Connecting scientific research and public benefit can begin with a good science course. Online Ocean Studies (OOS) and Online Weather Studies (OWS) provided by the American Meteorological Society Education Program (AMSEDU) gives that connection. Metropolitan Community College (MCC) – Maple Woods in Kansas City, MO offers the courses either completely online or completely in the classroom for different learning styles. To fulfill requirements for the new Online Associate in Arts Degree at MCC there is a demand for valid online science courses with laboratory. OWS offered since 1999 showed a steep increase in student demand from the original offering to present. In 2007 MCC – Maple Woods added OOS in a 6-week early summer timeframe. The class of 25 students filled in two hours.

The challenge at MCC is presenting the coursework in a high-standard and student-friendly manner to student populations with diverse ethnic backgrounds and preparation, who live far from the ocean. Because life-long learning is a goal at MCC, it was essential to provide methods for learning about ocean and atmosphere even after the course was over. As a representative from MCC, I attended the AMSEDU OOS workshop for presentation of concepts, exposure to scientists and ocean studies laboratories, and to become acquainted with colleagues teaching OOS. Because the summer 2007 6-week OOS course was also in session, I posted information from presentations each day and pictures. Throughout the course students stated they felt challenged by the content and short time frame, but expressed their enthusiasm for interesting textbook and lab activities, new thoughts, and great websites. Students contributed personal insight about activities, discovery observations, and additional websites with critiques. Some students will continue as science majors. But the chief outcome of OOS and OWS at MCC is introducing college students from diverse backgrounds and a variety of career goals to real knowledge of ocean and atmosphere and how science works to question, reveal conditions, and solve problems.