Coordinating and Advancing Field-Based Marine Science Education in Puget Sound: Creating a vision for the future March 14 th and 15 th, 2004 Seattle, Washington.

Coordinating and Advancing Field-Based

Marine Science Education in Puget Sound:

Creating a vision for the future

March 14th and 15th, 2004Seattle, Washington

• Why have a workshop?• Who’s in charge here anyway? • What are we supposed to do?• How can we do it?• When and where are we working? (and playing?)

(an introduction by Fritz Stahr, Ocean Inquiry Project, person of many

hats)

The things we all should know from the start!

Field-Based Marine Science Education in Puget Sound

Why have a workshop?

• Puget Sound is unique and needs attention from the surrounding population. Marine science education is critical to that end.

• Experiencing marine science first hand on the Sound is a powerful learning tool.

• Some other estuaries and coastal regions in the US have large marine science education programs or organizations, why not ours?

• Can we advance the state of MSE here through coordination, expansion, or new efforts?

• If so, how? Is there a best path? Or any path? We need the best minds to crack this one!

Who’s in charge here anyway?

• Ocean Inquiry Project proposed this to The Russell Family Foundation who granted funds to create it. (They too want answers to the previous questions.)

• A Steering Committee (see list in folder) decided the approach, agenda, and details. They are the brains, OIP staff are the brawn.

• Steering Committee members will facilitate the breakout sessions, but YOU are the ones here to create a vision of the future. So, if something is not working toward that end, speak up or attempt to fix it!

What are we supposed to do?How can we do it?

• Become a working team. Meet and get familiar with your fellow workshop participants.

• Speak up, but be a good listener as well. Don’t be afraid to voice ideas & thoughts; brainstorming is key. Evaluate and synthesize too…we need to write a report on this!

• Be at your breakout sessions on time. It helps when everyone hears the same thing at the same time and in the same way.

• Keep your eye on the goal: creating a vision of the future of marine science education in Puget Sound that’s better than the present.

When and where are we working? (and playing?)

• We’re working most of the time, but feel free to wander the exhibits during breaks or lunch (your badge is your admission).

• We’ll be here (Odyssey Great Room) as well as three other rooms in this building (one behind you, two upstairs).

• We’ll be in the Seattle Aquarium (8 min walk south); the Bay View room, Conference room and Classrooms - all upstairs.

• There is a free reception after this evening’s wrap up session in the Bay View room. Also, the Aquarium exhibits will be open to us after they close to the public at 6 pm. (play time!)

Working groups/locations for late morning & afternoon

• Harbor room – blue & red & some silver

• Grotto room – yellow & purple & some silver

• Class/back room – aqua & some silver

Summary of Sunday - Needs & Wants

• A “clearing house” -- actively maintained web site with info & contacts for all programs

• A cooperative or consortium of all provider organizations, to provide various things:

• maintenance of above web-site/clearing house• connections to platforms/vessels available• connections to research projects, short and long• help for new teachers with logistics, curriculum,

training• justify field based marine science education to those

who drive the instructional agenda (WASL watchers)• access to Puget Sound data bases, if not actually

operate one for cooperative partners

Logistics of Monday

• Session # 1 (9:30 am) – breakouts by educational level served or known - elementary/middle, high school, college, informal/general public (break @ 10:30)

• Sessions #2 (11 am) – breakout by color code with some combined (balance) – major goal is to come up with concrete suggestions and plans for cooperative organization: activities

• Session #3 – post-lunch version of the same site with info & contacts for all programs – individual groups to decide on lunch timing – finish @ 2:30 – break in Great Room

• Session #4 (3 pm)– wrap up here with summary of plans and a vision of the future!

Thank you to our sponsors!

Purple / Yellow / Silver• Curriculum Design

– Specific to marine science, fulfill EALRs– Flexibility—not necessarily tied to a ship– Assistance for existing programs to integrate EALRs– Curricula is all web-based and easily available– Clearing house for the curricula that already exist elsewhere– Kits? Moving tidepool?

• Coordination– Funding sources (providers & users)– Transportation options– Facilitator/coordinator—REAL PERSON to CONTACT– Recommendations for platforms—UNBIASED PERSON– Interface with risk assessors at school districts– Scheduling (assistance and some details)– Work with research, scientists, programs, cruises of opportunity

• Equipment Pool• Outreach

Purple / Yellow / Silver (cont.)• Needs:

– Tied to some organization• Based in Seattle?

• Type of organization?– College or University

– Established non-profit [People for Puget Sound, Center for Wooden Boats, Aquarium(s), Odyssey, Ocean Conservancy]

– Government Agency [Ports, Puget Sound Action Team]

– Association

• Funding options– Participants [school districts, schools]

– Grants [Foundations, corporations, agencies, ‘guilty’ polluters]

– Need to make self sustaining?

Needs and Wants for Marine Science Education in Puget Sound

54

51

44

28

43

21

31

25

39

34

34

39

34

39

20

7

18

33

18

36

26

0

2

2

3

0

5

0

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Coordination between providers

Information about different programsavailable

Connection to ongoing Puget Soundresearch

Year-around operations

Data collection (e.g. water quality)

Availability of computer models ofPuget Sound

Availability of historic data in PugetSound

Very Important Important Somewhat Important Not Important

Wants for Marine Science Education in Puget Sound

71

47

36

36

61

41

30

24

41

30

39

35

29

26

3

8

27

18

3

23

27

2

2

5

3

0

5

9

2

2

0

0

0

3

3

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Exposure for students

Inquiry-based curriculum

Connected to research science

Fun

Informative

Nearby location

Student directed research

Very Important Important Somewhat Important Not Important N/A

Needs for Marine Science Education in Puget Sound

49

19

16

10

24

17

24

30

19

29

6

24

19

21

14

2

5

8

13

2

25

25

27

33

29

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Cost

Distance

Time to organize & logistics

Fitting in curriculum

Knowing about available programs

Very Important Important Somewhat Important Not Important N/A