Challenges To Expanding Ocean Literacy
In Formal Education
Dr. Richard J. Steinke
Deputy State Superintendent
Maryland State Department of Education
Issues for K – 12 Education
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Changes in Science Education Research & Policy
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Creating highly qualified, effective teachers
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Educating, Exciting & Encouraging the Next Generation
of Scientists
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Implementing & Creating Program Sustainability:
Strategies to Avert Program Mortality
Fitting More into the Curriculum
Science Education Research and Policy:
Change, Impacts, and Opportunities
Concerns:
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U.S. student performance and preparation in the science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) fields
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U.S. student achievement as compared to their peers in other countries
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Competitiveness in an increasingly global economy
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Shortage of highly-qualified & effective teachers
Federal Directives:
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American Competitiveness Initiative
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No Child Left Behind
Questions ….
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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?
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What opportunities have presented themselves?
Ocean Science is…
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Highly motivating
Interdisciplinary in nature
Issues-based
In the news
Cutting edge research
Technology intensive
 Live data - Remote sensing - GIS - ROV s
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© Spongebob Squarepants
Involves dolphins and whales &
other cool stuff
Status of ocean literacy in K-12 education
in Maryland
Where are we now ?
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MD teachers can address the ocean literacy standards
through the State curriculum.
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Professional Development is provided by partners in content
and data use through GIS, CBOS, satellite imagery and other
technology .
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Many high schools currently offer marine biology or marine
science as an elective.
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7 of 24 LEAs expressed interest in offering high school ocean
science courses immediately.
Goals of Maryland PreK-12 Ocean Education
 Produce high performing, ocean-literate students.
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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
Goal: Produce high performing,
ocean-literate students.
Exciting, and Encouraging the Next Generation of Ocean Scientists
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Offer ocean sciences as a high school elective
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Use ocean sciences as a platform to teach to PreK-12 standards
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Provide internships for students
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Provide trips to professional and informal education providers
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Develop meaningful projects and field experiences that empower
students to make a change in the environment
UMCES
Goal: Produce high performing,
ocean-literate students
Exciting, and Encouraging the Next Generation of Ocean Scientists
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Career Education – showcasing the interdisciplinary
nature of ocean sciences (government, arts, technology,
geology, chemistry, physics)
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Provide model lessons that integrate all disciplines and
use live data and technology, such as remote sensing,
submersibles, distance learning, and GIS.
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Educate, excite and encourage teachers
Goal: Provide at least one
meaningful ocean-related outdoor
experience for every student before they graduate.
Shark Tagging
Dune Restoration
Monitoring Bird
Populations
Sea Turtle Tracking
Estuary Restoration
Goal: Ensure that teachers are prepared to
implement effective instructional programs.
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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.
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Provide model units and lessons that bundle learning indicators
and illustrate the integration of disciplines, especially at the
elementary level.
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Train teachers to use issues investigation as a teaching method.
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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.
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Higher Education
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Teacher Preparation
Continuing Education
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College Courses
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Workshops with Professional Partners
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Business partnerships
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Training in use of technology
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Informal Education: Government agencies, museums, zoos and
aquaria, non-profit organizations
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Internships & Research Opportunities
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Distance Learning
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Creative ways to use adjunct faculty
MSDE Current Partners Offering
Professional Development & Services
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National Aquarium in Baltimore- internships for students, teacher
training
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore – workshops, opportunities for teachers
and students
Photo by Guravich
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
Partnerships:
Government, Businesses & Non-Profits
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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
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CURRICULUM
INSTRUCTION
ASSESSMENT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIPS
RESOURCES
Curriculum
Examples of Maryland Standards
Grade 1
E. 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
Curriculum
Examples of Maryland Standards
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Grade 5: Survival of individuals and
populations can be affected by sudden
(tsunami, flood) or slow (global warming, air
pollution) changes in the environment.
Assessment
Include 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 web
to support or refute the students' conclusion.
In your response, be sure to:
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describe the roles of the kelp crab, sea otter, and sea urchin in the food web
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describe the relationships between the kelp crab, sea otter, and sea urchin
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explain how each organism in the food web would be affected by a change in
the sea urchin population
Where are we going?
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Obtain funding to provide texts, classroom materials to expand the number of
course offerings in high schools
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Provide teacher courses to promote certification in earth sciences
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Work with higher ed pre-service education to model the incorporation of oceans
into curriculum
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Increase use of GIS, satellite images, live data and other technology
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Develop model units with Social Studies to develop integrated lessons
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Establish regional (statewide contacts) to serve as a resource to all teachers
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Produce a quality ocean science text for middle school and elementary school
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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.
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Statewide Email network to Environmental Science, Social
Studies, Technology, Library/Media and Science Coordinators
to inform of resources and opportunities.
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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?
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Funding
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Capitalize on the interest in International Polar Year and Volvo Ocean
Race
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Clearinghouse for juried ocean lessons and resources tied to national
standards so there is a common denominator for all states
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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
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Ignite a national political will to create the supports to educate, recruit
and retain highly effective teachers