Developmental Module

In this supplementary module, you'll find documents which will help you as you navigate through this course. If you need extra help with an assignment, click on the links below.

Course Icons and Glossary

The course icon library can be accessed for definitions of each icon used in this course.

You can access the course glossary by clicking on the glossary icon from the top of the topic pages in the course. Note that this link only appears on the main course pages and not on any of the documents or presentations that are linked to the course.

How To Resources

This section contains procedures for some tasks you may be required to perform on your computer in order to complete this course.

• Tips for Viewing and Navigating Content Interactivities
• Tips for Viewing and Navigating Review Interactivities
• Citing Resources MLA Style
• Creating Effective Presentations
• How to Take a Screen Shot and Paste It Into a Word Processing Program
• Saving a Word Processing File In a Rich Text File (.rtf) Format
• Submitting Assignments

Technology Resources

This Oceanography course uses the Google Earth™ application. You will need to download and use this application throughout the course. Click on the link below for more information about installing the Google Earth™ application.

• Google Earth™

Discovery Education™ streaming Videos

This course utilizes videos from Discovery Education™ streaming. When possible, these videos have been included in course files; however, due to copyright, some videos must be viewed on the Discovery Education™ streaming website. For information about your username and password for this resource, please contact your course instructor.

Oceanography Scientific Investigations

What Are Scientific Investigations?

Throughout this course, you will participate in scientific investigations. A scientific investigation is a method of exploring scientific content using the scientific process. Some of these scientific investigations will be hands-on and will use everyday, practical objects that you have around your school or home. Others will be virtual and will incorporate online simulations. For each scientific investigation, you should utilize the scientific investigation report document on the webpage associated with each experience.

These scientific investigations are important. They allow you to test your predictions, use evidence to revisit initial concepts, and examine the connection between your ideas and the scientific  views that explain your findings. Through them, you can apply the knowledge and skills that you learn in this course to real-world situations.

Safety In Science

Observing safe practices in a laboratory setting helps to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Two ways you can help reduce the potential for accidents is to adhere to proper laboratory safety guidelines and to follow carefully all experiment instructions. It is also helpful to know what to do in case of an accident in the laboratory. View the interactivities below to learn more about safety practices in the science laboratory:

Safety in the Lab

The most important aspect of safety in the laboratory classroom is good common sense. Keep focused on your experiment and be aware of the hazards in your environment. If you are unsure about something, stop and ask for help. Always keep these safety rules in mind and you will help protect yourself and everyone else in the lab. In this interactivity, click on each of the tabs to learn more about safety in the laboratory. Click the player button to get started.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

Protection in the Lab

If you are in a laboratory area or participating in a scientific investigation, there are types of protective clothing and eyewear that can reduce your chance of injury. In this interactivity, click on each of the tabs to learn more about protecting your body in the lab. No matter how unfashionable they may make you feel, these objects can save your life. Click the player button to get started.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

Accidents in the Lab

Unfortunately, accidents happen in the lab. In this interactivity, read each question and then click on the question to learn how to deal with the issue. In every situation, stay calm, and notify your instructor or another adult immediately. Click the player button to get started.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

 

Scientific Investigation Reports

Each scientific investigation uses a consistent format that follows the scientific process. As you complete each scientific investigation, you will maintain a scientific investigation report. This report will be a document in which you will need to make predictions, record data, analyze any data collected, and form conclusions about the scientific investigation.