Connecting with our future marine biologists online
It’s 3:55 pm. Deep breath. It’s soon going to start.
A participant enters the waiting room. It’s game time!
I let the first couple of people in and put on a big smile while waiting for their audio to connect. These girls are joining from Girl Scouts of Western Washington and are excited to learn all about marine biology from an expert!
Am I an expert? I have a Ph.D. in animal behaviour, but I studied kangaroos. Does it count that I read lots of papers about cetaceans? Whales and dolphins have complex social relationships and their social behaviours have been extensively studied. The class that’s just getting started is called “Marine Biologist In Training” and we’re here to learn about science and how to do research. I can definitely teach about that!
Dr. Elaine Leung sharing her journey in Marine Sciences, including her work with sea lions and penguins.The girls are all muted on our conference call. After a quick hello and introduction, they mute themselves again. It’s November 2020 and we are all well-versed in Zoom-etiquette. No time to waste, I hop right into what marine scientists do, including demystifying careers in marine STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) fields.
It’s challenging connecting with kids through online platforms and we need to get creative in the ways we teach and develop activities. I love using Kahoot, as it’s a fun way to share a lot of educational content while keeping everyone engaged. I also incorporate movement in our sessions, from bouncing balls to learn about fair tests in scientific research, to flowing through a salmon life cycle routine.
The first day went by in a flash. “How did it go?”, I ask them. Big smiles and thumbs up.
It’s good to know we’re doing something right!
"Sea Smart's Marine Biologist In Training class is absolutely amazing!! I love all of the activities and the guest speakers. Our daughter, her sister, and I all watch the extra videos together and we are learning so much. This class has totally exceeded my expectations."
- Parent, Marine Biologist in Training program
A large thanks to Girl Scouts of Western Washington for partnering with Sea Smart on this initiative. We also thank our mentors, Heidi Gartner and Elaine Leung, for sharing their career path in marine sciences and inspiring the girls in our program.
