HR: 17:15h
AN: ED24A-06    [Abstracts]
TI: A Strategy to Learn How to Build Scientific-Education and Outreach Partnerships in the Ocean Sciences: COSEE Ocean Learning Communities.
AU: Keil, R G
EM: rickkeil@u.washington.edu
AF: University of Washington, School of Oceanography Box 355351, Seattle, WA 98195-5351 United States
AU: Bell, P L
EM: pbell@u.washington.edu
AF: University of Washington, College of Education Box 353600, Seattle, WA 98195-3600 United States
AU: Bittner, M S
EM: MBittner@csum.edu
AF: The California Maritime Academy, 200 Maritime Academy Drive, Vallejo, CA 94590-8181 United States
AU: * Robigou, V
EM: vero@ocean.washington.edu
AF: University of Washington, School of Oceanography Box 357940, Seattle, WA 98195-7940
AU: Sider, K
EM: kathy.sider@seattle.gov
AF: Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101-2015 United States
AB: The College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences and the College of Education at the University of Washington, the Seattle Aquarium, and the California Maritime Academy formed a partnership to establish a Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) labeled "Ocean Learning Communities." The COSEE-OLC will join the national network of NSF-funded centers that provide a catalytic environment in which partnerships between ocean researchers and educators flourish. The COSEE network contributes to the national advancement of ocean science education by sharing high-quality K-12 or informal education programs, best practices and methodologies, and offering exemplary courses through the network and at national professional meetings. Building on the successes and lessons of the existing COSEE centers, the COSEE-OLC will foster collaborations among the oceanography research community, the science of learning community, informal and formal educators, the general public, and the maritime industry in the Northwest region and the West coast. The concept for this partnership is based on reaching out to traditionally underserved populations (from the businesses that use the sea or for which economic success depends on the oceans to the united native tribes), listening to their concerns and needs and how these can be addressed within the context of ocean-based research. The challenges of integrating education and outreach with scientific research programs are addressed by the center's main catalytic activity to create Ocean Learning Communities. These communities will be gatherings of traditionally disparate stakeholders including scientists, educators, representatives of businesses with a connection to the oceans, and citizens who derive economic or recreational sustenance from the oceans. The center's principal goal is to, through time and structured learning activities, support various communities 1) to develop a common language and 2) to make a commitment to creating collaborations that will improve ocean research and public awareness at the regional scale. Researchers in the science of learning will evaluate and study the successes and challenges of these regional approaches to better understand the development and sustainability of productive partnerships and to develop learning models to share and apply at the national level.
UR: http://www.cosee.net/
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
DE: 0855 Diversity
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005