| Course ID: | MARS 8190. 1-3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 6 hours credit. |
| Course Title: | Synthesis Skills in Marine Sciences |
Course
Description: | Techniques involved in effective seminar presentation, including
preparation of visual aids, logical development of topic, and
delivery. Students present a seminar to the class and/or formal
seminar to the department on an advanced marine sciences topic. |
| Oasis Title: | Synthesis Skills in Marine Sci |
| Nontraditional Format: | Credit hours will be determined at the start of each semester,
based on the hours the course will meet during that semester.
This flexibility allows variation in course content and
delivery depending upon the needs of the current cohort of
students. |
| Prerequisite: | Permission of department |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered spring semester every year. |
| Grading System: | S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) |
|
| Course Objectives: | The object of this course is to introduce graduate students to
the skills necessary to synthesize, organize, and present
research data in biological, chemical, and physical marine
sciences to scientists in similar and related fields. The course
will center on approaches for synthesizing and organizing large
and diverse sources of information, preparing visual materials to
convey scientific content, and presenting information in written
and seminar formats. Grading will be based on presentations and
discussions. The expected learning outcome is an improved
ability to synthesize and present complex scientific information
to peers and colleagues. |
| Topical Outline: | Week 1 Discuss organization of class; establish order of
presentations; Lecture: How to give a seminar; discussion of
subject areas of presentation
Week 2 Participation suggestions; discussion of subject areas
for presentation; Lecture: Assessing the audience and selecting
an approach
Week 3 - 15 Mini-lectures on critical aspects of synthesis
skills, followed by individual student presentations, and group
critiques of presentations. Examples of mini-lecture topics include:
Setting the scope: ideas, concepts, depth
Organization of presentations
Choosing date and format
Emphasis and detail in presentations
Design of presentation slides
Guidelines for color/layout
Scientific communication goals
Transitions in presentations
Choosing images for conveying scientific ideas |