File:Coast watch (1979) (20660927695).jpg

Title: Coast watch
Identifier: coastwatch00uncs_15 (find matches)
Year: 1979 (1970s)
Authors: UNC Sea Grant College Program
Subjects: Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology
Publisher: (Raleigh, N. C. : UNC Sea Grant College Program)
Contributing Library: State Library of North Carolina
Digitizing Sponsor: North Carolina Digital Heritage Center

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Buxton, estuarine shoreline erosion at Nags Head Woods, ocean shoreline erosion and urban development at South Nags Head, and dune migration at Jockey's Ridge. "We chose the Outer Banks because it provides good examples of barrier island processes and conflicts in North Carolina," says Dawkins. For Freedom High School student Eva Lee, this was her first glimpse of the rough waters of the Adantic. "I just kept looking at the waves," says Lee of Morganton. "I now understand" the power of the sea, she adds. This program gives students a unique opportunity to participate in the curriculum process early in their educational experience. For the project, Dawkins selected experi- enced science teachers who had participated in Earth-View, a National Science Foundation project that educated earth science teachers about the geology of the Appalachian mountains, piedmont and coastal plains. The select group of teachers received extensive field experience and developed leadership skills. "Sea-View is a natural extension of Earth- View," says Dawkins, director of ECU's Center for Science, Math and Technology Training. "Over three years, 10 teachers have developed a comprehensive picture of North Carolina's geologic history and the human impacts on our valuable resources. Sea-View is a wonderful opportunity for them to use their knowledge and skills at a different level." Dawkins conceived the idea for professional development in earth/environmental materials for teachers in 1999 after conducting a statewide survey of school superintendents regarding the new required course in earth/environmental science. "Only a small percent of teachers had any earth science background," says Dawkins. "Almost none had earth science certificates. A large number were biology or chemistry teachers who were asked to teach earth science." Although all slots for earth science teachers in the state's public schools are filled this fall, Tucci says that many teachers are "underprepared." "Because earth science includes four content areas — geology, astronomy, meteorology and environmental issues — it is hard to find a teacher who is prepared in all these areas," he adds. "Staff development efforts like Earth-View and Sea- View are making genuine progress toward preparing teachers to address the environmental issues in the Standard Course of Study." Lundie Spence, North Carolina Sea Grant marine education specialist, agrees. By initiating Sea-View, Dawkins is "taking a new leap in the development of earth science materials for high school and middle school," says Spence, the project's faculty advisor. "Identifying coastal hot spots where natural systems are in conflict — with impacts on people — and then developing lessons makes science relevant," she adds. "The use of Web and digital technology will make the product more accessible and exciting to North Carolina teachers and students. Other states also will be able to use the materials to compare our state's hot spots to their own hot spots." Experienced Leaders
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Dawkins and Riggs bring different expertise to the program. Since 1990, Dawkins has been providing professional development programs for science teachers in elementary, middle and high school at North Carolina State University and ECU through the N.C. Mathemat- ics and Science Network. Before working at the university level, Dawkins was a high school science teacher for more than 20 years. On the field trip, Dawkins is both a mother figure and mentor to the teachers and students. She leaves the field trips early to prepare home- cooked meals for the participants. During meetings, she encourages students and teachers to work together and collect good data, including rich descriptions and accurate sketches and measurements on their field trips. "I find that the work with teachers provides a tremendous intellectual challenge and boosts my creative juices terrifically," says Dawkins. TOP: Karen Dawkins has organized numerous workshops for North Carolina science teachers. BOTTOM: Stan Riggs shows teachers and students peat samples from the shoreline at Nags Head Woods. Riggs brings a research perspective to the teachers and students. For 35 years, he has studied the origin and evolution of the world's continental margins, including climate and sea-level change. His work has taken him from coastal plain rivers in North Carolina to the outer edge of the continental shelf. Riggs also has taken numerous teacher groups on field trips. Last summer, he led an Earth-View trip at the juncture of the coastal plain and piedmont in northeastern North Carolina. In 2000, he gave teachers a first-hand look at the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd in a Sea Grant- sponsored workshop, a spinoff of Operation Pathfinder. "This is the third trip I have taken with Stan," says Martha Buchanan, a teacher at Freedom High School in Morganton. "He is 14 HOLIDAY 2002

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