NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Creating and Sustaining Alumni Networks
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Mission and Vision
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Mission: To provide teachers hands-on, real-world
research experience working at sea with world-renowned
NOAA scientists, thereby giving them unique insight into
the oceanic and atmospheric research crucial to the
nation
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Vision: to be NOAA’s main provider to teachers of
opportunities to participate in real-world scientific
research and maritime activities through teacher
research experiences.
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Background & Statistics
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Established in 1990
Nearly 700 teachers have participated
K- College Level, informal educators – any subject area
Approximately 250 applicants per year with 25-30 accepted
Most participants go to sea during the summer with fall
and spring opportunities available
Average cruise is 12-14 days
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Types of Research Cruises
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Fisheries - perform biological and physical surveys to ensure
sustainable fisheries and healthy marine habitats.
Oceanographic - perform physical science studies to increase
the understanding of the world's oceans and climate.
Hydrographic - scan the coastal sea floor to locate
submerged obstructions and navigational hazards for the
creation and update of the nation's nautical charts.
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Alumni Opportunities
After meeting program requirements:
 Invitations to participate in exclusive NOAA education
events
 Information about grants, webinars and partnerships
 Classroom materials
 Invitations to attend and speak at national and regional
workshops and conferences
 The possibility of participating in another cruise
 Members of Teacher at Sea Alumni Listserv
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Alumni Statistics
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Alumni representing every state, as well as alumni from
American
Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and Chile
Over 450 females and 225 males
Over 175 elementary and 225 middle school teachers
Over 250 high school teachers
Over 30 university faculty members
Two principals
Over half are science and mathematics teachers
Other subject areas include English, art, history, social
studies, foreign languages, library science, technology,
and outdoor education
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Regional Network Goals
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Enhance physical and oceanographic science
content knowledge and pedagogical skills.
Model scientific field investigations and
classroom activities
Promote environmental stewardship
Create and strengthen a sustainable NOAA
Teacher at Sea Alumni network in a region
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Active Regional Alumni Networks
New England (CT, RI, NH, ME, VT, MA)
Began in 2011
2 workshops – Gloucester, MA
(NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional
Office) and Woods Hole, MA
(NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science
Center)
22 members
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NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Active Regional Alumni Networks
Mid-Atlantic (Washington D.C., MD, DE and WV)
Began in 2014
2 workshops – Silver Spring, MD
(NOAA Headquarters)
and Edgewater, MD (Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center)
21 members
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NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Regional Network Model
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2 workshops (2-3 days long)
First workshop – poster presentation, science
content knowledge and application through
NOAA resources and partners
Second workshop – science content knowledge
and application, and hands-on scientific field
investigation (building drifter buoys, water
quality stations, seining)
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
New England Region
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Mid-Atlantic Region
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
After the Workshops
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Workshop report and regional webpage for TAS website
Select a regional coordinator to communicate with
members and plan events
Online communication (Facebook, email, wordpress….)
One annual in-person meeting
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
Participants by State 1990-2014
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
8 Potential Alumni Regions
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TN, AL, MS, LA, AR, KY, OK, TX (51)
NY, PA, OH (73)
MI, IN, IL,WI (64)
MO, KS, IA, ND, SD, NE, MN (39)
NC, SC, GA, FL (60)
MT, WY, ID, WA, OR (111)
CA, HI, AK (87)
NV, UT, AZ, NM, CO (52)
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program:
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program Alumni
National and Regional Networks
Questions?
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov