“WOW!” Evaluation of NOAA’s Ocean Explorer Expeditions Receives Thumbs Up From Teachers and Students
Teacher professional development is a critical element in any effort to improve education, but not all professional development approaches and programs result in transformed practice and student gains. More than ever, sponsors of teacher professional development activities must prove the connection between teacher participation in their programs and related student outcomes.
Hezel Associates conducted an external evaluation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Ocean Explorer Expedition program for teachers, with the goal of documenting learning outcomes.
Through the Ocean Explorer Expeditions, teachers and students have access to real data collected by NOAA’s marine scientists. To help teachers incorporate ocean science materials and technology into their classroom, NOAA provides educators with curriculum and lessons plans and on-site professional development opportunities. The Ocean Explorer web site offers teachers and students the opportunity to explore the ocean in near real-time, learn about the technologies used by scientists aboard the vessels, observe remote marine flora and fauna in a colorful multimedia gallery, and consult additional NOAA resources.
Hezel Associates evaluation demonstrated that educators responded positively to their professional development experience and to the NOAA materials. “WOW!” is how one teacher described the attitudinal changes in her classroom after she participated in the Deep East Education Program. Educators taking part in the evaluation reported their students’ interest and motivation toward ocean exploration increased as a result of the NOAA education program. In addition, teachers reported that their students had the opportunity to engage in ocean research or complete activities which often involved journals, worksheets, and logs. Teachers maintained that by actively applying NOAA’s authentic scientific resources, their students developed increased enthusiasm for marine science.