feature they have that could capture the interest of the student especially if he or she is interested in knowing the applicability of what he or she is studying, they have a section called Sustainability.
TED-Ed Talks
- TED-Ed consists of animated videos on various issues, which take less than twenty minutes to complete. One of the more challenging concepts that you’ll find is overpopulation and its impact on the environment and their video on this subject, ‘ The Effects of Overpopulation on the Environment’ is a good summary of the concept.
NOAA Climate.gov
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides reliable data and research on climate change, ocean health, and atmospheric science. Check out their section on climate impacts for up-to-date info on global environmental changes.
These free resources will help you better grasp difficult topics and provide valuable insights to boost your learning.
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Key Topics to Focus On in Study.com Environmental Science 101🔑
To assist you in moving easily around the most significant subjects in Study.com Environmental Science 101: Environment and Humanity, I have pointed out four topics that you will have to cover. These are the ones that you are bound to meet in your exam and are very crucial when it comes to grasping the content of the course. There are also some comparison tables and some real-world examples introduced as well to help me explain these complicated concepts!
- Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources
It is important to be familiar with such concepts as renewable and nonrenewable resources to succeed in the exam. Here’s a quick breakdown:
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Criteria
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Renewable Resources
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Nonrenewable Resources
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Definition
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Resources that can be replenished naturally over time.
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Resources that exist in finite quantities and are depleted when used.
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Examples
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Solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal.
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Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), nuclear energy.
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Environmental Impact
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Typically have a low environmental impact (clean, sustainable).
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High environmental impact (carbon emissions, pollution).
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Availability
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Abundant and can be regenerated.
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Limited; will run out over time.
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Real-world Example: One of the more popular kinds of power sources for electricity generation is solar power and its source is renewable if the sun is shining. Though, coal mining is an unconventional resource that is a source of air pollution and global warming.
Additional Info: Renewable resources are relatively safer in the long run but they cost more to establish than the other resources. Nonrenewable resources are inexpensive to seize, however, their expenses are high regarding the environment in the long run leading to climatic changes.
- The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
This is a highly tested topic and is a foundation for understanding climate change. The greenhouse effect is a natural process, but human activities have amplified it, causing global warming.
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Factor
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Greenhouse Effect
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Global Warming
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Definition
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Trapping of heat by greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane) in the atmosphere.
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The long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature is due to human activity.
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Natural or Human-caused?
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Natural process (needed for life on Earth).
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Largely driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels.
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Impact
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Regulates Earth's temperature.
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Causes rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and extreme weather.
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Real-world Example: Climate change regulating service is revealed through activities such as absorbing CO₂ by forests which are also carbon sources.
Additional Info: In fact, ecosystems are much more than the beautiful scenery that they portray. They equally have important functions by supporting our everyday existence, in matters such as food production flood control, and recreation.
- Ecosystem Services
Linked systems offer many values that are of vital importance for life and support of human well-being, called ecosystem services. This concept gives rise frequently in the exams since it forms the basis of valuing the environment.
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Type of Service
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Description
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Example
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|---|---|---|
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Provisioning Services
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Products obtained from ecosystems.
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Food, fresh water, timber.
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Regulating Services
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Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes.
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Air quality regulation, carbon sequestration.
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Cultural Services
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Non-material benefits from ecosystems.
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Recreation, tourism, spiritual benefits.
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Supporting Services
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Services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services.
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Nutrient cycling, soil formation, oxygen production.
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Real-world Example: An example of regulation service is; the mitigation of climate change by means of forests as carbon reservoirs that absorb and store CO₂.
Additional Info: So ecosystems are not just to put up beauty. They work, as you know, various and vital functions for our day-to-day existence, production of food, control of floods, and provision of recreational amenities among them.
- Human Population Growth and Environmental Impact
The topic presented reveals the extent to which population growth can be a problem for the environment. The negative impact on the environment occurs since as the population of humans increases the demand for natural resources also increases.
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Population Growth Factor
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Effect on Environment
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Increased Resource Consumption
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More resources are used, leading to the depletion of forests, water, and fossil fuels.
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Increased Waste Production
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More people generate more waste, contributing to pollution and waste management issues.
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Urbanization
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Leads to habitat destruction, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity.
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Real-world Example: The population density in developing countries such as Beijing has a negative impact on the environment as there is a high frequency of vehicles and industrial plants.
Additional Info: The above growth has put pressure on the available resources in the world by extending the Human Population hence resulting in over-exploitation, use of resources, polluting the Environment, and producing wastes. That is why sustainability is essential for the future generations to come.
These are often the main subjects to base the questions on and make it easier to overcome the course and get a grip on it.
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Study.com Environmental Science 101 FAQ❓
- What should I do in order to prepare well for the exam?
Pay special attention to the major issues that were discussed earlier, namely the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources, the problem of population increase, and pollution. Design a timetable for studying, combining using flashcards and other materials found on the Internet with other types of learning. Week-by-week studying is essential.
- Do I have to memorize particular regulatory environmental laws?
Indeed, the knowledge of the fundamental environmental laws that include the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and The National Environmental Policy Act are likely to feature on the exam.
- Is there any prerequisite in terms of science knowledge to be able to take this course successfully?
Not much! All the concepts that are being introduced in this course are basic in nature. Still, it is helpful to have some knowledge of biology or chemistry; however, the notions are explained simply, so that students without a background in sciences or with poor knowledge in these disciplines can also understand.
- Are the quizzes on study.com enough for exam preparation?
Quizzes are helpful but supplement them with flashcards, external videos, and additional reading. Also, make sure to understand how the key concepts relate to real-world environmental issues.
- What should I focus on for the essay portions?
For any essay or discussion questions, focus on linking environmental concepts to current events. For example, how climate change is affecting renewable energy usage. Also, use the information in the “Key Topics to Focus On” section as guidance.
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Conclusion for Environment and Humanity Success 📄
Congratulations! on getting to the end of the ultimate guide to study.com’s Environmental Science 101: Environment and Humanity. It’s not about lecturing and memorizing for an exam, it’s about people and their relation to the environment and the role that one can play in making the world a healthier place. When you’re following the week-by-week study plan, using external resources, and focusing on the key concepts, you are preparing for the best outcome. Don’t forget to pace yourself, stay curious, and remember that environmental science impacts every part of life. The knowledge you gain here will not only help you pass your exam but also equip you to make informed, environmentally conscious decisions in the future.
Good luck on your journey to mastering Environmental Science 101, and may you ace that exam with confidence!
