Workshop Supports Deep-Ocean Education in American Samoa

On August 29-30, teachers in American Samoa held a first-of-its kind professional development workshop to enhance local ocean education with support from NOAA Ocean Exploration, Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, and the American Samoa Department of Education. Featuring tours of Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus for teachers and reusable resources to share with students, the well-received event helped enhance ocean science education and career development in American Samoa for years to come.

The image depicts a group of sixteen people posing together on the deck of a ship. They are standing or crouching in front of various pieces of marine equipment, such as a large cable reel and mechanical apparatus in the background. The group is diverse in age and apparently gender, with individuals wearing casual clothing including t-shirts, jeans, and shorts. Some are wearing masks. The background features a mountainous, lush green landscape under a cloudy sky, suggesting a tropical location. The ship's deck is equipped with containers and other maritime equipment.

American Samoa educators tour E/V Nautilus. Image courtesy of Ocean Exploration Trust. Download largest version (jpg, 1.06 MB).

This summer, the OET team aboard E/V Nautilus explored American Samoan waters as part of its E Mamana Ou Gataifale expeditions to support local scientific and management priorities. At the same time, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa was hearing from many local educators who wanted to better understand the vast regions of American Samoa below the surface waters in order to share that knowledge with students. Sensing an opportunity, the sanctuary coordinated with OET, NOAA Ocean Exploration, and the American Samoa Department of Education to provide a highly collaborative professional development event for teachers.

The partnership took advantage of the expertise of all parties. Using the capabilities of E/V Nautilus, OET was able to offer a unique chance for educators to tour the vessel and its cutting edge ocean exploration technology. NOAA Ocean Exploration team members, meanwhile, provided educational resources for the American Samoa Department of Education to loan to local classes. Those efforts culminated in a full-day training that featured place-based lessons and activities to share with students.

One highlight of the event was a presentation by Magdalene “Maggie” Augafa, Program Director at the American Samoa Department of Education. Having sailed aboard E/V Nautilus earlier in the expedition season, Augafa shared her experience with listeners and emphasized that teaching students in American Samoa about the deep ocean would greatly expand their career opportunities.

“Maggie’s excitement was contagious,” said Suraida Nañez-James, who led NOAA Ocean Exploration’s engagement with the event. “Her clear vision for the value of teaching students in American Samoa about what lies below the ocean surface did a lot to encourage teachers to take what they learned at the professional development event back to their own classrooms.”

At the conclusion of the workshop, many teachers shared their own enthusiasm for the material and their hopes for future exploration in the region. While the unique professional development experience was over, participants expressed that the shared effort had effectively laid the foundation for strong and lasting connections between students and the ocean.

Published November 4, 2024