OCN 201 Laboratory Information
Fall 2009

GRADING:
Grading consists of the following point distributions for the different sections.

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance to all lab sessions is mandatory. Missing a lab will result in a 0 score for that week’s quiz and worksheet. Under certain circumstances a student may be permitted to go to another section’s lab to make up an absence. This requires prior approval from the other section’s TA before attending his/her lab section.

PRE-LAB INTRODUCTION:
At the beginning of each lab there will be a 10-15 minute PowerPoint presentation, introducing that day’s lab. The information covered in these presentations will also supplement the OCN 201 class lecture.

QUIZZES:
Fourteen quizzes will be given, one at the beginning of each week’s lab. These quizzes are designed to test your understanding of the lab material and ensure that you come prepared to each week’s lab by reading the lab handouts prior to class. While the quiz each week will primarily focus on the material for the present week's lab it may also include topics from the previous week's lab.  Preparation for the quizzes should include understanding the concepts from the previous week’s lab and completing the assigned reading for the present week's lab. Each quiz will be worth 5 points. The lowest 2 scores from your fourteen quiz scores will be dropped; however a missed quiz cannot be dropped.  Each quiz will be distributed at the beginning of the lab period (9:00 am or 1:30 pm sharp) and will be collected no later than 10 minutes after (9:10 am and 1:40 pm sharp). Failure to get to class on time will result in a zero ' 0 ' grade for that quiz. No exceptions or make-ups will be given. Student’s caught cheating on the quiz will receive a ‘0’ score for that lab and may possibly be asked to leave the lab class for the semester.

LAB WORKSHEETS:
Each week’s lab will have an assigned reading and worksheet. There will be a total of 13 lab worksheets worth 10 points each. Your lowest worksheet score for the semester will be dropped; however a missed lab worksheet cannot be dropped.  Typically, the worksheet will be completed each week in lab & submitted at that time. However, each lab worksheet will not be officially due until the following week’s lab. No late labs will be accepted and failure to hand in a lab on time will result in a grade of zero ' 0 ' for that lab. No exceptions or make-ups will be given. While working in groups is encouraged in each lab, each student is required to fill out his/her individual lab worksheet. Copying another student’s worksheet or any other form of cheating will not be tolerated!  Students caught cheating will receive a 0 score for that lab and may possibly be asked to leave the lab class.

FIELDTRIPS:
You are required to go on one fieldtrip for the lab course. This fieldtrip requirement is worth 20 points. Please be aware the lecture course has its own fieldtrip requirement. You cannot use the lab fieldtrip for your lecture requirement. If you are enrolled in both the lab and lecture, in order to fulfill both fieldtrip requirements, two different field trips must be attended. Throughout the semester your TA will be coordinating 1 or 2 fieldtrips (Coconut Island, Honolulu Fish Auction, etc.). Sign up sheets will be provided as each fieldtrip is scheduled. Because these fieldtrips have limited space and are very time-consuming to coordinate (paperwork, transportation etc.), if you sign up and fail to show up a penalty deduction of 10 points will be taken off of your total potential fieldtrip points (20). You will be allowed to go on several self-guided fieldtrips as an alternative to organized fieldtrips (Waikiki Aquarium, Atlantis Submarine, Hanauma Bay, Bishop Planetarium). Your TA will inform you of these options in lab.

TERM PAPER:
A term paper, including a rough draft submission, is required for the lab. This scientific paper can be about a topic in Oceanography. The topics will be determined by each TA in coordination with their students. The paper will be worth 20 points and will be due during the last week of lab. Your TA will outline more specific requirements for the paper in lab.

PRESENTATION:
During the last week of lab you will also be required to give a 5-7 minute presentation of your term paper. You are expected to have some/several visual aids in the form of posters or digital images. We are capable of supporting many different types of visual aids (Power Point, Slide projector, overhead, etc.). You are advised not to simply read off of your term paper with no visual aids because this will result in a very poor grade. Remember you are presenting to a crowd of your peers so have fun and relax!

PARTICIPATION:
Each TA will use his/her discretion to determine participation points for each student. Students who participate in discussions and help the TA make each lab a fun learning experience will receive full credit for participation.

Lab Schedule for Fall 2009: