<html><head></head><body><div style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div>See attached flyer and course description, below. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks, Larry</div><div><br></div><div> <div class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NOXIOUS, INVASIVE PLANTS OF ARIZONA
(RNR/PLS 400)</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br></span></b></div><div class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Summer Session I, 2018; 3 credits</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""></span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br></span></b></div><div class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">June 4 – July 5, 2018</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""></span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br></span></b></div><div class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Dr. Larry D. Howery
(lhowery@ag.arizona.edu; 309-5412)</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""></span><b><u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br></span></u></b></div><div class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Fully On-line (D2L) Course</span></u></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></div>
<p class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Course Synopsis: </span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> This fully on-line, 3-credit
course will “meet” June 4-July 5, 2018 and will focus on the
biology, ecology, impacts, and management options for noxious, invasive plants
in Arizona and the western U.S. The course’s primary focus is on Arizona
and the western U.S., however, it will also provide a brief overview of the
ecological and economic effects of invasive plants across North America.</span></p>
<p class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Background: </span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Noxious, invasive plant problems in
the western U.S. have been described as “a slow-moving biological
fire.” When small weed infestations are left unchecked, they may grow
exponentially. However, land impacted by prescribed or managed fires usually recovers and may be
more diverse and productive than before the fire occurred. On the other
hand, land infested by invasive plants may be irreversibly changed.
Invasive plants also cause economic problems by negatively impacting human and
animal health, disrupting the structure and function of natural ecosystems, and
decreasing land values. Many weed scientists compare small infestations
to biological time bombs, primed to expand exponentially when the right
combination of environmental conditions comes along. The risk of ignoring
these infestations is great. In Arizona and throughout the western U.S.,
there are opportunities to control smaller infestations before they expand
their range into previously uninfested areas.</span></p>
<p class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Course Objectives and Expected
Learning Outcomes:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
The primary objective of this course is to help you develop a deeper
understanding of noxious and invasive plants that are currently established in
Arizona or that threaten the state. The first half of the course focuses
on about 30 species of noxious, invasive weeds and potential management options
for those species, while the last half of the course more specifically covers
the pros and cons of using various management tools that are available to
control noxious, invasive weeds using an integrated, ecologically-based
approach.<span> </span>By the end of this course, you
will have achieved the following learning outcomes: 1) ability to describe
multiple negative impacts of noxious, invasive plants, 2) ability to
site-identify ~ 30 key invasive plant species in the southwestern U.S., 3)
increased understanding of the biology and ecology of invasive species, and, 4)
increased understanding of various integrated vegetation management strategies
and tactics to manage noxious, invasive plants.<span>
</span><span> </span> </span></p>
<p class="ydpe055c34aMsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Course Methodology and Teaching
Format:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Time
management will be critical in this 5-week course which “meets” online 5
days/week for ~ 5 consecutive weeks (~ June 4 – July 5, 2018). Each class
day, there will be a Learning Module (a written lecture) that you will be required to read, and, a
Discussion Assignment that you will be required to complete by the end of the
day (unless the day has been devoted to a quiz). There will be 4 quizzes
given weekly throughout the session, and, you will be required to develop a
PowerPoint® presentation on a noxious or invasive plant topic that is
approved by the instructor. Questions? Call or email Dr. Howery
(see contact information, above).</span></p>
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