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Introduction to Oceanography with Professor Sean This page last updated: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 10:02 AM 8. Course of Studies: How it Works Our class meets regularly on campus at the times and locations listed in the schedule of classes (and above). In addition, you will want to log in to our course web site no less than 2-3 times every week to take advantage of various learning tools, to complete online quizzes and exams (see below), and to keep up with critical news and announcements. This course incorporates a 24-7 internet-based system called Blackboard where you may download lecture notes and podcasts, obtain optional course materials and learning activities, interact with classmates on a discussion board, and complete online exams. On our Blackboard course site, you will also find course announcements and late-breaking news. When you first log in, please check the CRITICAL COURSE NEWS section of the discussion board. I regular post critical course information and important ocean news in this section. Check it every time you log in! You are responsible for reading and understanding the materials posted in this section of the web site. FOCUS ON LEARNING Your final grade in this class is based on your ability to learn and understand the assigned materials and meet the learning outcomes for this course. The goal of college is to prepare yourself for a successful life and a career beyond college. In taking this course, you are being trained to master an unfamiliar knowledge set, to apply what you learn in new situations, to think about competing possibilities, and to articulate your rationale for choosing a particular way of thinking. A number of tools will be provided for you to learn the materials, obtain the knowledge, and develop the understandings to meet these outcomes. Not all of the available tools earn you points but you can bet that if you go beyond the required work, you are going to be more successful in your point-earning assignments. Some of these tools, such as practice quizzes, will help you form your knowledge (formative assessments). Other tools, such as exams, will assess what you have learned (summative assessments). READING AND STUDYING Course content and required reading comes from class lectures, the textbook, and lecture notes. The textbook site, http://www.mhhe.com/chamberlin1e, features practice quizzes, Flashcards, and other learning tools that will help you in this course. Lecture notes are posted in CE6 in the Learning Modules section. You may also find video lectures on YouTube lectures at http://www.youtube.com/scxq28. Lecture slides can be found at http://gallery.me.com/scxq28 and Professor Chamberlin's professional web site, http://exploreworldocean.com. This web site also has a number of articles and features that can expand your knowledge of, understanding of, and appreciation for the world ocean. Additional information and concepts may be provided through other links on the the course web site and in the Important News section of the course web site. You are responsible for all materals assigned in the textbook and on the course web site. For best results, READ CHUNKS OF THE ASSIGNED PAGES A MINIMUM OF 3-4 TIMES. Textbooks are not meant to be read like a novel! You should thumb back and forth, check vocabularty, read aloud and ask "Does that make sense? Do I get it?" Make notes on what's clear or not clear, ideally in the margin of the book, if not, in a notebook.. Make notes on a separate piece of paper after you read and see what you have retained. Create vocabulary worksheets and test yourself. Take the practice quizzes on the textbook web site. Try to describe what you have just read and learned to a classmate, family member, or friend. Above all, ask questions...lots of them! My favorite e-mails are from students asking about questions about the course content. The Course Syllabus (see next page) lists the assigned chapters in the textbook. Pay attention to everything in the chapters, especially the figures and tables. It's just as vital to study the figures and tables as the text! The assigned reading helps you develop a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the world ocean. We do not cover the book in order but we do cover most of the book! Use the entire textbook, including the index, glossary, and appendices, and any outside resources in your effort to learn everything you can about the world ocean. ONLINE QUIZZES To help you meet Learning Outcomes 1 and 2, you will earn up to 10 points (150/750 pts maximum, up to 160 pts possible) for taking online quizzes on the assigned reading (one quiz per week). Quizzes will be administered using the CE6 course management system. You may take quizzes an unlimited number of times but they will only be available during the week in which they are assigned. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS Learning should be fun and I am totally dedicated to making it that way. People learn more when they are engaged in what they are doing, when their mind is focused on a task, and when they are actively participating and exchanging knowledge and ideas with others. You will earn 10 points (150/750 pts maximum, up to 160 pts possible) for completing a worksheet (sometimes in class). As time permits, we will discuss the answers to the worksheets and any questions that arise while completing them. Because we may be doing this work in class, it will be important that you bring your textbook to class every time we meet. ONLINE EXAMS You will complete two online exams worth 100 points each (200/750) during Weeks 9 and 17 of the semester. The exams will go online on Blackboard at approximately 30 minutes after midnight on Thursday and go offline approximately fifteen minutes before midnight on Wednesday of the following week. You will have 90 minutes to complete the exam and you may take it up to three times during the week. You may use your book and the internet during the online exams but you may not consult with anyone else (friends, family, classmates, or otherwise) while taking the exam. Specific details on the exam and study guides will be provided throughout the course. ON-CAMPUS EXAMS You will complete two exams worth 125 points each (250/750) ON-CAMPUS during Weeks 5 and 14. These exams are closed book and closed note and will not require a calculator. A scantron will be provided for you. Question formats will include multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, and essay questions. You must take these exams during one of the scheduled exam times unless you contact me by e-mail no later than two weeks prior to the earliest scheduled exam time. If you have a compelling reason, I will allow you to take the exam during another scheduled time. My schedule does not permit me to honor special times or last minute requests. EXTRA CREDIT Up to 25 points extra credit may be earned by attending Natural Division Seminars (3 per semester; 5 pts each for a 1.5 page, double spaced, 12 pt, Times Roman font, written paper on what was said and why it's important; submitted by copy and paste e-mail only, no attachments); attending Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Septemeber 19, and participating in a beach cleanup (5 pts for submitting proof of attendance--a photo of you at the cleanup booth--is acceptable and a 1.5 page, double spaced, 12 pt, Times Roman font, written paper on what you found and why beach cleanups are important; submitted by copy and paste e-mail only, no attachments); or for participating in the 350.org global warming awareness day on October 24 (5 pts for submitting proof of attendance--a photo of you at pone of the event locations--is acceptable and a 1.5 page, double spaced, 12 pt, Times Roman font, written paper on what you did and why global warming awareness is important; submitted by copy and paste e-mail only, no attachments). No other extra credit will be available or accepted. FINAL GRADES The course is based on 750 points. Quizzes: 150 pts GRADING SCALE A = 675 points
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