Polar Seas

Introduction

This chapter is our last chapter of the semester and you will find it is a little different.  You are now fully versed in the in's and out's of an online interactive textbook. Many of you have probably thought for a moment or two I could write this better. Now is your chance.   Your job for the next week is to to write an online interactive oceanograpy chapter on the polar seas.

Audience

Your chapter will be read by and grade by both your teacher and your fellow classmates.

Procedure

  1. Decide if you would like to work by yourself or with a partner. If you want to work by yourself you can focus your chapter on just one of the poles. If you work with a partner you must do both the Arctic and Antartic.
  2. Decide if you want to do your site in moodle (I will spend a fair bit of time explaining how to do this) or using google sites. I will give less time to this, but help you out if you choose it as an option.
  3. Research the physical oceanographic properties of the poles (Antarctica and the Arctic).  Learn about the weather, the climate, and the differences between the two poles. Also research the rules that govern species that live there. Include species that are characteristic of different levels in the ecolocial pyramid of the polar seas. You might also include information about or links to the history of polar exploration by humans or the native peoples that live in inhabit these regions (This is perhaps more relevant to this area than others we have studied.
  4. As you research, keep track of good websites. I often start my chapters as just a string of good websites that I want my students to learn from. Your chapter must include at least five links. The links should be good ones, and at least one of them must include something that is interactive or includes video content.
  5. Write text to go around your links. Your text must be written by you (not copied and pasted from another site) but should also be a way to introduce what other sites might tell your classmates. You must have at least five hundred words of text. If you were to write it out in 12 pt font, single spaced on a peice of paper that would be about two pages. Make sure to proofread and spell check your text. Text should be interesting, informative, and scientifically accurate. If a section of text drew heavily from one site in particular, give the site credit and include it as a link.
  6. Write 10 questions for students to work on. The questions should show balances between easy and challenging. They should also show balance between the simple regurgitation of information and doing things with the information. If you think about the questions I have given you this semester they have ranged from questions with simple right answers to questions that ask you to graph or hypothesise or even play a game. Include an answer key for your questions.
  7. Add appropriate pictures. Your chapter must include at least three. Be advised this type of assignment comes together much better if you save this part of the assignment till last. You must give credit to any images you use. You can do this by turning the picture into a link or by listing the link below the picture. If you do not give credit for the picture I will treat it as if is not there.

    Polar Communities Unit Notes Assessment List


    Elements                                                                             Points Possible             Points   Earned
                                                                                                                          
     
    		Peer Score
    		 Teacher Score
     There is at least 500 words of text and the information presented on the poles is scientifically accurate.  If working with a partner the information is presented  on both Arctic and Antarctic communities.
    		 10

    At least five links are included and working.  Links are well researched and useful.  At least one of the links is interactive, uses real data, or gives a student access to video for observation. 10

    At least three relevant images are included and working.   Sources for those images are listed.   10

    Includes informational text and links about the physical oceanographic properties of the Artic and Antartic.   10

    Includes informational text and links about the species that inhabit polar communities.  There is a clear distinction between the two polar communities.
    		 10

    Includes ten "questions for research" that would require a student using their notes to do critical reading of the links provided.
    		 10

    Includes an answer key to all questions. 10
    Chapter is pleasantly laid out with nice "asthetics."   10
       
    Total
    		 /80
    		 /80
    		 /80