Ocean Education
Are we teaching the right things?
Deidre
Sullivan
OSTO Workshop
November 11, 2008
1
Are we teaching the right things?
1.
Are our students employable?
2.
Do faculty know what they should be teaching?
3.
Can our students transfer easily among institutions?
4.
Do the students know what they know and know
what they don’t?
5.
Can credit/acknowledgement be given for prior work
experience?
6.
Does the system allow for multiple entry and exit
points?
2
No matter how great of a
teacher we are…
We need to work together
to accomplish these goals!
3
The Opportunity…

National Security/Defense
 Transportation and Commerce
 Energy and exploration activities
 Telecommunications
 Recreation and Tourism
 Fisheries and Aquaculture
 Search & Recovery Operations
 Nautical/underwater archeology
 Government Assessment and Regulation
 Scientific/Medical Research
 Education and the Arts
4
The Challenge…

The percentage of students enrolling in science and
technology programs is decreasing.

Most education programs are not keeping up with
changes in research & industry

Student preparation in the use of advanced
technology is especially lacking

Most students don’t receive adequate career
guidance (CORE 1998)

Students and educators are unaware of many ocean
occupations because many are not classified by the
Department of Labor
5
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy as Appendix 4. 2004.
U.S. Ocean-Related Academic Infrastructure
7
10
Number of Ocean Related Programs
in higher education (OceanCareers.com)
Educational Category
# of Programs
Engineering
142
Food Production
22
Management/Policy/Law
66
Recreation
7
Science
719
Technology
64
Transportation
75/59
Total
1081
11
Improved Education
STEM
Education
Competitive
Workforce
Partnerships
Knowledge, Resource$, Awareness, Access
16
Break out group questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
What do educators need to know about the
workforce, and how should this information be
communicated?
What are the best practices for aligning
educational experiences with workforce
needs?
How can we attract people to occupations
where there is an undersupply?
How can we recruit and retain more people
from under-presented groups?
17