High-definition video technology allows the aquarium to deliver educational programs to school classrooms both near and far. “During the past school year we presented 62 lessons to classrooms in 17 states,” said aquarium senior educator Bray McDonald. “That’s part of why our distance learning programs are so much fun. It’s rewarding to reach students thousands of miles from Chattanooga.”
Today’s kids may be more tech-savvy than ever before, so reaching them live on a plasma screen from half a continent away doesn’t impress them much. But show them in real-time how a New Caledonian gecko uses special pads to climb glass, and their minds quickly fill with excitement and great questions. “We work very hard to ensure our programs are fun, fact-filled and engaging for the students. And it’s a pleasure to be invited back to places like Hobbs, New Mexico year after year to show kids the aquarium’s amazing animals and teach them about the natural world.”
Aquarium educators have been recognized for distance learning excellence for the past two years by the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC). The annual Pinnacle Awards are the “People’s Choice Award” for educators. Content providers like the aquarium are judged by the classroom teachers who participate in distance learning programs.
Thanks to funding by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the aquarium recently expanded its distance learning menu to include weather and climate programs.
New electronic whiteboard technology and distance learning equipment allows school groups visiting the aquarium to interact with National Weather Service meteorologists. This is the first time that the National Weather Service has offered live, educational outreach programs via the Internet. “We try to be good stewards of our environment, but we cannot do it alone,” said Bill Proenza, director of the National Weather Service Southern Region. “What we can do is work to educate and encourage the public to understand, and play a greater role in preserving the earth’s resources for future generations. That is why NOAA’s Office of Education began to seek out projects designed to increase public awareness, literacy and a greater sense of responsibility for our oceans and climate.”
Each lesson is designed to meet state and national science standards, as well as NOAA’s Ocean Literacy Standards. “Students travel from the mountains to the sea while they are touring the aquarium buildings, discovering our connections to animals and habitats along the way,” said Tim Baker, the aquarium’s education director. “But this new partnership with the National Weather Service helps us bring these connections full circle. Our oceans produce most of the air we breathe and weather we experience.”
NOAA ocean literacy funding also helped the aquarium reach lifelong learners everywhere with a pair of streaming webcams. The Secret Reef webcam gives viewers an opportunity to take a virtual dive in the Aquarium’s largest saltwater exhibit. While viewing sharks and colorful reef fish, online visitors are encouraged to learn more about the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, the protected habitat the exhibit models. High atop the IMAX 3D Theater a second camera looks toward the aquarium, making a view of downtown Chattanooga and real-time weather data available to any computer or mobile device. Technology also allows a live look into the Penguins’ Rock exhibit to view the playful antics of gentoo and macaroni penguins.
Even without Internet connectivity, the aquarium’s educational footprint has always been incredibly large. Outreach programs are routinely delivered to classrooms, libraries and other public venues within 125 miles of downtown Chattanooga.
Road warrior Bill Haley, the aquarium’s education outreach coordinator, logs thousands of miles each year in his quest to inspire youngsters with freshwater and native species. “I present an ‘Undersea Wonders’ program, but a lot of my presentations deal with animal adaptations, endangered species and habitats,” said Haley. His award-winning programs have reached more than 250,000 people in 33 Tennessee counties, 15 counties in Georgia and 10 counties in Alabama.
Bethany Lloyd, the aquarium’s newest outreach educator, delivers fun-filled saltwater programs to classrooms. A recent Ocean Project survey found that most people know very little about the oceans. The survey also found that a majority of people don’t think they could have an impact on oceans. “So if I can bring some animals, props and activities into classrooms that make ocean literacy fun and exciting, then hopefully the students will follow up by continuing the learning process on their own,” Lloyd said.
Even the “bread and butter” of the aquarium’s on-site educational programs has evolved over the years. Educator guides, downloadable quizzes and other online resources help teachers make the most of their visit to the Aquarium, IMAX 3D Theater and River Gorge Explorer. Several classrooms are available on-site to meet additional needs of educators within their field trip time frame. The aquarium’s education staff even offers “Lunch and Learn” programs to maximize a school group’s learning potential. School groups can BYOBB (Bring Your Own Brown Bag) or order in advance lunches prepared at the aquarium.
With so many great options to choose from, teachers are urged to register to receive the Tennessee Aquarium’s “Schooling Zone” monthly e-newsletter. Whether it’s an offer for free gas money for an aquarium field trip, free classroom posters or information about new online tools this is an excellent resource for educators. Simply go to www.tnaqua.org/EDnewsletter.asp to delve into the ocean of opportunities offered by the Tennessee Aquarium’s education department.