Scientist-Educator Partnerships to Enhance Rural Ocean Literacy Annette deCharon & Medea Steinman University of Maine Amy Holt Cline University of New Hampshire COSEE – Ocean Systems (OS)

Overview Since 2005, COSEE-Ocean Systems has been creating & testing models of collaboration Goals include: – Reaching rural & inland audiences – Engaging ocean researchers – Creating transferable activities for maximum impact

Rural & Inland Audiences Through its workshops, COSEE-OS has made strides reaching rural & inland audiences: – 48% of 125 educators from 25 states were rural

Goal – Increase the capacity of scientists to efficiently translate their research into compelling and relevant content for various audiences Methodology – Help deconstruct knowledge into concepts to create “concept maps” – Thus far, trained 30+ scientists to concept map, – Recently, 66% said they use COSEE-OS tools Engaging Researchers

Evolution of one scientist’s concept maps – Original:

Digital version of original map: Engaging Researchers

Consensus map created with educators: Engaging Researchers

Who created this “consensus map”? – Dr. Fei Chai & three educators from rural areas: Engaging Researchers

Educators felt concept mapping helped them: – Think through topics learned at workshop – Share ideas / communicate with scientists

Transferrable Activities The first activity you will do today is based on our recent publication: – Goal is to use physical sciences inquiry to connect with ocean topics

Transferrable Activities Let’s do the density activity!

Transferrable Activities Important to tie “hands on” activities to other background resources: Another great resource - NASA Aquarius

Transferrable Activities Important to tie “hands on” activities to other background resources:

Thank you! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us: – Annette deCharon – Medea Steinman – Amy Holt Cline Please check out our website: –