DataStreme Ocean has major support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct a Teacher Enhancement Project with a strong leadership component. An innovative Internet-based distance-learning course directed towards middle-school teachers, but open to all K-12 teachers, has been developed and is being implemented nationwide. The course, DataStreme Ocean, explores the ocean in the Earth system with special emphasis on (1) the flow and transformations of water and energy into and out of the ocean, (2) the internal properties and workings of the ocean, (3) interactions between the ocean and the other components of the Earth system (hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere), and (4) the human/societal impacts on and response to those interactions. It is designed after the other highly successful DataStreme distance-learning courses.

The DS Ocean course is the initial step in the training of Ocean Resource Teachers is their participation in the DS Ocean distance-learning course. The 13-week course is offered twice a year to selected participants. It is designed to enhance public understanding of the fluid Earth system emphasizing the atmospheric, ocean, and hydrologic sciences through the use of electronically transmitted environmental data and learning materials combined with Text readings and Investigations Manual activities and Current Ocean Studies online investigations. Teachers will become their school's representative as part of a major national science education program conducted by the American Meteorological Society.

Who can participate in DS Ocean?
The course is directed towards middle-school teachers, but open to all K-12 teachers, who live in an area served by a LIT. Teachers of any subject who have an interest in promoting the teaching of Earth Science across the curriculum may apply. Applications are sought from persons who can demonstrate potential for leadership as resource teachers. They must be willing to act as resource persons for other teachers and as advocates for promoting the use of electronically-delivered environmental data in schools.

Teachers who are members of groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, or teachers who are teaching in schools with large numbers of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, are especially urged to apply.

How is the DataStreme Ocean course conducted?
DataStreme Ocean operates through the combined efforts of literally hundreds of people working together to provide a unique enhancement opportunity for K-12 teachers.

The DataStreme Ocean course is offered through DataStreme Ocean Local Implementation Teams (LITs) that are located around the country. LITs, typically composed of three members, coordinate the selection and delivery of the course to approximately eight teacher participants each semester. Each team advertises the local course availability, recruits and selects participants, arranges and holds local meetings, individually mentors participants on course understandings and activities, provides participant evaluations, and assists in developing Resource Teacher action plans. Each LIT is composed of at least one master precollege teacher and most include one professional oceanographer, hydrologist, meteorologist or environmental scientist.

DataStreme Central, located at the AMS Education Office, is a team that develops instructional materials, provides logistical support to the LITs, conducts the credit-bearing course in which most DataStreme Ocean participants enroll, and administers the overall project.

What equipment do I need for DataStreme Ocean?
You will need a PC or Mac computer, printer, and an Internet connection with browsing capability (such as Microsoft Explorer, Firefox, Safari or Opera software). If you are reading this on-screen with your own equipment and you can print it out, you are essentially ready for DataStreme Ocean participation. Access to a facsimile machine for transmitting and receiving materials between you and your LIT mentor may be helpful.

What will I need to do if I am selected for the DataStreme Ocean course?

• Attend the three scheduled course meetings arranged by the LIT in your area.
• Follow ocean science on a national scale via DataStreme Ocean delivery of real-time information throughout the course.
• Successfully complete one learning activity with electronically-delivered components each week.
• Complete assigned readings from a textbook and Investigations Manual and weekly progress reports.
• Transmit completed activities and progress report to your assigned LIT mentor on a weekly schedule.
• Interact regularly with your LIT mentor by telephone or email to discuss course progress.
• Document several examples of in-school applications of DataStreme Ocean course products.
• Develop plans for becoming an Earth System Education Resource Teacher.
• Submit for review and evaluation a complete portfolio (archive) of course work at the final group meeting of the course.

What does DataStreme Ocean do for me?
You will be prepared to act as your school's ocean education resource person. By successfully completing the DataStreme Ocean course, you will:

• Learn ocean science fundamentals via a unique electronically delivered distance-learning course that emphasizes the study of oceanography as it happens.
• Become your school's representative as part of a major national science education program conducted by the American Meteorological Society in close cooperation with NOAA.
• Develop computer-based real-time environmental information acquisition and analysis skills.
• Receive resource and reference materials for your professional library. Discover ways to instill the excitement of current real-world science events across the precollege curriculum.
• Develop collegial working relationships with DataStreme Ocean, LIT members, and other course participants.

All participants are enrolled in a 3 semester-hour graduate course, entitled ESC 676 Real-Time Ocean Studies, through the State University of New York College at Brockport. Credit is awarded upon successfully completing course requirements the same semester as the course is taken.

What materials does DataStreme Ocean supply?

• DataStreme Ocean textbook and Investigations Manual
• Electronically-delivered daily ocean data and learning materials based on current ocean events.
• An inflatable globe for accurately depicting the ocean's relationship in the Earth system.

What must I do after the DataStreme Ocean course?
The goal of DataStreme Ocean is to empower Ocean Education Resource Teachers with the knowledge and capabilities to transform a virtually endless stream of environmental data into exciting and creative learning experiences for young people. As an DS Ocean Education Resource Teacher, you will be expected to introduce other teachers and administrators in your school, parents, and members of the community to the benefits of utilizing electronically-delivered environmental data streams as vehicles for learning across the curriculum.

DataStreme Ocean expects to develop a long-term working relationship with DataStreme Ocean course participants. The goal is to upgrade scientific literacy by motivating teachers and through them, their students, to develop and nurture active interests in science, mathematics, and technology.

How do I apply for DataStreme Ocean?

• Complete an Application Form (pdf) for DataStreme Ocean.
  Participants may only take one DataStreme course per semester.
• Submit your application to the nearest DataStreme Ocean LIT Leader listed on this webpage under the heading 'DataStreme Ocean LIT Leaders', and request information for the next offering of the DataStreme Ocean course.

If there is no LIT listed near you or in your state, inquiries may be sent to find out about joining a LIT outside your area by email to: amsedu@ametsoc.org. You will be notified of the status of your application by the local LIT leader. Enrollment is limited and selection is based on a number of criteria.

NOAA and NSF support DataStreme Ocean. The State University of New York at Brockport, NY awards graduate-level academic credit for DataStreme Ocean. The AMS provides financial support for the program and encourages its membership to take part as LIT members.

DataStreme Ocean is primarily funded by NOAA.

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