| Lake Huron Exploration Workshop participants |
An Ocean of Information For most educators, time is a precious commodity. Limited hours necessitate a combination of hard work and creativity to meet curriculum goals and keep students engaged. In August, during a weeklong COSEE Great Lakes workshop held on Michigan’s Lake Huron coast, a group of educators from around the region experienced the flip side of the coin. They had seven days to learn, practice, and absorb a multitude of science-related topics focusing on Lake Huron and the Great Lakes. The agenda was packed. Educators heard from more than 20 researchers and other experts on subjects ranging from fisheries and coastal wetland processes to Native American culture and underwater archeology. Supplementing the morning scientific presentations were afternoon field trips and hands-on activities, both on land and on the water. Participants took part in a variety of learning activities available to everyone in Michigan’s northeast region—from fossil hunting on the coast to snorkeling at the wreck site of the Monohansett. As evident in the cover story of this issue of upwellings, each educator takes something different from the experience. For some, the critical nature of Great Lakes coastal wetlands made a lasting impression. For others, fisheries data opened a window onto the changing dynamics of the Lake Huron food web. Alternately, the information may find its way into a classroom activity, become part of a new curriculum, or inspire a field trip to a local aquatic habitat. The challenge lies ahead, as educators share what they’ve learned with colleagues back home and explore ways to convey the excitement of Great Lakes literacy to their students. Other articles in this issue highlight Summer Discovery Cruises, and Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp—two educational initiatives supported in part by Michigan Sea Grant. In the months to come, watch for new curriculum content on Michigan Sea Grant’s popular website, Fisheries Learning On the Web (FLOW), information about a new university course on Communicating Ocean Science, and annual highlights from the Great Lakes Education Program. Steve Stewart |