NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program Jennifer Hammond NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations Education and Teacher at Sea Program Manager April 25,

Past ( ) Began in teachers participated Averaging 30 teachers per year Total applicants per year average Part time staff in the coordinator position managed coordinating the teachers time on the ship $0 in funding (1990 – 2003)

Past ( ) Established Partnership within NOAA and NSF –Advertise a “Call for Applications” for specific research projects –Sponsor teachers and increase requirements Created more visibility –enhanced Web presence –integrated “live” Web broadcasts –coordinated events with Capitol Hill

Teacher at Sea Participants 266 Females 134 Males 106 Elementary, 114 Middle, 146 High School, 21 College, 1 Principal, 12 All Levels Majority are Science teachers (over half; includes Mathematics) Other subject areas include: English, History, Art, Library Sciences, Foreign Languages, Technology, Outdoor Education, Counseling…

Teacher at Sea Alumni Data as of FY 2003

Present and Future Working with Partners – Offices within NOAA, NSF, NASA, Universities and Colleges, Museum, Aquaria, and Scientists Managing “Teacher at Sea” Alumni Association (FY03) –Advertise other NOAA opportunities (FY03) –quarterly newsletter (FY05) –TAS Ambassador Network (FY05) Creating more opportunities for students/school involvement with live broadcasts Expanding program –“Teacher in the Air” (FY04) –“Teacher in the Field” (FY05) –Increase in Staff (FY05) TAS Program Manager, Jennifer Hammond TAS Program Support, Sharron Huff Creating 5 year Strategic Plan (FY05) Pay for travel and some stipends –about $2,000 per teacher for travel

Lessons Learned Make the transition from “Operation” to “Program” Foster relationships with alumni Establish partnerships Create appropriate performance measures Support creativity Identify outside evaluators Teachers are learners too

I have truly enjoyed my time aboard the HI'IALAKAI and I have learned so much about ships, coral ecosystems, the Hawaiian islands, scientific data collecting, and those people on board this cruise. I'm taking back to my classroom a wealth of resources like maps, charts, a binder of lessons, and many photographs and digital movies to weave into science lessons. But more importantly than those things, I will be bringing back to the classroom real-life enthusiasm for the application of science in the real world. I have experienced first hand, biological ecosystems, weather instruments and measurements, and map making, in a real life context. I want my students to know that life is not a collection of things, but a collection of experiences. I hope this trip (the resources and anecdotal stories I bring back to the classroom) encourages them to explore opportunities as they arise in their own lives. As a teacher, my underlying goal is to teach my students that learning should be a life long adventure! Melissa Fye – April 22, 2005

For More Information NOAA Teacher at Sea Program Manager Jennifer Hammond xt