Oregon Coast Education Program

Fall 2011 Workshops

From watersheds to the coast and beyond, teaching students about our connection to the ocean is important!

OCEP Spring Workshop

October 8th, 2011 8am-5pm
Bend—High Desert Museum

October 22nd, 2011 8am-5pm
Portland—Tryon Creek State Park

October 15th, 2011—OSTA
*See special announcement below!
Charleston—South Slough
National Estuarine Research Reserve

Join some of Oregon’s premier marine and watershed education institutions as we share teaching modules designed to provide teachers from coastal and non-coastal areas of the state with tools, curriculum, resources, and techniques for linking the aquatic world from watershed to the coast and ocean.

In these workshops, we will learn about ways to engage students in meaningful watershed education experiences designed to engage classes in stewardship actions through a project-based learning model.  Participants will engage in classroom and outdoor activities through an agenda designed to model the Preparation, Action, and Reflection phases that are integral to best practices in field-based education.

In addition to attending one of the on-site workshops in Bend or Portland, teachers will be expected to participate in a minimum of two on-line webinars providing access to coastal education content.  Qualifying webinars are provided through organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association and the Oregon Coast Education Program.  Teachers participating in the Bend or Portland workshops are encouraged to attend the Charleston Workshop on October 15th which will follow the Oregon Science Teacher Association’s annual conference being held in nearby Coos Bay on October 14th.  This workshop is not mandatory, but will provide field experiences for teachers in local outstanding coastal habitats and cover the registration fee for the annual OSTA conference.  More information can be found in the green box below. 

Benefits for Teachers

The Oregon Coast Education program has developed modules based on existing, proven curriculum for three different grade bands: Upper Elementary (grades 3-5), Middle (grades 6-8), and High School (grades 9-12).  Participating teachers will receive support in the development of a Coastal Education Plan, an outline of proposed activities drawn from the modules and other resources to provide a meaningful watershed education experience for their students. 

Teachers completing the Coastal Education Plan and project evaluation will receive:

  • A $100 stipend & meals for workshop dates;
  • Up to $200 of additional support for field-based studies, e.g., bus transportation, substitute costs, etc.;
  • Inclusion in a professional learning community of fellow educators sharing professional practice and experience;

The option to acquire continuing education credits will be provided through Portland State University or Eastern Oregon University (depending on which workshop participants take part in.)

Registration

Teachers are invited to register for these workshops by contacting one of the following:

Bend Dana Whitelaw: dwhitelaw@highdesertmuseum.org (541) 323-3332
Portland Stephanie Wagner: stwagner@pdx.edu (503) 803-7708

*Attending the Oregon Science Teacher Associations annual conference in
Coos Bay, Oregon, October 14th, 2011?

Then join us the next day on October 15th from 8:30am to 3:30pm for an
Oregon Coast Education Program Workshop at the nearby
South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve!

With the common goal of improving the way we teach science in Oregon, the Oregon Coast Education Program (OCEP) is hosting a field based workshop in nearby Charleston, Oregon the day after the conference.  OCEP will team up with the Watershed Invasive Species Education program to explore best teaching practices in various coastal settings from coastal forests to the shoreline.  By registering for both the OSTA and OCEP workshop, participants will receive reimbursement for the fee to attend the OSTA conference and meals during the OCEP workshop.  Additionally participants will receive access to curriculum as well as the opportunity to explore distance-learning techniques for students.

For more information or to register for the October 15th workshop, please contact Jenna Kulluson at jenna.kulluson@state.or.us | 541-888-5558 ext. 32


Oregon Coast Aquarium | Oregon Institute of Marine Biology | Oregon Sea Grant | South Slough NERR
High Desert Museum | Tryon Creek State Park | Northwest Aquatic & Marine Educators