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eSession Track Suggestions

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 * This page is now closed to suggestions as the Concurrent Sessions committee is now taking all this input to make the best possible set of session tracks for the conference. Thank you to everyone who provided input! We look forward to some amazing session proposals this fall/winter!toc

I find all the tracks below to have merit and I would be interested in going to workshops and presentations in any of them. However, I'm too old for the "Kids" one. 2, 3, and 4 are particularly good. Jack

Some of the items above and below might be considered cross-cutting THREADS instead of full strands. This is something that NAAEE uses very effectively and it allows for a smaller number of strand choices but greater depth of description for individual presentations. For instance, electronic media might fit with Teacher Focused, Informal, Education Research, etc. NGSS might be something you require as part of the Call for Presentations -- how does the topic address NGSS, etc. -- Rosanne Excellent points, Rosanne. - Susan Agreed - conference tracks are different than threads - Diana

Regional programs will have a crab icon to denote them. Can be in any of the tracks. Will try to have a session from each track available in each time slot. May have an entire day that ties into our plenary speaker (NGSS) depending on availability and scheduling >>>Wouldn't like entire days devoted to anything. Variety is better. If the chosen theme isn't meaningful, then I've lost a whole day of sessions.
 * Be sure to save your work and check back as simultaneous edits cancel each other! **

NMEA 2014 Presentation Ideas: 3 days of sessions (22,23,24)

=**1) Teacher focused track **= Is this just about teachers, or about CLASSROOM focus? Rosanne  a. activities and approaches As a recent participant of the Maury Project sponsored by the American Meteorological Society and U.S. Naval Academy, I am willing to present a module in physical oceanography. -Jason  Here in the Great Lakes we have the regional, basin-wide Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative which provides opportunities for teachers to have their students become involved not only in learning about the lakes but also actively engaged in stewardship projects, many of which have helped to show how education, GL literacy, and stewardship can have significant, positive social and economic benefits to coastal communities. GLSI has a strong linkage to place-based education, and some similarities to B-WET (which has only been in GL since FY12). We have an annual regional conference to highlight best practices and I can see real value in having some of those presentations available to the broader community at NMEA (Steve Stewart)

 b. STEM: Rather than call this STEM, I think it should be called, NGSS. The standards include engineering, technology and mathematical reasoning. Nothing wrong with STEM, but I think states and districts will be focused on implementing the standards and NMEA has invested considerable energy into influencing NGSS (Craig Strang). The NGSS standards are more broad based than the previous standards, if you could have workshops that focus of NGSS oceanography standards that comply with STEM, which is easy, that would beneficial to educators who teach Earth sciences or oceanography<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">. -Jason I agree with Craig and Jason. Having a track that blends these natural foci could be helpful ) (Lynn Whitley) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> c. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">professional development opportunities: Consider calling this Professional Learning Opportunities--a little more current and places the emphasis on teachers learning and growing, rather than being Developed (which is better than being trained!) Craig <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I agree with Craig's re-wording. Rosanne <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Agree w/ Craig and Rosannne - Diana <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Agree w/ Craig and Rosanne and Diana and John-boy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ditto (Lynn W) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I would love to have more stuff I can bring right into the classroom!!! - Becky <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">D. This is an area where you can teach lessons that would integrate well our oceanography curriculums. I would like some sort of emphasis on environmental science since there are still many teachers that don't understand that everything about the ocean is also environmental and not just oceanography classroom (climate change, acidification, sustainaability) - since we are always looking at ways to get more people involved in NMEA, this would be an added audience. I also agree that it shouldn't be necessarily called teacher focused because I think of things I can use inn my classroom (activities) and I have been to many presentations where people say what they did in THEIR classroom but I am unable to use - dawn

A discussion of how to increase the effectiveness of field trips and lab based learning. Demonstrations on how pads and smart phones can be used to better engage students. - Mike - Fla I second both ideas - Becky me, too (Lynn W)

=**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2) Informal Education track **= Yes, please. Particularly interested in innovative informal education projects that target exclusively adult audiences (and I DON'T mean classroom teacher professional opportunities or fundraising events). Love this (Laura) This sounds great! (Elaine) I think this is a track that would really be appreciated. I<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">'ve hear criticism/opinion that NMEA focuses on classrooms more than the informal settings. (Colleen) Again, agree w/ Craig. Diana a good track to have and I also agree with Craig-- Lynn W
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">a. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">working with <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">formal teachers/institutions: How about Working with K-12 teachers and school systems? This could focus on informal educators helping school systems to implement NGSS. It would relate to the plenary with Peter McLaren. It could also have sessions about the design of professional learning/development efforts. Craig **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> b. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">tackling BIG science issues (w/o scaring visitors or your director...<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">) - AZA help **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">c. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">leadership and professional development--or this could focus on design of Professional learning. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">d. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">assessment in informal <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">ed -especially of higher learning skills **
 * e.** This is a great opportunity to have a guest speaker like Sylvia Earle talk about the current state of our oceans and what we as ocean educators can do to increase ocean literacy among students to create positive change. I think a powerful guest lecturers like Sylvia Earle or Philippe Couteau would be a delightful experience and motivator for us all. -Jason

YES
 * YES (Laura)**
 * Absolutely!!! A growing need in our membership, and should be a committed track~ Kate**


 * I agree with Craig above (a), i.e., informal educators <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">workng with K-12 teachers and school systems; however, don't limit it to NGSS. Also, could consider adding informal educators work with communities. (Sylvia)**
 * I like the community idea of Sylvia's--Lynn W**

I think there needs to be a discussion in NMEA about the President's STEM Consolidation Proposal and how it will affect informal marine education, as well as K-12 (Erin) Thankfully, this may already be moot. I do hope this is moot! (otherwise, yes it would be of interest)--Lynn W

=**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3) Current and New Scientific Research **= Love this (Laura<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">) *** <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">real hard <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">sciency stuff - yes!!!!! YES! (Elaine) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> a. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">conservation and habitat research <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> b. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">organism research <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">d. Earth Systems research (ocean/climate connection, climate change, ocean acidification?) Craig <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">this would fit nicely with the earlier comment on environmental science emphasis to broaden ways to reach others. Lynn W <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> c. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">new tools for research/exploration I would be interested in including Citizen Science and the reciprocal value for educators and scientists (including school student participation to enhance interest and engagement). I am specifically interested in sharing info on this one! This room should be <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">setup so that researchers can present via Skype. It would be great if they could attend the conference but time and expense prohibits many. >>>>This is a good idea I love the idea of citizen science esp. Things that I can use either with school groups/clubs or a specific class. The speaker at this past NMEA made a huge impression and I am contacting local Audubon to come speak to environmental club - these are things I hadn't thought of. Dawn

I think all these topics are crucial for us to know as marine science educators! -Jason YES

Perhaps 3) and 4) could be rolled into one track? Knowing our NMEA audience, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">current content is very important, and is something we certainly require, but I would say that two tracks focused on content enrichment might be a bit much. This group is looking for methodology, refinement of practice, and for pipelines of information, not necessarily //specific// information. We are looking for projects/programs/best practices that we can mold and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">adapt to fit to our needs. ~Kate >>>>Agree with combining 3 and 4 you can combine #4a (climate change) into #3. But the rest of the changes listed in #4 (b. and c.) wouldn't mix with #3. #3 is focusing on scientific research (if I am reading this correctly)

Teacher-Researcher programs? (STEM Teacher and Researcher at CSU, NOAA's Teacher at Sea, etc.) -Erin Meh...unless the presentation emphasized the scientific research topics rather than the participants' experiences aboard the ship.

=**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4) Changing World **= <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> a. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">climate <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I feel that a lot of funding opportunities are tied in with climate change and a lot of educators have a hard time coming up with new related activities/lessons. (Colleen) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">K-12 Educators need sources of good information on climate change as they develop their own activities. They may find themselves in the position of explaining climate change to students, as well as skeptical parents. (Elissa) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> b. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">science and education policy <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> c. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">tech impacts Yes! All of these are very important for <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">discussion. I would like to see this track name changed to simply climate change. This fits easily into #3 Track as noted by Kate above and combining these two tracks would make our choices simpler.

so it could be a combination with an emphasis on climate change---Lynn W

=**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5) Engaging Kids Programs **= <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> a. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">hand -<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">ons / outdoor <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">programs Many foreign language programs have international exchange programs that are available to them. I <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">having programs that are focused on marine science education like Appleseed Expeditions or Ecotours would be great to have in an exhibit hall. Also, marine science centers on the east coast like Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium or Fox Island Marine Science Center would be valuable to have in an exhibit hall or those alike. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> b. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">free play/unstructured education--pros/cons, how to utilize, etc. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> c. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">art and culture Don't you think this can be included in either the Informal or Teacher-focused strands? --Rosanne I agree with Roseanne---Lynn W Meh Meh too regarding this strand idea. "b" and "c" fit in other strands as Rosanne noted. I agree with with comments in "a" above regarding placing this type of information in the exhibit hall. IMO, presenters who merely describe their program activities and show us pretty photos do not make good use of our limited and valuable concurrent session slots. Exhibit hall is the place for basic descriptive information about programs, especially for those whose goal is to "share information" (read: recruit participants for fee-based programs). Nothing wrong in marketing at NMEA, but that's what exhibit booths are for. ($) =**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6) Funding and Development **= <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> a. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">working as or with a nonprofit <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> b. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">grant writing, searching for grants <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> c. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">exhibit development/starting up new programs <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> d. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">volunteer and staff management I would appreciate this<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">! -Erin This is very applicable to what I do. (Colleen) Might be too niche I think there are a number of NMEA folks who would benefit from this session track.Many of us in informal education also have responsibility for fund raising, volunteers and staff, etc. Funding is always an issue and of interest for everyone---just want to be sure we are not getting too may tracks! Perhaps this could be addressed in specific other areas (formal, informal, research, etc.)? -- Lynn W

=**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7) Next Generation Science Standards: **= <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">this is tricky. I think it's a great idea to have a dedicated strand. I like the idea of exploring each of the 3 dimensions of the Standards (DCIs, Cross Cutting Concepts, Practices) but it would also be great to look at how they can be woven together as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">descriI bed in the Performance Expectations. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">it would be great to have sessions that demonstrated examples of how the practices can be used to actually help students make meaning about the DCIs and/or the Cross Cutting Concepts. Craig

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> a. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">cross-cutting concepts <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> b. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">science and engineering practice How about a translation session so those of us who are not thrilled with the way standards documents are constructed can make sense of the education speak and the structure of the NGSS document and website. DCI, CCC, PE, blah blah blah! :) I agree with Craig, and the above comment seems to support the need to help all of us become more familiar with these areas. These 3 dimensions of the standards may be a very important vehicle to facilitate addressing ocean and aquatic sciences. Lynn W

= 8) Education Research and Evaluation = Glad to see this consistently offered at NMEA - hope it continues! Diana Thanks for including this! Here's hoping we can include many examples of new and useful research, and the importance of publication of innovative ideas! - Rosanne YES This is great, and a growing need (uh, requirement, dictate... ; ) Kate I'm always looking for easier and more effective ways to evaluate <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">programming . (Colleen) Please include this! At this year's conference, the strand was very successful. - Meg If not as a strand...how about a thread through other strands? Please keep it as a strand. There are honestly not that many of us who have the knowledge, time and funding to conduct valid education research as part of our projects, so we need a "home" for presenters who will focus on research methods and the evaluation process.  I agree---keep it as a strand, I have found it very useful for some and agree with the comment immediately above---Lynn W

= 9) <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Ocean art, literature, maritime history, poetry, music, dance and culture =

a) <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">art and science - natural history illustration, using art to teach science (Great, love this idea!) b) <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">literature and poetry of the sea - ways of knowing the world of water thru haiku, poets (Pablo Neruda, others) c) <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the power of the visual - video, film, photography (link <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">with International League of Conservation Photographers) d) <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">maritime history - song, art, literature e) <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">science writing and illustration programs (<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">love this idea too!)  f) <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">marinating the curriculum - examples of multi-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">discplinary ocean literacy (science, literature, art, music, dance) I'd like to see this as first on the list [9a] to demonstrate the connections. In fact, a and b might be subheadings under marinating. The others on the list are a bit different, self-focused on content or process. - Rosanne

Yes!! Integrating art and science is key!! Kate This is great! It'll be fun talking about our STEAM ideas! (Elaine) Isabelle Hardesty- Tami has contact info- wants to help incorporate this into the conference too Yes! This would be great. (Sylvia) Important. A must-have. The Chesapeake Bay Region has such a interesting heritage, ex. skipjacks, that I agree this is a "must have" idea. (Elissa) Fisheries heritage would be an ideal topic for Chesapeake, as Elissa noted. Boat building and historic Chesapeake boat designs, maybe? Lots of potential for engineering, history, culture, connections.

I like this strand idea, it also will help teachers connect to common core standards and of course highlight all the multi disciplinary connections of ocean aquatic science to truly "marinate" __- just again noting-- lots of strands though!---Lynn W.

= 10) Traditional Knowledge: = The TK Committee would work with the Conference Committee to identify TK practitioners and educators in the local area, and perhaps from the regions of some previous conferences.

Thank you for adding this. The TK Committee would like to work with the conference committee to ensure that the host nation culture and knowledge as it relates to the marine and aquatic environment are weaved into the conference. (Sylvia) I like this tooLynn W =** 11) Social media and SciEd (<-- possible idea?) **= a) Using social media to share science education b) Integrating social media in the classroom (are your students following a scientist or an expedition?) c) How to use social media appropriately for your target audience (All about the message box!) d) What social media platform works well for my science? QR codes. These can be used in classroom and informally. Dawn This sounds like a great track. It brings to mind "I f***ing love science" that keeps appearing on Facebook pages, also issues we've had trying to get YouTube videos into <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">classroom . (Sylvia)

Social media mascots? Erin

I would attend more sessions on making social media an effective educational tool. I'd also like to know how to expand my audience. (Colleen)

This might work better as a thread. I think social media is of strong interest, but perhaps the thread idea mentioned above would work? --Lynn W