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Future Course: All About Algae

Future Course

This course section repeats yearly in the fall semester.

Live Webinar times vary from year to year.

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Offered By Instructor

Emma Stein, B.S. in Marine Ecology
Content Level

Middle School – Junior High – Grades 6-8
Course Length

8-Week Course – Fall (October start date)

Description

In this class, we’ll discuss the wondrous world of marine algae! Most people don’t think about algae very often, but they are a vital component of our lives. The oxygen algae produce makes up at least half of the world’s total oxygen production (depending on the estimate). Plus, the majority of oil we use for fuel comes from ancient algae. So, what are algae anyway?

Our class will explore the main groups of algae, comparing and contrasting them along the way. We’ll also discover other ways algae are important, how they fit into ecosystems around the world, and much more! Students will also be given opportunities to practice using dichotomous (two-choice) keys to determine the species name of an algal specimen.

It’s all about algae!

Offered by:

What to Expect

What to expect in the Required section in the classroom each week:

  • One research forum—in which students will be given the opportunity to research an algal species from the week’s group.
  • One activity forum—in which students can show their creativity through an activity.

What to expect in the Highly Suggested & Optional sections in the classroom each week:

  • Curated resources, including websites & videos, are provided to excite learners and to add depth to the subject matter.

What to expect during the weekly webinar:

  • Weekly webinars are 50 minutes long. Webinars are recorded and are available for students with schedule conflicts.
  • Primary instruction and guided discussions are provided during live webinars.
  • Active Participation (via the microphone and chat) in online class discussions.
  • An activity at the end of the webinar.

Materials & More

Before taking this course, students should be able to: 

  • Read at a solid 5th-grade level or above.
  • Write a few sentences independently.

Students should be willing to:

  • Actively participate (via the microphone) in the class discussion.
  • Encourage class discussion by adding their questions/ideas in the chat window during the webinar.
  • Respond with positive and encouraging comments on their classmates’ posts in the classroom forums.

Required books & materials:

  • Weekly readings will be online, no textbook required.

Enrollment Options

Live Webinar times vary from year to year.

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