Online Courses from AMNH

The American Museum of Natural History is offering all eleven of its available Seminars on Science courses over two summer sessions.  The courses are fully online and all of them are available for graduate credit.  Courses run June – July OR July – August (whichever works best for you), and you can sign up now at learn.amnh.org Courses include: The Solar System; Water: Environmental Science; Evolution; Earth: Inside and Out; The Ocean System; Genetics, Genomics, Genethics; In the Field with Spiders, The Link Between Dinosaurs and Birds, Sharks and Rays, The Diversity of Fishes and Space, Time and Motion. Since the courses are fully web-based, there is no need to come to the museum at any time, and all courses are led by both an experienced classroom teacher and a research scientist.

Online Course: Teaching About the Marine Environment, Grades 5-12

The Department of Environmental Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington will be offering an online course this fall: EVS 592 Teaching about the Marine Environment.  This course, developed and taught by Dr. Rosanne Fortner, former President of the National Marine Educators Association and Director of COSEE Great Lakes, offers classroom-based methods for ocean education. Explore online sources and exemplary print materials for grades 5-12, many adaptable for informal learning. Match the lessons to your [prospective] curriculum and adapt to your setting with expert assistance. The course is completely online and asynchronous.  Since this course carries 3 hours of graduate credit, you must first apply to UNCW as a non-degree graduate before registering for the course (click here). Information on course tuition and fees can be found here.  Applications must be received by July 1, but the earlier, the better because seating is very limited.

Exploring the Deep Ocean Online

A consortium of academic and cultural institutions, Fathom creates and share high-quality online learning experiences, from in-depth free seminars to shorter features, interviews, and articles.  Their Exploring the Deep Ocean section includes materials from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the UK Natural History Museum, and Seminars in Marine Science and Oceanology include free multi-session courses on shark natural history and underwater bioacoustics.

Online Course – Nonprofit/Government Performance Management

UMass Boston’s Collins Center for Public Management and McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies offer a six-session, online course beginning March 1, 2010.  Students will develop skills to refine the way goals and strategies are articulated so that they can be effectively measured, and to select practical performance measures.  Visit online for more information about the course and registration process.

Free Online Weather Course for K-12 Teachers

The American Meteorological Society is again offering a free online weather course, “DataStreme Atmosphere,” beginning in January 2010.  The course offers teachers free educational materials and access to the semester course.
Visit here for complete information about how to apply, what materials are supplied, what the program expects from participants, how to contact your state’s LIT Leader.
Participants must be teaching professionals at the precollege level who live in an area served by a Local Implementation Team (LIT).
locate an LIT Leader

Online Grad Course – Teaching the Marine Environment

The Department of Environmental Studies and Watson School of Education at UNC Wilmington are offering a new course for spring semester 2010: Teaching about the Marine Environment, 3 graduate credits, completely asynchronous. Join former NMEA President Rosanne Fortner to explore the range of instructional resources for in-class, no-ocean-required teaching and learning based on the Ocean Literacy principles and concepts. Course begins January 6 and ends May 1. Regular tuition and out-of-state fees apply. For more information and link to the syllabus, visit online

Online Learning from American Museum of Natural History

For those of you looking for a professional development or graduate course this year, registration is open for 2009 – 2010 sessions of Seminars on Science from the American Museum of Natural History. Seminars on Science is in full swing for the upcoming academic year with eleven courses on the roster.  Courses include The Ocean System and Water: Environmental Science. Everything you might want to know about the program (including free resources, syllabi and info on how to sign up for graduate credit) can be found on the  website
Registration for Fall session 2 closes October 5th.  Sign up by September 21st for a $50 discount!
If you have any questions email seminfo@amnh.org or call: 800-649-6715

NOAA Online Workshop for Educators

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Ocean Exploration and Research Program (OER)

Online Professional Development Workshop for Educators of All Grade Levels

Why Do We Explore?
October 5 – 16, 2009
in partnership with the College of Exploration

Join NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research for the second workshop in a series of educator professional development opportunities focused around NOAA’s new ship and America’s Ship for Ocean Exploration, the /Okeanos Explorer/. This workshop will introduce the new /Okeanos Explorer/ Education Materials Collection built around the themes: Why Do We Explore?, How Do We Explore? and What Do We Expect to Find? Scientific presenters and education facilitators will work with participants to delve into the benefits of ocean exploration targeting climate change, energy, human health and ocean health. Interact with ocean explorers, converse and share classroom applications with other educators, and find a wealth of multimedia resources. We will introduce the first in a series of Leader’s Guides for Classroom Explorers entitled Why Do We Explore?, with its companion Initial Inquiry Lesson, To Boldly Go…, as well as additional lesson plans and other resources.

Speakers include:
• Dr. Charles Fisher: Professor of Biology, Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University
• Dr. Shirley A. Pomponi: Executive Director, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University
• Dr. Edith Widder: Senior Scientist, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University; Cofounder, Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA)

The workshop is free for all participants and will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Educators will have the option to receive graduate credit (fee for the credit) or obtain a certificate of completion.

To register go to:
http://www.coexploration.org/oe/

_______________________________________
Susan E. Haynes
Education Program Manager
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
susan.haynes@noaa.gov
(401) 289-2810

EETAP Fall Courses – Online

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) offer the following online  courses this fall:

Fundamentals of Environmental Education, September 8-November 25, 2009

Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Audiences, September 8-November 13, 2009.

Applied Environmental Education Program Evaluation, September 7-December 4, 2009

Leadership Development in Natural Resources: Strategic Planning and Implementation, September 22–November 21, 2009

Check the website for availability and registration deadlines.

Environmental Education Online Course

The University of North Carolina Wilmington will offer a fundamentals of environmental education online course this fall, beginning August 19, 2009. EVS 592-800 Fundamentals of Environmental Education is appropriate for both classroom teachers and for non-formal educators who work with students and/or teachers. This is a three credit-hour graduate course. The “Fundamentals of Environmental Education” online course was developed by the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) in collaboration with national EE experts.  It provides educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to incorporate quality environmental education into their instruction. Participants discuss the history, definition, and goals of environmental education; develop an understanding of the professional roles and instructional methods of environmental educators; and interact with other educators from across the state. No on-campus meetings are required. The course will be taught by Dr. Rosanne Fortner.  Contact her at fortner.2@osu.edu or the Environmental Studies Department at evs@uncw.edu or 910-962-7675.