OCEANOGRAPHY LAB -- OCN 100L
Spring 2013
Class #30173 -- Wednesday 1:00-3:50 p.m. Room NS-131
Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in OCN 100
Instructor: Mrs. P. Deen
Office: NS-110E
E-mail: pdeen@palomar.edu
Office Phone: 744-1150 ext. 2519; ESAS Office Phone: 744-1150 ext. 2512
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00- 9:00 a.m., Tuesday 1:00-2:00 p.m., and by
appointment
Required Text:
Deen, Yon, and Trujillo, Laboratory and Field Exercises in Oceanography, 8th ed., 2012.
Note: This is a workbook; each student must have a new copy of this book for class. The book is
available for $40 only at Off-Campus Books located at 1450 W Mission Rd Ste F, San Marcos, CA 92069;
(760) 598-2665.
Oceanography Program Home Page: http://www.palomar.edu/oceanography/
About the Course
This lab course is designed to complement topics discussed in the Oceanography 100 lecture
course. You must either be concurrently enrolled in OCN100, or have completed it in a previous
semester. Topics covered in the lab tie in closely with topics covered in the lecture course.
During the lab, you will examine a wide variety of oceanographic phenomena through both
hands-on or computer-based activities and field trips.
Attendance
Attendance is a requirement for the successful completion of this course. If you miss any
class, your grade will suffer. If you do miss a class, contact me immediately as you may be
able to attend the same lab on a different day if the schedule permits. You may attend another
class session one time during the semester. If you miss a field trip, you may not complete the
assigned report using outside resources unless specifically pre-arranged with your instructor. In
addition, it is your responsibility to get any information from another student for any missed
class in order to do well on quizzes. Arriving late for class will deprive you of time to complete
the quiz at the beginning of class.
Lab Manual and Other Supplies
The lab manual is a workbook produced by faculty for the Oceanography Lab class at
Palomar College. You will need your book for each lab session including field trips. Besides the
actual activities, the lab manual has directions to field trip locations, restroom availability, and
other miscellaneous information you will find helpful.
On the title page for each lab in the lab manual, there is a list of "Equipment to Bring"
which you need to have to complete the lab. The following are the required lab supplies that you
will need during the semester:
Lab manual
#2 pencils with eraser
Ruler (metric is best)
Colored pencils or markers (fine-tipped)
Mechanical pencil (optional)
Calculator (cell phone is OK)
Ear buds / headphones
Clipboard (suggested for field trips)
These items are available for sale at the Palomar bookstore or other office supply stores. You
will lose points if you do not come to class with the appropriate materials.
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Lab Procedures
Before coming to lab
To enable you to complete the lab within the 3-hour lab period, you must prepare for the lab
before coming to class.
 Check your syllabus to make sure which lab you are scheduled to complete.
 On the title page for each lab is a section entitled "Lab Preparation" that indicates the
material you should read.
 Read through the "Learning Objectives" to help you identify the most important concepts
that you should master during the lab session.
 Make sure you have the appropriate supplies listed under "Equipment to Bring."
 For field trips, make sure to complete the pre-lab assignment and bring it with you.
During the lab time
1. Quiz: At the beginning of each lab session, there will be either a 10-point quiz covering the
material from last week's lab, or a field trip report due (worth up to 10 points).
2. Announcements: The schedule for the following week will be clarified and important
announcements will be made.
3. Lab Introduction: A brief introduction to the lab and some helpful tips will be given to help
you complete the lab.
4. Group work to complete lab activities: You may then use the remaining time to complete the
lab activity.
 Unless otherwise specified, you must work in groups of 2.
 All exercises must be done neatly and legibly in pencil.
 Be sure to show your work by setting up any problem when any mathematical
computation is required.
 Keep in mind that there may not be a single correct answer, or the answer may
depend on interpretation of data. Don’t be afraid to make interpretations, but
remember that you’ll have to justify your answer.
 As you work, I will be available to help you with questions. In general, I will help you
by asking you more questions that may lead you to your own conclusions.
 The lab exercises are designed to be completed within the 3 hour period with the
premise that students arrive prepared and work hard (a 10-minute break during the
lab time is OK). I will mark off points if you are taking too long to complete the lab
due to not following directions, goofing off, or because of your lack of preparation.
 With the exception of their use as a calculator, do not use cell phones during lab.
5. Check-out: When your group has completed the lab exercise, you MUST check out with
the instructor before leaving. Besides getting credit for doing the lab, this will insure that
you have correct or satisfactory answers to study from for the quiz the next week. You will
be assigned 10 points for the work done in lab if it is complete and satisfactory. NOTE:
Points will be deducted if incomplete or unsatisfactory; this includes doing work in pen or not
having colored pencils. If you finish and get checked out early, you are free to leave.
Food in the Lab
Administration policy states that there is to be no food or drinks in the lab room. You may have
a water bottle, but otherwise, eat something before you come to class.
Appropriate Footwear
Due to safety considerations, the following labs require that you wear close-toed shoes, such as
athletic shoes. If you do not wear the correct footwear, you will not be able to participate in the
lab and will receive a “0” for the day.
• Advanced Living Systems Lab & Cruise, Ocean Institute, Dana Point
• Properties of Sea Water
• Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute Marine Fish Hatchery
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Course Schedule (subject to change)
Week
1
Date
1/23
Exercise/Field Trip
Introduction to Marine Charts
2
1/30
Imaging the Sea Floor
13
3
2/6
Plate Boundaries and Sea Floor Features
27
4
2/13
Marine Sediments
43
5
2/20
From Mountains to Monsoons: A Virtual Voyage
57
6
2/27
^Field Trip: Batiquitos Lagoon  Bring completed pre-lab
assignment.
Page
3
171
7
3/6
Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide in Seawater (Close-toed shoes required)
65
8
3/13
Global Winds and Ocean Currents
79
9
3/20
El Niño—Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
93
Spring Break
10
4/3
Investigating Ocean Waves
107
11
4/10
Tides and Tidal Charts
125
12
4/17
Coastal Navigation
143
13
14
Last Day to Pay for the Ocean Institute Trip without penalty
Field Trip: Coastal Cliff Erosion—Solana Beach and Del Mar (report
due 10/24)  Bring completed pre-lab assignment.
see @^Field Trip: Advanced Living Systems Lab & Cruise, Ocean
below Institute, Dana Point (40-point lab; close-toed shoes required)
4/24
Bring completed pre-lab assignment. Note: we do not meet in class
this week
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5/8
^Field Trip: Marine Fish Hatchery, Carlsbad  Bring completed prelab assignment.
16
5/15
^Field Trip: Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla. Bring pre-paid
entrance voucher & pre-lab assignment.
Note: We do not meet during final exam week. There is no final exam for this class.
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201
191
209
SCHEDULE NOTES:
•
^You will turn in a worksheet at the end of the field trip. The worksheet will be collected at
the end of the trip; incomplete work will result in the deduction of points for the trip.
•
@The Advanced Living Systems Lab & Cruise is a 4-hour program that combines a 2-hour
boat cruise and on-shore lab activities at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point Harbor. The
boat will leave the dock at 12:00 noon sharp; the program will end at 4:00 p.m. Allow one
hour travel time to and from Dana Point. To accommodate your schedule, you may sign up
for any one of the four scheduled programs:
 Tuesday 4/30
 Wednesday 5/1
 Friday 5/3
Each date is limited to 36 students. If you must go on one certain date, pay and reserve
your spot as soon as sign-ups are available (probably 3/20). The last day to pay/sign up for
the trip without penalty is 4/17; students signing up after that date will have one point per day
deducted from their grade. If you have any concerns regarding this trip, please see me as
soon as possible. The cost of the trip is $45 per person. Only students enrolled in the class
may participate.
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Field Trip Procedures and Fees
The field trips are opportunities to apply some of your knowledge and to observe
oceanographic phenomena in action. Come prepared to work (high heels are not appropriate),
take notes (some students bring a camera), and to learn. Although no students have been
seriously injured on any field trip in the past, there is always the potential of being injured while
in the field. Please act responsibly and obey the instructor at all times. School policy prohibits
firearms, illegal drugs, or alcohol on any field trip. Any student violating the Student Code of
Conduct will be referred to the Dean of Student Affairs and will receive an "F" in the class.
Details regarding the meeting place, time, and other details will be given at the beginning
of the class period before any trip. You must provide your own transportation for field trips. You
must sign a waiver related to travel on off-campus. Carpooling is recommended. Note that
there are costs involved for the following field trips:
 Advanced Living Systems Lab & Cruise, Ocean Institute, Dana Point—$45.00
 Birch Aquarium at Scripps—$7.50 entrance fee (pre-paid on-line on Birch Aquarium
website)
The fee for the Advanced Living Systems Lab & Cruise is payable at the Cashier’s Office, room
A-2. You may sign up for the program on a first-come, first-served basis. I will announce the
beginning of sign-ups and give specific directions at that time. Space on each trip is limited, so if
you sign up late, you may not get to go on the trip you had planned on.
Field Trip Cancellation Policy
If the weather looks threatening on the day that a field trip is scheduled, check with me
before going out to the meeting location. I will make a determination at least 2 hours before the
lab time and leave a message on my voice mail (x2519) and a sign posted on the classroom
door. If the field trip is canceled, we will meet in class and do an alternate lab.
Field Trip Pre-lab Assignments
Pre-lab assignments for field trips are generally short activities designed to prepare
students for topics discussed on the field trip. Specific instructions and point values for pre-lab
assignments will be posted on the class Blackboard site under “Content.” If a handout is given
with fill-in blanks, the answers should be neatly written or typed in the space given. All answers
should be thoughtful, concise and written in complete sentences. Any essay-style content must
be typed. Content should be well organized into paragraphs using complete and concise
sentences. Accurate spelling and proper punctuation must be used. Bring the completed
assignment to the field trip site. I will not accept late pre-lab assignments.
Grading (points may vary with schedule changes)
Final grades will be assigned
as follows:
Lab attendance
Quizzes
Pre-labs
Subtotal Lowest lab (possible 20
points)
Total Possible
A=
B=
C=
D=
F=
= 190 points
= 60
= 40
= 290
= -20
= 270 points
> 93%
86 – 92
79 – 85
70 – 78
<70
251 points
232 points
213 points
189 points
Notes on Grading:



The completion of each lab exercise or attendance at field trips is worth a maximum of 10 points.
Points may be deducted for sloppy, incomplete work, coming unprepared (for example, without your
lab book and supplies), arriving late, lack of participation or inappropriate behavior.
The lowest of your lab scores (up to 20 points) will be dropped in computing final grades. This may
represent any missed lab and quiz/report except the Ocean Institute Living Systems Program. The 20
points you earn through perfect attendance may also be used as “bonus points” toward imperfect
quiz/report grades.
The Ocean Institute Living Systems Program is worth 40 points plus the 5 point pre-lab.
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Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLO's)
Successful students should be able to meet the following Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Interpret bathymetry and navigation information from a NOAA marine chart.
2. Read a published tide chart to interpret current tidal condition; explain how Earth-MoonSun relationships influence the observed pattern.
Note: Students must also be able to describe and explain many, many other terms, concepts,
and processes in order to successfully complete this class.
The above SLO's are a response to mandates by an educational bureaucracy that seeks to do
meaningful things, but ends up generating work for faculty, administrators, and a host of new bureaucrats.
The result of such a process is nebulous at best. Any student wishing to investigate SLO's can visit the
website: http://www2.palomar.edu/slo/default.html
Academic Honesty
• Students must conduct themselves in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct as
•
published by Student Affairs on the Palomar College website. This applies to all forms of
plagiarism and cheating. Students who violate the code of conduct will be referred to the
Dean of Student Affairs for appropriate action and will receive an "F" in the class.
I reserve the right to ask a student to leave due to any improper or distractive behavior.
Before you return to class, you must contact me and then come for a conference in my
office.
ADD/WITHDRAWAL INFORMATION
Only students who are officially registered may participate in this class. If you are given a
permission code to add this class, you must officially add the class prior to the next class
meeting. The deadline for adding any class using a permission code is February 3. Under no
circumstance will students be allowed to add this class after the add deadline.
Through Feb. 3 (New policy!)
Feb. 3 through March 8
Oct. 14 to end of semester
Use E-Services to drop classes.
Use E-Services to drop
No drops are allowed. An
No notation or grade will appear
classes. A "W" will appear on evaluative grade (A, B, C, D, F,
on your record. Last day to
your record.
FW) or "I" must be given.
qualify for a refund is Sept. 3
Please note that it is the student's responsibility to initiate the procedure of withdrawing from a course.
If you are enrolled in the Oceanography 100 Lab and withdraw from the Oceanography 100
Lecture at any time during the semester, you must also withdraw from the lab course. Although
you officially do not need to inform me of your withdrawal, I would appreciate the chance to talk to you
before you do so.
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