Eleven teachers from Rhode Island and Connecticut are participating in a yearlong professional development in marine technology and ocean science being offered through the University of Rhode Island’s Inner Space Center (ISC) and University of Connecticut Avery Point. This innovative initiative, the Marine Technology for Teachers and Students (MaTTS) Project, is funded by a $1.2 million National Science Foundation award. MaTTS, focuses on providing opportunities for teachers and students to experience new technologies related to exploring the global ocean and discover pathways to marine careers using these new tools. During their MaTTS year, teachers receive in-depth content and technology instruction tied to Next Generation Science Standards, learn to incorporate marine technology-related, hands-on activities into the classroom, gain awareness of marine technologies and where they are used in regional ecosystems, and develop techniques for transferring their new knowledge to students and peers.
The teacher leaders will participate in a series of intensive professional development sessions led by ocean scientists during the spring, building marine technology such as hydrophones, remotely operated vehicles (ROVS), observational buoys, and sensor-based instruments. In July, each teacher leader and two of their high school students will attend a week-long summer institute at the University of Rhode Island where the teams will deploy their newly built instruments in the field; take part in ISC supported sea-going expeditions; participate in career building activities; and become fully oriented to the ISC’s upcoming expeditions. During the school year, the newly trained student leaders will host live interactions between ISC scientists and local middle school classrooms. The teams will also participate throughout in ISC facilitated webinars, regional science cafes, and online journal blogging.
The 2015 Teacher Leaders are:
Karen Barbosa, Woonsocket High School, Woonsocket, RI
Valerie Cournoyer, Amity Regional High School, Woodbridge, CT
Brenda Dillmann, South Kingstown High School, South Kingstown, RI
Kenneth Fusco, Plainville High School, Plainville, CT
Erin Hynes, East Providence High School, East Providence, RI
Alison Murray, Central Falls High School, Central Falls, RI
Nicole Najecki, Providence Career and Technical Academy, Providence, RI
Tiffany Risch, Coventry High School, Coventry, RI
Jacob Sosnowski, Smithfield High School, Smithfield, RI
Anthony Wasley, Hall High School, West Hartford, CT
Samuel Warner, Manchester High School, Manchester, CT
The Inner Space Center (ISC) at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography uses cutting edge technology, including telepresence, for ocean research, exploration, and education. The ISC generates accessible portals for ocean research, expand the capacity for scientists to engage in real-time mission operations, while inspiring the next generation of ocean explorers. The ISC brings the excitement of ocean discoveries to onshore audiences world-wide. For more information, please visit www.mattsproject.org.
Contact: Andrea Gingras, (401) 874-6524