2023 AMSS Abstract Book

Bering Sea | Climate and Oceanography

Engaging students in ocean science through culturally relevant learning Presenter: Janet Warburton , warburton@arcus.org, Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. Rebecca Siegel , rebecca.s.siegel@gmail.com, Brevig Mission School Evie Fachon , efachon@whoi.edu, Arctic Research Consortium of the United States

“Culturally responsive education”, as defined by Oscar Kawagley and Ray Barnhardt, “is a process of education that follows guidance and standards developed by Indigenous educators and Elders about how students, teachers, schools, and communities can integrate the local culture and environment into the formal education process so that students are able to achieve cultural well-being as a result of their schooling experience”. Connections to culture are intentional and are embedded within the learning, rather than separated out. Researchers often seek guidance on how to better engage students in the research and how to develop appropriate and meaningful outreach activities. In this presentation, we will share three activities, led by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S., that focus on cultural relevancy as a way to engage students to learn about the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Researchers will see examples of education and outreach that is culturally relevant. The activities are: a workshop that developed guidelines for conducting culturally relevant outreach in rural Alaska coastal communities; a culturally relevant curriculum unit focused on the Arctic Ocean; and a teacher-researcher collaboration that led to Alaska students learning more about harmful algae blooms in the Bering Sea.

Alaska Marine Science Symposium 2023 114

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