Bringing Ocean Science into the Classroom

March 7, 2016

Here’s a word from Mission Blue’s fabulous new partners, Ocean First Education!

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Ocean First Education and Mission Blue share a passion for educating the public about the criticality of the ocean and a vision for developing greater respect for it. Because of this shared passion and vision, Ocean First Education has joined Mission Blue as an affiliate partner.

We are all connected to the ocean, no matter where we live. Ocean First Education teaches that connection through our online marine science education courses. Our innovative, interactive curricula bring the ocean to life for middle school to adult learners, regardless of where they live, and teach students how the ocean impacts the entire planet.

According to National Geographic, the ocean generates 70 percent of the oxygen in the air and absorbs much of the carbon dioxide. The ocean is responsible for the climate, the weather and the chemistry of Earth, and provides homes for most of the planet’s creatures.

Through our courses, Ocean First Education creates awareness about the criticality of the ocean by diving into core concepts, like interdependence of organisms in the sea, the variety of ocean ecosystems, and the incredible biodiversity of organisms that live there, to instill an awareness and understanding that leads to action in caring for our ocean. Among our many courses, Ocean First Education offers a foundational Marine Ecology class, a course the reveals the truth about sharks, and fish and coral identification education. Immersing fully into the ocean, we also offer an in-depth Marine Science 101 comprehensive course with six units, including biodiversity through human impact and discoveries.

Our team of educators, scientists and researchers are passionate about ocean education and are committed to increasing awareness about marine environments by engaging students through interactive learning. We utilize the latest technology, including high definition, narrated videos and online assessments. In fact, we are one of the first educational organizations developing a library of 360° videos, allowing for full immersion through video.

Through in-depth, multi-disciplinary instruction, we take our students to the intersection of fascination and education, creating a deep connection with the ocean’s vital marine ecology. We integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and our courses are fully aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which require that K-12 science education reflect the interconnected nature of science as it is practiced and experienced in the real world.

We incorporate the real world into our courses by leveraging our latest research and experiences, and those of our partners, into our courses, and share stories of our expeditions through narrative, video, images, and accurate, current content. We actively conduct marine research around the world, and are currently developing a research program to measure sharks and manta rays to capture data on length and growth rates of individual sharks, and populations. One of the most important yet often overlooked aspects in understanding the health of fish and shark populations is length. We believe the more we learn, the better our ocean policies and practices will become.

Ocean First Education wants to change the world one student at a time. By bringing the ocean to life through high quality, engaging marine science education, we will create lifelong students and stewards of the ocean. You can learn more about Ocean First Education at www.oceanfirsteducation.com.