Together, learners will explore the foundational concepts of marine ecology through weekly, multi-media lessons hosted on Genially and Nearpod. Lesson material will include reading, videos and interactive games.  Lessons will be posted Monday morning 7 am EST.  Additionally, each week, learners will be presented with a short demonstration or simulation that corresponds with the weekly lesson objectives.   If learners choose to work toward a grade for the class these will act as homework assignments.  Assignments will be posted Thursday morning 7 am EST. 

📝For learners choosing to have their work assessed, the grading rubric is as follows: 
Weekly Discussion: 5 pts/wk = 20 pts. 
Weekly Quiz: 10 pts/wk = 40 pts.
Weekly Homework: 10 pts/wk = 40 pts. 
📝Progress reports will be provided during the 3rd week of class via private message to learners and parents.  All assignments will need to be turned in no later than 1 week following the last day of class. 

✔️Example Discussion Question: Share an example of a marine predator/prey relationship.  Compare and contrast how it against a terrestrial version of they same relationship. 
✔️Quiz questions are presented in a multiple chose format
✔️Example of Weekly Homework:  Create a graph of predicted population changes over time for one producer, consumer and omnivore in a marine habitat of your choice.  

Outline of class topics by week:  
🦈Week 1: Biotic Factors Effecting Marine Ecosystems
- the biosphere and the ocean
-marine niches
-environmental succession
🌊Week 2: Abiotic Factors Effecting Marine Ecosystems
- temperature changes
-salinity changes
-nutrient availibility
🏖️Week 3: Concepts in Review: Estuaries
-biotic and abiotic factors that effect estuaries
-human impacts on estuaries
🐠Week 4: Concepts in Review: Coral Reefs 
-biotic and abiotic factors that effect coral reefs
-human impact on coral reefs
-current research on mitigation and restoration of coral reefs

I will host an OPTIONAL 45 minute meetup on the LAST Thursday of the course.  The time of the meetup will be listed in the introductory post to the class section.  Learners are encourage but not required to attend.  During meetups learners will be able to ask questions, review their learning and meet their fellow classmates.