MarineQuest had the opportunity to partner with local middle schools during the 2014-2015 school year to provide students with STEM experiential learning opportunities that engaged them with the marine environment.
Aligned with national Ocean Literacy Principles and the North Carolina Essential Standards for Science, Project TECHNOcean used hands-on inquiry-based lessons, labs, and field experiences to engage students with ocean monitoring, ocean exploration, and ocean conservation.
Participating students practice authentic STEM skills associated with marine science research and data collection, and also became familiar with different technologies and equipment that is utilized to study the marine environment. Project TECHNOcean students employed engineering design principles while working in teams to create model ROVs, wind turbines, or buoys. Sixth graders explored the interactions between the ocean and land, seventh graders explored the relationship between the ocean and atmosphere, and eighth graders immersed themselves in the study of the hydrosphere.
