GEOSCIENCES 150: INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN SCIENCES
ONLINE July 21-August 16, 2014
Instructor: Dr. Margaret Fraiser
Email:
Office: Lapham Hall 356
Textbook: Investigating Oceanography, Sverdrup and Kudela, 2014, McGraw-Hill
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is designed primarily for students fulfilling general education requirements in science. Ideally, you also have some interest in the ocean! We will discuss a variety of facts, concepts, and processes about the world’s ocean within the broader fields of geology, chemistry, and biology. I’ll use lectures, voice-overs, videos, the textbook, and websites as teaching tools. I hope that your experience in this course strengthens a life-long interest in the natural world, as well as your ability to make informed decisions about scientific issues confronting society.
LEARNING MODULE
/TOPIC
/PAGES IN TEXTBOOK
1:
The Fundamentals
/History of Oceanography (from the Pleistocene to the present)
/prologue & 36-39
The Water Planet (Earth’s origin & age)
/25-34, 42-43
Plate Tectonics (Earth’s layers, continental drift, seafloor spreading)
/51-53, 55-59, 65-78
The Seafloor (geographic & geologic features)
/83-101
Properties of Marine Water (physical and chemical)
/111-135, 139-144
2: Atmosphere/ Ocean Interactions
/Earth’s Atmosphere (properties, structure, & circulation)
/151-156, 158-175
Surface Ocean Circulation
/181-186, 191-198, 201-204, 175-178
Ocean Waves and Tides
/214-218, 223-234, 244-249
Deep Ocean Circulation
/186-191
Coasts and Beaches (processes & environments)
/264-279
3:
Marine Life
/Marine Ecology Basics (biology, environments, and evolution)
/288-290, 292-302, 330-331, 334
Marine Primary Productivity
/308-309, 322-330
Nekton and Benthos in the Ocean
/340-364, 368-391
4:
Relevance to Humanity
/Ancient and Modern Climate Change (the ocean’s role)
/102-105, 423-438
Marine Resources
/105-108, 145-147, 239-241, 258-260
Human Impacts on the Ocean
/396-411, 414-418
COURSE LOGISTICS:
This course requires that you are comfortable and knowledgeable working in an online environment. You are required to have:
· Routine access to the World Wide Web via a laptop or desktop computer.
· Routine access to a word processing computer software application, such as Microsoft Word.
· Routine access to your UWM PantherMail account.
· Routine access to UWM’s web-based learning environment, D2L (http://d2l.uwm.edu/).
· Routine access of McGraw-Hill’s Connect program (see below).
· Access to the textbook (either print or ebook on ConnectPlus) (see below).
About Connect: You will use Connect to take practice quizzes, access LearnSmart study modules, and listen to recorded lectures (see next section on Course Design for details). There are two options when purchasing a registration code to the Connect system: 1) ConnectPlus will give you access to all required quizzes, study modules, and recorded lectures, and ALSO includes an electronic version of the textbook. 2) Connect alone gives you access to all required quizzes, study modules, and recorded lectures, but it does NOT include an electronic version of the textbook. If you purchase a print version of the textbook from the bookstore or elsewhere, you can purchase Connect separately online at the link listed below.
Do whatever combination of Connect access and textbook version works for you, but keep in mind that you are required to at least have access to the Connect system. A short trial period for the system is available for free at the website below; you may want to use this if you are unsure about completing the class.
Course web address:
http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/m_fraiser_summer_2014 .
To register on the course website: http://create.mcgraw-hill.com/wordpress-mu/success-academy/preventing-common-registration-problems/?new_window=1 .
***Enter the promotional code Summer14 to get a major reduction in the cost of ConnectPlus.***
For problems with the website: http://www.connectstudentsuccess.com .
Questions regarding administrative issues with the course should be directed to the public discussion forums on the class D2L site. Peruse problems that have already posted by your classmates as your specific issue may already have been addressed.
BEFORE CLASS STARTS:
· Read the syllabus.
· Gain access to Connect or ConnectPlus.
· Navigate the course site on D2L.
COURSE DESIGN:
Performance in online classes is largely self-motivated. Treat this class as you would a face-to-face class and set aside time to ‘go to lecture’. There is a lot of material to handle in a very small amount of time. My suggestion is to work on the class every day to stay on the top of it. There are 4 major parts to Geosciences 150 class structure:
· Topic Presentation: Each Topic in the Learning Modules will be presented in a recorded lecture on Connect. The lecture will consist of a PowerPoint presentation of the material and a short narration. The lectures may also include some short animations, video clips, reviews of websites, and some drawings. So, it will be a bit like attending a face-to-face lecture. For example, I might discuss the slides for a while, then make a drawing or show a short video clip, and then go back to the lecture. Each lecture will be available for the entire semester. PowerPoint presentation outlines will be available to you for note-taking in the content section of the Geosciences 150 site on D2L. Make sure you use these only as supplements, not substitutes for the recorded lectures, because they do not contain everything in the lectures.
· Participation: The goals for the participation aspect of this course are for you to integrate and apply knowledge; link knowledge to real situations; provide an alternative learning environment; and to create community with the class. Participation in this class will comprise 20% of your final grade. I can track the day, time, and duration of every action you take in the Geosciences 150 D2L and Connect pages, and I will use this capability to calculate the participation portion of your grade. Due dates for the participation activities are listed in the schedule below. There are 3 ways to facilitate learning via participation in this class:
LearnSmart study modules: These study modules are found in Connect; the specific textbook chapters corresponding to each learning module are found in the table below. LearnSmart is a fantastic way to study the material for this course because it contains exercises for previewing and reading the chapters, practicing quizzes and exams, and recharging (going back over items you need a little more help with). I think that it actually makes studying fun, and helps your subject comprehension and retention. The animations and links are chosen carefully to supplement the material covered for each subject. These are fair game for practice quiz and exam questions. Use them to your advantage, and not just to get a few participation points. You can receive up to 10 points or 1% of your final grade per each of the 4 learning modules JUST BY STUDYING.
Posts to D2L discussion topics: The Discussion area in D2L is for sharing information with your classmates and instructor. For each learning module there are topics for questions about technology, administrative issues, and chapter and quiz materials. Anything posted in discussions will be seen by all class participants, so keep your postings polite and professional. These posts combined are worth 4% of your final grade.
Practice quizzes: There will be one practice quiz per learning module (see tables below). These quizzes will help you understand the material that will be covered on the exams, and will give you an idea of how much more you need to study to be well-prepared for them. The quizzes should be taken after you have reviewed the LearnSmart pages at least. The quizzes consist of 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and you will be given 15 minutes to take each. You will be able to receive hints on each question and inquire me about things, and, at the end of each quiz, you will see each question you got wrong without the correct answer. I suggest you write down these problematic questions and find the answers before you take the exam. See the schedule table below for the deadlines by which to take the quizzes. For the quiz questions that seem to be particularly problematic, I will post answers in the discussion area on D2L after the quiz is closed. Each of the 4 practice quizzes are worth 3% of your final grade.
· Writing-to-learn: Studies have shown that students learn science more effectively and gain greater confidence in the subject material when they conduct scientific writing. Writing-to-learn will help you gain a deeper understanding of concepts and scientific thinking, and will help you move away from simply memorizing facts.
Learning Journals: For each of the 4 learning modules, there will be a question or two posted to D2L based on topics in the module and related to current events. Use the space provided in each assignment to address each topic. Submissions should be a single Word file that is single-spaced; typed; and in a 12-point font. See the content pages on D2L for the rubric I will use to evaluate the learning journals. Each learning journal will be worth 5% of your final grade. Due dates for the learning journals are listed in the schedule below. Keep in mind that I can access any website that you can access, so do not plagiarize! Check out this information from the UWM Libraries on how to NOT plagiarize: http://guides.library.uwm.edu/content.php?pid=217260&sid=1806375
· Exams: There will be 4 exams each worth 15% of your final grade; the exams are not cumulative. You may NOT work with others during the exams. Each exam will be open only for one hour once you start it, and they will consist of approximately 50 questions. You will have one attempt to take each exam, and you must do so in one sitting, so allow yourself enough time (and privacy) to complete it. Deadlines for taking the exams are included in the schedule below. Exams will focus on material presented in the lectures on Connect. Material in the textbook not covered in the lectures will not be on the exams. You should expect ALL information in the lectures to be covered in the exams. The exams will be closed notes and closed book. Exams will consist of 50 multiple choice and true/false questions, many of which will contain figures and drawings. Grades will be posted on D2L.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Since this online course is largely self-motivated, you will be able to work at your own pace. The deadlines shown below represent the LAST DAY AND TIME that each activity will be accepted. Deadlines are firm; PLAN ACCORDINGLY. Notice that the times that activities in Modules 1 and 2 are different from those of Modules 3 and 4. Contact me as soon as possible in the case of extenuating circumstances, such as military duty, severe medical conditions, or family emergencies, and we will work together on a solution.
LEARNING MODULE / ACTIVITY / DEADLINES1 / Participation / LearnSmart study modules for the Prologue & Chs.1,2,3,4,5 / July 29, 8:00 am
D2L posts
Module 1 Practice Quiz
Learning journal / July 29, 8:00 am
Exam / July 29, 8:00 am
2 / Participation / LearnSmart study modules for Chs. 6,7,8,9,10 / Aug. 5, 8:00 am
D2L posts
Module 2 Practice Quiz
Learning journal / Aug. 5, 8:00 am
Exam / Aug. 5, 8:00 am
3 / Participation / LearnSmart study modules for Chs. 11,12,13,14 / Aug. 11, 11:59 pm
D2L posts
Module 3 Practice Quiz
Learning journal / Aug. 11, 11:59 pm
Exam / Aug. 11, 11:59 pm
4 / Participation / LearnSmart study modules for Chs. 15,16 & portions of 3,5,8,9 / Aug. 16, 11:59 pm
D2L posts
Module 4 Practice Quiz
Learning journal / Aug. 16, 11:59 pm
Exam / Aug. 16, 11:59 pm
COURSE GRADING:
ACTIVITIES / POINT VALUE / % OF FINAL GRADEParticipation / Practice quizzes (4) / 25 each / 3% each, 12% total
Posts to D2L discussions / 1 each / 1% each, 4% total
LearnSmart study modules / 10 each / 1% each, 4% total
Writing-to-learn / Learning journals (4) / 10 each / 5% each, 20% total
Assessments / Exams (4) / 100 each / 15% each; 60% total
Final grades will NOT be rounded up. For example, a final grade average of 89.7 is a B+. With some hard work, you should all be able to earn an A in this course. ALL ISSUES PERTAINING TO EXAMS, MAKE-UP EXAMS AND EXTRA CREDIT MUST BE RESOLVED BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION. Final grades will be determined as follows:
≥90= A, A- 60-69= D+, D, D-
80-89= B+, B, B- ≤59= F—not passing
70-79= C+, C, C-
EXPECTATIONS:
You can expect me to:
1) present information as clearly as possible.
2) welcome questions at any time.
3) be kind to you and respectful of you at all times.
I expect you to:
1) refer to this syllabus and the content on D2L for the answers to frequently asked questions BEFORE you ask me what topics the exams cover, etc.
2) follow the simple rules of e-mail etiquette. Please sign your name at the end of your messages so that your classmates and I know with whom we are communicating. Do not e-mail or post to D2L questions or comments that you would not ask or tell us in person. I will try my hardest to reply to your e-mail messages within one weekday’s working hours.