Syllabus for SMS 303, 2009, Integrative Marine Sciences III

Instructor: Emmanuel Boss

Abstract:

This course focuses on using physical principles, concepts and approaches to explain observed phenomena in aquatic sciences.  The course emphasizes hands-on activities; half the time in the class will be devoted to laboratory sessions.  The course is intended for 3^rd/4^th year students in SMS and has no prerequisites.  The class will meet for 2 ® 2.5 hours every week; the first period is a lecture/discussion/demonstration, the second period is a lab.

Expectations:

Grading in the class will be based on participation (25%), weekly assignments (70%) and pre-class quizzes (5%). Extra credit (15%): students electing to write a term paper (5 pages maximum), whose topic they discussed and agreed with the instructor. Given that this class is a 2 credits class I expect students to spend 2-4hrs a week working outside of class. If you find yourself working more than 4hrs a week for class please come see me.

At the end of each lab there will be an individual and group quiz. The purpose of this quiz is to assess that material was learned and does not affect the individual grade. Group grade will be recorded and the best overall group will be invited for pizza after the semester ends. At the end of some of the labs, groups will be randomly assigned an activity to explain to the rest of the class. The grade for the explanations (8-great job, 4- OK job, 1- poor job) will be added to the week's quiz grade.

Amnesty program: Student can resubmit homework within a week from when they got them back and gain up to half the point they lost.

Description:

A five week module concentrated on concepts from physical oceanography (waves, tides, diffusion, mixing and how fluids behave on a rotating planet). Two other modules in SMS 303 are offered by M. Wells and A. Thomas and by F. Chai.

Note: New material will be added as we go.

Following every class we do a quiz competition between groups. This does not affect the student's grade but provides a feedback to me regarding how well the concepts have been understood. The winning group will be invited to the Bear Brew Pub for Pizza.

Quiz results:        Quiz 1     Quiz 2  Quiz 3   Quiz 4   Quiz 5    Total 

MAK                   40          38         37        40           40      155

Gold Team          40           37        40         40           38      155

Roadrunners        40           37        39         37           32      145

Name                  40           39         40         37          39      155

SMS303             40           38         37         39         40       154

Confidence          40           37         40         40         40       157           The winning team for 2009!!!

Problematic questions (& number of groups having problem with it):   

Quiz 2: 3(1),5(2),6(1),7(1),8(4),9(5)- since 5 groups had problems with Q-5 it was deemed unfair and points were not taken off for it.