Required Textbook: Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas, by Forest Rohwer, 2010. Additional materials will be provided and include textbook chapters, current journal publications, rock and fossil specimens. Assigned materials will be available through the EAS E-341 Canvas site, and various websites.
We will analyze and synthesize the ecologic and environmental context for long-term biotic associations in the reef ecosystem. By the semester’s end you will have up-to-date knowledge on the state of reefs through their natural geologic history to the present day, with scientific backing for predictions of future reef scenarios. The semester’s focus will be on developing critical thinking skills to augment your classroom learning and, if appropriate, your broader research objectives. Your writing goal will be to integrate concepts learned during the semester into your homework assignments, in-class exercises, and examination responses.
Lecture, in-class small group exercises, class discussions, videos, fossil samples, identification keys, and data from targeted websites and journal readings will comprise our course meetings. As will become clear during the semester, both writing and speaking skills will be sharpened. Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning is an invaluable guide for tracking your progress from memorization through synthesis and evaluation of scientific material. Learning objectives will be assessed through a mid-term examination, coral identification examinations, in-class exercises and presentations, homework assignments, a scientific reflection using the scientific method, and a final comprehensive examination.
By the end of this course on the Natural History of Coral Reefs, you should be able to:
For extenced absences or any problems that affect your work, please check with professor and AI for assistance
Final Grade Distribution: A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D-60-69; F=59 & lower; marks of + and − will be added to the letter grades as follows (− assigned to 0, 1, 2; + assigned to grades of 7, 8, or 9; e.g., 87%=B+, 61%=D− 74%=C). Class grades are not curved.
Accommodation for Disabilities: Every attempt will be made to accommodate qualified students with disabilities (e.g. mental health, learning, chronic health, physical, hearing, vision, neurological, etc.). You must have established your eligibility for support services through Disability Services for Students. Note that services are confidential, may take time to put into place, and are not retroactive. Please contact Disability Services for Students using the link below, or call us at 812-855-7578 as soon as possible if accommodations are needed.
The process to establish accommodations for a student with a disability is a responsibility shared by the student and the DSS Office. Only DSS approved accommodations should be utilized in the classroom. After the student has met with DSS, it is the student’s responsibility to share their accommodations with the faculty member.
Mental health services offered by CAPS and other support services are available to students. Contact the Dean of Students’ Office using the button below for information on where to find a wide range of support services.
Please check in with Dr. Johnson or our AIs at any time that you need help. We are here to help you learn the course materials.
Academic Integrity: As a student at IU, you are expected to adhere to the standards and policies detailed in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct (Code).
Academic misconduct is defined as any activity that tends to undermine the academic integrity of the institution. Academic integrity violations include: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, interference, violation of course rules, and facilitating academic dishonesty. When you submit an assignment with your name on it, you are signifying that the work contained therein is yours, unless otherwise cited or referenced. Any ideas or materials taken from another source must be fully acknowledged. Students should not share their work with any other students. If plagiarism or other cheating occurs, both students involved will be considered responsible even if the student sharing their work was unaware that academic misconduct would occur or had occurred. Ignorance of what constitutes academic misconduct or plagiarism is not a valid excuse. In addition, submitting content generated by another person or via an artificial intelligence program (such as ChatGPT, Google Translate, etc.), and posting questions from quizzes/exams or assignments or downloading answers from online sources are all considered academic misconduct. All suspected violations of the Code will be reported to the Dean of Students (Office of Student Conduct) and handled according to University policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct in this course may include a failing grade on the assignment, a reduction in your final course grade, or a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities. If you are unsure about the expectations for completing an assignment or taking a test or exam, be sure to seek clarification from your instructor in advance.
Students Needing Additional Financial or Other Assistance. The Student Advocates Office (SAO) can help students work through personal and academic problems as well as financial difficulties and concerns. SAO also assists students working through grade appeals and withdrawals from all classes. SAO also has emergency funds for IU students experiencing emergency financial crisis. Contact the Student Advocates Office
Sexual Misconduct and Title IX
As your instructor, one of my responsibilities is to create a positive learning environment for all students. IU policy prohibits sexual misconduct in any form, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, and dating and domestic violence. If you have experienced sexual misconduct, or know someone who has, the University can help. If you are seeking help and would like to speak to someone confidentially, you can make an appointment with the IU Sexual Assault Crisis Services at (812) 855-5711, or contact a Confidential Victim Advocate at (812) 856-2469 or cva@iu.edu.
It is also important that you know that University policy requires me to share certain information brought to my attention about potential sexual misconduct, with the campus Deputy Sexual Misconduct & Title IX Coordinator or the University Sexual Misconduct & Title IX Coordinator. In that event, those individuals will work to ensure that appropriate measures are taken and resources are made available. Protecting student privacy is of utmost concern, and information will only be shared with those that need to know to ensure the University can respond and assist. I encourage you to visit https://stopsexualviolence.iu.edu/index.html to learn more.
Bias-Based Incident Reporting. Bias-based incident reports can be made by students, faculty and staff. Any act of discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability can be reported through any of the options: 1) email biasincident@indiana.edu or incident@indiana.edu; 2) call the Dean of Students Office at (812) 855-8188; or 3) use the IU mobile App (m.iu.edu).
Reports can be made anonymously at this link:
Report a bias-based incident
Boost. Indiana University has developed an app, “Boost” to help students stay on top of their schoolwork in Canvas. The app is free to all IU students, and it integrates with Canvas to provide reminders about deadlines and other helpful notifications.
Get the Boost app
Re: Note Selling: Several commercial services have approached students regarding selling class notes/study guides to their classmates. Selling the instructor’s notes/study guides in this course is not permitted. Violations of this policy will be reported to the Dean of Students as academic misconduct (violation of course rules). Sanctions for academic misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment for which the notes/study guides are being sold, a reduction in your final course grade, or a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities.
Additionally, you should know that selling a faculty member’s notes/study guides individually or on behalf of one of these services using IU email, or via Canvas may also constitute a violation of IU information technology and IU intellectual property policies and additional consequences may result.
