Methacton Teacher Ships Off in NOAA Research Project

Information courtesy of Methacton School District

Patty McGinnis, a gifted support specialist at Arcola Intermediate School in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, set sail Wednesday, May 22 to assist scientists on an eight-day survey monitoring juvenile rockfish populations and other ecosystem components off the coast of California. McGinnis will participate in this cruise as part of NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program, which bridges science and education through real-world research experiences.

“Through my experience with NOAA, my students will not only be able to learn first-hand about exciting research projects at sea, they will be witnesses to them, and on some level, participants in them,” says McGinnis. “Making their learning relevant through my own hands-on experiences is vital to getting students excited about science.”

McGinnis boarded the Research Vessel (R/V) Ocean Starr on May 22 in Sausalito, California, and she will assist scientists daily as they conduct an on-going study of juvenile rockfishes, many of which support important West Coast commercial and recreational fisheries. The survey will also collect data on other fishes, plankton, seabirds, marine mammals, and physical ocean conditions along the California coast.

McGinnis is writing a blog about her experience, accessible at: http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/2013/mcginnis.html.

"NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program gives teachers the professional opportunity of a lifetime with a chance to participate in cutting edge science, on the ocean, working side-by-side with world-renowned scientists,” says Jennifer Hammond, the program’s director. “Teachers describe this authentic research experience as transformative and one that allows them to bring new knowledge and excitement back to their classrooms.”

Now in its 23rd year, the program has provided over 650 teachers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience participating in science at sea. This year, NOAA received applications from more than 250 teachers, and chose 25 to participate in research cruises.

The educators chosen are able to enrich their curricula with the depth of understanding they gain by living and working side-by-side with scientists studying the marine environment.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook and Twitter.