Marine Biology Informational Booklet 2010

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MARINE b

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Introduction &

Requirements & Fees

Enrollment Dates

Schedule & Syllabus

Characterization

Find out what you need to

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associated fees.

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dates against your calendar...

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SJSD MARINE BIOLOGY PROGRAM INFORMATION: The Course: The course is a unique one-semester experience-intensive study of the biology of our oceans. “Honors Marine Biology” is part of our existing biology curriculum, but will take several important steps further toward being an actual hands-on experience in the field of biological science. The course will provide an introduction to the flora and fauna of tropical ecosystems and the Caribbean, in particular. Major systems of study will include: coral reefs, mangroves, sand flats, and subtropical forests. Experiences in species identification and science research skills will be part of the focus within these systems. A highlight of the course is a weeklong, in-depth study at Forfar Educational Field Station on Andros Island in The Bahamas. There, we live on 45 to 50 ft. sailboats for the entire week we are on the island. As a direct result of our on-site field-study, many valuable cultural experiences will also be gained. The program is designed to allow students in many different activities to also participate in Marine Biology. Another way the course will be unique is the meeting schedule. Honors Marine Biology will meet at night. A specific number of contact hours are required for a semester credit. Half of these hours will be spent during the intense study week at Andros Island. The other half will be met during night classes from 7:00 to 9:00pm. The schedule will require meeting an average of two nights per month during the months of August through February. Closer to the week of on-site study, more preparation will be needed. (continued on page 2)

All kinds of immersion Marine Biology is a unique program where immersion in rich biological content and experiences actually coincide with real physical immersion in the ocean. Our specific focus for the course is the delicate and threatened coral reef ecosystem. Density of life on the reef is amazing, and studying it firsthand is an unforgettable experience.

SJSD Marine Institute • http://stjoeh2o.ning.com • Instructor: Sean P. Nash

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MAR I NE B I O L OGY The Course: (continued from page 1) During this time, we meet nearly every Monday. During the month following the on-site study, three meetings will also be needed for closure. In this time, all data collected at Andros will be analyzed and conclusions for individual projects will be made and presented. Culminating presentations of all types will be incorporated into a website that will be accessible by anyone on the planet with an Internet connection. The link to the site for our program is: http://stjoeh2o.ning.com. A Marine Biology program is rare in midwestern colleges and even far less common in high schools. This course will create educational opportunities that are rarely experienced in public education. Students will be provided with a firsthand look at many career choices that are not often studied in our part of the country. Though the stark reality is: the surface of our planet is seventyfive percent covered by the ocean. (continued on page 3)

Students keep a journal throughout the coral reef field experience to bring home and publish to the world via our online course network.

A Typical Day On Andros Island (8:00am-ish) breakfast (9:00-12:00pm) snorkeling trip on Andros barrier reef crest (12:30-1:30pm) lunch in the field at a nearby beach (1:30-3:00pm) recording of data, photo review, journaling and free time to explore (3:00-5:00pm) snorkeling trip at Gibson Cay Blue Hole... an inland blue hole (5:00-6:00pm) more free exploration (6:00-7:00pm) dinner (7:00pm) group discussion “Geology of Bahamian Blue Holes”

SJSD Marine Institute • http://stjoeh2o.ning.com • Instructor: Sean P. Nash

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MAR I NE B I O L OGY The values of this program are numerous. Some of the value added by this course is that it... • allows an area of high student interest and engagement to be included within the broader curriculum • fosters development of real science skills, in a real-world setting • provides an opportunity for enriched coursework and experiences • requires the development and practice of application skills such as public speaking, writing, teaching content to younger students, as well as publishing and interaction within many forms of online participatory media • creates a sense of collaborative “unity” that ties enthusiastic students from each of our three St. Joseph public schools • presents a realistic in-depth examination of several career opportunities in the field of marine biology • allows you, the midwestern student, an opportunity to study in one of the most ecologically delicate and rare systems of the world: the coral reef

The Course:

Requirements

•You must be an incoming Junior or Senior who has completed the freshman Of all careers in the natural sciences, a Biology class with at least a grade of “B”. large number of them are in marine It would be most valuable to have taken biology. During the study of these subjects Zoology, but this is not required. and the time on-site at Andros Island, you •An informational meeting will be will become aware of such possibilities and held to characterize the program on May the steps you would follow to take to take 14th. This is an excellent meeting for advantage of them. This will certainly parents to attend. I will explain the help interested students with college and program in depth at this meeting. technical school program and course Applications will be handed out at this selection. You will also have the meeting as well as during the day in the opportunity to actually interact with respective schools after this meeting. several of our former students who are •Students must complete an currently in graduate school and or application within the following timeframe working in the field of marine biology! (DUE: ON OR BEFORE WEDNESDAY, (continued from page 2)

MAY 20th, by 3:30pm in ROOM #307 at BENTON HIGH SCHOOL). •Due to the fact that part of the course takes place in a host country other than ours, exemplary behavior and social skills are a must for applying students. These issues are addressed within the “teacher recommendation” section of the application. •Selected students and at least one parent or guardian must attend an informational meeting to characterize the program. This meeting is held on May 28th at 7:00pm in BHS room #307 on the top floor of the main building. •Along with you, a parent or guardian must sign a letter stating intent to complete all parts of the course including all monetary responsibilities. Late withdrawal from the course will require forfeiture of all or part of the required fees. •Letters of recommendation from two teachers in your school will also be required… at least one of which must be a science teacher. This teacherrecommendation form will be included in the application. Be certain to put your best foot forward on all parts of the application, as course enrollment will be competitive. •Due to space, enrollment is held to eighteen students total from each of Benton, Central and Lafayette high schools. In the past this has created a very unique and rewarding citywide exchange.

SJSD Marine Institute • http://stjoeh2o.ning.com • Instructor: Sean P. Nash

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MAR I NE B I O L OGY The amounts listed here are approximate, but rarely ever change The SJSD Marine Biology program throughout the course of the program. has been in existence since 2000. Over $1275 covers field station fees (room & this time we have built a strong board, charter flights, hotel, etc.) $300 to relationship with our non-for-profit field $500 in round trip commercial airfare station in The Bahamas. There is no between Kansas City and Ft. Lauderdale. doubt that this program would be far too The results in a total fee for costly to feasibly the program of between continue today if it were $1575 and $1775 depending not for the fact that our on the price of the group expenses are kept low by airfare fees to and from cooperating with an Florida. educational field station In the past, most of our in this way. If this field students have been too study were assembled involved with high school life with corporate elements to participate in fundraisers, it would easily be twice therefore relying on some as costly for all of us. combination of summer jobs Program fees go and parental help. towards room and However,, there have been board (all meals) for a full instances of parents or students organizing week aboard a 45 to 50 foot sailboat, one fundraising activities throughout the year night hotel stay in Florida before departing to help with field station fees. I am more to the island, ground transportation, round than open to helping facilitate and support trip charter flight from Florida to Andros these efforts for creative funding! Island, and round trip commercial flight from Kansas City to Ft. Lauderdale.

Program fees

Painting thousands of words... More than 350 images from the Spring 2009 Andros Island field study are online at Flickr. Visit this link for an even more indepth visual of a typical SJSD Marine Biology experience: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ nashworld/sets/ 72157616761811732/

SJSD Marine Institute • http://stjoeh2o.ning.com • Instructor: Sean P. Nash

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MAR I NE B I O L OGY

IM POR TA N T DA T E S T O RE M E M B E R INFORMATIONAL MEETING in room #307, 7:00pm, BENTON HS - Applications will be distributed, or picked up in person from Mrs. Conard (CHS) or Ms. Trotter

MAY 14th

(LHS) after this date APPLICATIONS DUE to Mr. Nash at BHS room #307 by 3:30pm on this date if not earlier

STUDENTS ARE CONTACTED for acceptance into Marine Biology. An email message will be sent notifying students of acceptance. Your biology teacher will

MAY 20th

MAY 26th

also have a list the following day. MANDATORY MEETING for all students & parents of SJSD MARINE INSTITUTE 2010. Must be accompanied by one parent/guardian. A deposit of $200 is due

MAY 28th

at this time. 7:00pm, BHS room #307 SUMMER EXPLORATION BEGINS with students taking home MacBook laptops for self-paced online study throughout the summer

FIRST MEETING of class, 7:00 to 9:00pm at Benton High School

DEPART FOR BAHAMAS FIELD STUDY the week of April 3rd-10th

RESUME CLASSES, teach coral reef ecology lesson to an elementary classroom, conduct culminating projects (websites, print publishing, video production, etc.)

MAY 29th

August 24th

APRIL 2nd

April 19th, 2010 to May 17th, 2010

SJSD Marine Institute • http://stjoeh2o.ning.com • Instructor: Sean P. Nash

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MAR I NE B I O L OGY Course Schedule... AUGUST 24th 31st SEPTEMBER 14th 28th

OCTOBER 12th 26th

JANUARY 11th 25th

15th 22nd 29th

NOVEMBER 9th 23rd

FEBRUARY 1st 8th 22nd

APRIL 3rd – 10th

DECEMBER 7th 21st

Tentative syllabus August 24th introduction of students and staff reminder and outline of course requirements introduction to textbook introduction to course online network overview of final projects role of email & internet in marine biology August 31st introduction to the world ocean video lesson: “Ocean” ocean sedimentation and basic geology September 14th introduction & kickoff of major course project involving social action: “How do Missourians affect our ocean resources?” September 28th the chemistry of seawater ocean currents, tides, waves, & storms ***$575 due toward fees: after tonight… $500 left.

MARCH 1st 8th

(Andros Island field study depart on the 2nd)

19th

October 12th oceanic zonation and structure the oceanic trophic pyramid* October 26th introduction to the coral reef (our “model” ecosystem) coral reef formation video lesson: “Cities of Coral” November 9th oceanic producers the “algae” true marine plants introduction to marine animals November 23rd Phylum: Cnidaria (corals, anemones, jellyfish, etc…) video excerpts on coral symbiosis & reproduction December 7th coral reef ecology current coral “issues” (habitat dest., bleaching mechanisms, etc…) coral identification

MAY 3rd 10th 17th

December 21st midterm exam video: “Coral 2000” – a lesson in coral ecology from Looe Key ~CHRISTMAS BREAK~ January 11th marine invertebrates I Phylum: Porifera (the sponges) marine “worms” Phylum: Platyhelmenthes (flatworms) Phylum: Nematoda (roundworms) Phylum: Annelida (segmented worms) Phylum: Molluska (clams, mussels, snails, slugs, squid, etc…) January 25th marine invertebrates II Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Crustacea (lobsters, crabs, shrimp, etc…) Phylum: Echinodermata (sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, etc…) Subphylum: Urochordata (tunicates) Subphylum: Cephalochordata (amphioxus)

SJSD Marine Institute • http://stjoeh2o.ning.com • Instructor: Sean P. Nash

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MAR I NE B I O L OGY Syllabus: (continued from page 7) February 1st “The Fishes” Class: Agnatha (jawless fishes lamprey & hagfish) Class: Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes sharks, skates & rays) ***Final fees due tonight: $500

March 29th Overview of The Bahamas and Andros Island (geological, political, and cultural history) go over field study itinerary review of flight procedures and onsite at Ft. Lauderdale & Andros Island *April 2nd depart for Ft. Lauderdale stay short night there before heading out to Andros Island early the next morning

February 8th Identification of fishes video study: “Caribbean Reef Fish Identification” February 22nd Class: Osteichthyes (bony fishes) fishes of the coral reef March 1st marine higher vertebrates reef “creature” phyletic ID behavior of marine animals symbiosis on the reef March 8th coral reef fish ID PRACTICE SESSION vegetation zones of Andros Island March 15th introduction to snorkeling reef conservation policies snorkeling practice session (location TBA usu. YMCA) March 22nd FINAL FISH IDENTIFICATION quiz fish population sampling instruction/ practice

May 3rd journal due on “SaintJoe H2O” network begin in-class work on final assessments: Print, video, and web publishing May 10th paper & pencil FINAL EXAM & inclass work on final projects May 17th complete and present final projects, including both individual projects as well as group action projects for our “protecting ocean resources” initiative

April 3rd through April 10th on site field study at Andros Island, Bahamas daily trips to snorkel coral reefs, tidal flats and blue holes debriefing each evening journal entries w/ species ID

April 19th The Andros Experience: (“debriefing” and share session) share & exchange developed photos outline procedures for “final assessment” & organization of “teams”

Your instructor • Sean P. Nash • Instructional Coach at Benton High School • Currently- instructor of both Marine Biology and DualCredit Biology • Former instructor of Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, Science Investigations, Elements of Biology & Chemistry, and Gen. Biology

*All photos throughout this booklet feature our students/ staff and were taken on past field studies to Andros Island.

SJSD Marine Institute • http://stjoeh2o.ning.com • Instructor: Sean P. Nash