Communicating Ocean Science

NSF's emphasis on educational outreach and the "broader impact" of research has led to a number of programs designed to help scientists share their knowledge and skills in K-12 classrooms. Communicating Ocean Sciences (COS) is a new course being developed as one of the initiatives of the California Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE). Goals of COS are (1) to promote collaborations between scientists and science educators that help scientists do effective educational outreach, (2) to increase the amount of ocean sciences taught in K-12 classrooms, (3) to provide diverse college role models for K-12 students, especially under-represented students, and 4) to ensure that future scientists are prepared to be effective teachers and to address the broader impacts of their research programs. COS is designed to be co-taught by a research scientist and a science educator or master teacher. The target students for the course are science majors interested in obtaining teaching experience. The course is intended to be offered as part of undergraduate and graduate science programs (at UC Berkeley COS is co-listed by the Departments of Integrative Biology and Earth and Planetary Science). Undergraduate and graduate students are introduced to inquiry-based science teaching and learning theory through activities that focus on ocean sciences content. Pairs of students then apply what they learn by teaching six ocean sciences lessons in K-12 classrooms. Five of the lessons are derived from existing ocean sciences curriculum materials (e.g. MARE curriculum developed by Lawrence Hall of Science). One lesson is developed by the students themselves using the principles and approaches learned in the course. Graduate students receive additional curriculum development and teaching experience to prepare them for likely future roles in university education. COS is in its trial test phase. It was taught for the first time this past spring at UC Berkeley and will be taught at three additional institutions in 2004-2005. We are currently recruiting colleges, universities and organizations with educational programs (e.g. museums, aquaria) for additional field tests of the course. This past June we held an informational workshop for teams interested in teaching the course and will offer another workshop in June 2005.