An Interactive Simulation

The goal of this activity is to help students better understand the nonintuitive concept of diffusion and introduce them to a variety of diffusion-related processes in the ocean. As part of this activity, students also practice data collection and statistical analysis (e.g., average, variance, and probability distribution functions). This activity is also used as an introduction for a subsequent lesson on stirring and mixing. AUDIENCE The activity is designed for undergraduate marine sciences students, but it is also appropriate for biology, chemistry, and lower-level engineering students. The content can be easily modified to suit graduate or high school students. A version of this activity was evaluated in an upper-level undergraduate course at the University of Maine (" Teaching Sciences by Ocean Inquiry; " science majors interested in education and was designed to introduce students to inquiry-based teaching strategies with examples from marine sciences. The diffusion activity was presented as an example of using simulations in science education.