Introduction

Humans have sailed the world's oceans for centuries, but until recently, only the surface had been explored in any detail. Yet mystery about the ocean captured the imagination. The shallow parts of the ocean yielded great resources. What new resources might be found in its depths? In 1869 Jules Verne described untold food and mineral resources in his novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

In earlier days only simple tools such as fish nets, anchor lines, and weighted piano wire were available to study the ocean depths. In the twentieth century two world wars resulted in advances in naval technology, for example submarines and sonar. In peacetime these tools were used to explore the secrets of the hidden reaches of the ocean.

In this WebQuest you will research some "hidden" feature of the ocean, and the tools and technology that have allowed us to learn about that feature.

 

Tasks

1)You will research:

• some "hidden" feature of the ocean.
• the tools and technology that are used to study this feature of the ocean.  

2)You will evaluate the importance of discovering this "hidden feature".

3)You will write a report on the "hidden feature" and the means that are used to study it. Your report will include your evaluation of the significance of coming to understand this feature.

• You may divide your report into three sections (the feature, the tools/technology, and the importance/significance), or write it as a single report. Either way, you should have eight to ten "body" paragraphs in your report, split fairly equally ( at least two paragraphs each) between the three parts. You will have an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph, either for each section or for the entire report, if you have written it as a whole.

4)You will find measurements related to your report, and use them to make at least two proportional comparisons. (See "Learning Advice" for an example.)

5) You will make a handout (approx. 1 page) summarizing the main points of your research, to share with your class.

6) You will include a bibliography, including names of at least three web sites, and the URL's of the specific web pages you used. (Other sources may also be included).

Process

1) Decide on a topic about the "hidden ocean" that interests you.

2) Find out how this feature of the ocean is investigated.

3) Form your own opinion about what this knowledge has contributed to the world.

• Who has benefited from this knowledge: humans, living things in general, or the earth itself?
• Is this knowledge only important in certain times? (past, present, future, wartime, peacetime, times of education, times of survival, times of plenty, times of starvation, etc.)
• Does this knowledge have a plus side and a minus side? Can it hurt some things as it helps others?
• Is this an example of "knowledge for its own sake"? Something that is no more than a curiosity at the present time? If so, relate it to something similar that was "no more than a curiosity" in the past, but has proved to be of importance in the present.

4) Compose a rough draft of a report including the information gathered in steps 1-3.

Start with an introductory paragraph. Then write 8-10 body paragraphs, covering the steps 1-3 more or less equally. Then write a concluding paragraph. If you wish to divide your report into three sections you may, but don't forget a short introduction and conclusion to each section.

5) Have someone else read your report.

Do they find the wording understandable? Do they find the organization logical? If they have any suggestions, or have found and errors, make changes in your rough draft.

6) Type out a final copy of your report.

7) Find some measurements in the information you have gathered. Then, make at least two proportional comparisons. Attach this as a separate page at the end of your report.

• The measurements may be in feet/pounds/inches, or in the metric system. Just be consistent.
• One imaginary example is given in "Learning Advice."

 8) Summarize your research in an easy-to-follow, one-page handout for your classmates. Attach this as a separate page at the end of your report.

9) Create a bibliography. Write down the name of each web page. Attach this as a separate page at the end of your report.

Resources

Woods Hole	National Centre for Marine Research (Greece)
Ocean 98	Bermuda Online
Office of Naval Research	about Ganymede (ocean on a moon of Jupiter)
Vasa Shipwreck
Secrets of the Ocean Realm

Learning Advice

1) Don't pick a huge topic, such as "ocean life", or even "whales". If you have trouble narrowing your topic, think of the other two parts of the report: the technology, and the significance of the topic.

For example, you might decide on "Strange and cool fish discovered through the window of a pressure-resistant remote-controlled submersible", or "Why should we humans care how whales communicate?"

2) Your "technology/tools" component may be something modern, or something that was important in older times--or a combination of the two.

Did you know people were using diving bells(early SCUBA) to go to depths of nearly 100 feet by the 1600's? And bringing up one-ton cannons from sunken warships? How did they do this back then?

3a) Make sure your report is more or less divided between the ocean feature, the technology/tool, and your evaluation of the issue.

A little more attention here or there is fine, but if you add a few paragraphs here, don't take them away there.

3b) Be careful about using words or phrases you are unsure of.

If you mention the "anticillated quadrantary of the mycellain strata", be prepared to explain it to me in your own words. If you can't explain it, try to understand it. If you still can't understand it, don't use it in you report.

If there is some little thing you're not sure of, it's fine to ask. If the whole subject is a puzzlement to you, don't try to report about it.

4) A (very) imaginary "mathematical proportions" example.

Mugwumps (who live in the deep ocean) average 80 cm in length. However, the Giant Mugwump reaches lengths of up to 12 meters (about 40 feet). I am 1.60 meters tall. So, most mugwumps are about half as long as I am tall . However, the Giant Mugwump is a true giant. If it stood on its tail fin, it would be seven and a half times as tall as I am.

W o r k : 80 cm x 1 meter/100 cm = 0.80 meters for the average mugwump.

I am about 1.60 meters tall. 0.80m/1.60m= 0.5, or about 1/2, so the average mugwump is about 1/2 my height/length.

The giant mugwump is 12 meters long. 12m/1.6m = 7.5, so the giant mugwump is about 7.5 times as tall as I am long.

The meters cancel each other out. I did have to turn 80 cm into meters to do the proportion, though.

I rounded my answers, because the mugwump sizes are averages. Also, my height is just for now. I might be a bit taller next year, or even next month.

It doesn't matter if I measure "long" or "tall." Either way, it is from the top of the head to the furthest end of the body.

5) Remember, your classmates have researched different things. Share your findings with them. Tell them the most important--and the most interesting--things you found out.

Vermont Standards

Vital Results:

1.8 Reports

In written reports, students organize and convey information and ideas accurately and effectively.

1.18 Information Technology

Students use computers, telecommunications, and other tools of technology to research, to gather information and ideas, and to represent information and ideas accurately and appropriately.

Fields of Knowledge:

7.4 History of Science, Mathematics, and Technology

Students understand the history of science, mathematics, and technology.

7.6 Arithmetic, Number, and Operations Concepts

Students understand arithmetic in computation, and they select and use, in appropriate situations, mental arithmetic, pencil and paper, calculator, and computer. This is evident when students:

gg. use dimensionless numbers (e.g., factors, proportions, and percents) and numbers with specific units of measure, including length, time, and rate units.

Assessment

  

STANDARD	DOES NOT MEET STANDARD	NEARLY MEETS STANDARD	MEETS STANDARD	EXCEEDS STANDARD
1.8: Reports	Report is very short or disorganized. Grammar and spelling mistakes seriously hinder communication. Extensive passages are quoted directly from web site. Student cannot explain content of report, when asked.	An attempt has been made to meet requirements of report. However, detail is lacking, or organization needs improvement. Several grammar or spelling mistakes, which may obstruct the meaning of the report.	Report is well-organized, and of the required length. Few if any grammar or spelling mistakes. Mistakes, if any, do not interfere with meaning of report.	Meets standard, plus additional features of a good report. For example: headings, effective use of white space, illustrations, etc.
1.18: Information Technology	Only one web site has been visited.	Two web sites have been visited. Names and URLs have been correctly recorded.	Three web sites have been visited. Names and URLs have been correctly recorded.	Meets standard, plus additional evidence of effective use of IT. For example, pictures are copied into written report; links are explored in detail; additional appropriate sites are found and visited.
7.4: History of Mathematics, Science, and Technology	Two aspects of report are either missing, or given only token coverage.	One aspect of report missing. "Fact sheet" is missing or ineffective. Coverage of three aspects is very unequal.	All three aspects of report are covered: the ocean feature, the technology used to discover it, and the impact of the knowledge gained. "Fact sheet" sum-marizes effectively.	Meets standard, plus additional features. For example: in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of the technology.
7.6.gg Arithmetic, Number, and Operation Concepts	Report contains no numerical data. Numerical data is present, but no attempt has been made at comparisons.	Report contains numbers and measurements, and an attempt has been made to compare them	At least two proportional examples are given, and reasoning is shown.	Meets standard, plus additional evidence of understanding. For example: creative imagery, comparison to a familiar situation

Conclusion

A century and more ago, Jules Verne's tales of underwater exploration were vivid science fiction. Today, much that Verne envisioned has come true, in concept if not in detail. We have mapped the bottom of the ocean floor, discovered underwater mountain chains, and studied organisms living under conditions that should be impossibly hostile to life.

What will the next century bring to oceanography? Discovery of new resources? Of new wonders? How will people coexist with the ocean and its inhabitants? Will we guard the ocean's hidden wonders wisely? Only time will tell.