Implementation and Delivery of AMS Online Ocean Studies at the Community College Level

Paul D. Camp Community College Paul D. Camp Community College is a two-year institution of higher education which operates under the Virginia system of community colleges. It opened in the fall of 1971 to serve residents of the cities of Franklin, Suffolk and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton. It is located in the southeastern Virginia (Tidewater) and is approximately 45 miles from the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It serves approximately 850 full time students

Paul D. Camp Community College Service and academic excellence are its primary aims. The College offers a variety of programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the community. Its two-year college transfer programs in arts and sciences and in certain pre-professional areas lead to associate degrees consisting of courses generally acceptable for transfer to four- year institutions. Its occupational and technical programs lead to certificates or associate of applied science degrees, and are designed to prepare individuals for certain business or technical professions. Its other programs — including developmental work, special training for industry and community service — are offered to meet the needs and interests of individuals, groups or the community.

Implementation of AMS Online Ocean Studies The science department was exploring additions to our curriculum, and solicited ideas from students as to what additional courses we could offer. Suggestions were: –Oceanography (now implemented, AMS Online Ocean Studies) –Meteorology (now implemented, AMS Online Weather Studies) –Geology

Implementation of AMS Online Ocean Studies (continued) The expansion of our science curriculum was an opportunity to reach a greater segment of our non- science major students by: –Offering interesting, transferable course(s) that would fulfilled a natural science requirement –Providing a format that could be offered as traditional lecture, hybrid, or online –Offering enrichment courses that would appeal to members of the community for upgrading skills or information

Implementation of AMS Online Ocean Studies (continued) In searching for suitable materials, we were afforded an opportunity to pilot the AMS Online Ocean Studies in the spring of We evaluated the course materials and were impressed by the content, and real time laboratory applications. The science department then recommended the AMS Online Ocean Studies to be taught as Geology 111 or as BIO 295 Topics in Ocean Studies. It was approved by the college.

Delivery of AMS Online Ocean Studies Once the course was approved we discussed the possible ways to deliver the course to our students. We offered online biology with an on-campus laboratory component and the AMS Online Ocean Studies format would add to our availability of online science courses. Formats considered were: –Traditional lecture / Lab –Hybrid Online –Online

Traditional lecture with Online Lab The AMS Online Oceans Studies was piloted in the spring, 2005 (GOL 111). – It was taught via lecture over 15 weeks. – The laboratory component was online and assistance was provided if needed. – Students submitted the laboratory component electronically. – The review and critical thinking questions were topics for classroom discussion. – Supplemental field trips (beaches, marshes, aquarium). – BlackBoard was used as the management tool.

Hybrid Delivery The AMS Online Oceans Studies was offered in spring 2006 as a hybrid course (GOL 111). –Students came to class every two to three weeks to discuss the review and critical thinking questions; topics provided by the instructor. –The laboratory component was online and assistance was provided if needed. –Supplemental field trips (beaches, marshes, aquarium). –Students submitted the laboratory component electronically. –BlackBoard was used as the management tool.

Online Lecture / Lab The AMS Online Oceans Studies was offered in the spring 2006 as a completely online course (GOL 111). –Course was taught completely online, no face-to- face meetings with students (students did not participate in local field trips). –Students submitted all components electronically. (lab, review, critical thinking, and instructor-generated questions. –BlackBoard was used as the management tool. –All tests were administered via BlackBoard.

Summary –AMS Online Ocean Studies is being moved to the fall 2007 schedule, instead of the spring schedule. –A total of 24 students were enrolled (2005 – 06). –Excellent instructional support by AMS staff. –Student’s rated course as excellent in most categories of our evaluation tool. –The hybrid instructional format was the most preferred form of delivery. –Supplemental field trips (beaches, marshes, aquarium) were highly favored by students.