INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY: is an introduction to the geological, physical, chemical, biological and environmental processes that occur in the oceans. Among the vital topics addressed are the historical perspectives of oceanography, the intertidal zones, plate tectonics, islands, plankton and nekton, marine mammals and pollution.
Instructor Exam Proctors
Rob Fitch Lailee Daling, Librarian
Biology Department Olivia Drakes, Librarian
Wenatchi Hall 2332 WVC Library
email: rfitch@wvc.edu 682-6710 or 682-6712
Website: http://commons.wvc.edu/rfitch
Materials needed for the course
Text(s): 1. Garrison, Tom. 2007. Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine
Science, 6th ed. Thomson, Brooks/Cole Publishers.
ISBN: 0-495-11286-0
2. Billeter, Paul & Robert Given. 2007. The Endless Voyage
Study Guide. 3rd ed. Thomson, Brooks/Cole &
INTELECOM.
ISBN: 0-495-19070-5
DVD set: 3. Oceanography: "The Endless Voyage".
You may purchase the DVD set at the WVC bookstore or online at: www.intelecomstore.org You may also purchase video streams or video downloads. The cost is the same for any of these choices.
Books & DVDs are available at the WVC campus bookstore.
How to take a telecourse
Students who enroll in telecourse classes must have extensive self-discipline and self-motivation. You will be required to self-study most of the course content on your own. To be successful, you should expect to expend just as much effort and time on your telecourse class as you would for an on-campus class. The telecourse instructor’s role is learning consultant and facilitator, with less emphasis on creating motivation in the learner and explaining concepts in depth. If you do not feel you can succeed without continual reliance upon an instructor, this telecourse may not be right for you.
Instructor’s personal statement
I am a full-time Biology professor here at Wenatchee Valley College. I have been here since the fall of 1989. I received my B.A. in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1980 and my M.Sc. in Biology from the University of British Columbia in 1986. Prior to arriving at WVC, I worked for 3 years as the Program Director for Catalina Island Marine Institute, an outdoor education facility in Southern California. In addition to teaching at WVC, I teach in the summers at Walla Walla University’s Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory in the San Juan Islands of Washington. Marine Biology & Oceanography are my first loves in Biology. During this quarter, I hope you will gain the same passion for the ocean world as I have!
Course outcomes/goals and objectives
1. To investigate the marine environment in terms of basic scientific concepts.
2. To present information of scientific interest & public concern regarding the ocean.
3. To emphasize the interaction of the living world and the physical environment.
We will utilize 26 required “The Endless Voyage” DVD lessons (30 minutes each) and assigned readings in the text and study guide. You are also strongly encouraged to stop by my office or call me when you need help understanding the material or when you have questions regarding the course, deadlines, exams, etc.
***READ & FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN THE STUDY GUIDE TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU TAKE 1 PAGE OF NOTES FROM THE STUDY GUIDE, 1 PAGE FROM THE READINGS IN THE TEXT AND 1 PAGE FROM THE VIDEO. VIDEOS SHOULD BE WATCHED AT LEAST TWICE!!!
Course schedule
UNIT DATES STUDY GUIDE CHAPTERS & DVD PROGRAMS
SAT. 6/26 Orientation 9:00 AM. - 10:30 AM
@ WVC Campus in Wenatchi Hall 2217
UNIT I 6/26 – 7/8 Study guide chapters & DVDs 1-6
THURS. 7/8 EXAM 1 (8AM – 5PM in WVC Library)
UNIT 2 7/9 – 7/19 Study guide chapters & DVDs 7-11
MON. 7/12 *Research paper written proposal due
(Email to Rob Fitch)
MON. 7/19 EXAM 2 (8AM – 5PM in WVC Library)
UNIT 3 7/20 – 7/29 Study guide chapters & DVDs 12-16
THURS. 7/29 EXAM 3 (8AM – 5PM in WVC Library)
UNIT 4 7/30 – 8/9 Study guide chapters & DVDs 17-21
MON. 8/9 EXAM 4 (8AM – 5PM in WVC Library)
THURS. 8/12 ***RESEARCH PAPER DUE ! ! !***
(Mail in or drop off in WVC Library)
UNIT 5 8/10 – 8/19 Study guide chapters & DVDs 22-26
THURS. 8/19 EXAM 5 (8AM – 5PM in WVC Library)
Evaluation and grading policy
There will be 5 exams worth 100 points each. The exams will be scheduled at the end of each Unit. Exams can be taken from 8AM – 5PM in WVC Library on scheduled exam days (see bottom of page 2 of the syllabus for the schedule). A Unit will consist of 5 or 6 chapters from the Study Guide, specific readings from the textbook and 5 or 6 video lessons. You will need a Scan-tron sheet (available in the bookstore) for each of these exams. Due dates for taking and submitting these exams are shown on the attached schedule. In addition, an independent research paper worth 100 points is also required. Please contact me if you cannot take a test or get an assignment in on time. There is no extra credit given. AN INCOMPLETE GRADE WILL NOT BE GIVEN FOR THIS COURSE!
Grades are then earned according to the following percentage scale:
93-100 = A 83-87 = B 70-77 = C 63-65 = D
90-92 = A- 80-82 = B- 68-69 = C- 60-62 = D-
88-89 = B+ 78-79 = C+ 66-67 = D+ <59 = F
Cheating
Cheating will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating, you will be given an “F” for the course. Cheating includes (but is not limited to): copying someone’s answers on a test or quiz, letting someone copy answers from your test or quiz, copying someone’s assignment & calling it your own, letting someone copy your assignment, informing other students of quiz or test material, using assignments/reports/papers for this course which have been or will be used for this or other courses, and plagiarism (copying information from a written or electronic source--such as the Internet--without giving credit to the author).
Course policies
Regular viewing of the DVDs, reading of the required text and work in the study guide is necessary for the student to successfully accomplish the goals of the course. Please contact me as soon as possible if there is a conflict, illness, etc., so that appropriate arrangements may be made to complete an assignment. You may email me with questions you may have at any time.
Students rights and responsibilities
RIGHTS
You have the right to expect that your instructor will:
· provide a comprehensive syllabus and course calendar
· display all due dates for readings, tests, and papers
· grade or otherwise respond to all tests and papers in a timely manner
· inform you of your current grade and relative class standing upon request
· respond to all appropriate questions
· behave in a professional manner, respecting you as an individual of intelligence and sensitivity
RESPONSIBILITIES
As students, you have the responsibility to:
· behave to all others in the class in a professional manner, being especially careful in e-mail and other electronic communications to avoid personal attacks, harsh criticisms, and objectionable language
· pay attention to the course calendar, keep up with the course work, submit your work in on time, and support your group members to establish a genuine learning community
Important dates
Wenatchee campus meeting
Meeting #1: Saturday, June 26, 2010, 9:00 - 10:30 AM., Wenatchi 2217
Exam and assignment dates (8AM – 5PM in WVC Library)
Exam 1: Thursday, July 8, 2010
Research proposal due: Monday, July 12, 2010
Exam 2: Monday, July 19, 2010
Exam 3: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Exam 4: Monday, August 9, 2010
Research paper due: Thursday, August 12, 2010
Exam 5: Thursday, August 19, 2010
Submitting assignments
On-campus students may take exams on the above-scheduled days from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM in the WVC Library. Please see Lailee Daling or Olivia Drakes in the library.
Off-campus students please return all exams and papers directly to WVC. (Your proctor will be provided with self-addressed, stamped envelopes for this purpose.)
Special populations office
The Disability Support Services Office has been designated by the college as the primary office to guide, coach and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services (or think you should) through that office and require accommodations for this class, make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Bring your Instructor Notification and Request form provided by the Special Populations Coordinator to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in strictest confidence unless you give me written permission to do otherwise. If you need a referral to that office or have further questions, I will be available to assist you. The Special Populations Coordinator will require appropriate documentation of disability. The use of that office is voluntary.
GUIDELINES FOR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PAPER (100 pts)
· Length of 8-12 pages, word-processed & double-spaced
· Include a title page at the beginning of your report.
· You may use tables, charts, diagrams, drawings & photos.
· Spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence structure must be at the college level.
· When using scientific names of organisms, they must be correctly spelled.
· Scientific names must be correctly used when referring to organisms. Capitalize the genus name, underline or italicize genus & species name as shown in this example:
Macrocystis pyrifera OR Macrocystis pyrifera
· You must use a minimum of 3 different references; you may use as many as you wish!
· List your references alphabetically by the author’s last name or a key word from your Internet source on the last page of your paper using the following formats as examples:
Tortora, G.J., B.R.Funke & C.L. Case. 2010. Microbiology, An Introduction,
6th edition. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., New York. 801 pp.
Woodford, P.G. and J.I. Hanson. 2010. Animal systems involved in the
digestive process. Scientific American 30: 345-357.
· Internet (World Wide Web) references without a specific author are listed as follows:
University of Washington Oceanography Department. “Title of Article” [Online]. http://www.whatever.the/address.would/be (date you accessed it).
· ALL sources you list in your references MUST be cited within the text of your paper,
however, do not use footnotes in the paper. You must cite the reference used
every time you use facts or data from your references.
· Cite the references you use within the text of your paper by listing the author’s last name
and the year the article/book was published according to the following format:
. . . the intestine is where most digestion occurs (Woodford and Hanson, 2010).
· Don't forget to cite your illustrations, photos, diagrams, etc. as well! Label each of these
as figures, number them and refer to them in the text of your paper.
· If an Internet reference does not have an author, simply reference it as (U.W., 2010).
· Submit a written proposal to me by MONDAY 7/12/2010 so that I can okay your topic before you begin. It may be emailed to me at rfitch@wvc.edu
· You may research any relevant topic in BIOLOGICAL oceanography . . . pending instructor approval! Be sure to cover your subject in greater depth than the course material.
· This research paper is due on THURSDAY 8/12/2010 by 5:00 PM. It may be mailed to me or dropped off in the WVC Library.
· Please ask me for help, comments, constructive criticism or to look over the drafts of the paper as you write it, especially if this is the first “scientific” paper you’ve written.
THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ALLOW YOU THE FREEDOM TO DO AN IN-DEPTH, UP-TO-DATE RESEARCH PAPER ON A PARTICULAR MARINE BIOLOGY OR BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY - RELATED TOPIC OF INTEREST TO YOU. AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, YOU WILL DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO SEEK OUT AND PURSUE ANY TOPIC OF INTEREST IN THE FUTURE BY UTILIZING THE WIDE VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. PICK A TOPIC YOU'LL ENJOY AND DO SOME INVESTIGATIVE WORK ON IT!
OCEANOGRAPHY 101 - TOPICS FOR OCEANOGRAPHY RESEARCH PAPER:
ROB FITCH'S WEBSITE: http://commons.wvc.edu/rfitch
MARINE LIFE:
- Seaweeds, marine algae, seagrasses, mangrove forests, kelp
- Plankton: Phytoplankton, zooplankton, bacteria/nanoplankton, etc.
- Reptiles & birds: Turtles, snakes, penguins, albatross, etc.
- Mammals: Polar bears, manatees, walrus, seals, whales, dolphins, etc.
- Invertebrates: Sponges, sea stars, clams, oysters, crabs, etc.
- Fish: Sharks, rays, bony fish, food fish, rare or unique fish, etc.
- Symbiotic relationships: Corals, anemones, cleaning fish, etc.
- Endangered or threatened species, conservation of species
ECOLOGY:
- Red tides
- Introduced or non-native species of plants/seaweeds or animals
- Human impact on environment, etc.
- Hydrothermal vent life
ARTIFICIAL REEFS - sinking ships, scrap autos, oil rigs, etc.
OCEAN PHARMACOLOGY:
- Drugs from marine organisms
- Plants & Animals
- Toxic or dangerous plants & animals
MARINE RESOURCES FOR FOOD:
- Seafood - stocks, new fisheries, krill, squid, sea cucumbers, sharks, etc.
- Seafood safety for consumers
- Aquaculture/Mariculture - growing food in the sea
- Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture
PHYSIOLOGY - adaptations that marine life have to ocean environment
- SCUBA diving & physiological effects on humans
- Adaptations of marine mammals to diving deep, or aquatic birds to marine environment
POLLUTION:
- New clean-up technology
- Prevention methods
- Laws & regulations
- Plastics, medical wastes, oil
- Biological amplification & effects on marine food chains
OCEAN TECHNOLOGY:
- Ocean life mapping/surveys
- Remote sensing of primary production/ satellites, etc.
MARINE REGULATION/OCEAN LAW:
- Pertaining to fisheries
- Pollution, damage to marine life, clean-up and remediation
- Introduced marine species - negative/positive impacts
- Enforcement, role of Fish & Wildlife Departments, Coast Guard, Navy
UNDERSEA SUBMERSIBLES - undersea exploration of new/unique life forms/ecosystems
OTHER - current topics related to MARINE BIOLOGY or BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY!