MARINE BIOLOGY LECTURE – MARINE SCIENCE 180 Hybrid Online/In-class Format Course Syllabus & Proposed Schedule Fall 2009 Instructor: Lisa D. Snyder Section #: 21413, Class Meets: Mon. 9:30 - 10:50 am Location: Lewis Applied Science, Room 102 Online: www.orangecoastcollege.edu (MYOCC) - BlackBoard Vista 1.8 hours per week E-mail: lsnyder@occ.cccd.edu Voicemail phone (messages only): (714) 432-0202 ext. 22838 Class Web-site: http://occonline.occ.cccd.edu/online/lsnyder Marine Science Web-site: http://www.dkatantarctic.com/MarineBiology.html Office Hours: TBA *Note: The best way to contact me is via e-mail. COURSE DESCRIPTION: We’ll study the life of the world's oceans including principles of cell biology, energy flow through living systems, evolution of marine life, taxonomy of marine plants and animals, an overview of marine habitats and their organisms, intertidal zonation, plankton biology, marine mammals, pollution and its relations to marine biology, and discussion of currently applicable topics. This lecture will help you learn how to observe and wonder about the living things and the varied environments of the ocean world. I will challenge you to inquire about your role on this planet and how your activities affect the marine environment & its inhabitants and how the ocean, in turn, impacts you. Please ask questions! The only dumb question is the one not asked. May be taken for grades or on a credit-no credit basis. Three units. Transfer Credit: CSU, UC. Prerequisite: Marine Science 100. REQUIRED TEXT: Sumich, James, L. & Morrissey, John, F. 2008. Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life, 9th edition. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. ISBN: 0-7637-3313-X. *Available at the O.C.C. Bookstore as well as online booksellers. For whom the course is intended: 1. 2. For students who after completing Marine Science 100 (Oceanography), wish to learn more about plankton, marine animals & plants as well as current issues in Marine Biology. For students seeking possible majors or careers in biology or marine biology.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s) 1. Students who complete this course with a letter grade of “C” or better will be able to converse and write correctly and accurately about basic marine biological facts related to cell biology, energy flow through living systems, evolution of marine life, taxonomy, physiology, & ecology of marine plants and animals, marine habitats and their organisms, use of marine resources, as well as pollution and other environmental problems as they relate to marine biology. Upon completion of this class students will be “ocean literate” – specifically they will be able to correctly answer the questions: “What does the ocean do for you?” and “What kinds of things do you do to the ocean?” They will be able to give accurate and specific examples to back up their answers to the above two questions.
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Students who pass this class with a “C” or better will possess the nucleus of a set of comprehensive skills – reading, writing, and speaking – that will allow them to correctly assess basic marine biological questions – of local, national, and international importance – that arise in the next ten years – and come up with a personal answer or decision concerning these questions.
Course objectives: 1. Students will be stimulated to learn more about the marine environment (both local and global), and to expand his or her knowledge of the ocean through additional reading and viewing of this subject throughout his or her life. Students will be exposed to a general coverage of the topic, with only limited specialization and with supplemental information from other fields, and will be able to demonstrate understanding of this information by passing examinations patterned after the presented and assigned material. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to make logical choices relating to ocean conservation issues (both globally and locally), will be aware of some representative marine management techniques, and will be better equipped to evaluate the environmental consequences of the management of the ocean resources. I will challenge you to observe and inquire about the physical and chemical properties of the sea and how living things cope in different kinds of oceanic environments through both field and lab exercises. I also encourage you to inquire about your role on this planet and how your activities affect the marine environment and how it, in turn, impacts you. My hope is that you will find the coursework truly informative and enjoyable.
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Hybrid course requirements: 3-unit courses require 3 hours & 10 min. of instruction time. For our hybrid course, we will meet in class for 1 hour & 20 minutes each week, which means that students are to complete the remaining 1 hour & 50 of instruction independently through reading the text & doing online work (quizzes, videos, & assignments). Reading assignments: The class schedule provides a list of reading assignments for each week of lecture. I will stress some points more than others. Let my lectures guide you on what particular topics to focus on in the text. To do well you must keep up with the reading, which is one of the most important requirements for this class. CLASS POLICIES 1. Attendance: Be in class at every meeting and arrive on time! Do not make any other plans during this sixteen-week semester for the hours, days, and weeks that our class meets. Everything presented in lecture is important to your understanding of this topic or it wouldn’t be discussed. I drop persistent non-attendees (three or more absences) and people who keep coming in late to class. As a courtesy to your classmates and professor I will expect you to turn off cell phones and pagers when you enter class. If for some reason you are no longer able to attend class, be sure to drop yourself according to school drop dates: Last day to add class – 13 September Last date to drop without a “W” – 26 September Last date to drop with a “W” – 21 November
2. Academic Honesty: I expect and require you to exhibit academic honesty when you take any exam/quiz or complete any assignments in this class. Cheating, plagiarism, or any act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for work by any dishonest or fraudulent means will not be tolerated in this class. Cheating includes writing exact answers to questions on an assignment as someone else, copying answers from someone else on a quiz/exam, using answers from students of previous semesters, copying from the textbook or INTERNET, or having another person write your answers. The penalty for cheating on a quiz/exam will be a “0” for the exam and the incident will be reported to the Dean. A second offense will result in a grade of “F” for the course. The penalty for cheating on other assignments is a “0” for the first episode; the penalty for the second episode is an “F” for the semester and removal from the class. All work must be completed on your own. 3. Courtesy: I require that you practice civility and courteousness in MS 180 with your fellow students and me. I will not condone or tolerate inappropriate behavior by students in my class or anything that I deem disruptive to the order and progress of the class. 4. Food and beverages are NOT allowed in Lewis 102. However, bottled water is O.K. Please clean up after yourself as a courtesy to others. STUDENT EVALUATION Exams & Quizzes All exams & quizzes consist of multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions. There will be one 100point midterm exam and one 100-point, non-cumulative final examination, covering only the material since the previous exam. *Important: Please bring an unwrinkled SCANTRON #882 and two No. 2 pencils with erasers to each exam. Research Journal Paper Students will complete a short (2 pages), typed report focused on one environmental problem, of the student’s choice, that impacts the marine environment such as climate change, pollution, over-fishing, etc. In addition to providing some background information on the topic, students will find, summarize, & critique a scientific research journal article on this topic. You will be given a detailed handout about this assignment near the beginning of the semester. This assignment is worth 40 points. Additional Assignments 1. Quizzes: Each week students will complete an online quiz that usually covers one chapter. Quizzes focus primarily on material covered in the textbook. These quizzes are worth 10 points each and must be completed before the next class meeting. 2. Video Questions: Students will watch several online videos throughout the semester in which I will assign short questions worth 5-10 points each and must be completed before the next class meeting. Video assignments will contribute 30 points to the lecture grade. Instructor Evaluation Credit: This is a somewhat more subjective evaluation based on my assessment of your overall effort, attendance, involvement, cooperation, and commitment to the class – worth 50 points. Basis for your final grade: POINT BREAKDOWN
12 Quizzes (10 points each) Research paper Video assignments Midterm Exam Instructor Evaluation Credit Final Exam TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
120 points 40 points 30 points 100 points 50 points 100 points 440 POINTS
Grades will be assigned based upon the following scale of percentages of total possible points: Grade A B C D F Percentage 88 – 100% 78 – 87% 68 – 77% 58 – 67% 0 – 57% Total Score (approximate) 385 – 440 points 346 – 384 points 297 – 345 points 253 – 296 points 0 – 252 points
Make-up Examination: A make-up for the midterm exam will only be given in the event of documented emergencies and significant conflicts (e.g., hospital stay, contagious illness). To make-up the midterm exam at the end of the semester (see below), you must have an excused absence. Your written excuse and copy of documentation (Dr.’s note, etc.) must arrive in the instructors hands no later than one week after the midterm exam. If you fail to do this, your absence will not be excused later and you will not be allowed to take the make-up exam. This is your responsibility. I will not accept telephone or e-mail messages or notes in my mailbox in place of a written (or typed) explanation. If you forget to do this, I will not accept your typed excuse at a later date, no exceptions. I do not excuse absences due to work conflicts, too much homework in other courses, being on vacation on the date of the exam, forgetting class, unverified illnesses, or driving someone to the airport instead of coming to class. The make-up is given on Monday 23 November at 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. in Lewis 102. You must have an excused absence to take the make up exam. You cannot retake the exam because you received a low grade on it the first time you took it! Your excuse must have been approved in advance & you must sign up with me no later than the end of class on Monday, 16 November! Failure to register by that date will result in your loss of the opportunity to take a make-up exam. THERE IS NO MAKE-UP FOR THE FINAL EXAM. Extra Credit Students will have the option of completing one 20 point extra credit assignment. Interested students may earn extra credit by attending one beach cleanup event conducted by Save Our Beach (Seal Beach). Students must help clean up the beach for a minimum of two hours to earn credit. Save Our Beach will provide a certificate as proof of attendance. Students must submit this certificate to your instructor for credit. Tentative 2009 cleanup dates are: 19 September, 24 October, & 21 November. An informational handout will be provided to interested students at the beginning of the semester. Due date for EXTRA CREDIT certificate of completion: 24 NOVEMBER 2009
MARINE SCIENCE 180 – PROPOSED CLASS SCHEDULE (Fall 2009)
Note: Lecture topics and reading assignments may be modified at the Instructors discretion during the course of the semester. Changes will be announced in lecture. Week Date Lecture Topic Reading Course Introduction 31 Aug Ocean as a Habitat 1 Ch. 1 (pp 2 – 40) Black Board Vista Online Quiz Ch. 1 (Complete before next class) 2 7 Sep Labor Day Holiday – No Class 14 Sep 3 Online 21 Sep Online 28 Sep Online 5 Oct Online 12 Oct 7 8 9 Online 19 Oct Online 26 Oct Online 2 Nov 10 Online 9 Nov 11 Online 16 Nov 12 Online 13 23 Nov Online 30 Nov 14 Online 15 16 7 Dec Online 14 Dec Patterns of Associations: Evolution, Taxonomy, Energy Quiz Ch. 2 (Complete before next class) Video & Assignment – Whale Evolution (Due before next class) Phytoplankton Quiz Ch. 3 (Complete before next class) Marine Plants Quiz Ch. 4 (Complete before next class) Microbial Heterotrophs & Invertebrates Quiz Ch. 5 (Complete before next class) Video & Assignment – Nudibranchs (Due before next class) Marine Vertebrates Quiz Ch. 6 (Complete before next class)
Ch. 2 (pp 42 – 64) Ch. 3 (pp 66-97)
Ch. 4 (pp. 99 – 124) Ch. 5 (pp 126 – 156)
4 5 6
Ch. 6 (pp 159 – 195) Ch. 1-6 (Bring: Scantron #882 & #2 pencil) Ch. 7 (pp 199 – 221) Ch. 8 (pp 222 – 253)
Review midterm study guide & previous quizzes
MIDTERM EXAM (100 points): Ch. 1-6 Continue working on Research Paper Estuaries Quiz Ch. 7 (Complete before next class) Temperate Coastal Seas + Water Pollution Research Paper Due Quiz Ch. 8 (Complete before next class) Video & Assignment – Marine Plastic Pollution (Due before next class) Tropical & Subtropical Shallow Seas Quiz Ch. 9 (Complete before next class) Video & Assignment – Coral Reefs (Due before next class) Open Oceans Deep Sea Floor Video (Hydrothermal Vents) Quiz Ch. 10 & 11 (Complete before next class) Video & Assignment – Deep Sea Species (Due before next class) Marine Birds & Mammals in Polar Seas + Climate Change Quiz Ch. 12 (Complete before next class) Climate Change (continued) Begin Harvesting Marine Resources Quiz Ch. 13 (Complete before next class) Video & Assignment – Climate Change (Due before next class) Harvesting Living Marine Resources Review final exam study guide & previous quizzes FINAL EXAM (100 points): Ch. 7–13
Ch. 9 (pp 256 – 287)
Ch. 10 (pp 288 – 330) Ch. 11 (pp 332 – 353)
Ch. 12 (pp 356 – 382) Ch. 12 (pp 356 – 382) Ch. 13 (pp 384 – 409) Ch. 13 (pp 384 – 409) Ch. 7-13 (Bring: Scantron #882 & # 2 pencil)
Blackboard Vista Lecture notes, study guides, handouts (extra credit, etc.), videos & video assignments can be found at the BB Vista site set up especially for this course. To access that information log on to Orange Coast College homepage at www.orangecoastcollege.edu, then click ONLINE CLASSES. Here you will find all of the tools that you need to start the class. Review all of them before logging on. From this page, click the link for “Preparing for Your Online Class” and learn how to setup your Web browser using the “Browser tune-up” (the link is the first bullet under item #1). The two most important things to remember are to make sure that you have the correct version of Java installed, and that you have your Pop-up blockers turned off. Remember that your Pop-up blockers are in your browser settings, toolbars you may have installed from Yahoo or Google, and in any firewall software (e.g., Norton or McAffee). You should also explore the Blackboard Vista Tutorials (the first bullet under item #4). These will get you acquainted with the Online Classroom environment. Before starting the class you should be proficient with the Blackboard Vista environment so that when you start your online class, you can concentrate on the course content instead of learning the Blackboard Vista program. After finishing the tutorials, you can log on to the class with your username & password. Username & Password The following steps help you determine your username & password USER NAME: Your student ID number PASSWORD: Is comprised of the first initial of your first name in upper case, followed by the first initial of your last name in lower case, plus your date of birth in MMDDYY format. Here is an example. Walter Disney was born on December 5, 1901 and has a student ID number of 12345678. Mr. Disney would log in with the following information. USER NAME: 12345678 PASSWORD: Wd120501 Technical Support You must be sure that you have registered for the class prior to submitting a Technical Support Request. If you are registered for the class, and cannot login after determining your user name & password using the method described above, you should submit a Technical Request online. To do this, go to the same Online Central Page listed above and click on “Online Tech Support.” Then, click on the link for our class, & fill out the form’s fields as specifically as possible. You will usually receive a response within 24 hours. Be sure to include any information specific to your class.