Connecting learners to the world around them
Cross-Comparative School Programs Evaluation
Working with a talented education staff at Monterey Bay Aquarium and Word Craft, a program evaluator, I spearheaded efforts to compare the impacts of staff-facilitated programs on students visiting the Aquarium. At the time, it was the largest cross-comparative school program evaluation study of its kind.
photo credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Creating a Pipeline of Opportunity
As part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s 2012-2016 Strategic Plan, the ultimate impact goal for Education Programs was “to prepare 1,000 young adults over the next five years to be inspired, ocean science literate, confident and ready to act on behalf of the oceans.” To meet this challenge, the Education Programs director and managers worked with Word Craft, a program evaluator, to develop a unique working model that aligns education programming for all audiences using a “strands of learning” framework. This model enables managers and staff to clearly articulate program goals and outcomes.
photo credit: Word Craft
Building Organizational Capacity
I was fortunate to be part of the amazing team that opened the South Carolina Aquarium. I spent several years as School Programs Manger and was then promoted to the role of Director of Education.
K-12 Program Redesign at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Sensational Seastars
As School Programs Manager at Monterey Bay Aquarium, I led the redesign of the Aquarium’s K-12 Discovery Lab Classroom Programs and Auditorium Program. The team’s work included a formal peer review, common core alignment, and a shift to student-led learning activities with adults as facilitators.
A portfolio of other work
Many of the pieces provided below have links to full documents. I would love to talk with you about all of them!
Link to School Programs Brochure
Link to Field Trip Planner
Link to Full Program Offerings
Sensational Sea Stars Program
photo credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium
photo credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium
photo credit: Oregon Coast STEM Hub
Link to National Marine Educator's Conference Brochure