Marine Education Center
Teacher Professional Development
Sturgeon in the Watershed – Teaching Opportunity
The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a Meaningful Watershed Educational
Experience in the Mississippi Sound watersheds. The Project uses previously developed
classroom and field elements of map use and water sampling to teach students basic
watershed concepts. New content introduces habitat use of the Pearl and Pascagoula
Rivers by the endangered Gulf Sturgeon as a way of discussing natural and human changes
occurring in watersheds where participating students live and learn. Curriculum
The Marine Education Center offers professional and volunteer training programs for adults, including K-12 classroom teachers. These programs cover an assortment of marine and coastal processes and issues, and are sponsored through a variety of sources. The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) supports our teacher development program, either through full sponsorship or partnership.
For additional information or questions contact MEC at 228-818-8095 or marine.educationFREEMississippi.
Each workshop requires submission of a separate registration form. Space is limited so register early! For additional information or questions about upcoming programs contact MEC at 228-818-8095 or marine.educationFREEMississippi.
CEUs are available for teachers through the University of Southern Mississippi Office
of Professional Development and Educational Outreach (PDEO). The number of CEUs awarded
in each program will be posted here upon approval of our request of PDEO to offer
them. Because we update our offerings every time they are offered and they must be
approved each time, the number of CEUs available for a workshop is not known until
about one month before it is held. We submit paperwork to the PDEO about one week
following the end of each workshop, and later than two weeks.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs): You may receive CEUs for participating in this program. The CEUs are paid for by a grant.
You must complete registration paperwork at each session and take a preand post test
to receive CEUs.
Overnight Lodging: Participants who are traveling for the program may reserve a room in the dormitory
if space is available. We can also recommend several local hotels. Please call for
information.
Parking and Finding Your Classroom On-Campus: Most programs will be held in one of the classrooms on campus. Park near the dormitory
or the boat dock. The classrooms and parking lots are highlighted in yellow boxes
on the map below.
Directions to GCRL:
If you are traveling east on I-10, take the Ocean Springs Exit #50 and follow Highway 609 (Washington Avenue)
about 3 miles to U.S. 90. Turn left on U.S. 90; right on Bechtel Boulevard (4th traffic
light); cross the railroad tracks; left on Government Street (a 4-way stop); right
on Halstead Road (a 3-way stop); go south to the beach; the GCRL entrance is on the
left.
If you are traveling west on I-10, take the Ocean Springs Exit #57; turn left (south) and follow Hwy. 57 to
U.S. 90. Turn right on U.S. 90. Go about 4.5 miles (6th traffic light) to Hanley Road.
Turn left on Hanley; cross railroad tracks; right on Government (a 4-way stop); left
on Halstead (a 3-way stop); go south to the beach; GCRL entrance is to the left.
What to Bring
Required
• Closed-Toe Shoes-shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and sandy!
• Sunscreen
Recommended
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Bug Repellent (DEET is a pesticide. Non-pesticide alternatives include Skin So Soft
(Avon), and Amber
Romance (Victoria’s Secret).
• Water Bottle (We will provide a water cooler and cups. You can help reduce waste
by bringing your own
bottle.
• Field Clothes (Wear layers that are comfortable and breathable.)
Optional
• Motion Sickness Medication
• Camera
• Waterproof case for electronics you bring
Upcoming Programs
Bayous to Beaches
This project is sponsored by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
June 9-11, 2021
This workshop adds pathogenic bacteria to the watershed concepts being taught at the MEC. Selected 7-12th grade teachers explore coastal watershed habitats and consider changes in water quality along an estuarine gradient during an educational cruise aboard the Miss Peetsy B. Teachers explore stewardship while considering the possible presence of pathogenic bacteria and using the NOAA Marine Debris Tracker. Participating teachers will receive support for student (40) groups to visit the MEC for an educational cruise. This workshop will be in person at the MEC and offer stipend and CEU support for participants. An online/virtual workshop will also be offered with stipend support only. This project is sponsored by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
Service-Learning in Community Resilience
The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation sponsors this project.
July 7 – 9, 2021
This workshop for 7-12th grade teachers focuses on promoting community resilience to coastal hazards, especially coastal flooding and rising sea level. Using problem-based learning, teams of students explore historic flooding in their neighborhoods and consider factors that increase community resilience to flooding. Teams create an educational video in which they propose a solution to an authentic community resilience challenge. The following semester, students participate in a resilience video competition. Winning teams compete at the annual MEC Stewardship Summit judged by local resilience professionals. Teachers will receive stipend and CEU support for participation. Students are supported to travel to the MEC for an educational cruise on Davis Bayou in Ocean Springs.
Changing Coastlines
This workshop is sponsored by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium.
July 21 – 23, 2021
Teachers learn about how coastal ecosystems change in response to various processes, including storms and sea level rise. Teachers explore transitions among beach, marsh, upland and subtidal habitats. The bulk of the workshop will focus on the history and ecology of Deer Island with a field excursion to collect elevation profile data. Teachers will synthesize the data to provide a report for comparison with past and future data collection efforts. This year, teachers will also work with USM researchers to consider the possibility of marsh migration into forested habitats in Grand Bay, Miss. Teachers will gain experience in the outdoors and become equipped to teach advanced marine science subjects in the classroom with an emphasis on restoration and resilience of natural habitats. This workshop will be in person at the MEC and offer stipend and CEU support for participants.
All field programs are subject to substitution of activities or postponement for poor weather. We will inform registered participants of any changes via email.