Awareness Inspires Conservation: From Data to Action
A 4-Day Summer Professional Development Institute for Grades 3-8 Educators
Educators took to Cape Cod this summer to participate in a 4-day professional learning Institute “Awareness Inspires Conservation: From Data to Action”.
Teachers started out at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham, Massachusetts by exploring and better understanding the local history of Cape Cod and the National Seashore. Led by local experts and partner organizations, The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy & The Center for Coastal Studies, teachers walked to Coast Guard Beach and back, hearing the complex natural history of the Cape, including conservation protections in place and maritime history. Also on day one of the program, teachers built a timeline of significant events in the rebounding populations of seals and sharks.
On day two, educators took a trip to Chatham, Massachusetts to visit the Atlantic White Shark Museum. The group learned all about tagging techniques for sharks and how engineering and design is used in the tracking world. Participants even got to participate in their own engineering simulation of designing a waterproof tracker!
Woven throughout the Institute were pedagogical lessons on supporting the teachers use this material in their classroom. Topics included but were not limited to: phenomena-based learning and the anchoring phenomenon routine, the Science and Engineering Practices, and student sensemaking.
Day three included a few unique opportunities back in Chatham. Participants participated in a Spiny Dogfish dissection at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and were able to join a Discovery Cruise in the harbor, led by one of the summer interns for the AWSC. Discussion of conservation efforts continued into the afternoon, when Shorebird Scientist Liana (of Manomet Conservation Sciences) spoke about her team’s current projects on the Cape, including research of Horseshoe Crab eggs.
The fourth and final day of the course focused on science and storytelling with Jesse from the Center for Coastal Studies. Jesse told the story of Spinnaker, the center’s unique, entangled whale skeleton. Jesse also included teachers in a beach clean up and engaging conversation about their marine plastic program, including the tracking of marine debris data.
Teachers left with classroom-ready strategies for helping students communicate new understandings while grappling with human impacts on the natural world.
Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
Center for Coastal Studies