Ocean 210 Oceanography Online  crn 34042 - Spring 2018
Welcome Letter
PLEASE PRINT THIS PAGE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Welcome to distance education at Cuesta College and the online version of Ocean 210! This letter is to inform you of some important details prior to the beginning of this online class. Please read this letter carefully!!

This class DOES NOT begin until January 16, 2018
My name is Feride Schroeder and I am the instructor for this course. My office is room 2727 (2nd floor of new building 2600) on SLO campus and N2428 on the NCC campus. The best way to reach me before the course begins is by email at fschroed@cuesta.edu. Ocean 210 is an introductory course that emphasizes the geology, physics, and chemistry of the ocean. You will learn why the ocean is salty and why some spots always have good surf. The course has one optional, but highly recommended orientation meeting on Wednesday, January 17 from 5:30 to 6:20 pm in room 2402 on the San Luis Obispo campus. At this meeting I will be sure you can navigate the course and textbook websites and we will review the requirements. There will be three proctored exams that you will need to take in person, either at Cuesta or at some other campus or location where you can arrange the test. The only prerequisite for this course is Math 127 or Math 126B or Math 128 (basic algebra including simple computations, fractions and scientific notation), however, there are also some things you should consider to determine if you are a good candidate for online learning. If after reading this letter you are unsure, take this quiz: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/survey.html. Links to an external site.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

The textbook we will be using for the Ocean 210 Online class is Ocean Studies, Introduction to Oceanography published by the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and edited by Joseph Moran (3rd Edition, print version is ISBN: 978-1-878220-48-6 or the eText version 978-1-935705-84-3). You will also be doing activities in the AMS Ocean Studies eInvestigation Manual, 2017-2018 edition (ISBN 978-1-944970-10-9)

Both eBooks come as a student ePackage that can be purchased as an access card from the Cuesta Bookstore (ISBN 978-1-944970-10-9) or directly from the AMS Bookstore (http://bookstore.ametsoc.org/subject/ocean-studies). Be sure that you purchase the 2017-18 version of the eInvestigation Manual as the questions change every year. The digital versions require that you download the free Adobe Digital Edition for viewing, but the publishers’ help line is always available.We will discuss textbook options at the orientation meeting. The eInvestigation Manual provides access to a RealTime Ocean Portal where you will use satellite and mooring data to understand how physical processes operate in the ocean. The activities undertaken in the online version of Ocean 210 will provide a more applied and quantitative understanding of the major concepts of oceanography. You will be interpreting plots, graphs and maps of data that reflect oceanographic processes. The online course covers the same material as
the traditional classroom course, but is highly self-directed with 1-2 investigative activities for each chapter of the textbook. This curriculum has homework that will comprise 25% of your final grade. You can collaborate with other students in the course, however, for the online work and also ask me questions.

Important Note:

I will send an e-mail to your myCuesta e-mail account with the complete syllabus and a reminder about the orientation meeting few days prior to the beginning of class. This course will be taught using Canvas. This is a Web-based tool used to facilitate teaching an online class. This platform provides the framework for the Ocean 210 class including PowerPoint presentations, student data files, the tools to receive and send course materials, and a grade book. Using the communication tools, you can communicate using e-mail and messages, and you can share materials and ideas with other course participants via the discussion topics. At the orientation meeting we will propose some times that we can share ideas online as well as ask me questions. Instructions for accessing Canvas courses can be found here: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/index.htmlLinks to an external site.

Note: All students receive a Cuesta e-mail that can be accessed through the myCuesta Portal (my.cuesta.eduLinks to an external site.). If you do not want to use this e-mail you can login into myCuesta and set this e-mail to be forwarded to any e-mail of your choice. You MUST check whatever email you want to use to receive important updates from me. As soon as you log into the course be sure to read the class syllabus. I will also email you a copy just before the semester begins. Print it out and refer to it often during the semester. This is a statement of my expectations and agreements to support you in this course.

Complete computer requirements plus links to free downloads are posted at: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.htmlLinks to an external site.

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If this is the first online course that you have taken, and you feel that you may not have the necessary computer skills to succeed, you might consider taking DIST 101. DIST 101 is a half unit, 3-week course that will introduce you to some of the basic technologies. The Chancellor’s office has also put together some instructional videos that can be found at: https://apps.3cmediasolutions.org/oei/students.htmlLinks to an external site.

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Links to important General information:
Cuesta policy for drops -  (dates are linked each semester from this page http://academic.cuesta.edu/admrreg/infodate.htmLinks to an external site.)

Academic honesty policy - link to Cuesta policy, including Student Code of Conduct, Student Computer Technology Access Agreement: http://academic.cuesta.edu/president/2008BP/BP5000/AP%205500_Standards%20of%20Conduct.pdfLinks to an external site.

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Cuesta waitlist procedure and instructions: http://academic.cuesta.edu/admrreg/waitlist.htmLinks to an external site.

If you need help accessing Canvas check out this links: