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 Posted 1/25/2006 10:21:25 AM |
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Course Announcement:
Reef Aquarium Invertebrate Biology
Duration: 15 Weeks
Starting Date: 20 February, 2006
Required Enrollment:
For the course to proceed, I will need 10 enrolled (paid-up) students by 15 February, 2006. Students may enroll by sending me an email at: rshimek@imt.net, and by depositing $175 (Of this, $150 goes to me, $25 goes to MD) in my PayPal account. Should not enough people enroll by 15 February, the registration fee, less any PayPal charges will be refunded.
Required Text:
Ruppert, E. E, R. S. Fox and R. D. Barnes. 2003. Invertebrate Zoology, A Functional Evolutionary Approach. 7th Ed. Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning. Belmont, CA. xvii +963 pp.+ I1-I26pp.
No exceptions to this requirement; earlier editions of the text are different in content and are out of date and will not suffice. New and used texts are available at amazon.com.
Optional (Desired) Equipment:
Digital camera (3.3 Mpixel or better) and ability to upload photos. Microscopes…
Prerequisite or Necessary Background Knowledge:
Introductory Biology or sufficient ability and desire to be able to go to references and find out terms.
Course Level:
The lectures for this course will written be at about the 2nd or 3rd year level of college. I will assume you have the ability to read and understand college level material. I am not going to “dumb down” the course material.
Course Format:
Every Monday, I will email the week’s lecture/essay and laboratory instructions to the students. This will involve up to 25 pages of material. We will have a private Marine Depot forum. All students may upload and discuss questions on that forum. I will typically check several times during the day to answer and address questions. Each Friday, I will upload a short quiz. The answers to the quiz will be uploaded the following Monday.
I estimate each week will have between 50 and 100 pages of assigned readings. If it has been a while since you have been in school… this reading may be difficult, it isn’t like reading a novel. You will encounter a LOT of jargon terms. I will indicate some appropriate dictionaries and definition sources.
The laboratories will consist of observations and/or experiments done in a standard reef tank. These exercises will not harm any organisms in the tanks.
Course Coverage:
The course will discuss the basic anatomy and functional morphology and behavior of coral reef invertebrates. The fundamental question asked will be: “How do they do that?” or “Why do they do that?” We will cover all the invertebrates likely to be found in marine aquaria, and a few others besides.
If you have any questions about the course, please either post them in this forum or contact me at the email address above.
Cheers, Ron
"The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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 Posted 2/1/2006 9:54:14 AM |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/31/2006 10:53:57 AM
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| I would like to take the course, unfortunately, my recent move required me to sell off or donate my reef inhabitants and start a design on a new tank. I have not yet set up my new tank and therefore will not be able to participate in the labs. Is the course useful without the lab material? Ron
Ron Alberico
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| Posted 2/1/2006 11:41:35 AM |
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Group: Moderators
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Hi,
Actually the course is designed to stand alone without the labs, as I can't depend upon everybody to have the laboratory animals. You will get the lab instructions in any case, and if you wish to follow through with them some time in the future, I will be happy to help you with them.
Cheers, Ron
"The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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| Posted 2/1/2006 6:57:50 PM |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/31/2006 10:53:57 AM
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Ok sign me up! I hope the enrolment minimum will be met. Is there any college affiliation or credit associated with this or is it simply for our own edification (which I actually prefer, less paper work)
Ron
Ron Alberico
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| Posted 2/4/2006 5:03:42 AM |
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Group: Moderators
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Hi Ron,
So far - there are 5 people interested.
I will be pursuing college affiliation and credit for these courses, but that is in the future. This is just for your edification. 
Actually, I prefer it this way, too. It makes the course cheaper and it makes it much less of a paperwork hassle. Howsoever, as it is a time consuming and "heavy" class, it would be nice to be able to give some real college-level credit for it. 
Cheers, Ron
"The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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| Posted 2/5/2006 8:05:16 PM |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/1/2006 10:07:06 PM
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I would love to take this course, however, I am an engineer and the only biology labs that I have taken are in microbiology, pathology, and immunology. I have spent much time in the library researching the variety of life in my aquarium with varying success. So, of course, I am very interested in the course material, but I was wondering if this would be over my head. I have no problem looking up terms and reading twenty-five pages per day is very reasonable, but basically it boils down to if this course allows for us hacks to be able to ask stupid questions that we can't figure out.
Regards,
Aaron Hodgen
P.S. If this "hack" can ask stupid questions, please either post the PayPal address or send it in an email so that I can sign up.
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| Posted 2/6/2006 8:50:23 AM |
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 5:58:31 AM
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Hi,
Actually, the course will only work if folks ask questions.
I have sent you an email. If you sign up, you are number 6.
Cheers, Ron
"The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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| Posted 2/8/2006 5:08:40 AM |
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Group: Forum Members
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| If you are reading this sign up for the course!! learn something! lets go 5 more students out of the thousands that must visit the forum!!!!! Ron
Ron Alberico
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| Posted 2/8/2006 11:47:43 AM |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/31/2006 10:53:57 AM
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| I have been telling all I can about the course and leaving messages on forums at RC and WWM and other marine aquarium sites, hopefully we'll get the other 5 before the deadline! Ron
Ron Alberico
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| Posted 2/8/2006 1:59:15 PM |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/27/2007 1:46:19 PM
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| I have emailed Dr. Shimek for payment info. Count me in!! Bill
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