Diana PayneSharon Walker

Jim Lubner

Sea Grant Education Network

Lewis-Burke AssociatesDecember 3, 2007

Sea Grant Outreach Goal

The goal of Sea Grant Outreach, which includes its education, extension and communications programs, is active and effective dissemination of Sea Grant information, research and technology.

NOAA Sea GrantNetworkThe NOAA Sea Grant

Network is:scalableflexibledynamic2-way

Connections are:voluntarybased on client needsoutside the “stovepipe”largely informal

Reflects Huge NOAA Investment and Contacts Carefully Cultivated Over Time

Very High Resolution

Reaches down to individual citizen level

Purpose

Extension, Education & Communications… Organizational structure in NOAA Sea Grant

Extension Education Communication

Outreach— Disseminates information to the broader public thru mass means

Formal & Informal—Classroom and free choice learning with the goal of enhancing ocean literacy and understanding of concepts fundamental to contributing to and interpreting the world

Provides science-based information to bring about positive economic or environmental change to targeted stakeholders

380 Extension staff/specialists 28 Marine Education specialists 90 Communications specialists

Sea Grant Education

• Education at all levels is a cornerstone of Sea Grant, and includes undergraduate and graduate education, teacher education, K-12 education and curriculum development, fellowships, informal education for the general public, special training programs for industry, and much more.

• Sea Grant educators provide valuable leadership in marine and aquatic science education activities throughout the nation.

• The Purpose of the Sea Grant Education Network (SGEN) is to facilitate communication and interaction internally and externally, and improve the delivery of science education-based information, programming, and resources to constituent groupsat the local, regional, and national levels in support of the Sea Grant mission.

Ocean Science EducationParticipants

• Sea Grant is already networked with most of the potential participants in ocean science education

Ocean Literacy Campaign

• NOAA Education• Sea Grant Education• National Geographic

• College of Exploration• National COSEE Network

• National Marine Educators Association• National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Essential Principles of OL

Essential Principles of OL

A Network of Networks

Questions

Sea Grant Education Network

Sea Grant Education Network

National Sea Grant Review PanelSea Grant Education Network (SGEN)

Sharon H. Walker, Ph.D.Location: CORE – Washington D.C.

February 21, 2007

SGEN Priorities and OpportunitiesSGEN Priorities and Opportunities

((Marine & Aquatic Science Literacy Marine & Aquatic Science Literacy Theme Theme

Team BrochureTeam Brochure):):

• Professional development programs for Professional development programs for educators;educators;

• Curriculum development based on sound Curriculum development based on sound science;science;

• Collaborations with informal facilities;Collaborations with informal facilities;• Research and education opportunities for Research and education opportunities for

undergraduate and graduate students;undergraduate and graduate students;

SGEN Priorities and OpportunitiesSGEN Priorities and Opportunities

((Marine & Aquatic Science Literacy Marine & Aquatic Science Literacy Theme Team BrochureTheme Team Brochure):):

• Technology–based science education;Technology–based science education;

• Assessment and evaluation;Assessment and evaluation;

• Inclusion of underserved/underrepresented Inclusion of underserved/underrepresented groups; andgroups; and

• Fostering collaborations and partnerships.Fostering collaborations and partnerships.

SGEN ChallengesSGEN Challenges

Challenges include NOT HAVING:Challenges include NOT HAVING:

• Needed fiscal resources (as a minimum, Needed fiscal resources (as a minimum, each Sea Grant Program must have 1.0 each Sea Grant Program must have 1.0 FTE dedicated to formal education);FTE dedicated to formal education);

• An education mandate within NOAA An education mandate within NOAA (exceptions: Sea Grant, Sanctuaries, and (exceptions: Sea Grant, Sanctuaries, and Reserves);Reserves);

• A coordinated public awareness campaign;A coordinated public awareness campaign;

SGEN ChallengesSGEN Challenges

Challenges include NOT HAVING:Challenges include NOT HAVING:

• Significant marine and aquatic Significant marine and aquatic sciences within the sciences within the National Science National Science Education StandardsEducation Standards; and; and

• Mandates in research proposals for Mandates in research proposals for broader societal impacts.broader societal impacts.

Future Priorities/ActionsFuture Priorities/Actions

(with increased & sustained educational (with increased & sustained educational funding…)funding…)

• Increase coordination and promote Increase coordination and promote collaboration;collaboration;

• Ensure a public awareness campaign through Ensure a public awareness campaign through coordinated education and outreach coordinated education and outreach messages;messages;

• Ensure scientific data are translated into Ensure scientific data are translated into useable forms for teachers, students and the useable forms for teachers, students and the general public; andgeneral public; and

• Assess the current and future workforce.Assess the current and future workforce.

ConclusionConclusion

The SGEN is cognizant of the fact The SGEN is cognizant of the fact there are no singular, simplistic solution there are no singular, simplistic solution for enhancing ocean and aquatic for enhancing ocean and aquatic literacy within this country. Only literacy within this country. Only carefully considered multiple, proactive carefully considered multiple, proactive education and outreach strategies will education and outreach strategies will lead to an enhanced awareness and lead to an enhanced awareness and understanding of the relevance of the understanding of the relevance of the world’s ocean and its watersheds to our world’s ocean and its watersheds to our everyday lives.everyday lives.