Day 1: Intro to Class and Megalodon Modeling Discussion

module 1
week 1
reading assessment
close reading
gigantism
size
morphology
Close reading of papers as a class exercise is a fun way to improve comprehension and do better with writing and speaking
Author
Affiliation

Marguerite Butler

School of Life Sciences, University of Hawaii

Published

August 27, 2024

Pre-class materials

Read ahead

Before class, you can prepare by reading the following materials:

  1. Pre-Class Survey - Do it now! https://forms.gle/7jRzjmrmoEaHCf6HA
  2. Read the paper Cooper, Hutchinson et al (2022) I have downloaded the paper onto our class [Google Drive copy] - please accept invitation to join the Google Drive
  • When reading, Focus on main ideas, evidence, interpretation

Reminders

  • Get the Book $20 to rent for the semseter from SoLS Office St. John 101.
  • On Thursday meet for class at Hamilton Library lobby.
  • Labs start this week (today). Please read the short paper advance and look through the Instrumentation Lab Manual and Protocol [Lab 1 overview]
  • Labs Next Week - Meet at Honolulu Zoo at 1:30pm. LMK if you need a ride from campus

Introduction to Class

Todays Discussion

Discussion Groups

Group Partner 1 Partner 2 Partner 3
1 Christian Adam Ashton
2 Joshua Hao Mohammad
3 Kylee Maya Xi
4 Tamako Vivian James
5 Ilan Sean
6 Veronica Colin

[Slides] I will go over this in class.
[Syllabus]

Successful Discussions

  • Dig deeper into a subject
  • Bring out everyone’s ideas
  • Explore and evaluate arguments
  • Provide a forum for pitching ideas and practicing vocabulary
  • Encourage equal participation
  • Are interactive, evaluate strengths and soft-spots

Super cool artist’s rendition of Megalodon

Artistic reconstruction of Otodus megalodon

Discussion Agenda

  1. Reading Assessment
  2. Warm up
  • Funny format of Science, Nature, PNAS - Abstract, Intro, Results/Discussion, followed by Methods.
  • Shall we define any new vocabulary?
  1. Small Group Discussion

Explore Library Resources

Where do we find information?

General Background is best found in BOOKS. Academic books are the best source for things that are well-known or have been known for a long time. Here you will find general information about the habitat at the time (paleontology books), the general biology of that kind of animal (e.g. herpetology, mammology, or mammalian paleontology, etc. ). Get all the books you can in Hamilton for a strong foundation.

Compilations can be found in REVIEW ARTICLES
Academic authors will sometimes write a summary of the last 10 years or so of reasearch in a review article. These are often found in Annual Reviews as well as other places. If one exists for your group, get it.

Newest Information can be found in JOURNAL ARTICLES. Scientific articles report the latest findings at that moment in time.

For Next Time

  • Library Day! On Friday Meet at Hamilton Lobby, first floor just inside the door at 11:30pm
  • Bring your UHID to check out books
  • Start exploring potential fossils with your partner online
  • Browse the book collection online, to get some ideas for Friday