The Ocean Classroom

Education is the primary tool for building public awareness and the inter-generational transfer of knowledge. The Ocean Classroom provides essential information about on-line resources, a catalogue of curriculum, profiles of ocean exemplars and provocative organizations,ocean schools, and visualization theatre, a unique series of audio-visual demonstrations of the inter-relationship of natural systems and human activities.

On-Line Resources

To look for links to education resources in one of these eight themes, click on a topic below and you will be redirected to an annotated list of sites with content that addresses the chosen topic. These resources are organized into general the W2O themes to allow for personal investigation of a theme by the user. To search for specific topics, use the Curriculum Catalogue.

• Fresh Water and Sanitation
• Marine Biology
• Ocean Energy
• Fisheries and Food
• Commerce
• Coastal Issues
• The Law of the Sea
• Cultural History and Traditions

Curriculum Catalogue

The Catalogue is a compendium of links to educational content – from lesson plans and informal educational activities to descriptions of internships and professional programs.  MORE....

Exemplars

Below is a list of links to programs, curricula, schools, organizations, biographies and papers that provide varied and comprehensive demonstrations of exemplary contributions to ocean knowledge. Each link connects to a site that offers an in-depth look at what could be considered “best practices” in ocean education – from the classroom to the reef. MORE....

Ocean Schools

A number of schools and educational organizations around the world use the ocean or maritime themes as the focus of their activities and learning. Below is a list of some outstanding formal educational institutions that we have found to be outstanding in their dedicationand creativity to teaching about ocean issues. MORE....

Visualization Theater

With all of the data being generated on the worlds’ oceans, waterways, and water supplies, the use of visually engaging, 3-dimensionally rendered,and animated presentations provides an alternative to the moretraditional graphing of information used in the past. Visualization theater is a new and fascinating way to look at and interpret data collected over time. The use of this theater in the classroom has the potential of transforming learning about scientific facts and numbers into an active and engaging investigation. MORE....