Frederick Community College

PC 104 - The Water Planet: Introduction to Oceanography

SPRING 2012

You must send your email address to the instructor before class begins

Class begins: 1/30/2012

Class ends: 5/18/2012

Last day to withdraw: 4/16/2012

Instructor Information:

Name: Alberto Ramirez	Office: L204E
E-mail: aramirez@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301-846-2636
Contact Hours: Call Assistant for Appointment	Campus Mail Box No: 85
Assistant: Ms. Jessica Eaton, L204F	Phone Number: 301-846-2445

Course Information:

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: EN50A and EN52 or ESL 95 and ESL 99, and MA82 or MA91	Co-requisites: None
Meeting Day(s): Online Course	Meeting Time(s): Online

Course Description:

The study of the ocean is as dynamic and changing as the sea itself. This course uses an interdisciplinary approach emphasizing the connections to other fields such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, meteorology, geology, biology, ecology, history, and economics. It provides students with a basic understanding of the scientific questions, complexities, and uncertainties involved in the study and uses of the oceans, with examples and case studies that highlight the role and importance of the oceanic environment in nurturing and sustaining life on the planet. Rich web resources and digital videos enhance this course with engaging learning experiences.

Core Learning Outcomes:

By the completion of the course students will:

1. Demonstrate college-level communication skills.

· Students will be able to write and speak in an effective, organized, and clear manner, using grammatically correct English appropriate for this subject, its learning purposes, and the class audience.

· Students will demonstrate the ability to understand and interpret both written texts and oral presentations in English.

· Students will research current issues in marine science, the marine environment, and human society, and will summarize their findings in a written report and a class presentation.

2. Demonstrate critical thinking skills.

· Students will be able to evaluate evidence by differentiating among facts, opinions, and inferences.

· Students will be able to generate and evaluate alternative solutions to problems.

· Students will be able to research, analyze, compare, synthesize, and draw inferences from readings and other research materials in order to make valid judgments and rational decisions.

3. Understand and be able to apply the scientific method.

· Students will be able to collect, analyze, interpret and present scientific data.

· Generate well-founded hypothesis and test them.

· Synthesize effectively qualitative and quantitative information.

· Apply the scientific method to solve problems and construct models.

· Evaluate models related to the origin of the solar system and the Earth’s oceans.

4. Display general knowledge of the global ocean environment.

· Students will demonstrate general knowledge of how the various scientific disciplines, such as geology, chemistry, physics, biology, and others contribute to the understanding of the marine environment.

· Discuss the nature and origin of the oceans.

· Assess the nature and limitation of the Earth’s natural resources.

· Describe the energy transport processes between the oceans and the atmosphere.

· Evaluate man’s impact on the Earth’s ocean resources.

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5. Value the ocean and its resources.

· Students will acknowledge that the oceans form an interconnected, interdependent global environment.

· Students will be able to examine global issues and events related to the oceans from multiple perspectives.

· Students will recognize the importance of scientific research in the ocean environment, and of the technologies used in marine research and exploration.

Additional Outcomes:

In addition to the above, the students will demonstrate basic geographic literacy by being able to:

· Identify and locate oceans, seas, and major geographic features in the global marine environment.

· Identify the basic oceanic economic zones, and their natural resources.

• Identify and locate regional, and national coastal features and landmarks.

Instructional Methods:

Online activities and reading assignments, online discussion, “kitchen experiments”, video segments, internet web sites, optional field trips, research projects; reports, blogs, journals, and other writing assignments.

How is this Course Organized:

· This is a 15-week online college-level course with weekly assignments and deadlines. It IS NOT a self-paced course. This means that all students are expected to complete the given assignments every week, or they will fall behind in their coursework.

· Students need to commit the necessary time to watch the corresponding video segments, study, and complete the weekly assignments. A successful college student dedicates an average of nine hours a week to an online credit course such as PC104.

· To study effectively, students will need to read comprehensively on all subjects covered. It is necessary to read the text book, the Study Guide, and any relevant print or online resources to earn enough points for a passing grade.

· Students will be graded cumulatively in their participation. This means that they may earn points every time they participate effectively in the weekly Discussion Forums, help answer other students’ questions in The Muddiest Point (TMP) Forum, and complete assignments on time. If a student skips one week, for example, he/she may lose 1/15 of his/her total grade.

· Grading is based on the class’ average (statistical mean). As long as a student keeps up with the required weekly work, his/her grading scores will remain average or above. There are three non-comprehensive (partial) exams and they represent 30% of the total grade. Students will have other options to earn extra credit, such as various Supplementary Activities and special Discussion Forums.

· Students must read ALL the items posted in the “About This Course” section in Blackboard, which contains important details about the requirements to be successful in this course.

Texts and Course Materials:

Garrison, Tom. Essentials of Oceanography, 5^th Ed. Florence, KY: Brooks/Cole – Cengage Learning, 2009. (eBook version available, please check with the FCC Bookstore)

Billeter, Paul A. and Robert R. Given. The Endless Voyage Study Guide, 3d Ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2007.

Video Resources for This Course:

The Endless Voyage – Introduction to Oceanography. Video Lessons and Video Clip Collection from InteleCom Online Resources Network. Pasadena, CA: INTELECOM, 2010. Available in two modes: 1) Streaming video clips imbedded in each Weekly Assignment; 2) free on-site loan from the FCC Library, Student ID required (cannot be borrowed outside the Library.

Progress report:

By the end of the 6th week of the semester, you will have an opportunity to evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure your success in this course.

Assessment Methods:

Graded Items	Final Grade Scale
Exams (3) 100 Points x 3 = 300 Points	>(Mean+0.5 SD)	A
Research projects and reports 100 Points each	0.5 SD<Mean<0.5 SD	B
Workbook exercises 20 Points each	<(Mean-0.5 SD)	C
Online class assignments 20 Points each	<(Mean-1.5 SD)	D
Participation in online discussions 1 to 5 Points Extra credit may be earned by assisting others students in The Muddiest Point (TMP) and participating in the Gotcha! Discussion Forum.	<(Mean-2.5 SD)	F
Each graded item will be scored in points. Final grade percentages are statistically weighted against the total class’ scores. The class’ mean (average) is used as the center of the B grades. Grade spread depends on the class’ standard deviation (See graph below).
Projects and reports: If a project or report is late, ten percent (10%) will be deducted for each week it is late. If you miss a deadline, you will not be allowed to make up the project unless you consult with the instructor in advance about the delay. Make Up Exams: If it is necessary to miss an exam, you will be allowed to take a MAKE-UP exam ONLY if you have a valid excuse and have notified your instructor before the exam. If you want to make up an exam, it is your responsibility to schedule a time for the make-up exam before the next week of classes. Failure to follow this procedure will result in NO MAKE-UP EXAM!!! The type of make-up exam is left to the instructor's discretion and may include a short essay exam. If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

Statistical distribution used for grading in this course. The class’ average and point spread determine the

grading parameters.

Time Commitment for Academic Success IMPORTANT! READ CAREFULLY

At Frederick Community College, in all credit courses, students are expected to invest a minimum of two hours completing out-of-class course work for every hour of in-class instructional time. For example, in a 3-credit course, students experience a total of 37.5 hours of instructional time and should invest a minimum of 75 hours in out-of-class time preparing for the course and completing assignments. In a traditional 15-week, 3-credit course, this equates to an average minimum of 5 hours per week.

For online and hybrid courses, students can expect active instructional time and “out-of-class” course work comparable to face-to-face courses with the same number of credits.

Proctored Exam Requirement

Exam 2 is the REQUIRED proctored Exam. It has to be taken at the FCC Testing Center or by

pre-arrangement at an approved testing facility. Exam 2 may be taken from Monday through Saturday of Week 10. Specific information about Exam 2 is posted in the course Blackboard site during Week 9.

Student Services

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx .

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx .

Participation Policy:

1. The course-level class participation policy is designed to support the learning process.

2. Class participation is an integral part of this course and is assessed weekly based on the student’s completion of assignments and contributions to the Discussion Forums.

3. To maintain the highest quality of academic work, the course-level class participation policy encourages and expects the student to participate fully in all course activities.

4. The Instructor may collect reports and other students’ work, as well as Blackboard individual log-in statistics through the software tracking feature at his or her discretion to determine the class participation portion of the grade.

5. To be able to contribute productively and timely to online class discussions and other interactions, the student will be expected to read all assigned materials and view the corresponding video lessons each week of the course.

6. In case of serious illness, emergency, religious holidays, or participation in official college functions, students remain responsible for completing the requirements of the course.

Email Policy:

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu . Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication.

In the Blackboard environment, your email address is available to all students in this course by default. However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours.

Academic Integrity:

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times. Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the in the "Student Code of Conduct" in the Student Handbook and at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx . Ignorance of any requirement for academic honesty will not constitute an excuse from disciplinary proceedings. Any form of cheating will be considered grounds for failure in this course.

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm .

Blackboard Online:

This course’s ID is PC_104_Spri12_SecONL1_Sess15W. Frederick Community College uses the web-based Blackboard learning management system to deliver online courses. This course has a Blackboard site available to students registered in this course. User names and passwords will be given to students before the start of the semester. Students may access FCC’s Blackboard with a current web browser such as Internet Explorer 8 or higher, Chrome, or Firefox (recommended). Other browsers are not recommended. The URL is http://frederick.blackboard.com.

TOPICAL OUTLINE

Week	Topics	Video Content Topic	Study Guide
1	Welcome, class Introduction and general Information. Syllabus, policies and class resources. Tour of Blackboard website. “The Muddiest Point”. Ch. 1 Origins. The Story of the Ocean. The ocean world. Marine scientists. Formation of the Solar System, planet Earth, and its oceans. The origin of life. Beyond Earth.	The Water Planet Icebreaker: Meet in the Discussion Forums Discussion Forum 1	Lesson 1
2	Ch. 2 History. Making Marine History. Early travelers and explorers. The Age of Discovery. The first marine scientists. Research expeditions, contemporary oceanography, and uses of technology in oceanographic research. Student projects: Guidelines and topics	First Steps Discussion Forum 2	Lesson 2
3	Ch. 3 Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics. Fire and Ice. The Earth’s interior; earthquakes and seismic waves; the shape of continents and plate tectonics. Selection of Research Topic	Making the Pieces Fit World in Motion Discussion Forum 3	Lesson 3 Lesson 4
4	Ch. 4 Ocean Basins. Deep and Deeper. The shape of the seabed; bathymetry and echo sounding; seafloor features; continental margins and deep-ocean basins.	Over the Edge Discussion Forum 4	Lesson 5
5	Ch. 5 Sediments. The Memory of the Ocean. Origin and nature of marine sediments; classification of sediments; The study of ocean sediments; sediments are historical records Exam 1	The Ocean’s Memory Discussion Forum 5	Lesson 6
6	Ch. 6 Water. Familiar, abundant, and odd. The water molecule; the nature of water; importance of physical properties; seawater, a complex solution; salts and salinity; light penetration and water ***Student progress reports***	It’s in the Water Beneath the Surface Discussion Forum 6	Lesson 7 Lesson 8
7	Ch. 7 Atmospheric Circulation. Change is in the air. Ocean-atmosphere interactions; component gasses; solar heating, planetary rotation and the seasons; the Coriolis effect; air circulation and large atmospheric cells; storms, cyclones, destructive hurricanes.	Something in the Air Discussion Forum 7	Lesson 10
8	Ch. 8 Ocean Circulation. Palm trees in Britain? Ocean currents; wind friction and water mass density; vertical water movements: upwelling and downwelling; El Niño and la Niña; thermohaline circulation; weather, climate and ocean circulation. Review of Research Report Draft	Going with the Flow Deep Connections Discussion Forum 8	Lesson 11 Lesson 12
9	Ch. 9 Waves. “…change without notice.” Waves and energy; properties of waves; wave sizes; wavelength and ocean depth; wave direction: interference, diffraction and refraction; internal waves; great waves: seiches, tsunamis, and seismic sea waves.	Surf’s Up Look Out Below Discussion Forum 9	Lesson 13 Lesson 14
10	Ch. 10 Tides Maelstrom! The longest waves; The Moon, the Sun and tides; tides are huge waves; tidal theories: equilibrium and dynamic theories; amphidromic points; tidal patterns, tide tables and the accurate prediction of tides; astronomical and meteorological tides; power from tides? Exam 2 (Proctored Exam)	Ebb and Flow Discussion Forum 10	Lesson 15
	April 16, 2012 – Last Day to Withdraw from this class
11	Ch. 11 Coasts “…the finest harbor in the world.” Where the ocean meets the land; coastal change; location and shape; erosion and deposition; coastal features: beaches, deltas, lagoons, estuaries, reefs; critical importance to humans; the U. S. coasts.	On the Coast Due West Discussion Forum 11	Lesson 16 Lesson 17
12	Ch. 12 Life in the Ocean The ideal place for life. Life: unity and diversity; energy, matter, and life; productivity and photosynthesis; primary production in the ocean; ocean layers and life zones; environment and natural selection; the natural classification of marine organisms: interactions between organisms and their environment; habitats, niches, and distributions; extinction and survival.	Building Blocks Water World Discussion Forum 12	Lesson 18 Lesson 19
13	Ch. 13 Pelagic Communities Masters of the Storm. Life in the open ocean; the drifters; phyto and zooplankton; the measuring of primary productivity; light and nutrients; compensation depth; seaweeds: classification and importance of algae; mangroves and sea grasses. (Continues in next page) (Ch. 13 Pelagic Communities, Continued) Animal as consumers; the evolution of marine animals; classification; extinctions and adaptations; invertebrates and vertebrates; marine mammals.	Food for Thought Survivors Discussion Forum 13	Lesson 20 Lesson 21
14	Ch. 14 Benthic Communities The Resourceful hermit. Life on the sea floor; benthic environments; the highly productive shoreline habitats; seaweeds, kelp, and other marine plants; salt marshes and estuaries; intertidal communities; beach habitats; coral reefs; the deep ocean habitat; bacteria and archaeans; the communities of deep sea vents; symbiosis in the ocean.	Life Goes On Living Together Discussion Forum 14	Lesson 22 Lesson 23
15	Ch. 15 Uses and Abuses of the Ocean. A cautionary tale. Types of renewable and nonrenewable resources; physical resources; marine energy; biological resources; fishery output trends; whaling and its impact; aquaculture; impacts of the exploitation of marine resources; law of the sea; environmental concerns; pollution in the ocean; crude oil spills; eutrophication; exotic species; the coral reefs at risk; human activities and global climate; Earth’s climate change; what can we do? What must we do? Final Research Report Posting Due Exam 3	· Treasure Trove · Dirty Water Hands On Discussion Forum 15	Lesson 24 Lesson 25 Lesson 26
* IMPORTANT: The video lessons listed above are part of the required course content (The Endless Voyage – Introduction to Oceanography, InTeleCom Online Resources network, 2010). The set of video segments included in each Weekly Assignment is several minutes long and corresponds to content in the respective chapter of the Study Guide. Students must view each segment and use the respective lesson in the Study Guide to be able to complete most assignments and participate effectively in the Discussion Forums. The textbook content is supplemented by the video segments, the Study Guide, and related online resources. Please read the Course Syllabus and the Course Information section in the PC104-ONL Blackboard site for details. Because Garrison’s textbook is the latest edition of Essentials of Oceanography there are some differences in the pages and figures referenced in the Study Guide. The content is the same, just in a slightly different location in the textbook. Please remember this when you use the Study Guide.

Modification of Schedule:

The Course Instructor reserves the right to update, change, or adapt the delivery of this content to maintain the integrity of the course and the scientific validity of the ideas, concepts, and theories treated herein, and to adjust the assignments or schedule.

The date(s) of one or more of the exams may change due to unexpected events such as inclement weather or emergencies. Any affected assignment due dates may also be adjusted. In the event the schedule is adjusted, the student will remain responsible for all the assignments listed in this syllabus.

NOTE: While some Supplementary Activities from the Study Guide are options to earn extra credit, all Supplementary Activities included in the weekly assignments are mandatory. Read each assignment’s instructions carefully and use the Study Guide.