2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting
OOI Data Labs Workshop
Engaging students in oceanography with authentic datasets
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
10:30 am to 3:30 pm
Omni Riverfront Hotel, Rex Room
Join us alongside the 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans for a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored workshop focused on integrating Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) data into undergraduate courses.
Participants will explore the online interactive OOI Data Lab Manual and other resources created by our community of oceanography professors. Come learn from peer faculty how to effectively use OOI data and activities in your introductory Oceanography, Earth, and related Environmental Science courses. Professors who teach or are developing introductory (e.g. 100 and 200 level) courses are especially encouraged to attend. We also highly encourage faculty at HBCU, MSI, HSI, Tribal, 2-year, and primarily undergraduate institutions to consider attending as well.
Workshop Goals
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
- Learn about the OOI program and the key science questions it addresses.
- Access existing tools and resources designed to integrate OOI data into teaching.
- Learn how to effectively incorporate OOI Data Labs into your classes.
- Network with other professors interested in using oceanographic data in undergraduate classrooms.
Workshop Agenda
| TIME | TOPIC, OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES |
| 10:00 | Gathering and social time (coffee/snacks provided) Room opens at 10 am, participants can arrive any time before 10:30. |
| 10:30 | Welcome: Icebreaker and Introductions * Workshop slides (ppt) |
| 10:45 | Teaching with Data Activity What is it like for learners to work with information that is new and overwhelming? * Nonsense Data Activity: Handout, and Facilitator Guide |
| 11:00 | A (very brief) introduction to the OOI Discover the science, instrumentation, and design behind the OOI * OOI Overview Presentation (ppt) * The OOI Website * TOS Oceanography: Special Issue on the Ocean Observatories Initiative |
| 11:15 | Lightning Talks: Teaching with OOI Hear from peer faculty on how they have included OOI data and science in their courses. * Richard Dixon, Texas State University, San Marcos * Melissa Hicks, Onondaga Community College * Jean Anastasia, Suffolk County Community College * Claire Condie, Middlesex County College |
| 11:35 | Small group exploration of OOI Data Labs Collection Hands-on exploration of the online labs including Explorations, Nuggets, Python Notebooks, the Lab Manual and more. |
| 12:00 | Lunch – Continue explorations and discussions |
| 12:45 | Introduction to the OOI Data Lab Manual An overview of the design philosophy, structure, and alignment of the OOI Lab Manual with oceanography curriculums |
| 1:15 | Group Reflection A group discussion of how you can use OOI data and Data Labs resources in your teaching, the challenges you will likely face, and the opportunities you see for future student engagement. * Jamboard Link Reflection Questions 1. How will you use OOI data into your classes, activities, and/or undergraduate research? 2. What are the challenges you have experienced or anticipate for working with students on data literacy? 3. What other opportunities do you see to enrich your teaching with OOI data? (e.g. your research, student research, data science / programming skill building) |
| 2:15 | Break |
| 2:30 | Individual Curriculum Planning Planning time to work on incorporating activities and resources into your courses with support from peer faculty * Implementation Planning Worksheet (Word version or PDF version) |
| 3:00 | Reflection, Evaluation, and Next Steps * Share your planning ideas * Workshop evaluation * Learn how you can stay involved with the OOI Data Labs Community |
| 3:30 | Wrap-up |
Workshop Participants
- Bernard Akaawase, University of Connecticut
- Alyssa Atwood, Florida State University
- Leila Belabbassi, Texas A&M University
- Diana Bernstein, University of Southern Mississippi
- Kay Bidle, Rutgers University
- Mackenzie Blanusa, University of Connecticut
- Emily Bockmon, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
- Viktoria Bogantes, University of West Florida
- Karen Bridges, Howard Community College
- Christian Briseño-Avena, University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Mercer Brugler, University of South Carolina Beaufort
- Kristen Coolbear, Virginia Peninsula Community College
- Beth Dushman, Howard Community College
- Christopher Edwards, University of California Santa Cruz
- Cara Fiore, Appalachian State University
- Sean Greeney, Seminole State College
- Adam Greer, University of Georgia
- Pamela Grothe, University of Mary Washington
- Lisa Hall, Virginia Peninsula Community College
- Christa Haney, Mississippi State University
- Darren Henrichs, Texas A&M University
- Jon Lewis, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Shuting Liu, Kean University
- Dwight Owens, Ocean Networks Canada
- Heather Patterson, University of Alabama Birmingham
- Elizabeth Sargent, University of Delaware
- Maynard Schaus, Virginia Wesleyan University
- Sydni Shoemaker, Pearl River Community College
- Sarah Sojka, Randolph College
- Brent Thoma, Jackson State University
- Gerardo Toro-Farmer, New College of Florida
- Rebecca Waggett, The University of Tampa
- Nina Whitney, Western Washington University
- Alexander Wurm, Western New England University
Peer Presenters
- Jean Anastasia, Suffolk County Community College
- Claire Condie, Middlesex County College
- Richard Dixon, Texas State University, San Marcos
- Melissa Hicks, Onondaga Community College
Workshop Facilitators
- Denise Bristol, Hillsborough Community College
- Sage Lichtenwalner, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
- Janice McDonnell, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
- Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert, Stockton University
- Dax Soule, Queens College CUNY
Ocean Sciences Meeting
Workshop attendees who are also registered for the 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting are encouraged to join us at the Ocean Observations poster section on Thursday night and related talk session on Friday morning. These sessions include a number of OOI Data Labs community members discussing their experience. The OOI Facilities Board is also hosting a Town Hall on Tuesday that will include discussions of educational needs for the program. Please see our OSM24 page for a complete list of related talks and sessions.
Please contact Janice McDonnell (mcdonnel@marine.rutgers.edu) with any questions.
