Progress 09/01/05 to 02/28/07
Outputs
The Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) Aquaculture Education and Development Center (AEDC) and our partners from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) are excited to report that the project entitled: Enhancing Technical Competency through Pathways in Aquatic Science has been a resounding success with all of the project goals and objectives being complete at this time and within the proposed budget. Goal I: The development of K12 instructional materials and programs exceeded proposed objectives. The project had proposed to provide teachers with one bound reference manual and 2 CD-ROMs (one containing workshop presentations and another containing 17 aquaculture presentations). Project teachers received two manuals (over 200 pages of aquaculture information and curricula) and a DVD containing over 200 aquaculture publications, 80 power-point presentations, and other aquatic resources. The power-point lesson on constructing a recirculating aquaculture system
(RAS) from scratch was provided in the DVD but also exists as a downloadable PDF Publication from the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. The two proposed 5-day workshops were conducted in June 2006, were attended by 35 teachers, and taught by eight professional aquaculture instructors (4 PhD, 4 MAQ). Each workshop contained 20 hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of hands-on instruction with CEUs awarded to teachers in attendance. Goal II: The second major goal of the project was to expand the network of project schools by adding 45 new teachers to the project. This goal was slightly modified to provide one basic workshop and one advanced workshop for continuing education of current project teachers. Seating in the GSCC aquaculture facility is limited to 24 and teachers could only attend the advanced workshop if they had already attended a previous basic workshop. There were 24 new teachers and 11 returning teachers in attendance (a total of 35 teachers). Project teachers
had been asking the PIs to design and teach an advanced workshop for several years. Project funding made the first advanced aquaculture workshop possible. The advanced workshop was a tremendous success and the PIs all feel that the trade-off was well worth it. Goal III: Continuing education for these workshop participants and other project teachers was made possible through one-on-one meetings with teachers and site visits. The project PI, Co-PIs and GSCC Technician conducted over 140 site visits and field experiences to K12 schools for technical support, fish deliveries, and teaching activities. This exceeded the proposed 30 site visits and 10 teaching activities. Goal IV: The current project greatly increased instructional resources for teachers. There were a total of 17 complete aquaculture systems and 6 bead filters that teachers used to construct aquaculture systems. The project proposed 18 aquaculture systems and exceeded this number by providing 23 aquaculture systems to
classrooms. Aquaculture systems and livestock capacity of the AEDC were also upgraded through the purchase of tanks, filters and supplies.
PRODUCTS: During this project, the PIs and AEDC technician performed over 140 site visits for technical assistance, fish deliveries, field experiences, and teaching activities. The GSCC AEDC delivered over 1,370 live fish to Alabama programs and 580 fish to schools outside Alabama (Connecticut and Nebraska). In June of 2006 the GSCC AEDC and project partners in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) conducted two 5-day long workshops. Teachers participating in the workshops were given two aquaculture reference manuals containing over 200 pages of aquaculture curricula, power-point handouts, a wide variety of aquaculture publications, problem sets, and other information. Additionally, teachers received a DVD containing over 200 aquaculture publications, 80 power-point presentations, website links, and numerous other aquaculture resources. There were a total of 23 aquaculture systems constructed and/or distributed
to project schools as a direct result of the project. The aquaculture systems included 12 110-gallon simple systems, 2 multi-tank systems, 3 hydroponic systems, and 6 bead filters (the result of a generous donation to the project by Aquaculture Systems Technologies, New Orleans, LA). A 1,200 gallon koi pond was constructed at the AEDC by teachers as an advanced workshop project. The AEDC also increased it's ability to produce aquatic livestock for schools by updating two aquaculture systems using grant funds. These updated aquaculture systems were used as the proto-type models for advanced aquaculture workshop projects that were later distributed to K12 programs.
OUTCOMES: This project trained 24 new teachers to use aquaculture in the K12 classroom and provided continuing aquaculture education for an additional 11 teachers. The current project will directly affect approximately 1,000 students annually. In addition, the learning experiences of these students will be greatly enhanced if teachers use the materials provided by the project. All of the teachers that have previously attended workshops will also directly benefit from the bound manuals and DVD that were produced as these are made available to them. Twenty new schools have recirculating aquaculture systems in their classrooms that did not have them before. Extensive evaluations of the workshops and their effectiveness are conducted annually to be certain that workshops are beneficial and relevant. Evaluations of the two workshops indicated an "excellent" overall rating of 4.8 out of a possible 5 for both the basic and advanced workshops. Additionally, when participants were asked if
the workshops met their needs and expectations they also indicated an "excellent" rating of 4.7 (basic workshop) and 4.8 (advanced workshop) out of a possible 5. Additional comments made by several teachers in both workshops indicate that they think test scores on graduate exams will increase as a direct result of this project and the overall program. When workshop participants were asked if they would recommend this workshop to others they indicated "definitely" with a rating of 4.9 out of a possible 5. When participants were asked if they would support GSCC or Auburn in becoming a regional training center for this type of activity they indicated "definitely" with a perfect 5 rating. The increased number of site visits conducted by the PIs and GSCC technician directly benefited approximately 2,912 students and teachers through technical support, continuing education, troubleshooting, and livestock deliveries. Six students from the GSCC Aquaculture program attended their first
professional meeting when the Alabama Fisheries Association met Feb 13-15 in Orange Beach, Alabama.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: As a direct result of this educational program, Hugh Hammer addressed 300 agriculture educators on "Aquaculture Opportunities in Agri-science" at the Alabama FFA Summer Conference. During this presentation he promoted the current project and recruited several new teachers for the project. The current project was also promoted by partners in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in 2006. Hugh Hammer had a booth at the 2006 Alabama FFA Convention to promote the current project. The Alabama Department of Education has also advertised the project and workshops through email chains to Alabama science teachers. Additionally, Hugh Hammer made a presentation entitled: Matching Aquaculture Curricula to Content Standards for Biology in Alabama High Schools at the special education session of the World Aquaculture Society Meeting and the National Aquaculture Educators Network (NAEN) meeting.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The success of the current project has brought about several other opportunities for continued project support, public relations, and project expansion. This project inspired a meeting with Curriculum Development Specialists for Science at the Alabama Department of Education and a plan to develop specific lessons that tie in Alabama Biology Content Standards with aquaculture. This project also inspired the submission of a grant proposal entitled: Aquaculture Education in the Black Belt Promoting Life, Technical, Math and Science Skills that will extend project capabilities to the Alabama Black Belt region (a traditional aquaculture region in the state). Program teachers (approximately 65 active teachers) have requested a website where they can download materials, lesson plans, communicate with other program teachers, and encourage students to trade information. The development of this site is the focal point of our most recent SPEC grant submission. As a result of
this project's success a new advisory committee is being formed to better direct the future of the GSCC Aquaculture program and its projects. The first meeting of this committee will be held May 30, 2007. The 2007 GSCC AEDC Advisory Committee: Mr. Stan Cook, Chief of Fisheries, Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Mr. Mitt Walker, Division Director for Catfish, Alabama Farmers Federation Dr. David Rouse, Department Chairmen, Auburn Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures Mr. David Cline, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System Mr. Jack Rutledge, General Manager, Water Works and Sewer Board City of Gadsden Dr. Stephen Watts, Graduate Program Director, University of Alabama at Birmingham Mr. Doug Powell, Environmental Affairs Department, Alabama Power Company Mrs Carol Farmer, Assistant Curator of Fishes, Tennessee Aquarium Mrs. Heidi Richards, Coordinator, Coosa Valley RC&D Council Dr. Jim Jolly, Dean of Instruction, Gadsden State Community College Dr.
Hugh Hammer, Program Manager, Gadsden State Aquaculture
Impacts
Since this programs conception in 1999, we have trained over 150 teachers and support approximately 65 active K12 teachers that use aquaculture as a teaching tool for science and math in classrooms. The momentum of this program has inspired the state of Alabama to approve an Aqua-Science Core for the Alabama Course of Study. The project PIs estimate that 2,000 students in Alabama are annually taught aquaculture concepts in their classrooms but this number is most certainly a very conservative estimate. Teachers that use aquaculture are certain that it helps to improve test scores though data have not been collected to substantiate this. Acquiring the evidence via a website to support this claim is the focus of our most recent SPEC grant submission As a direct result of this project, the project PI's and CoPI's have conducted presentations and classroom activities for over 1,000 students over the project term. The project continues to gain momentum both in the state of
Alabama and throughout the nation through the NAEN (national aquaculture educators network). The PIs for the current project are the driving force behind this new national organization that currently has 150 interested members. Funding to support this national organization is being explored at the current time.
Publications
- Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Publication #4501. David Cline. 2006. Constructing a Simple and Inexpensive Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for Classroom Use.
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Progress 09/01/05 to 09/01/06
Outputs
The Aquaculture Education and Development Center (AEDC) at Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) and our partners in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are national leaders in K12 aquaculture education. The grant project entitled "Enhancing Technical Competency through Pathways in Aquatic Science" has been a resounding success with all of the project goals and objectives being complete at this time and within the proposed budget. Goal I: The development of K12 instructional materials and programs exceeded proposed objectives. The project had proposed to provide teachers with one bound reference manual and 2 CD-ROMs (one containing workshop presentations and another containing 17 aquaculture presentations). Project teachers received two manuals (over 200 pages of aquaculture information and curricula) and a DVD containing over 200 aquaculture publications, 80 power-point presentations, and other aquatic resources. The power-point lesson on constructing a
recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) from scratch was provided in the DVD but also exists as a downloadable PDF Publication from the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. The two proposed 5-day workshops were conducted in June 2006 and were attended by 35 teachers. Each workshop contained 20 hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of hands-on instruction. There were eight different professional aquaculture instructors (4 PhD, 4 MAQ) that participated in the workshop. Goal II: The second major goal of the project was to expand the network of project schools by adding 45 new teachers to the project. This goal was not met because we modified the workshops to provide one basic workshop and one advanced workshop. Seating in the GSCC aquaculture facility is limited to 24 and teachers could only attend the advanced workshop if they had already attended a previous basic workshop. There were 24 new teachers. A waiting list has 20 new teachers for the 2007 basic workshop. Program teachers
had been asking the PIs to design and teach an advanced workshop for years. Project funding made the first advanced aquaculture workshop possible. The advanced workshop was a tremendous success and the PIs all feel that the trade-off was well worth it. The 35 teachers in attendance at workshops received CEUs for their participation. Goal III: Continuing education for these workshop participants and other project teachers was made possible through one-on-one meetings with teachers and site visits. The project PI, Co-PIs and GSCC Technician conducted over 138 site visits and field experiences to K12 schools for technical support, fish deliveries, and teaching activities. This exceeded the proposed 30 site visits and 10 teaching activities. Goal IV: The current project greatly increased instructional resources for teachers. There were a total of 17 complete aquaculture systems and 6 bead filters that teachers used to construct aquaculture systems. The project proposed 18 aquaculture
systems and exceeded this number by providing 23 aquaculture systems to classrooms. Aquaculture systems and livestock capacity of the AEDC were also upgraded through the purchase of tanks, filters and supplies.
PRODUCTS: During this project the PIs, and AEDC technician performed over 138 site visits for technical assistance, fish deliveries, field experiences, and teaching activities. The GSCC AEDC delivered over 1,370 live fish to Alabama programs and 580 fish to schools outside Alabama (Connecticut and Nebraska). In June of 2006 the GSCC AEDC and project partners in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) conducted two 5-day long workshops. Teachers participating in the workshops were given two aquaculture reference manuals containing over 200 pages of aquaculture curricula, power-point handouts, a wide variety of aquaculture publications, problem sets, and other information. Additionally, teachers received a DVD containing over 200 aquaculture publications, 80 power-point presentations, website links, and numerous other aquaculture resources. There were a total of 23 aquaculture systems constructed and/or distributed
to project schools as a direct result of the project. The aquaculture systems included 12 110-gallon simple systems, 2 multi-tank systems, 3 hydroponic systems, and 6 bead filters (the result of a generous donation to the project by Aquaculture Systems Technologies, New Orleans, LA). A 1,200 gallon koi pond was constructed at the AEDC by teachers as an advanced workshop project. The AEDC also increased it's ability to produce aquatic livestock for schools by updating two aquaculture systems using grant funds. These updated aquaculture systems were used as the proto-type models for advanced aquaculture workshop projects that were later distributed to K12 programs.
OUTCOMES: This project trained 24 new teachers to use aquaculture in the K12 classroom and provided continuing aquaculture education for an additional 11 teachers. The current project will directly affect approximately 1,000 students annually. In addition, the learning experiences of these students will be greatly enhanced if teachers use the materials provided by the project. All of the teachers that have previously attended workshops will also directly benefit from the bound manuals and DVD that were produced as these are made available to them. Twenty new schools have recirculating aquaculture systems in their classrooms that did not have them before. Extensive evaluations of the workshops and their effectiveness are conducted annually to be certain that workshops are beneficial and relevant. Evaluations of the two workshops indicated an "excellent" overall rating of 4.8 out of a possible 5 for both the basic and advanced workshops. Additionally, when participants were asked if
the workshops met their needs and expectations they also indicated an "excellent" rating of 4.7 (basic workshop) and 4.8 (advanced workshop) out of a possible 5. Additional comments made by several teachers in both workshops indicate that they think test scores on graduate exams will increase as a direct result of this project and the overall program. When workshop participants were asked if they would recommend this workshop to others they indicated "definitely" with a rating of 4.9 out of a possible 5. When participants were asked if they would support GSCC or Auburn in becoming a regional training center for this type of activity they indicated "definitely" with a perfect 5 rating. The increased number of site visits conducted by the PIs and GSCC technician directly benefited approximately 2,700 students and teachers through technical support, continuing education, troubleshooting, and livestock deliveries.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: As a direct result of this educational program, Hugh Hammer addressed 300 agriculture educators on "Aquaculture Opportunities in Agri-science" at the Alabama FFA Summer Conference. During this presentation he promoted the current project and recruited several new teachers for the project. The current project was also promoted by partners in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in 2006. Hugh Hammer had a booth at the 2006 Alabama FFA Convention to promote the current project. The Alabama Department of Education has also advertised the project and workshops through email chains to Alabama science teachers. Additionally, Hugh Hammer will be making a presentation at the education symposium of the World Aquaculture Society entitled "Matching Aquaculture Curricula to Content Standards for Biology in Alabama High Schools."
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The success of the current project has brought about several other opportunities for continued project support, public relations, and project expansion. This project inspired a meeting with Curriculum Development Specialists for Science at the Alabama Department of Education and a plan to develop specific lessons that tie in Alabama Biology Content Standards with aquaculture. This project also inspired the submission of a grant proposal entitled:Aquaculture Education in the Black Belt Promoting Life, Technical, Math and Science Skills to extend project capabilities to Alabama's Black Belt region (a traditional aquaculture region in the state). Program teachers (approximately 65 active teachers) have requested a website where they can download materials, lesson plans, communicate with other program teachers, and encourage students to trade information. The development of this site will no doubt require additional funding that we will seek.
Impacts
Though the current USDA funded project started in 2005, this K12 aquaculture education program started in 1999 with the GSCC AEDC, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and 12 interested agri-science teachers. To date this program has trained over 150 teachers in the Southeastern US to use aquaculture as a teaching tool for science and math in K12 classrooms. The state of Alabama currently has approximately 65 K12 teachers that are using aquaculture concepts as some part of their classroom activities and several have an aquaculture course that they teach. The momentum of this program has inspired the state of Alabama to approve an Aqua-Science Core for the Alabama Course of Study. The project PIs estimate that 2,000 students in Alabama are annually taught aquaculture concepts in their classrooms but this number is most certainly a conservative estimate. Teachers that use aquaculture are certain that it helps to improve test scores.
Publications
- David Cline Constructing a Simple and Inexpensive Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for Classroom Use 2006. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Publication #4501
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