Program spotlight: Marine Ecology for Teachers
by Vicki Heisser |
PWSC organized its annual Marine Ecology for Teachers course in May, led by Dr. Amanda
Glazier and assisted by Teshina Dorsey. The course included kayaking, touring Solomon
Gulch Hatchery, learning about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and exploring marine ecology
field techniques along the shores of Valdez, Alaska.
Valdez is a great place to study marine ecology due to its beautiful scenery and diverse
wildlife. The different types of shorelines in Valdez, ranging from rocky intertidal zones to sheltered bays, offer an excellent opportunity for understanding
marine ecosystems.
Here are the main field techniques that the participants learned and practiced:
1. Intertidal Zone Surveys: Conduct transect surveys and quadrat sampling to gather
essential data on species diversity and population densities.
2. Species identification: Determining which marine species are in the Valdez area
and which characteristics are important in species identification.
3. Water Quality Testing: This involves assessing the health of the marine environment
by measuring temperature, salinity, pH, and nutrient levels.
4. Benthic Sampling: Collecting seabed samples to understand ecological health and
contaminants present.
The class was a collaborative journey, a week of content-rich days filled with unique
classroom and field exercises to deepen teaching pedagogy. Participants gained lesson
plans, resources, and tools and received examples of place-based lesson planning,
further enriching their understanding. Each participant has the opportunity to create
a place-based lesson plan for their classroom, contributing to our collective knowledge.
These valuable resources will be added to an online database, a shared space accessible
to everyone for adaptation and use in their classrooms.
Did you know that Alaska teachers can attend these courses for free during the summers of 2024-2026, thanks to grant funding? Tuition, academic fees, and housing are all covered, and there may be travel and food stipends available. Although classes are full for this summer, you can start planning for the coming years.
For more information about this opportunity, you can contact PWSC - Copper Basin Extension
Site:
Contact: Katie Bobowski
Email: uaa_pwscforteachers@alaska.edu
Call: 907-822-3673 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. AKST)