National Ocean Partnership Program Meeting AGUASLO Ocean Science

  • Slides: 14
Download presentation
National Ocean Partnership Program Meeting AGU/ASLO Ocean Science 2000 Janice Mc. Donnell, Institute of

National Ocean Partnership Program Meeting AGU/ASLO Ocean Science 2000 Janice Mc. Donnell, Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences

Outline of Today’s Presentation I. Brief overview of “Summer Research Experience at LEO-15” II.

Outline of Today’s Presentation I. Brief overview of “Summer Research Experience at LEO-15” II. What is working and what would work better III. Lessons Learned from NOPP

Program Objective: To develop an integrated set of educational programs that capitalize on the

Program Objective: To develop an integrated set of educational programs that capitalize on the research and technological assets of an underwater observatory as the nucleus for interdisciplinary learning across grade levels. Field Research Experience Research at LEO-15 Classroom Applications

PARTNERS • Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution •

PARTNERS • Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution • MAB National Undersea Research Center • Bell Atlantic • Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve

Summary Statistics (2 Year Project) • 56 educators trained directly • 1, 680 educators

Summary Statistics (2 Year Project) • 56 educators trained directly • 1, 680 educators through extended workshops • 7 Learning Modules on-line-30 hands-on lessons • 10, 000 school children exposed to LEO • 300 students (5 -12 grade) have completed pilot of at least two LEO Internet modules • Estimate the Web site receives 300 -400 access per month

Program Outline 1. Preparatory Skills Workshop: An Introduction to the Internet • Virtual Field

Program Outline 1. Preparatory Skills Workshop: An Introduction to the Internet • Virtual Field Trips • Real-time Data in the Classroom • Collaborative Projects 2. “Looking at the Ocean from the Top Down” • Geographic Information Systems • Effects of Human Disturbance on Watershed Resources • Ground-truth imagery with field measurements

Program Outline (Continued) 3. Exploring the Ocean from the Bottom Up at LEO-15 •

Program Outline (Continued) 3. Exploring the Ocean from the Bottom Up at LEO-15 • Immersion in current research at LEO-15 • Phytoplankton community dynamics • Supplementary MARE lessons

Program Outline (Continued) 4. Habitat Studies • Exposure to diverse habitats • Habitat mapping

Program Outline (Continued) 4. Habitat Studies • Exposure to diverse habitats • Habitat mapping • Critter census 5. Development of Internet Modules and Hands-on Lessons • Video Conferences • Follow-up Workshops

Evaluation Tools • Goal = Measure the change in participant knowledge, perception and behavior

Evaluation Tools • Goal = Measure the change in participant knowledge, perception and behavior over the course of the program • Evaluation tools were designed by Word. Craft Inc. Pre-Institute and post-Institute Survey Formative Interviews Teaching Unit Description Follow-up Phone Interviews

1998 Evaluation Results Successful in providing access to new and useful scientific information. Successful

1998 Evaluation Results Successful in providing access to new and useful scientific information. Successful in improving confidence in using the Internet and demonstrating that the Internet is more than just a passive research tool utilized to retrieve facts. Less successful in significantly increasing the participant's confidence in using real-time (less predictable) data sets from the LEO.

1999 Evaluation Results 91% of the participants indicated that their personal confidence in marine

1999 Evaluation Results 91% of the participants indicated that their personal confidence in marine science content increased overall. 100% of the participants responded feeling confident to very confident in presenting the LEO modules 45% of the participants used the Internet in their classroom for student research, collaborative projects, posting and sharing student work and for science labs with on line scientific data.

What Works…. There is a growing emphasis in education on inquiry-based learning but not

What Works…. There is a growing emphasis in education on inquiry-based learning but not a concomitant effort within the public school systems budget for professional development and classroom resources to support this goal. NOPP provides assistance in building partnerships and financial support. What Could Work Better… Longer grant periods Improved Contact with ONR - year long dialogue

Lessons Learned from NOPP… Select Teams of Educators from schools verses individual educators. This

Lessons Learned from NOPP… Select Teams of Educators from schools verses individual educators. This improves viability of the project and the commitment of the participant(s). Provide a learning environment that allows time for reflection, and assimilation. Provide a program that is sensitive to grade level appropriateness and performance standards (Core Standards). Anticipate the challenges faced (administratively, and technologically)by the classroom educator Form long-term partnerships with the participants. The scientist-educator partnership enriches both communities.

“I really liked meeting all of the people who make LEO tick. I’ll never

“I really liked meeting all of the people who make LEO tick. I’ll never be an important person in the field of science but I may be able to stimulate some young child to love science and he/she may become an important scientist. ” Elizabeth Schenck, Stafford Township Schools