Hundreds of students, teachers, volunteers and innovators from across Nova Scotia are participating in Our Ocean Playground workshops for Education Day 2016, today, Nov. 23, at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax.
Our Ocean Playground offers hands-on learning opportunities to help students link science, technology, engineering and math with ocean careers, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“It is exciting to see so many students coming together from across the province in recognition of the growing importance of oceans in our lives,” said Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Karen Casey. “We want to give students every opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, while fostering excitement about the future that is possible for them in our province.”
Students from grades 7 and 8 are participating in workshops on marine science, ocean technology and entrepreneurship. Each workshop is hosted by local partners, including the Discovery Centre, Clean Foundation, Afishionado Fishmongers, Let’s Talk Science and Ocean School. The students are learning more about how humans and the oceans are inextricably connected.
Students in grades 9 to 12 are exploring concepts around data literacy, technology and innovation. They are working with local innovators to develop technological and entrepreneurial solutions to ocean-related issues.
Professional development workshops for teachers examine aquaculture, marine renewable energy, marine optics and acoustics, shipbuilding and boatbuilding. Teachers will focus on integrating science into learning and connecting learning with potential careers.
Students also have an opportunity to make connections with potential careers at the Ocean Education Fair.
The keynote address is by Sarika Cullis-Suzuki, marine biologist, visiting scientist with Ocean Networks Canada, and board member with the David Suzuki Foundation. An archive version of this talk, supported by Bedford’s Red Space, can be found at http://tinyurl.com/educationday16.
“Nova Scotia is a global leader in big data, which provides our youth with exciting new career and entrepreneurial opportunities. Introducing awareness of these opportunities early means students have the necessary information to choose post-secondary programs that support and grow this exciting and diverse industry,” said Nancy Flam, project director, Big Data Alliance of Nova Scotia.
Our Ocean Playground is a partnership between the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Big Data Alliance of Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University, the Nova Scotia Community College, the Institute for Ocean Research Enterprise, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., the Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia, and the National Film Board.
Source: Release