Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Course Syllabus Course dates: Fall term, October 16 December 15, 2017

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Course Syllabus Course dates: Fall term, October 16 December 15, 2017"

Caren Johnson
5 years ago
Views:

1 Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Course Syllabus Course dates: Fall term, October 16 December 15, 2017 COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Oceanography ABBREVIATION: OCEA& 101 CREDIT HOURS: 5 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS: 40 LAB HOURS: 20 INSTRUCTOR: Hornung INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTION: My bachelor of science degree, specializing in Biology and Wildlife-Fisheries-Sciences, is from Texas A&M University. I earned a master s of science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. I have continued graduate studies from Framingham University in oceanography, marine biology, geology, and evolution. My work includes biological research laboratory scientist for Emory University and U.S. Army helicopter pilot. COMMUNICATIONS: All course communications will be through the Canvas course inbox. PREREQUISITE: none CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Oceanography is the exploration and investigation of all aspects of the marine environment. Topics include the geology of the sea floor and coastlines, the dynamics of waves, currents, and tides, the diversity of life in the ocean, salinity, and human impacts on the marine environment. Appropriate for non-science and science majors. Field trips [provided virtually online] required. Labs [provided virtually online] included. REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS: This course uses Open Educational Resources, OER, meaning all material will be made available to you at no cost. I will provide instructions on accessing the material in the course. COURSE GUIDANCE: 1. Online Elements: All portions of this course will be available online, in Canvas. 2. Course Expectations: As a student, you can expect that I will respond to your within 48 hours and will grade assignments/tests/quizzes within four (4) days. Exceptions will be announced in advance. Please contact me, your instructor, immediately if you have not heard from me within these timelines. 3. Introductions: Students are expected to post a short (one paragraph) introduction to the course Discussions Area during the first week of the course. I have guidelines within the course for the introduction located in Discussions. 4. Discussions: In addition to your introduction, this course has discussions as part of the curriculum.

2 5. Course Incompletes: are not automatic and must be requested from me. Incompletes must be approved and arranged with me. In a few, rare, cases, a student may need extra time beyond the end date due to circumstances beyond his/her control. In order to get an Incomplete in this course, you must have submitted assessments on a weekly basis from at least week 2 (not turned in several weeks worth of work in one week) and have completed over half of the Learning Modules by the end of your 9 weeks. You must provide a valid reason for needing beyond 9 weeks. I may request supporting evidence from you for your reason such as military orders or medical statements. Your request for an Incomplete with extra time of no more than 2 weeks goes through me, your instructor. I will help you in every way I can to complete this course. 6. Student Responsibilities: Please remember that it is your responsibility to notify me of major changes in your circumstances (e.g. deployment) that affect your ability to complete all course work within the course timeline. 7. Plagiarism software: Plagiarism software may be in use during your course. Plagiarism is cheating and will not be tolerated. You will receive a 0 for plagiarized work. Copying/pasting information without paraphrasing, summarizing, or quoting and citing the source is considered plagiarism. See Plagiarism at You will find information on how to cite your sources to avoid plagiarism at 8. Etiquette: Etiquette for classroom and online courses is the same. Treat others as you would like to be treated, respectfully and compassionately. 9. Extra Credit/Makeup Work: There will be no extra credit or makeup work within this course. Thus, I strongly suggest that you adequately prepare for and put forth a full effort into completing the course requirements. STUDENT OUTCOMES (revised ): Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to: 1. Describe the role the oceans play in the Earth system. 2. Apply the scientific method and relate basic scientific concepts to marine processes (e.g. plate tectonics, convection currents, etc.). 3. Explain how technological advances have historically increased human knowledge of the oceans. 4. Describe the origin of renewable and non-renewable marine resources. 5. Discuss the relationship between human activity, marine resource extraction, and marine pollution. Recommend solutions to global marine pollution. 6. Explain the plate tectonic processes and the evidence supporting the plate tectonic theory. Relate the tectonic process to physical features of the ocean floor. 7. Relate geological and biological processes to the origin and distribution of marine sediments. 8. Explain the various geological and ecological processes of coastal environments and evaluate the impact of human activities on the coastal zone. 9. Analyze various physical and chemical parameters of seawater and relate their effects to marine processes. 10. Illustrate the global atmospheric and oceanic circulation systems and their interrelationships. 11. Explain the formation and movement of waves. 12. Analyze the mechanics of tides and interpret tide tables. 13. Summarize the main types of marine life and marine lifestyles and relate marine life to

3 marine processes. 14. Describe marine communities and discuss the impacts of human activities on them. 15. Responsibility: Recognizes Interconnectedness. See self as part of more extended humankind and global community. Describe self and others in relation to environment, animal kingdom (biotic & abiotic), society, etc. 16. Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Conclusions and Judgments. Combine some aspects of experience, reason, and information to make conclusions and judgments with some success, such as using field trip experience and field data to determine stratification of nutrients in the water column, marine species in a selected habitat, or the impact of pollution to specific marine habitats. 17. Information Competency: Evaluates Sources and Uses Tools. Evaluate and selectively use most appropriate tools and sources in order to access and manipulate oceanographic information, including library research, the Internet, and field research. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 1. In order to stay on track throughout this course, you should turn in lab assignments, discussions, and quizzes per the weekly timeline given below. The syllabus schedule below (broken down into weeks 1-9) will guide you through the Learning Modules, which contain the information you need to complete your course. You may work ahead of the 9- week schedule, but it will be difficult for you to catch up if you fall behind. You will accomplish your course outcomes (above) via the modules learning objectives. You will accomplish your learning objectives through the readings, assignments, discussions, labs, and quizzes within each module. I will check your progress daily. 2. Use Inbox to send a message to me, your instructor, at any time for any reason. 3. Begin your course in LEARNING MODULE 1, and have fun! 4. You will accomplish labs and field trips virtually online. Follow the directions in the modules. GRADING: You should complete activities and assessments (readings, assignments, discussions, quizzes) that are due each week in order to finish your 9-week course on time. The assessments may be submitted at any time during the week. They are due by Friday with a grace period (no late points off) to midnight of Sunday at the end of the week. You may submit late, -2 points per week. Each assignment and assessment will be given a specific point value. The earned value of all possible points will determine grade, per Pierce College published policy (see the Policies and Procedure section) WEIGHT OF ASSIGNMENTS/ASSESSMENTS: Discussions: 20 points each + video discussions (10 points) + student introduction + Research Topic (points included in final paper); total 130 points Assignments: 6 (varying point values, see schedule below); total 170 points Quizzes: 7: 7=20 points each, total 140 points Research paper: 100 points Total course points=540 points. Divide your total points by 5.4 to get percentage (%) value. GRADE SCALE: Note that grade % to GPA may differ from class to class. Your final grade percentage is not rounded up to the next GPA grade. No extra credit. See for District Grading Policy) Grade Point: 4.0 to 3.9 Letter Grade: A Percentage: 100 to 98%

4 Grade Point: 3.8 to 3.5 Letter Grade: A- Percentage: 97 to 90% Grade Point: 3.4 to 3.2 Letter Grade: Percentage: 89 to 87% B+ Grade Point: 3.1 to 2.9 Letter Grade: B Percentage: 86 to 84% Grade Point: 2.8 to 2.5 Letter Grade: B- Percentage: 83 to 80% Grade Point: 2.4 to 2.2 Letter Grade: Percentage: 79 to 77% C+ Grade Point: 2.1 to 1.9 Letter Grade: C Percentage: 76 to 74% Grade Point: 1.8 to 1.5 Letter Grade: C- Percentage: 73 to 70% Grade Point: 1.4 to 1.2 Letter Grade: Percentage: 69 to 65% D+ Grade Point: 1.1 to 1.0 Letter Grade: D Percentage: 64 to 60% Grade Point: 0.0 Letter Grade: F Percentage: < 59% COURSE SCHEDULE: Oceanography 101 (See below)

5 1 Welcome Module & Module 1 Nature of Science Topic: Nature of Science My Interesting Find ; Quiz: Nature of Science 2, 8 2 Module 2 History & Ocean Systems Topics: History, Ocean Systems, How did the Oceans Form? Gaining Ocean Knowledge ; Quiz: Ocean Systems 1, 3 3 Module 3 Plate Tectonics Topic: Plate Tectonics Due: Assignment Lab 1 Plate Tectonics (40); Quiz: Plate Tectonics 6 4 Module 4 Bathymetry Topics: Ocean Basins & Life in the Ocean Ocean Explorer ; Assignment Lab Bathymetry (30); Quiz 6, 9, 13, 14 5 Module 5 Water, Sediments, & Plankton Topics: Water & Sediments & Plankton Research topic/outline; Quiz 7, 9 6 Module 6 Circulation Topics: Atmosphere & Ocean Circulation Circulation ; Assignment Lab 3 Message in a bottle Currents quiz 10 7 Module 7 Waves Topics: Waves-- Tsunamis & Tides Due: Assignment Lab 4 Tsunamis ; Assignment Lab 5 Tides (40); Tides quiz 11, 12 8 Module 8 Pelagic & Benthic Topics: Beaches and Pelagic & Benthic Communities Marine Sanctuaries virtual field trip 8, 13, 14 Module 9 Uses & Due: Lab Coral reefs

6 9 Abuses Topics: Uses & Abuses of the Ocean, and Coral Reefs (20 pts); Discussion: Article posting (20 pts) 4, 5 14 s 1-9 Module Research Research Projectdue before end of week 9 Due: Assignment Research (100 pts) 1-17 CONSENT AGREEMENT: A Pierce College course requires frequent interaction with your instructor. It is, therefore, essential that you agree to the conditions set forth in the course syllabus. After you have read the course syllabus, let us know (do not wait) if you do not agree with the course conditions and requirements. If we do not hear from you within three (3) days from the start of the course, we will assume you agree with the conditions set forth in this syllabus. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Access from left menu within your Canvas course. Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord at ACCESS & DISABILITY SERVICES: Your experience in this class is important to Pierce College, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please seek a meeting with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) manager to discuss and address them. If you have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please take your approved accommodations (green sheet) to your instructor at your earliest convenience so you can discuss your needs in the individual course(s). ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you and the ADS manager, and your instructor is available to help facilitate them in this class. If you have not yet established services through ADS, but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not be limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are encouraged to contact ADS at (Ft. Steilacoom) or (Puyallup). For more information go to Students requesting accommodations must obtain the "Approved Quarterly Academic Adjustments, Auxiliary Aids or Services" (green) form provided by ADS.

Syllabus Fall 2014 Earth Science 130: Introduction to Oceanography

Syllabus Fall 2014 Earth Science 130: Introduction to Oceanography Background Information Welcome Aboard! These guidelines establish specific requirements, grading criteria, descriptions of assignments