AMS Ocean Studies: A dynamic, introductory college-level oceanography course emphasizing real-world data and investigations

Abstract

AMS Ocean Studies is an introductory college-level course developed by the American Meteorological Society, with NOAA support, for implementation at undergraduate institutions globally. The course places students in a dynamic and highly motivational educational environment where they investigate the role of the ocean in the Earth System by using real-world, current environmental data. Since the fall 2005 semester, one-hundred colleges and universities have implemented this course. The American Meteorological Society's AMS Ocean Studies Diversity Project aims to increase undergraduate student access to the geosciences through course implementation at minority-serving institutions and training programs for MSI faculty. AMS Ocean Studies includes a fully-integrated set of printed and online learning materials. The comprehensive course package consists of a new hard-cover, 15-chapter textbook, Investigations Manual, course website containing current ocean investigations, and course management system-compatible files. Instructors can use these resources in combinations that make for an exciting learning experience for their students. The brand-new Ocean Studies: Introduction to Oceanography 2nd edition text, edited by Joseph M. Moran, significantly revises and updates the Is' edition to place even greater emphasis on the Ocean in the Earth System, the Ocean in Earth's Climate System, and In-situ and Remote Ocean Sensing. New, expanded, or significantly updated topics in the new text include Hydrothermal Vents, Ocean Acidification, Thermohaline Circulation, Tsunami, Beaches and Barrier Islands, Global Climate Change, and Arctic Sea Ice. The new edition even includes information about the recent, devastating Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. The textbook is typically used in conjunction with the Investigations Manual and course website, but can also be used alone in a traditional lecture-style course. The AMS Ocean Studies Investigations Manual's 30 lab-style activities lead students through the analysis and interpretation of real-world ocean data. An inflatable globe packaged with the Manual enhances visualization of ocean phenomena, such as currents, tides, and El Nina/La Nina. The course website contains weekly Current Ocean Studies investigations during fall and spring semesters. These activities, which can be used to supplement the Investigations Manual, allow for the examination of even more up-to-date ocean data. The website also contains the Weekly Ocean News and numerous links to physical and chemical, geological, and biological oceanographic data and information. Instructor support materials include a faculty CD with a faculty manual, chapter test banks, textbook images, and other resources. The faculty website contains answer keys for Investigations Manual and Current Ocean Studies questions. The Investigations Manual and Current Ocean Studies activities and test banks are provided in Respondus format and can be ported into a college's quizzing function for automated scoring and immediate student feedback. This feature allows for full integration to a college's e-learning environment. AMS Ocean Studies can be offered in traditional lecture/laboratory, completely online, and blended learning environments by experienced science faculty or those new to teaching the subject matter. Collegial assistance from AMS staff and other course users is available to new instructors. A simple licensing procedure allows for full institutional access to the course materials and course management system- compatible files. Students enrolled in the course receive local institutional credit and purchase course materials through their local bookstore. In the U.S., an important part of the course is local implementation at colleges serving large numbers of minority students. NSF support since 2006 has allowed AMS to train nearly 75 faculty members to teach AMS Ocean Studies at minority serving institutions through workshops at University of Washington and NOAA facilities in Seattle, WA, and at the following AMS Annual Meeting. As a result, over 1500 U.S. minority serving institution students have studied oceanography. AMS Ocean Studies is a dynamic and growing course that aims to interest all students in Earth System science and increase general scientific literacy through the use of real world and current ocean information and events. AMS strongly encourages local implementation of the course at undergraduate institutions in the U.S., Canada, and worldwide. For more information, please visit the information website at http://www.ametsoc.org/oceanstudies.