Category Archives: Online Ocean Science Education Resources

Green Teacher Celebrates 20 Years with Fall Issue and Webinar

The Green Teacher Fall issue, “Navigating the Climate Crisis,” marks a 20-year milestone since the first issue of Green Teacher was published in 1991. Editor Tim Grant reflects on how EE has changed over the last 20 years, and looks forward with hope for the future. The issue is filled with articles on a wide number of topics—from helping children come to grips with the current realities of climate change, to innovative strategies for successful outdoor field trips, to helping students anticipate and shape the future, and much more.

FREE WEBINARS:

“Sustainable Happiness, Hope & Resiliency”
December 5, 2011, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, ET
Join Catherine O’Brien and Elin Kelsey for an inspiring conversation about sustainable happiness, hope, and resiliency. In the Summer 2011 issue of Green Teacher, Catherine, and Elin introduced these concepts and why it’s so important to move beyond “gloom and doom.” After short presentations, they will share some of the ways they are seeing this work moving out in the world so that participants can start to think of implications for their personal and professional life.

“Outdoor Teaching Mistakes”
December 7, 2011, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, ET
Presented by Brad Daniel, Professor of Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies at Montreat College. This webinar will help participants become better outdoor educators by presenting and discussing a variety of mistakes made by those who teach in the outdoors. After a short video illustrating many of these mistakes, a comprehensive list will be compiled and solutions to each one will be presented and discussed.
http://www.greenteacher.com

New Physical Science Activities on the Hurricanes: Science and Society website

The Hurricanes: Science and Society website (HSS; http://www.hurricanescience.org) is one of the most comprehensive Internet resources on hurricanes. HSS provides important information on the science of hurricanes and their impacts on people, buildings, and the environment. HSS also gives educators the tools to develop curricula and education materials about the importance of hurricane pre-disaster planning.

The HSS team is excited to announce the availability of new, inquiry-based activities about wind in a hurricane, building a coastal home, and utilizing hurricane imagery. In addition, there is a new and updated list of hurricane links for educators. You are invited to explore these activities and other educational resources available on the HSS site. New content describing NASA aircraft reconnaissance, the hurricane forecast process, and hurricane research models has also been added to the website.

Information presented on the HSS website is based solely on published scientific research and has undergone thorough peer review by a panel of scientific experts. The HSS website and its associated materials have been developed by the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography with support from the National Science Foundation. To receive more information about the Hurricanes: Science and Society Project, please contact Holly Morin via email (hmorin@gso.uri.edu) .

Live Q&A with Dr. Robert Ballard from the E/V Nautilus

Dr. Robert Ballard, JASON’s founder and chief scientist, is aboard the E/V Nautilus, exploring the depths of the Mediterranean Sea. He’s working with a team of renowned ocean scientists, searching for shipwrecks, marine life, and geological discoveries. In order to update us on what he’s found, he’ll be holding two special question and answer sessions via live webcast.

On Friday, October 28, JASON will broadcast two live shows, lasting approximately 20 minutes each, at 1:30pm and 6:30pm EDT. During the shows you’ll have a chance to ask Bob about his research, the science on board the vessel, and what it’s like living aboard a real ship of exploration!

Be sure to join the event a few minutes before start time and send in your questions via the text window which will appear. We can’t answer all of your questions but we’ll do our best! To make sure your question has a chance at being answered, make sure to use the following resources to learn more about Dr. Ballard and the E/V Nautilus:

  • Nautilus Live web site – Watch 24/7 streaming video from the ship to learn about the explorations going on now. You can watch live footage of dives below the surface from the ROVs Hercules and Argus.
  • Commander of the Nautilus – Play this interactive digital lab and learn what it takes to navigate and explore with ships and ROVs!
  • Online learning resources for educators – Review these materials with your students to get them ready for the live web event.
  • Online learning resources for students – Explore digital labs, activities, and more!
  • Meet Dr. Ballard. – Watch a video about Dr. Ballard’s career and get ready to ask him questions!

    • Aquariums and Climate Coalition Launch Climate Interpreter Website

    The Aquariums and Climate Coalition has established a new web site (www.climateinterpreter.org) for building capacity among informal science educators/interpreters for communicating about climate change to public audiences. Although this work was initially focused only on personnel working at aquariums, the high level of interest and participation from individuals working at other types of organizations (non-profit, government, etc.) has resulted in re-inventing their original web portal for this broader audience.

    The web site features past webinars as well as links to salient resources related to communicating about climate change with audiences in informal/non-formal settings.

    Coming up on November 2nd, there will be a webinar entitled, “Addressing Climate Change with Children and Youth”. There is no cost to attend this webinar, but you will want to visit their web site to ensure your computer is set up to access it.

    Here’s more information on that upcoming webinar:

    Wednesday, November 2, 2011
    10:00 am – 11:15 am PDT

    Join David Sobel, author of Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education, Tamara Schwarz of the Chabot Space and Science Center, and Nancy Hotchkiss of the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a lively conversation about communicating climate messages to children and families. We will discuss a range of issues and techniques that are developmentally appropriate for children of different ages, and learn from two coalition members who are putting theory into practice through exhibits, informal education programs, and youth training activities.

    Visit the Events page on Climate Interpreter for more details.

    You will need to ensure that our webinar and online event software program is installed on your computer before you can join the event. Please follow the link below to a page on Climate Interpreter with instructions on how to login and run the required software. To avoid missing any of the event, please follow these steps in advance.
    Click here for instructions on how to participate in this online event

    Aquariums and Climate Coalition Launch Climate Interpreter Website

    The Aquariums and Climate Coalition has established a new web site (www.climateinterpreter.org) for building capacity among informal science educators/interpreters for communicating about climate change to public audiences. Although this work was initially focused only on personnel working at aquariums, the high level of interest and participation from individuals working at other types of organizations (non-profit, government, etc.) has resulted in re-inventing their original web portal for this broader audience.

    The web site features past webinars as well as links to salient resources related to communicating about climate change with audiences in informal/non-formal settings.

    Coming up on November 2nd, there will be a webinar entitled, “Addressing Climate Change with Children and Youth”. There is no cost to attend this webinar, but you will want to visit their web site to ensure your computer is set up to access it.

    Here’s more information on that upcoming webinar:

    Wednesday, November 2, 2011
    10:00 am – 11:15 am PDT

    Join David Sobel, author of Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education, Tamara Schwarz of the Chabot Space and Science Center, and Nancy Hotchkiss of the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a lively conversation about communicating climate messages to children and families. We will discuss a range of issues and techniques that are developmentally appropriate for children of different ages, and learn from two coalition members who are putting theory into practice through exhibits, informal education programs, and youth training activities.

    Visit the Events page on Climate Interpreter for more details.

    You will need to ensure that our webinar and online event software program is installed on your computer before you can join the event. Please follow the link below to a page on Climate Interpreter with instructions on how to login and run the required software. To avoid missing any of the event, please follow these steps in advance.
    Click here for instructions on how to participate in this online event

    COSEE-TEK Announces Professional Development Institute for Educators

    The Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence – Technology and Engineering for Knowledge (COSEE-TEK) announces a Professional Development Institute for Educators.

    COSEE-TEK’s Teacher Ocean Technology Institute will be held at the University of Connecticut – Avery Point Campus, in Groton, CT on November 11-12, 2011. Lodging and meals will be provided as part of the institute.

    COSEE-TEK is seeking teachers and informal educators to engage with their peers, scientists, graduate students and technicians to learn about ocean science technologies.

    Interested educators should return the attached application or visit www.coseetek.net for more information.

    COSEE-TEK – Flyer [PDF]
    TOTI Application Form [PDF]

    Coastal Plain Watershed Information Center

    The Center for Watershed Protection has launched the Coastal Plain Watershed Information Center, a website that provides tools to manage the impacts of land use and stormwater runoff on coastal plain water resources—specifically watersheds in the U.S. Atlantic coastal plain from the Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod. The website gives users the ability to find their local watershed, explore EPA-Regulated facilities within their watershed, and study data regarding toxic waste, wastewater, and air emissions reported to EPA for each for each facility. Additionally the site offers tips on what individuals can do everyday to preserve their watershed.

    Coastal Plain Watershed Information Center

    The Center for Watershed Protection has launched the Coastal Plain Watershed Information Center, a website that provides tools to manage the impacts of land use and stormwater runoff on coastal plain water resources—specifically watersheds in the U.S. Atlantic coastal plain from the Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod. The website gives users the ability to find their local watershed, explore EPA-Regulated facilities within their watershed, and study data regarding toxic waste, wastewater, and air emissions reported to EPA for each for each facility. Additionally the site offers tips on what individuals can do everyday to preserve their watershed.

    New physical science activity available on the Discovery of Sound in the Sea website

    Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS; www.dosits.org) is one of the most comprehensive Internet resources on underwater sound. The DOSITS website and its associated educational materials introduce the science and uses of underwater sound and provide easy, efficient access to timely peer-reviewed content on the effects of underwater sound on marine animals. In addition to in-depth science content, the DOSITS website contains interactive galleries, including an extensive Audio Gallery (link) containing over 60 examples of sound sources found in the global ocean. The DOSITS website also includes a special section for teachers (link) with resources and classroom activities.

    The DOSITS team is excited to announce the availability of a new, inquiry-based activity (link)
    that explores how the different properties of water can cause underwater sound to change. Using simple materials, students design experiments and make predictions on how underwater sound may be altered as a result of temperature changes, the introduction of bubbles, and other modifications to the water column.

    In addition to the new activity, the front page interactive has been updated to reflect new content available on the DOSITS site. Please take time to explore information on Right Whales,
    acoustic tagging of marine mammals, ocean noise budgets, sounds of hydrothermal vents, and other new content areas!

    The information presented on the DOSITS website and its associated educational materials is based solely on current published scientific research, and all content has undergone a thorough review by a panel of scientific experts. The Discovery of Sound in the Sea website has been developed and produced by the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Office of Marine Programs (OMP) in partnership with Marine Acoustics, Inc., with support from the Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service.

    Please visit the site and let us know what you think via our public input survey (link). To receive more information about the Discovery of Sound in the Sea Project, please contact Celia Cackowski via email celia@gso.uri.edu.

    New Summer Science Facebook Page

    Here in New England summer is in full swing, and several of the Summer Science camps are already in session! While we’re excited to see what discoveries the summer will bring for our campers, we are already looking forward to the Teen Ocean Summit 2011, where they’ll present their summer findings. We created a Facebook page “Summer Science in New England” for our campers, camp partners, and Summer Science participants to connect, ask questions, or present interesting information they’ve collected at camp. Please “Like” us on Facebook and help build the on-line Summer Science community!