Oceans and Climate Debate
Summary
This activity orally tests students understanding of the links between ocean processes and global climate change. It is set up as a debate with students serving as the science experts and volunteer faculty serving as the opposition team.
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Context
Audience
This activity was designed for a small upper level undergraduate global climate change class but could just as easily be adapted to an oceanography class that includes some coverage of climate issues. The topic could be adapted to any other oceanographic issue that can be debated.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Students should have an understanding of:
- Earth's energy budget
- Greenhouse gases
- Ocean-atmosphere interactions
- Ocean circulation
- Carbon cycle
- Anthropogenic climate change
How the activity is situated in the course
This activity is designed to be carried out as stand-alone, capstone activity completed toward the end of a semester.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
To test student's applied understanding of the role of the oceans in natural and anthropogenic climate variability.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
This activity provides motivation for the students to learn and retain course material in a setting that is very different from a written exam. Students are required to synthesize information in real time to support specific discussion points.
Other skills goals for this activity
This activity includes oral presentation of prepared and unprepared material in a high stress situation.
Description and Teaching Materials
Teaching Notes and Tips
Students can find this activity stressful since they are on the hot seat in front of other professors. I work very hard to keep the atmosphere of the activity friendly. This includes very carefully choosing the faculty involved, ensuring that the students have sufficient head's up about this activity by talking it up throughout the semester, and providing snacks for post-activity while we discuss how the debate went.
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Assessment
Students are assessed by a rubric. I also solicit feedback from the faculty privately and provide to the students as appropriate.