Volume 19 • Number 3 • 2003 - the Marine Advanced Technology ...

THE JOURNAL OF MARINE EDUCATION
Volume 19 • Number 3 • 2003
estuarial environments. Once again, current events as well
as historical connections can be used to learn about soil and
its connection. This is also an appropriate area in which to
include information on terrestrial geography.
4. Finally, a major area which must be included is information
on environmental laws and regulations and economics
related to coastal and ocean environments. This information
might be acquired from environmental science text such as
the one by Miller (2001) or through the Sea Grant Marine
Laws Divisions. Another approach could include
independent or group studies or projects. The topics could
relate to the student’s oceanographic studies, (e.g. a group
project on the influence of the Clean Water Act on the ocean,
or how the Endangered Species Act applies to the marine
environment). Economics forces have a role in the study of
the ocean like the boycott of swordfish by fishermen,
marketers, and restaurants. Likewise depletion of natural
fisheries and the establishment of marine aquacultures have
positive and negative influences on the people who depend
on the ocean for their livelihood. The inclusion of this
material in a marine studies course can be beneficial.
instructor may want to include the uncovered topics with
laboratory or hands-on activities. An example of an uncovered
topic could be Human Population Dynamics. Although this
material is relevant to coastal ecology, fisheries, and other
activities, the inclusion of population numbers and
demographics is also helpful to re-enforce the information.
APES IN THE LAB
The design of APES as a science course focuses on scientific
principles and analysis with a laboratory component (College
Board, 2000). The scope of APES is broad and interdisciplinary
which is also true of any general oceanography course. Finding
appropriate laboratory activities to perform should not be
problematic. As a general rule, each APES topic area should
have two laboratory activities for content re-enforcement.
However, the topic and subtopic areas overlap, i.e. one
laboratory exercise may actually explore several
topics/subtopics at once. Further, a laboratory exercise that
covers surface temperatures of the ocean also involves
information on measurements, atmosphere, and the flow of
energy. The exercise could also be extended to include the
examination of the effects of surface temperature on currents,
living organisms, and adaptations as well as other possibilities.
A field trip to an aquarium.
Most laboratory activities for an oceanography course will
complement APES with minor alterations. Additionally, an
Students learning how to collect samples from the ocean.
Seining at the beach.
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