OFFICE VISITS:
Please feel free to come in during my office hours or by appointment regarding your progress in the course.

GRADES:
Sixty percent (60%) of the final grade will be determined by an average of three (3) in-class exams, each one covering one general area of oceanography. All exams will consist of multiple-choice and fill in the blank questions and will be weighted equally. The questions will come from the text, lecture, and handouts.
Fifteen percent (15%) of the final grade will consist of three critiques, two (2) current science articles from The Garden Island or Honolulu Advertiser or Star Bulletin and one (1) internet ocean research article, all dated from June 1, 2006 to November 30, 2006. For the newspaper articles, you need to include the actual article, or a xerox copy with the newspaper source, date, and page written on the article. For the internet article, you need to include a copy of the entire article with the internet address information, author, and date. You need to write a one page critique of each article to get credit. This critique needs to be in your own words and computer generated. These critiques are due when your notebook is collected on the day of the tests (1 article - Exam #1, 1 article - Exam#2, and 1 article - Exam #3). These articles are worth 10 points each.
Ten percent (10%) of the final grade will be a notebook to include daily class work, questions and vocabulary, copies of all written assignments, 3 science articles with computer generated critiques, a copy of the class syllabus, class schedule, student understandings document, class notes, and an example of the mathematical process used to compute your grade plus your tentative grade, due at test #2 and #3 time.
Fifteen percent (15%) of the final grade will be for active participation and attendance including a group presentation of a chapter (10%).

Daily assignments will be checked at the beginning of the class. FOUR excused absences will allow the late assignment to be accepted, otherwise all other late assignments will not be accepted. (10 or more absences result in a grade of "F")

YOUR FINAL GRADE IS BASED ON:	PERCENTAGE	GRADING SCALE
AVERAGE OF 3 EXAMS	60%	A = 90 - 100%
3 SCIENCE CRITIQUES	15%	B = 80 - 89%
NOTEBOOK (including daily assignments)	10%	C = 65 - 79%
PARTICIPATION, ATTENDANCE, ONE GROUP PRESENTATION(10%)	15%	D = 51 - 64%
TOTAL	100%	F = 0 - 50%

EXAM QUESTIONS:
Sixty percent (60%) of your grade (exam questions) is taken from the material in the book and lecture material. Therefore, regular attendance is normally required to attain a passing grade of C or D. Since slides and overheads are used in lecture and note taking is sometimes difficult in class, audio taping of lecture is allowed. Prohibited classroom activities include: any disruptive behavior, late arrival or early exit, eating or drinking in class, cheating, bringing children to class, videotaping, and unregistered audit of lecture. Cheating results is an automatic zero for the test and is cause for immediate disciplinary action.

WITHDRAWALS & INCOMPLETES:
Remember that the final date for withdrawal from the course is __________. A withdrawal ("W") grade after _________, requires the instructor’s signature and is given only in cases of extreme or unusual circumstances: 1) a certified medical reason or 2) a death in the immediate family. Grade related excuses are unacceptable.

An incomplete ("I") grade will be given only to students who are achieving passing grades and are very close to completing the course. The request form needs to be presented prior to the last day of instruction. In addition, the student must have a very good reason for not being able to complete all the work on time, such as those listed under the withdrawal policy.

INSTRUCTION:
Lecture: The method of instruction is by lecture, Socratic questioning, group discussion, homework, and small group activities. Review the course competencies and you will see such words as "think critically, explain, describe, discuss, analyze, and problem solve." In order to address these objectives, you need to talk and write.

In the small groups, you will be discussing specific problem issues and then writing a response addressing the problem, applying it to yourself or Kaua'i, or answering questions. Some of the homework assignments will be checked in class and some turned in to be graded. This written work needs to be kept in your notebook (10 % of your final grade) which is your file cabinet and should contain your ideas, your work, and important information which will help to determine your grade.

STUDY SKILLS AND ADVISING:
Transfer science courses are very academically demanding courses that require developed study skills. Generally at least 6 hours of study time/week are required to obtain a minimal "C" or "D" grade. Not only does the textbook need to be read; it needs to be studied, and written notes taken. Since memory coding and retrieval are critical to success, students are usually advised to organize; summarize; and rewrite the information contained in the text (and lecture) into a set of coherent notes which can be used for review.

Students who perform poorly on tests should seek academic advising from the instructor. During the semester, only estimated letter grades are given. As a general rule, students who fail a single test ("F") or perform poorly ("D") on more than one test should make an appointment to see the instructor IMMEDIATELY. The Learning Center also has tutoring and counseling sessions available in learning strategies. If a student has a complaint or concern regarding the class or teaching, that person needs to make an appointment and talk with the instructor to resolve the problem.

If you have a disability and have not voluntarily disclosed the nature of your disability and the support that you need, you are invited to contact the Student Services Office, 245-8314 or 245-8212 as soon as possible.  This is to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

STUDENT CONDUCT and ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
As members of the academic community students are expected to promote an atmosphere of honesty and learning, respect for others, and appropriate classroom behavior to maintain the academic integrity essential to the educational process.  "Academic dishonesty cannot be condoned by the University.  Such dishonesty includes cheating and plagarism which violate the Student Conduct Code and may result in expulsion from the University." (Kauai Community College 2005-6 Catalog, p. 53)

OCN 201 SCHEDULE (FALL, 2006-M,W) (*Note - schedule is subject to change)

DATE	HOMEWORK	LECTURE TOPIC (chapter)
(8/21,23)	Read Ch. 1, Questions Bring MAP to class	Introduction to Planet "Earth" (1)
(8/28,30)	Read Ch. 2, Questions	Global Plate Tectonics and the Ocean Floor(2)
(9/4, M)	HOLIDAY	LABOR DAY
(9/6,11)	Read Ch. 3, Questions MAP DUE - Plates (9/6)	Marine Provinces (3)
(9/13,18)	Read Ch. 4, Questions	Marine Sediments (4)
(9/20,25)	Read Ch. 5, Questions	Water and Seawater (5)
(9/27)	Study for Exam	EXAM # 1 (CH. 1,2,3,4,5) + 1 Critique
(10/2,4)	Read Ch. 6, Questions	The Air-Sea Interaction (6)
(10/9,11)	Read Ch. 7, Questions MAP DUE-winds(10/9)	Ocean Circulation (7)
(10/16,18)	Read Ch. 8, Questions	Waves and Water Dynamics (8)
(10/23,25)	Read Ch. 9,10,11,12 MAP DUE-currents(10/23)	Work on Student Group Presentations on Ch.9, 10, 11, 12
(10/30)	Questions Ch. 9	Student Group Presentation on Tides (9)
(11/1)	Questions Ch. 10 Exam Review	Student Group Presentation on The Coast: Beaches and Shoreline (10)
(11/6)	Study for Exam	EXAM #2 (CH. 6,7,8,9,10)  + 1 Critique
(11/7, M)	HOLIDAY	ELECTION DAY
(11/8)	Questions Ch. 11	Student Group Presentations on The Coastal Ocean (11),
(11/13,15)	Questions Ch. 12	Student Group Presentations on Marine Life and the Marine Environment (12) on 11/13,
(11/20,22)	Read Ch. 13, Questions	Biological Productivity & Energy Transfer (13)
(11/23-24)	HOLIDAY	THANKSGIVING VACATION
(11/28)	Read Ch. 14 Questions	Animals of the Pelagic Environment (14)
(11/29)	Read Ch. 15 Questions	Animals of the Benthic Environment (15)
(12/4)	Study for Exam	EXAM #3 (CH. 11,12,13,14,15)  + 1 Critique
(12/6)	CONFERENCE	Sign up for a 10 min. appointment re. grade

STUDENT UNDERSTANDINGS (OCN 201: SCIENCE OF THE SEA)

1. I understand the standards in this course and that I am responsible for monitoring my own learning. ____________________(Initial)
2. I understand that the class-time will focus on practice, lecture, and activities. ______
3. I understand on a typical class day I will be working in a small group and that I will be responsible to take an active part in advancing the assigned work of the group. _____
4. I understand that I will be held regularly responsible for assessing my own work using criteria and standards discussed in class. ____
5. I understand that I am responsible for my own behavior and will conduct my self in a appropriate manner._____
6. I understand that if at any time in the semester I feel unsure about by "grade", I may request a meeting with the professor._____
7. I understand that I will have a written assignment due for almost every class day except test days. _______
8. I understand that I must keep a notebook to include handouts, all daily homework, articles, and a copy of all computer generated reports, graded discussion group assignments, a copy of the class syllabus and schedule, student understandings agreement, and an example of the process used to figure out my grade.______
9. I understand that I will need to give one group oral report._______
10. I understand that if the assignment for the day is not completed, then I am not prepared to do the "in-class" work of the day and may be asked to leave. ______
11. I understand that there are three(3) exams that are weighted equally in the course. _____
12. I understand that I must write two computer generated science newspaper article critiques of one page length each._____
13. I understand that I must write one computer generated internet ocean research article critique of one page. _____
14. I understand that the work of the course requires consistent classroom attendance and active participation._____
15. I understand that the final class grade will not be graded on a curve. I understand that it is theoretically possible for the whole class to get an "A" or an "F." ______
16. I understand that:

MY FINAL GRADE IS BASED ON:	PERCENTAGE	GRADING SCALE
AVERAGE OF 3 EXAMS	60%	A = 90 - 100%
3 SCIENCE CRITIQUES	15%	B = 80 - 89%
NOTEBOOK (including daily assignments)	10%	C = 65 - 79%
PARTICIPATION, ATTENDANCE, ONE GROUP PRESENTATION(10%)	15%	D = 51 - 64%
TOTAL	100%	F = 0 - 50%

Daily assignments will be checked at the beginning of the class. FOUR excused absences will allow the late assignment to be accepted, otherwise all other late assignments will not be accepted. (10 or more absences result in a grade of "F")  ______
NAME: (Print)____________________________________DATE:_________