Marine Bioacoustics – Middle Semester

    $157.07

    “Marine Bioacoustics is a fascinating and quickly emerging field! It is so interesting to hear what organisms in the ocean sound like–and you don’t even have to be in the ocean to listen in! I am so excited to share this noisy world with my students!”
    ~ Prof. Emma Stein

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    Sound graph for Marine Bioacoustics course at Athena's Advanced Academy
    InstructorProf. Emma Stein
    Content LevelsGrades 7-8 • Junior High
    Grades 9-10 • Lower High School
    Course Length8 weeks
    Live Webinars Held OnMondays, 11:00 - 11:50 AM Pacific - Middle Semester - 10/17/22 - 12/17/22

    Did you know that the ocean is super loud? Many people don’t think of oceans as noisy places, but they are! Many invertebrates, fishes, and marine mammals produce sound—and that makes the oceans quite noisy places! We are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what these sounds can tell us.

    In this eight-week course, we will explore how sound works in the ocean, how scientists are studying noise in the ocean, and what we’ve discovered so far. We will discuss how and why marine invertebrates, fishes, and mammals produce sound—and we’ll be listening to many different sound clips along the way! We will also explore what sound can tell us about different marine organisms and ecosystems.

    Sometimes, the ocean can be so loud that it disturbs humans! But, oftentimes, humans are the ones disturbing the ocean soundscape with loud machinery. We’ll discuss how humans are impacting the auditory component of the ocean and what can be changed to minimize our effects.

    Join us to listen to snaps, thumps, crackles, grunts, pops, and more!

    For a list of scientific skills students will develop, see the What to Expect tab.

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

    • Two forums—in which students are given the opportunity to reflect upon the week’s material or research a relevant organism.

    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.

    Scientific skills students will develop:

    • Knowledge of properties of sound, sound creation mechanisms, and human sound impacts.
    • Scientific, inquiry-based thought.
    • Research using general Internet sources as well as scientific articles.

    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:

    • Any readings will be online, no textbook required.