"I want the teachers to feel like they are researchers and have authentic research experiences." |
COSEE Great Lakes (COSEE GL) is a partnership between seven state programs of the Great Lakes Sea Grant
Network, NOAA, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It shares many of the goals of other COSEE
Centers, while adding critical connections to freshwater systems. Dr. Joel Hoffman, a researcher at
EPA, became involved with COSEE GL in March of 2007, taking teachers out on a research cruise. His goal
was to teach them what research is really like, to help make them feel like they are part of the
scientific enterprise, and to expose them to the practice of science, a different approach from classroom
activities.
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Dr. Hoffman contributed to the Great Lakes Literacy project. Find out more here. |
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On the cruise aboard the
RV Lake Guardian in July 2011, Joel sought to expand the reach of COSEE GL
in several ways: inviting scientists from all over the Great Lakes basin and gathering over 50
applications from a wide variety of teachers; working with the
National Estuarine Research Reserve for Lake Superior
to join the last day of the cruise for a mini-workshop; and engaging teachers at the Chicago Museum of
Science and Industry via a live satellite-based video conference streaming a demo of shipboard science
from onboard the ship. In July 2011, EPA committed to supporting the next five years of shipboard
workshops.
Story of Cory
Cory Kolodji, a middle school science teacher from rural Minnesota, attended the first Lake Guardian
cruise with Joel. He was so enthusiastic about his experience that Joel collaborated with him on a
presentation at the 2009 AGU Ocean Sciences meeting. Cory spoke about how the experience had changed
his teaching. The presentation was also eye-opening for Joel, being his first time attending an
Education and Outreach session at a big science conference, which gave him new ideas on how to interact
with teachers and students.
Lake Guardian 2011
On this cruise 15 teachers from grades 4-10 and non-formal educators participated in a weeklong
workshop aboard EPA's 180-foot research vessel
R/V Lake Guardian to learn more about how
human activities on land affect water quality. For more information:
- Read the Lake Guardian trip blog
- Watch this video on YouTube
- Listen to the EPA Lake Guardian podcasts
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The Story of Cory
Joel tells the story of science teacher Cory Kolodji and his life-changing experience |
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