Welcome to ESC 130 F: Introduction to Oceanography with Professor Sean (CRN 20298), Spring 2025

Classes begin on Monday, February 3, 2025, and end on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (No classes during Spring Break, April 1, 2025–April 6, 2025.)

I’m W. Sean Chamberlin, PhD. But please call me Professor Sean. (You can read more about me here.)

If you’re nervous about this class—a science class—that’s okay. I get anxious in uncertain situations, too. Just know that I designed this course for you to pass and be successful.

In case you need to reach me, bookmark this page right now. Or take a screenshot. Send me an email. That way, you’ll have my email on your phone. Here are the details:

For the fastest response, email me at exploreworldocean@gmail.com or through Canvas (see below). I answer emails from 6:30a–6:30p, Monday–Saturday.
You can leave a voicemail at (714) 992-7443. Please leave a message. (Recorded messages go to my email.). I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

0.0 First Things First . . .

College (and life) can be stressful. It’s important to remember to take care of yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos and confusion and lose sight of your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle and perspective, try to observe the following:

Eat well and properly (click here if you struggle with food security);
Exercise regularly (if even for a few minutes; see here for suggestions);
Avoid excessive drugs and alcohol (and check the signs of alcoholism);
Get plenty of sleep (6 tips for a good night’s rest);
Take time to RELAX (this is actually a helpful way to learn more effectively; see here);
Refresh your spirit (a few suggestions…)

Most stress can be alleviated by talking to someone: a friend, a family member, your pet, or a professional. Successful people are ones who are not afraid to ask for help.

You may also reach out to me or call the Fullerton College Health Center at (714) 992-7093.

Also, I suggest you add the phone numbers for Campus Safety to your smartphone in case of an accident, emergency, or crime.

Emergency Phone Number: (714) 992-7777
Fullerton Police Department: (714) 738-6700
Fullerton Fire Department: (714) 738-6122
For life threatening events: Call 911

1.0 Land Acknowledgement

Fullerton College is located on the unceded ancestral lands shared by the Gabrielino-Tongva Nation and the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians/Acjachemen Nation, who have been the traditional caretakers since time immemorial. Tongva and Acjachemen peoples maintain a strong presence in North Orange county and throughout Southern California, protecting their homelands, knowledge systems, and cultures for the next seven generations. We acknowledge the ingenuity, survival, resilience, and strength of their descendants and relatives––past, present, and emerging. We also acknowledge the labor of those who work on and care for these lands, both in the past and today, and all those who act in solidarity with Indigenous struggles.

2.0 General Course Information

These course guidelines are what this course is all about. Being familiar with them will help you do well in the course. Scan through them to get a general idea of where we’re headed and how we’ll get there, then use the Table of Contents to find information when you need it. There’s a lot here (some of it I’m “required” to tell you). Save it, print it, post it somewhere you can see it everyday. Like a box of See’s candy, it’s best consumed one piece at a time.

This course is conducted ASYNCHRONOUSLY. There are no orientations, class meetings, or campus exams.
Students are encouraged to ENGAGE THOUGHTFULLY with the instructor and other students throughout the course, even beyond. (I love hearing from former students.)
ACCESSIBILITY is a top priority. If you encounter some part of the course that creates difficulties for you, please let me know asap. I’ll do my best to accommodate you. (See also section below on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.)

3.0 My Teaching Philosophy

Provide a safe, equitable, just, and inclusive classroom environment for everyone.
Inspire curiosity and a love for learning.
Create opportunities for hope and positive change.

I promise to do my best to follow these principles every day.

4.0 What I Expect from You

A desire to learn because education is important to your future and your happiness;
The motivation to learn because learning takes effort;
Respect towards your classmates and me because a world in which people respect each other is a kinder, safer, and more beautiful place to live and love.

I hope you will do your best to follow these principles.

5.0 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Several years ago, a blind student enrolled in my oceanography lab class. I’ll never forget how much I learned from her. In the lab report following a trip to the beach, she described the sounds of the waves washing up on the beach, the chiming of shells caught in their swash, and the squawking of birds in the air. She heightened my awareness of soundscapes, the sounds that surround us in our everyday lives. The experience inspired me to create learning activities focused on sound. It’s just one of many examples of how we all learn from each other.

If you have a disability of any kind, you are welcome here. I’ll do my best to accommodate you. In fact, because some students feel uncomfortable about divulging their disability or are unaware of a disability, I allow twice the standard time for all timed assessments (quizzes and exams). My 30-minute quizzes have become 60-minute quizzes. My 90-minute exams have become 180-minute exams. And if you still need more time, contact me. We’ll work it out.

And if you need other accommodations (such as an exam reader or a text in braille), contact Disability Support Services (DSS) at (714) 992-7099 or visit the DSS office in Building 840, Room 842. They are wonderful people and more than happy to help you.

6.0 Non-Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Statements

The North Orange County Community College District and Fullerton College are committed to to providing an educational, employment, and business environment in which no person shall be unlawfully denied full and equal access to the benefits of, or be unlawfully subjected to discrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, gender identification, gender expression, race, color, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, or military and veteran status, or as otherwise prohibited by state and federal statutes, or because he or she is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in any program or activity of the District that is administered by, directly funded by, or that receives any financial assistance from the Chancellor or Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Discrimination on the basis of sex or gender also includes sexual harassment.

Students and employees who believe they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination, including sexual harassment, or who seek information regarding the District’s Unlawful Discrimination Policy should contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Human Resources at (714) 808-4826.

Students who are victims of sexual assault occurring on District property or on an off-campus site or facility maintained by the District, or who seek information or assistance regarding a sexual assault, should contact the campus Director of Health Services at (714) 992-7093 or the Director of Campus Safety at (714) 992-7080. Except as may otherwise be required by law, all inquiries will be maintained in confidence. Victims of sexual assault should immediately report the incident to the Campus Safety Department, Fullerton Police Department and the Title IX officer. The Title IX Office for the campus is the Vice President of Student Services (714) 992-7074. The Title IX Officer for the District is the Director of Human Resources (714) 808-4822.

7.0 Academic Honesty and College Policies

If you haven’t reviewed them lately, you might want to take a look at the guidelines, policies and procedures in the college catalog. These guidelines cover academic honesty, nondiscrimination, and sexual harassment. Check them out. In fairness to others and to prepare you for a successful career and life, I expect you to uphold these principles. You may read them online at the Fullerton College website, https://www.fullcoll.edu/schedule/

8.0 Emergency Response Statement

An earthquake or extreme weather event may happen at any moment. Take note of the safety features in and around where you complete your work or when visiting campus or other locations. Note the posted evacuation routes. During strong earthquakes, it is recommended to duck, cover hold! Duck beneath a desk, cover your head with your hands, and hold on to your caboose until the quaking stops. Running out of a building during an earthquake can be deadly. Listen to “The Rock” in San Andreas, the movie. Also, if you feel an earthquake while at the beach, I advise getting to higher ground immediately. Tsunami can happen in Southern California. And they can be deadly.

9.0 Undecided on a Major?

I love encouraging students to check out a career in oceanography, meteorology, geology, or earth science. You may be amazed at the opportunities in these fields. Even if you’re pursuing non-scientific subjects, such as art, writing, communications, business, marketing, technology, computers, law, and just about any other subject, science needs you! All that’s required is a passion for science. Just email me and we’ll set up a time to chat.

10.0 Course Synopsis

10.1 The Low Key Description

Introduction to Oceanography provides a survey of the physics, chemistry, geology, and biology of the ocean. A guiding concept is how the ocean works as a system and provides life-sustaining services to life on Earth, especially humans. Major topics include seafloor features, hydrothermal vents, seawater chemistry, ocean heating, the greenhouse effect, ocean circulation, winds, waves, tides, beaches, and ocean productivity. The important role of ocean technology is woven throughout. Because the course satisfies a Gen Ed physical science requirement, the emphasis is on the physics of the ocean. That means you are now a physics student. Post it on your Insta and watch the love flow.

10.2 The “Official” Description

This 3-unit course requires 54 hours of lecture per term. The lectures present a survey of the geological, physical, chemical, and biological principles and processes of oceanography. This course examines how these processes interact to form a variety of habitats within the marine ecosystem. An overview is provided of the physical properties of these habitats, along with the distribution and characteristics of organisms found within them. The interactions of humans with the marine environment is presented, as is an introduction to oceanographic tools and their uses. (CSU) (UC) (Degree Credit) AA GE, CSU GE, IGETC

11.0 Why This Course Matters

Science courses help you gain the skills and confidence to learn unfamiliar and challenging information. They prepare you for situations when you might need to turn to science for help, such as:

preparing for natural disasters,
making health decisions,
evaluating nutrition claims
caring for a pet
caring for a parent or older relative
assessing the safety of household products
responding to emergencies during outdoor activities.

Science courses also sharpen your ability to distinguish between facts and fictions, knowledge and opinions, data and myth/folklore, actual events and fake events, experts and non-experts.

Above all, science courses prepare you to be a better and more mindful citizen of the planet, to know how to live a sustainable lifestyle that ensures the health and well-being of future generations and our planet.

I hope that you are here to enrich your mind and your life to the fullest extent possible.

12.0 Technical Details

Because this is an online course, you’re going to want reliable access to a computer and the Internet. You may work on a smartphone or tablet, but I suggest you have a backup plan. Some functions don’t work properly on mobile devices. A backup plan might include the college library, your local library an internet cafe, a friend or family member’s house, or a workplace

It will help if you know how to navigate a website, perform searches, download files, post to discussion boards, and play audio and video.

It will also help if you know how to use a word-processing program, such as Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or Google Docs. You don’t need to be Dexter-status and all, but you’ll want to know how to save your document and export it as a PDF. Google and ChatGPT can help with this.

And if you aren’t already familiar with our course learning management system, Canvas, no worries. You’ll find lots of help on the internet, especially YouTube. Heck, you can even email a classmate and make a new friend! And I am always happy to help.

Finally, we are going to dip our toes into artificial intelligence (AI). We’ll explore new frontiers in teaching and learning while developing skills that are being used in the workplace and which can enrich your academic and personal lives. So fasten your virtual seatbelts! We’re going where few students have gone before.

13.0 Log In and Thrive!

To be successful in this course, you’ll want to log in 3–4 days each week for a total of 6–9 hours weekly. Take a quiz. Read an announcement. Respond to a discussion post. It only takes a few minutes. You can answer 3 or 4 emails while in line at the supermarket or during commercials on TV. Imagine that! Those minutes add up so that as you near a deadline, most of your work is done.

14.0 Course Withdrawals: Sometimes Life Interferes

Some times life interferes with your studies. Some times you just need to drop a class. Some times it’s the smartest decision you can make. Don’t stress. Fullerton College has been here more than 100 years and it will be here next semester, too. Learning is not a race. It’s something you are going to do your entire life.

A word of caution: don’t rely on your professors to drop you. And don’t just let the semester run out (unless you need to do that to maintain eligibility or insurance; yeah, we know about that). Failure to drop a course can result in a failing grade (F) for the semester. And while that’s not the end of the world (I’ve made a few Fs in my time), if you can avoid it, your transcript will thank you.

15.0 Time Flies When You’re Learning

Students should expect to spend 6-9 or more hours per week studying for a 16-week semester-long course. This time includes time you would normally spend in a classroom and the recommended study time for a 3-unit course. You might want to check out the suggestions provided in the FC Course Catalog concerning workload and class load.

Not everyone can move heaven and Earth like Captain Planet. Know your limits and plan accordingly.

Consider reducing your work hours (if possible), limiting social media time, or improving your time-management strategies. You can find nuggets of valuable time if you focus on what’s important.

16.0 Deadlines and Lifelines

One of the best habits you can develop in college is learning how to be on time and submit work on time. Having worked in the business world for several years, I can assure you that showing up on time and submitting work on time is expected.

Life is full of deadlines: bills, medical appointments, scholarships, college applications, work applications, taxes, your wedding! Learning how to manage and meet deadlines is a highly valued skill in life and in the workplace. And I want to guide you towards successful habits.

I don’t accept late work, but I do provide escape hatches. I let students drop a certain number of scores (see below). That way, if something comes up and you miss a deadline, you won’t be penalized. Just try to do better next time. (But know that there are a limited number of drops so if you keep missing deadlines your final grade is going to suffer.)

You’ll also find that many of the assignments (quizzes, discussions, exams) in this class have semi-flexible due dates, what I call “soft deadlines.” These are weekly target dates by which you should have completed the work. Otherwise, all work in a given set of four modules has a “hard deadline,” the date by which all work must be completed. You can submit work from any of the four relevant modules until the hard deadline, but no work will be accepted afterwards. See Module 0 in Canvas for more details.

17.0 Objectives and Outcomes

Course objectives are broad statements that describe what I intend to cover or teach in the course. They outline the specific topics, skills, or knowledge areas that the course will address. Student learning outcomes are specific, measurable statements that describe what you are expected to know, do, or value by the end of the course. They focus on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that you should acquire.

17.1 Instructional Objectives

1. 1. Demonstrate familiarity with basic terminology and descriptions of materials and processes in the subdisciplines of geological, chemical, physical, and biological oceanography.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the interaction between geological, chemical, physical, and biological oceanographic processes.
  3. Know how to analyze and interpret data in tables and graphs.
  4. Communicate scientific information to others in written and spoken forms.
  5. Identify and communicate human impacts on the world ocean.

17.2 Student Learning Outcomes

- Define terms and explain concepts of geological, physical, chemical, and biological oceanography.
- Interpret and apply quantitative information, including maps, graphs, and tables of data.
- Use the terms and concepts of oceanography to explain an environmental issue pertaining to the world ocean.

20.0 Your Textbook: It’s Free!

Your textbook—Our World Ocean: Understanding the Most Complex Ecosystem on Earth, Essentials Edition by Sean Chamberlin, Nicki Shaw, and Martha Rich (2023)— will be provided to you in PDF format for absolutely free. You may download it in Canvas.

19.0 Supplies

No supplies are required for this course (e.g., blue books, Scantrons, special equipment, etc.)

20.0 The Fullerton College Library: Your Home Away from Home

The FC Library is a treasure trove of information. They also have comfortable couches and chairs and air-conditioning, perfect for escaping climate change. Their online tools, such as their Database, give you access to a number of online journals and publications. I regularly use the library’s website to download articles in support of my work as a writer and teacher. Check out their offerings here: https://library.fullcoll.edu/

21.0 Tutoring: They’ve Got the Answers

The FC Tutoring Center offers two types of tutoring: live tutoring via Zoom and in-person tutoring on campus. Students can log into the ASC (Academic Support Center) online tutoring platform to schedule/view/cancel/reschedule appointments. For more information, visit the ASC website: https://academicsupport.fullcoll.edu/.

22.0 Canvas: Our Learning Management System

This course uses Canvas as a Learning Management System (LMS) to provide announcements, lecture notes, grades, and other materials and assessments related to the course. It has its quirks—and can confuse and mislead you at times—but once you get the hang of it, you should have no problem getting around and submitting work.

The easiest way to log in is to go the direct route, http://fullcoll.instructure.com. Use your MyGateway credentials (with no @sign in front of the Banner id.) You may also access Canvas through a link on MyGateway. Once logged in, go to the Fullerton tab, scroll down to the Canvas icon, and click on it for your Canvas dashboard.

Occasionally, you may experience problems with Canvas. Just be patient, contact me immediately, and I will work to solve your problem.

LIFE TIP: Complete any written work OUTSIDE of Canvas. Then copy and paste it into Canvas. That way, when Canvas eats your work (which it does on occasion), you have a copy.

For how-to-do-stuff in Canvas, or if you’re just curious about Canvas, try this website: https://guides.instructure.com/.

23.0 I Love E-Mail, Especially When It’s From You

Email remains the most efficient and effective tool for modern communication between humans. Email is the preferred communications tool of businesspersons, scientists, artists and many other professionals. Developing good email skills and habits can boost and accelerate your career. And it can definitely get you a better letter of recommendation from me if you ever need one. It’s a lot easier for professors to write you a stellar letter when they know you better.

These recommendations will earn you the fastest replies from me:

I answer emails from 630am until 630pm daily, except Sundays. But you can send them anytime, 24-7. I don’t sleep with my phone, so you won’t bug me.
Send you email through Canvas or directly to exploreworldocean@gmail.com, a special gmail account I keep just for students.
When you send me e-mails, please always type a SUBJECT for your e-mail (like “Help”, “a quick question”, question about exam”, “extra credit submission,” etc). E-mails with untitled subjects often end up in the spam folder.
In the first line of your email, please always provide your FULL NAME, COURSE, and CRN (First Last, Oceanography, CRN 20308 or 20309 or 20310; please use the correct one).
To practice being a professional, start all emails with “Dear Professor” or “Dear Professor Sean.” Later, when we get to know each other, “Hey Prof” is okay.
Please explain your question/problem/issue as best as you can. The more information you provide, the faster I can answer/solve/resolve your issue.
To be professional, always sign your emails with your complete name as it appears in the official college records.
If you don’t hear back from me in 48 hours, please send your email again. You can never send me too many emails if you need help.
Try to avoid sending email to my fullcoll address. I get a lot of junk at this address and it’s not always easy to spot important emails from students.
And if I or anyone else with whom you correspond helps you, send a THANK YOU! You’ll be looked upon as a mature, considerate, and thoughtful person when you do.

24.0 Zoom Office

I’m available most mornings on Zoom. Let me know via email and I’ll send you a link. Or email me and I’ll be happy to set up another suitable time to meet on Zoom.

And if you want to call and leave me a message about something, please call: (714) 992-7443. Your voicemail will be delivered to me via email.

25.0 Course Overview

Ultimately, the goal of college is to prepare you for a successful life and a career beyond college.

In taking this course, you are being trained to master an unfamiliar knowledge set, to apply what you learn in new situations, to think about competing possibilities, and to articulate your rationale for choosing a particular way of thinking.

The most important skill you attain by going to college is learning how to learn.

Knowing how to study and analyze and break information into parts…knowing how to master concepts and develop an understanding of a topic…knowing how to interpret and apply quantitative information…knowing how to solve problems…are skills that you can use every day of your life.

Knowing how to learn is like knowing how to ride a bicycle or snowboard. Once you master it, you’ll know it for life.

I’ll talk a lot in this course about the kinds of study techniques and approaches that brain scientists tell us work best for learning.

Yep. There is a science to learning! (Click here to learn more.)

25.1 Structure of the Course

The course is organized into Twelve Modules that include:

Reading assignments
Video viewing assignments
Occasional articles to read
Formative Assessments
- Quizzes (on reading and videos)
- Assignments (hands-on and critical thinking)
Summative Assessments
- Exams (on everything we cover)

25.2 Quizzes Help You Master Terms and Concepts

You are required to complete 20/32 quizzes during the semester. Your top 20 scores will be counted towards your final grade.

Quizzes are a type of formative assessment. They “form” your learning. They are meant to help you master terms and concepts. With the new words you learn, you’ll be able to will impress people at family gatherings or parties with friends.

Quizzes also provide practice for simple quantitative problems to help you gain confidence in your math skills.

Quizzes may be be a mix of multiple choice, multiple answer, dropdown, fill in the blank, matching, calculations, and map/graph interpretations.

Quizzes may be taken an unlimited number of times during the days in which they are offered. Your highest quiz score will be counted. Note, however, that even if you score a high score on the first quiz, it’s worth your time to take the quiz several times. That way you will be better prepared for the exams that take their questions from the quizzes.

Quizzes are worth 10 points each, a total of 200 points, or 20% of your final grade.

25.3 DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING

You are required to complete 4/6 discussion assignments during the semester. Your top 4 scores will be counted towards your final grade.

Discussion assignments form the core of the work in this course. It’s where you get to explore topics in depth and develop your ability to communicate science to others. In most of the assignments, you’ll review articles or watch videos and consider a set of thought questions. Then you’ll write up your analysis and put your best critical thinking on display.

Discussion assignments include the following:

an original 1-2 page (400-word) post (worth 50 points)
two half page each (200 word minimum each) replies to classmates (worth 50 points; 25 pts each)

Discussion assignments include detailed and specific response to prompts and reflection questions, 1-2 pages, a minimum of 400 words (worth 50 points each). Your responses will be graded on effort, organization, attention to the prompts, and critical thinking.

Your original responses will be graded on effort, organization, attention to the prompts, and critical thinking.

Your replies will be graded for your level of engagement with other students and the helpfulness of your reply to improving the other student’s response.

You must meet the word minimums to receive full credit. Half credit is awarded to posts less than 400 words and replies under 200 words (provided everything else is covered).

Assignments are worth 100 points each, a total of 400 points, or 40% of your final grade.

25.4 EXAMS TEST WHAT YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND

You are required to complete 4/5 exams during the semester. Your top 4 scores will be counted towards your final grade.

Exams are a summative assessment of your success towards meeting the learning outcomes for a particular section of study (or the course).

Exams assess your ability to identify, define, and use vocabulary from lectures, textbook readings, in-class work, out-of-class work, YouTube lectures, or other study materials.

Exams assess your ability to draw and/or interpret maps, graphs, and tables and solve equations covered in lectures, textbook reading, in-class work, out-of-class work, YouTube lectures, or other assigned materials.

Exams assess your understanding of concepts and your ability to apply and communicate what you have learned.

Exams may be be a mix of multiple choice, multiple answer, dropdown, fill in the blank, matching, calculations, and map/graph interpretations. New exams may build on previous exams.

You may take exams up to three times in during the period in which they are available but you will not see your score or answers until after the due date.

Exams have specific due dates. See Course Syllabus below.

Each exam is worth 100 points, a total of 400 points, or 40% of your final grade.

25.5 GRADING SUMMARY

Grading is based on a total of 1000 points.

Quizzes: 200 pts (20%)
Discussion: 400 pts (40%)
Exams: 400 pts (40%)

25.6 GRADING SCALE

A = 85%
B = 75%
C = 65%
D = 55%
F = <55%

26.0 Schedule of Topics and Due Dates

Module	Chapter	Due	Assignments	Quizzes	Exams
0	Don’t Be Dropped.	FRIDAY 2/7/25		Syllabus Quiz
1	1. The World Ocean System	(MONDAY 2/10/25)	Discussion 1: Post 400-word essay	1,2
2	2. Team Oceanography	(TUESDAY 2/18/25)	Discussion 1: Two 200-word replies	3,4
3	3. Science Aboard Ships	(MONDAY 2/24/25)		5,6	Exam 1
4	In Depth: Weather vs Climate	MONDAY 3/3/25	Discussion 2: Post 400-word essay	7,8
5	6. The Beach	(MONDAY 3/10/25)	Discussion 2: Two 200-word replies	9,10
6	7. The Seafloor	(MONDAY 3/17/25)		11,12	Exam 2
7	10. Seawater and Its Elements	(MONDAY 3/24/25)		13,14
SPRING	BREAK	4/1/25–4/6/25	🏄🏽‍♀️	🏂	🏕️
8	In Depth: Humans and Nature	TUESDAY 4/8/25	Discussion 3: Post 600-word essay (no replies)	15,16
9	12. The Sun and the Earth	(MONDAY 4/14/25)		17,18	Exam 3
10	13. Seasons of the Sea	(MONDAY 4/21/25)	Discussion 4: Post 400-word essay	19,20
11	20. Tides & Sea Level Rise	(MONDAY 4/28/25)	Discussion 4: Two 200-word replies	21,22
12	In Depth: Emergency Preparedness	MONDAY 5/5/25		23,24	Exam 4
13	15. Atmospheric Circulation	(MONDAY 5/12/25)	Discussion 5: Post 400-word essay	25,26
14	17. The Surface Circulation	(MONDAY 5/19/25)	Discussion 5: Two 200-word replies	27,28
15	19. Ocean Waves	(WEDNESDAY 5/28/25)		29,30
16	In Depth: Being Resilient	SATURDAY 5/31/25	Discussion 6: Post 600-word essay (no replies)	31,32	Exam 5

Spring 2025 Introduction to Oceanography with Professor Sean (All Sections)