Kent State University-Geauga Campus
This course will emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography by exposing the student to the basic principles of geological, chemical, physical and biological oceanography. Relationships among these systems and interrelationships between oceans and human populations will be emphasized.
: Course InformationGrade Level
: College Lower (13-14)Earth System Topics
: OceansCourse Size
This course is an introductory course for non-science majors as a general education credit who do NOT require a lab science credit. It has no prerequisites nor does it serve as one.
Students should be able to do the following:
- Describe theories for the formation of the ocean basins
- Discuss the relationships between Plate Tectonics theory and sea floor features
- Predict the behavior of ocean circulation to changes to seawater's chemical properties
- Describe ocean circulation and movement of heat in the Earth's system
- Discuss the relationship between the ocean and weather and climate
- Describe how waves and tides form and their impact along coastlines
- Discuss the characteristics of the worlds oceans as an ecosystem
- Discuss the forms of life found in the oceans
How course activities and course structure help students achieve these goals:
During each class students are provided with a short lecture 20-30 minutes in length and then given a question to consider. It may be a photograph, map or other diagram. Student work in groups and present their answers. Reading quizzes are used to reinforce participation and 4 content exams are given during the semester. Finally, students are asked to research and present information about a topic they self select. This allows the student to delve deeper into a topic they have some interest in.
- working in groups
- oral communication
- improving students' confidence in science content courses is always my goal