What do you see?
What if we looked a little deeper?
…and even deeper…?
an aquanaut
a sunken ship
a giant squid
a fish with glowing parts
Diving into a topic of study…
…is a lot like this.
We first see the surface…
We read basic information
found in books, magazines,
and online resources.
We think about what we
might already know about it.
…and then we dive in deeper!
How do we “go deeper”
into a topic of study?
One way is to learn
the LANGUAGE used by
people who study this topic.
oceanographers
marine biologists
geologists
meteorologists
ship captains
environmentalists
How do we GO DEEPER?
A second way is to
delve into the DETAILS. Zoom in
on one aspect and really scrutinize it!
What are the features of the ocean floor?
What distinguishes a deep sea submergence vehicle from other types of submarines?
What are the attributes and characteristics of sea anenomes?
Another way is to
find out about
RULES and PATTERNS
associated with the topic.
Any one of these could become an in-depth research study:
Patterns of behavior in the great white shark
Patterns in an ocean food web
Navigation rules for ocean vessels
Can you think of any others?
Are you beginning to see what we mean by DEPTH?
How do we GO DEEPER?
We can look for TRENDS.
A trend is the direction
in which something is
changing or developing.
Are there trends in the occurrence
of tsunamis worldwide?
Is there any trend in the growth
of coral in the Great Barrier Reef?
Ask, “What are experts still studying about this topic?
What are the mysteries and UNANSWERED QUESTIONS?
What tools and technology are needed to map the entire ocean floor?
Could hydrates (ice crystals) that form in
the ocean one day provide energy for us?
How do giant tube worms survive in the depths of the ocean, and what other species are yet to be discovered?
How do we GO DEEPER?
In a deeper study…
…can you find any controversies?
…are there issues related
to right and wrong?
…is anything or anyone
suffering in any way?
These are questions of
ETHICS.
And when you have studied something
in depth, how could you sum up
what you’ve learned?
What are the BIG IDEAS?
We also want to go beyond
the SIMPLE…
... to the more
COMPLEX
We can add COMPLEXITY by:
studying something over time
looking at it from many
perspectives or points of view
finding connections
across disciplines
(math, science, history)
OVER TIME
How have sharks
evolved over time?
How is the ocean floor changing over time?
How has the focus of
ocean exploration
changed over time?
What’s important about trade winds…
MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES
…from the perspective of a meteorologist?
…from the perspective of a sailor?
…from the viewpoint of an
energy company?
Can we make a Fibonacci
connection to seahorses?
MATH
How are seahorses used in medicine?
SCIENCE
How are seahorses depicted in mythology?
LITERATURE
ACROSS DISCIPLINES
PICK ONE TOPIC
SOME QUESTIONS HAVE BOTH DEPTH and COMPLEXITY
Is it helpful or harmful to hold
marine animals captive?
Answer from the perspective of a marine biologist, a conservationist, a member of the Humane Society, and the CEO of Sea World.
What do you see now?
Where could our studies take us?
Sources
www.wikipedia.com
(oceanography, submarine)
http://legacy.belmont.sd62.bc.ca/teacher/
geology12/photos/tectonics/
http://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archives/2010/07/09/
how-to-keep-our-oceans-free-of-plastic-and-chemicals
http://blogs.voanews.com/science-world/2012/07/27/
massive-tsunami-debris-highlights-problem-of-trashed-oceans/