Professional Development for Educators

Great Lakes Aquarium offers workshops and field experiences for educators that connect directly to your work. From methods for exploring foundational concepts in the science of local ecosystems to techniques for infusing inquiry into the classroom to inspiration for taking students into the field, our staff and network of collaborators provide enriching opportunities for both formal and non-formal educators.

NOAA Ocean Exploration Professional Development

Educator Exploration into the Mysteries of Fire Ice

Cold Seeps and Chemosynthetic Communities

Educators of grades 6-12 are invited to join a NOAA Ocean Exploration facilitator on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 for a 90-minute, virtual professional development workshop. Together we’ll explore the wonder of cold seeps – investigating what are cold seeps, how and where they form, and how they support biologically diverse communities in the absence of sunlight.

This engaging 90-minute, virtual workshop will include:

  • A brief video introduction to the geology and biology of cold seeps
  • Demonstrations of a student investigations designed to guide student sensemaking of cold seep phenomena
  • Reflection and discussion with peer educators
  • A guided tour of the free, online educational resources available from NOAA Ocean Exploration and the Deep Ocean Education Project website

Registration is REQUIRED and space is LIMITED. Registered educators will receive a collection of classroom-ready resources to bring cold seeps alive in their classrooms including student investigations, videos, and fact sheets. Additionally, educators that attend the 90-minute, virtual event will also receive a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation and a $75 stipend.

This NOAA Ocean Exploration professional development for educators is offered in partnership with the Great Lakes Aquarium and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

When: April 4, 2023 – 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. CST

Where: Virtual

Questions? Contact Emily Lind at elind@glaquarium.org or (218) 740 – 2025.