Engaging Students with an OOI Ocean Data Lab
Engaging Students with an OOI Ocean Data Lab Focused on Factors that Affect Primary Productivity Jean R. Anastasia Suffolk County Community College
OOI Ocean Data Labs • Web-based interactive “widgets” that allow students to interact with pre-selected data from the OOI (Ocean Observatory Initiative) • Freely available online at the OOI Ocean Data Labs website for anyone interested in using them in their courses. • Data Labs available for most major topics covered in Introduction to Oceanography courses https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/
Concept Geological Oceanography plate tectonics, plate boundaries, earthquakes, volcanic activity, seafloor sediments Data Labs Chemical Oceanography Properties of water, Seawater ions, Density as a function of temperature and salinity, Dissolved gases, Seawater p. H (carbonate buffering, ocean acidification) Physical Oceanography Global heat budget, solar radiation as a function of latitude, Global winds (convection, Coriolis) Wind-driven circulation (gyres), Coastal upwelling Thermohaline circulation, Waves, Tides Exploring Properties of Seawater with OOI Data Collection https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/chemistry/index. php Changes in Salinity: Explore processes that might affect sea surface salinity. https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/salinity. php Seasonal Variability in The Mixed Layer https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/seasonal. php Biological Oceanography Classification of marine life, Primary production (light and nutrient limitation), Ocean food webs Exploring Primary Production with OOI Data Collection Sara Smith https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/productivity/index. php 3: 20 ET Factors Affecting Primary Production https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/production. php Chlorophyll-a in Upwelling and Stratified Temperate Regions https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/chlorophyll. php Anoxic Events: Explore the impact and interaction between the mid-depth ocean and coastal waters on fisheries https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/anoxia. php Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Shellfish in the Pacific Northwest https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/acidification. php Exploring Tectonics & Seamounts with OOI Data Collection https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/geology/index. php Plate Tectonics and the Seafloor https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/techtonics. php Magma Movement and the Shape of the Seafloor https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/magma. php? level=exploration Natasha Gownaris 3: 50 ET Thermohaline Circulation https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/thermohaline. php Dynamic Air-Sea Interactions https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/airsea. php Melissa Hicks 3: 35 ET
Factors Affecting Primary Production Data Lab • developed by Jean Anastasia, Dina Di. Santis, Matt Iacchei, and Sage Lichtenwalner • https: //datalab. mar ine. rutgers. edu/exp lorations/2019/pro duction. php
Implementation and Target Audience • Incorporated into the laboratory section of an introductory oceanography class at a community college. • 2 hour lab • Students were freshman or sophomore non-science majors. • Due to Covid-19, the data lab was done in a fully asynchronous setting and instructional videos were made to guide students. • These data labs can also be used in a lecture-based setting as inquirybased, interactive in-class activities.
Learning Objectives • Interpret the provided data to describe patterns in individual data sets and correlations between the different sets of data (light levels, chlorophyll a, nitrate levels) shown on the graphs. • Explain the relationship between primary productivity, nutrient concentration, light availability, and temperature in the Southern Ocean using evidence and relevant scientific concepts to support hypotheses. • Describe the spatial and temporal variation in nutrient (nitrate) concentrations and explain possible causes. • Predict how phytoplankton abundance will change based on changes in nutrient concentrations and available light • Apply knowledge gained from a small subset of data to make predictions over longer time series and to support those predictions with a rationale.
Concept Invention https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations/2019/ production. php? level=invention
Sample Student Worksheet Question Now examine the different parameters that you can select on the bottom graph. Start by leaving “Water Temperature” selected. Does the peak of phytoplankton production correspond to the warmest temperature? Phytoplankton peak in January, before the warmest temperature. Now put all of this information together and compare the patterns of primary productivity and temperature. Summarize and explain any relationships that you see: Phytoplankton are declining in Feb, even though temperature is rising. Temperature does not affect primary productivity.
Sample Student Worksheet Question Over which month are light levels the highest in general? December Is primary productivity increasing or decreasing during the month when light levels are highest? increasing What happens to light levels during the peak of primary productivity? Do they increase or decrease? decrease Remember that phytoplankton are the main primary producers and that high primary productivity (chlorophyll levels) indicates a large amount of phytoplankton in the water. Explain how and why having a large amount of phytoplankton in the water would affect light levels. When there is high productivity, the phytoplankton in the water block out the light so light levels in the water decrease.
Application https: //datalab. marine. rutgers. edu/explorations /2019/production. php? level=application
Assessment: Student Survey Fall 2020: 21 students Strongly Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Strongly Disagree I enjoyed working with the online Factors Affecting Primary Production Data Explorations. My understanding of the relationship between light levels and primary production increased by working with the Factors Affecting Primary Production Data Exploration. 19% 52% 24% 5% 0% 28% 57% 10% 5% 0% My understanding of the relationship between nutrient levels and primary production increased by working with the Factors Affecting Primary Production Data Exploration 29% 48% 19% 5% 0% My understanding of the seasonal pattern of primary production at high latitudes increased by working with the Factors Affecting Primary Production Data Exploration. 19% 62% 14% 5% 0% My understanding of how to read and interpret graphs increased by working with the Factors Affecting Primary Production Data Exploration. 19% 62% 14% 0% 5% Which of the following aspects of working with the Factors Affecting Primary Production Data Explorations did you enjoy? You can choose multiple answers- Choose all that apply. 24% 71% 66% 25% It is was online rather than printed paper lab Working with current, authentic oceanographic data The visual aspect of the data- that it was shown in graphs, rather than as tables of numbers. The graphs were interactive; that you can zoom in and out and change the dates and other variables shown. Working alone rather than with a lab partner.
Reflection and Tips • Face-to-face setting is preferred • instructor can intervene, and guide students as needed • work through one activity at a time • Working with a lab partner • students explored more and needed less instructor help • Student understanding of working with data visualizations improved with practice • use multiple OOI Data Labs throughout semester
OOI Data Labs - Online Laboratory Manual for Introductory Oceanography Courses Thursday 1: 15 -3: 45 pm PT / 2: 15 -4: 45 pm MT / 3: 15 -5: 45 pm CT / 4: 15 -6: 45 pm ET Afternoon Mini Workshop Christine Bean, Rutgers University-New Brunswick Janice Mc. Donnell, Rutgers University-New Brunswick Sage Lichtenwalner, Rutgers University-New Brunswick Denise Bristol, Hillsborough Community College Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert, Stockton University Are you looking for ways to incorporate large data sets into your classes that are student and teacher friendly? Whether you are teaching remotely or face-to-face, the OOI Data Labs Project has a NEW Online Lab Manual for use in typical Introductory Oceanography courses. Explore this new resource along with the learning goals and instructional support available for these activities. Leave the workshop with a plan for how to incorporate this into your classes and how to stay connected to the growing Data Labs Community of Practice.
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