Challenges To Expanding Ocean Literacy

In Formal Education

Maryland State Department of Education

Dr. Richard J. SteinkeDeputy State Superintendent

Issues for K – 12 Education

Changes in Science Education Research & Policy

Creating highly qualified, effective teachers Educating, Exciting & Encouraging the Next Generation of Scientists

Implementing & Creating Program Sustainability:

Strategies to Avert Program Mortality Fitting More into the Curriculum

Concerns:

U.S. student performance and preparation in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields

U.S. student achievement as compared to their peers in other countries

Competitiveness in an increasingly global economy

Shortage of highly-qualified & effective teachers

Federal Directives: American Competitiveness Initiative No Child Left Behind

Science Education Research and Policy: Change, Impacts, and Opportunities

Questions ….

How can Ocean Science be used to improve student achievement and meet curriculum goals, while addressing the changes taking place at the federal,

state, & local levels?

What opportunities have presented themselves?

Ocean Science is…

Highly motivating Interdisciplinary in nature Issues-based In the news Cutting edge research Technology intensive

Live data - Remote sensing - GIS - ROV s

Involves dolphins and whales & other cool stuff

© Spongebob Squarepants

Status of ocean literacy in K-12 education in Maryland

Where are we now ? MD teachers can address the ocean literacy standards

through the State curriculum.

Professional Development is provided by partners in content and data use through GIS, CBOS, satellite imagery and other technology .

Many high schools currently offer marine biology or marine science as an elective.

7 of 24 LEAs expressed interest in offering high school ocean science courses immediately.

Produce high performing, ocean-literate students.

Provide at least one meaningful ocean-related outdoor experience for every student before they graduate.

Ensure that teachers are prepared to implement effective instructional programs.

Use 21st Century technology to reach 21st Century kids

Goals of Maryland PreK-12 Ocean Education

Goal: Produce high performing, ocean-literate students.

Offer ocean sciences as a high school elective

Use ocean sciences as a platform to teach to PreK-12 standards

Provide internships for students

Provide trips to professional and informal education providers

Develop meaningful projects and field experiences that empower students to make a change in the environment

UMCES

Exciting, and Encouraging the Next Generation of Ocean Scientists

Career Education – showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of ocean sciences (government, arts, technology, geology, chemistry, physics)

Provide model lessons that integrate all disciplines and use live data and technology, such as remote sensing, submersibles, distance learning, and GIS.

Educate, excite and encourage teachers

Exciting, and Encouraging the Next Generation of Ocean Scientists

Goal: Produce high performing, ocean-literate students

Shark Tagging

Dune Restoration Monitoring Bird Populations

Sea Turtle Tracking

Estuary Restoration

Goal: Provide at least one meaningful ocean-related outdoor experience for every student before they graduate.

Goal: Ensure that teachers are prepared to implement effective instructional programs.

Raise awareness in the education community about the renewed emphasis on ocean sciences through email network, advertisement of opportunities for teachers and students, Environmental Education website, grant opportunities.

Provide model units and lessons that bundle learning indicators and illustrate the integration of disciplines, especially at the elementary level.

Train teachers to use issues investigation as a teaching method.

Train teachers to integrate the use of live data, remote sensing and other technology into instruction.

Professional Development with Partners

Ensure that teachers are prepared to implement effective instructional programs.

Higher Education• Teacher Preparation

• Continuing Education

College Courses

Workshops with Professional Partners

Business partnerships

Training in use of technology

Informal Education: Government agencies, museums, zoos and aquaria, non-profit organizations

Internships & Research Opportunities

Distance Learning

Creative ways to use adjunct faculty

MSDE Current Partners Offering Professional Development & Services

National Aquarium in Baltimore- internships for students, teacher training

Maryland Zoo in Baltimore – workshops, opportunities for teachers and students

NOAA Ocean Explorers Workshops Maryland Public Television- ocean-related programming American Museum of Natural History on-line courses Maryland Sea Grant workshops, fellowships University of Maryland center for Environmental Studies (UMCES)

Horn Point - CBOS workshops, fellowships Maryland Colleges & Universities – graduate credit

Photo by Guravich

Partnerships:Government, Businesses & Non-Profits

Production and distribution of quality educational materials

Media support through television, internet Internships & opportunities for students and teachers Career Education Internships for students & teachers Sponsorship and/or support of school or school

system activities

Implementing & Creating Program Sustainability: Strategies to Avert Program Mortality

CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS RESOURCES

CurriculumExamples of Maryland Standards

Grade 1E. Interactions of Hydrosphere and

Atmosphere

1. Describe observable changes in water on the surface of the Earth.

a. Cite examples of the sun’s effect on what happens to water on the Earth’s surface.

b. Water disappears from puddles, wet surfaces after rain, any open container

c. Water can be a liquid or a solid and go back and forth from one form to another

CurriculumExamples of Maryland Standards

Grade 5: Survival of individuals and populations can be affected by sudden (tsunami, flood) or slow (global warming, air pollution) changes in the environment.

AssessmentInclude ocean-related items on State and Local assessments

A team of students believe that a decline in the population of sea urchins will affect the organisms in the kelp forest ecosystem.

The students believe that the kelp crab population will decrease if the sea urchin population decreases.Use the kelp forest food webto support or refute the students' conclusion.

In your response, be sure to:

describe the roles of the kelp crab, sea otter, and sea urchin in the food web 

describe the relationships between the kelp crab, sea otter, and sea urchin 

explain how each organism in the food web would be affected by a change in the sea urchin population

Where are we going?

Obtain funding to provide texts, classroom materials to expand the number of course offerings in high schools

Provide teacher courses to promote certification in earth sciences

Work with higher ed pre-service education to model the incorporation of oceans into curriculum

Increase use of GIS, satellite images, live data and other technology

Develop model units with Social Studies to develop integrated lessons

Establish regional (statewide contacts) to serve as a resource to all teachers

Produce a quality ocean science text for middle school and elementary school

Identify partners & funding sources for field experiences for teachers & students

Get the word out on the successes of ocean sciences program to the appropriate audiences through the appropriate venues.

Statewide Email network to Environmental Science, Social Studies, Technology, Library/Media and Science Coordinators to inform of resources and opportunities.

Publish success stories and information articles in educational journals targeted to a diverse audience- Teachers; principals/school administrators; State and local Boards of Education; Professional & Business journals.

How will we get there?

Funding

Capitalize on the interest in International Polar Year and Volvo Ocean Race

Clearinghouse for juried ocean lessons and resources tied to national standards so there is a common denominator for all states

Create a major & enduring nationwide public education campaign, targeted to each state, marketing the importance of ocean sciences to the public, teachers, administrators, state depts. of education

Ignite a national political will to create the supports to educate, recruit and retain highly effective teachers