Center For Ocean Sciences Education Excellence COSEE California
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How to Offer the Courses

The framework of the courses is easily adapted to accommodate and emphasize a variety of educational and outreach needs, and thus they look different at each institution where they are offered. For instance, it is the centerpiece of the GK-12 program at the University of Oregon and is listed as a general science class at Stanford where it attracts mostly graduate students from 5 different departments. Colleges and universities are invited to adapt and offer the courses.

The following components are helpful to have in place if you are considering offering the either of the courses:

  • ocean scientist to sponsor and co-teach the course;
  • an informal educator, master teacher, or education faculty to co-teach the course;
  • undergraduates and/or graduate students in ocean sciences-related majors;
  • relationships with local schools close to campus and a commitment to provide outreach to local schools (for COS);
  • relationships with a near-by informal science education institution for students to present activities (for COSIA);
  • and, if possible, attend the 2.5-day Instructor's workshop at UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science.

COS Instructors' Workshop @ the Lawrence Hall of Science
UC Berkeley offers a 2.5-day Instructors' Workshop for colleges, universities, and informal science education institutions interested in offering these courses. This workshop is designed for scientist/science educator teams that plan to co-teach the undergraduate and graduate course, COS-K12 and COSIA. During this workshop we will provide you with:

  • Complete syllabus and instructor's guide;
  • A full set of curricula for students to take into local classrooms or COSIA activity write-ups that students can use in informal learning environments;
  • Correlations of course curriculum to pedagogy and National Science Education Standards;
  • Sample documentation to get the course listed at your site;
  • Ongoing technical assistance to ensure successful implementation of the course.
You will be introduced to each of the class sessions, then we will help you to customize the syllabus for your local setting and needs.

Co-teaching the class has been fun and gratifying. It is great to have the opportunity to think beyond the typical college lecture format. I have incorporated some of the sessions into my other marine science classes, and my teaching skills have definitely improved, particularly my ability to lead successful class discussions.
Deborah Penry
Faculty Instructor
University of California, Berkeley

The next Communicating Ocean Sciences Instructor's Workshop at the Lawrence Hall of Science is August 8-10, 2011. Attend the workshop to prepare to teach future generations of ocean scientists how to communicate their understanding of and passion for the ocean realm.

For more details, please see the Instructors' Workshop Flyer (DOCX, 267 KB) and the Application and Registration Form (DOCX, 180 KB).

For more information on the Lawrence Hall of Science, including directions, visit the our website.

If you have questions or require further information about COS-K12 or COSIA, contact:

Catherine Halversen
Email: chalver@berkeley.edu
Voice: (510) 642-5008,
Fax: (510) 642-1055

Snail Mail:
COSEE California
University of California, Berkeley
Lawrence Hall of Science #5200
Berkeley, CA 94720-5200

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