The optional Fieldtrip Reports are exercises that enable students to observe natural and scientific processes and use critical thinking to write about what they learned on the fieldtrip.
Four times a semester, students can participate in an oceanography fieldtrip and write a fieldtrip report. Fieldtrips are led by the instructor and announced, both in class and on Lani Aina Kai, 1-2 weeks prior to the day of the fieldtrip. Fieldtrips generally are on Saturday or Sunday mornings. A fieldtrip report covers what the students learned from the lecture and additional information provided during the fieldtrip.
To receive full credit for each Fieldtrip Report (3.0 points) students must write a report that is 2-3 pages long, is double-spaced, has 1-1.5" margins, and uses a 12-point font. Student must include the location, date, and objective of the fieldtrip. A fieldtrip report is graded on 1) how well the natural phenomena or processes observed during the fieldtrip are described, 2) the relevance of the observed natural phenomena to the material studied in class, and 3) the organization of the report. Grading is in increments of 0.5 points.
One Fieldtrip Report can be turned in approximately every four weeks. Check the nearest due date on the Assignments page. The due dates for all four Fieldtrip Reports are listed in the syllabus.