NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program

Jennifer Hammond

NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations

Education and Teacher at Sea Program Manager

April 25, 2005http://www.tas.noaa.gov

Past (1990-2001)

• Began in 1990• 400 teachers participated• Averaging 30 teachers per year• Total applicants per year average 90-100• Part time staff in the coordinator position

managed coordinating the teachers time on the ship

• $0 in funding (1990 – 2003)

Past (2001-2003)

• 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

jennifer.hammond@noaa.gov

301-713-3418 2xt. 138

www.tas.noaa.gov