Education
The NOAA Ocean Exploration program strives to engage broad audiences to enhance America’s environmental literacy through the excitement of ocean discovery. Increasing this literacy requires high-quality, effective collaborations between ocean explorers and America’s teachers. NOAA regularly forms such collaborations to reach out in new ways to the public to improve the literacy of learners with respect to ocean issues.
Educational Materials
The NOAA Ocean Exploration program provides a variety of learning and teaching tools designed to engage broad audiences and enhance America’s environmental literacy through the excitement of ocean discovery. In this Educational Materials section you will find links to hundreds of lesson plans written by teachers for teachers, lessons built around specific ocean exploration expeditions across the globe, multimedia packages on specific ocean science topics, the Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration curriculum, and a collection of background information and lessons associated with the Gulf of Mexico and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Lastly, here you will find the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection, comprised of Volume 1: Why Do We Explore? targeting seven modern reasons for ocean exploration including climate change, energy, human health and ocean health, and Volume 2: How Do We Explore? targeting the technology and engineering behind ocean exploration aboard the Okeanos Explorer.
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NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection
In conjunction with the commissioning of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection was developed to encourage educators and students to become personally involved with the voyages and discoveries of the Okeanos Explorer— America’s first Federal ship dedicated to ocean exploration. The Education Materials Collection is presented in two volumes: Volume 1: Why Do We Explore? (modern reasons for ocean exploration) and Volume 2: How Do We Explore? (exploration methods and associated technologies)
Expedition Education Modules
Expedition Education Modules are designed as an education unit to share the excitement of daily at-sea discoveries and the science behind NOAA’s major ocean exploration expedition. Each module contains an Expedition Purpose, Lessons, Multimedia Discovery Missions, OceanAGE Career Connections, and Other Resources and Links.
Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration Curriculum
Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration is an updated curriculum for teachers of Grades 6-12 that takes lesson plans that were developed for NOAA ocean explorations and the Ocean Explorer Web Site and presents them in a comprehensive scope and sequence through subject area categories that cut across individual expeditions. Each lesson focuses on an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning and is correlated to the National Science Education Standards.
Lessons from the Deep: Exploring the Gulf of Mexico’s Deep-sea Ecosystems
Between 2001 and 2009, NOAA’s Office of Exploration and Research (OER) sponsored eleven expeditions to explore deep-sea organisms and ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these sites are within a few miles of the Deepwater Horizon well. Each of these expeditions was documented with an extensive Web site that included lesson plans for educators at grade levels 5 through 12. OER’s Gulf of Mexico Deep-Sea Ecosystem Education Materials Collection includes a selection of these lesson plans together with new lessons and additional background information about the Deepwater Horizon blowout event.
Professional Development
Ocean Explorer professional development offerings provide opportunities for teachers and other educators to engage in learning more about ocean exploration. They are designed to introduce participants to premiere ocean scientists/explorers and their research and explorations, and at the same time, provide exemplary tools and resources to enhance the teaching and learning of ocean science and NOAA endeavors in ocean exploration. Onsite professional development workshops are offered around the country in cooperation with our Ocean Explorer Education Alliance Partners and online professional development is offered regularly in cooperation with the College of Exploration.
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Online Teacher PD
In 2009, NOAA's Ocean Exploratione Program developed a new series of online teacher workshops in conjunction with the commissioning of the Okeanos Explorer, the nation’s first ship solely dedicated to ocean exploration. Through workshops on why we explore and how we explore, participants join NOAA as we begin a new era in ocean exploration and education.
Education Alliances
NOAA's Ocean Exploration Program has developed alliances with aquariums and science centers across the country. Via a group of trained Ocean Exploration program facilitators, these locations provide two onsite professional development offeringsto teachers each year.
Resources
This Resources section provides you with a link to video interviews, profiles, and mission logs from several individuals who have built their careers in different disciplines of ocean science; a downloadable version of the entire Ocean Explorer field seasons from 2001-2008;; an ocean challenge puzzle and othe great tools to enhance classroom instruction in ocean science and exploration.
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OceanAGE Careers
Interact with some of the talented explorers who study the ocean world. From underwater pilots to research scientists, these marine mentors will provide students with first-hand knowledge of exciting careers through their video interviews, profiles, and mission logs. Join us for interactive video webcasts, and text-based forums with several ocean explorers.
NOAA Ocean Explorer Field Season CD
Download the 2005 or 2008 Field Season CD, which contain information posted on the Ocean Explorer Web site during each field season, including essays, daily logs, photos, videos, educational resources and lesson plans. Look for new filed season CDs coming in the future.
Creatures and Features (Flash Version)
With My Submarine Ocean Explorer you will explore exciting creatures and features found in the ocean through videos, text and photos collected on NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (NOAA OER) expeditions. View maps and charts showing the locations of the creatures and features and hear the scientists talk about their exciting work! We also have an html version of My Submarine Explorer!
The Smithsonian Ocean Portal
The "OP" portal, created in collaboration with organizations including NOAA, contains dynamic, multi-media content designed to engage young adults, ocean enthusiasts, and middle school teachers and their students in ocean science, education, and conservation.
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