Teachers who participated in a two-year pilot program designed to encourage the integration of coastal and ocean science programming in schools will have an opportunity to share their perceptions of the program, and learn more about future programming, through a two-day workshop, Oceans Exchange, offered through the Oceans Learning Partnership (OLP). The workshop will take place aboard the M/V Coastal Explorer, August 4-5, at the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club in Conception Bay South.

According to an official government news release,the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education believes that “The Oceans Exchange workshop will provide teachers with an opportunity to reflect on their experiences with the OLP field program, which enabled them to work directly with scientists and other marine professionals to learn more about coastal and ocean-related industries, emerging career opportunities in the field, and innovative ways to teach ocean-related subject matter to their students. It is important that we provide meaningful professional learning opportunities for teachers that are designed to increase their own knowledge and understanding of these industries for the ultimate benefit of students.”

The Provincial Government is providing $15,000 to support teachers’ involvement in the Oceans Exchange workshop, which includes the introduction of new educational programming, available in September 2014. It will link students to real-world marine research projects and people in the field, as well as a demonstration of live video streaming which can be delivered to classrooms from the field.

In the same official release as Minister King, Maria G. Giovannini, Interim Executive Director, Oceans Learning Partnership, was also quoted. She said,“The Oceans Exchange workshop is designed to immerse science and technology teachers and program specialists in the same at-sea and shore-based experiential field program that has been devised for junior high and high school students. The goal is to engage participants – who are members of OLP’s advisory group – in exploring how to integrate this program into the curriculum in practical ways. Input from participants will also inform the design of a new summer teachers’ institute called Teachers at Sea which will be offered in August 2015, as well as other teacher professional development activities.”

The Oceans Learning Partnership was created to encourage an interest in ocean studies in young people. The goal is to create high-quality, hands-on educational programming – for both students and teachers – that will excite young people about ocean studies and expose them to the numerous careers available in this field.

In addition to addressing science and technology curriculum outcomes at various grade levels, the programming can also be integrated into aspects of the Social Studies curriculum, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, and Career Development courses.

For more information on the Oceans Learning Partnership, CLICK HERE.

– 30 –
Media contacts:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca    

Maria G. Giovannini
Interim Executive Director
Oceans Learning Partnership
709-746-4252