-Learners will be able to describe the structure, locations, and functions of 5-7 feather types.   
-Learners will understand how feathers are grown and the seasonal molt patterns that control their replacement.  
-Learners will be able to describe the pattern and colors of a bird’s plumage.    
-Learners will be able to describe 5-6 different functions of feathers that are not specifically related to flight.  
-Learners will be able to describe the basic principles of aerodynamics that allow birds to fly.  
-Learners will be able to describe several different wing shapes and what lifestyle and flight patterns each wing shape is best adapted for.  

Heather is a published ecologist who has conducted field ecology research for more than a decade.  She has done research in Costa Rica, Teton Mountain National Park, the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and in the Midwest. Her main research interests are birds and landscape ecology. Heather is also an environmental educator and naturalist with over 20 years of experience teaching students of all ages through nature centers, schools, and Girl Scouts.

Homework Offered
This is a flexible schedule course designed to take 1-2 hours each week.  Please see the course description for more information about course materials. 
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
This course offers both formative and summative assessments.  

Formative assessments include: 
- Weekly Pear Deck Lessons with embedded questions that students respond to (instructor will provide individual feedback on student responses)
- Weekly assignment that is turned in to the instructor for individual feedback

Summative assessments:
- Weekly Quiz for students to check their understanding of lesson materials (students may use notes and may submit this quiz as many times as they would like to achieve a higher score, instructor will send correct answers and feedback as needed)
- Final Project on the last week of course for students to demonstrate their mastery of the course materials (instructor provides individual feedback and a score for the project using the rubric that students receive when this project is assigned)
Grades Offered
All assignments submitted on time will receive individual feedback from the instructor. Students who wish to receive a grade in this course should notify Heather by the start of week 2.
  
Grades for this course are based on: 
- 25% = Completion of interactive Pear Deck Lessons (completion/effort)
- 25% = Weekly Quiz Scores (quizzes are open book/notes)
- 30% = Assignments (completion/effort)
- 20% = Final Project Score (guidelines and rubric provided week 6)

Grade Scale: 
A: 93-100%
A-: 90-92%
B+: 87-89%
B: 83-86%
B-: 80-82%
C+: 77-79%
C: 73-76%
C-: 70-72%
D+: 67-69%
D: 63-66%
D-: 60-62%
F: Below 60%

Lovette IJ and Fitzpatrick JW. 2016. Handbook of Bird Biology, Third Edition. Wiley & Sons, Inc.  Hoboken, NJ.