Igniting Your Personal and Professional Growth

Describe one or two, specific learning experiences from your fellowship. In words, show us this experience and explain why it was powerful.

The experience was absolutely amazing to learn about climate change on the Coast of Maine and the unfortunate fact climate change is affecting the ecosystem in this location faster than other areas. Being able to collect data from the intertidal zone was challenging with the slick rocks and incoming tides, but working with such an amazing team made it fun! Working in the lab also gave us an enormous amount of evidence of the sheer quantity of microplastics in our environment.

What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn professionally?

Working with a group from around the nation gave me a chance to learn from others and helped give me perspective on a multitude of topics. Personally, the experience showed me I have just scratched the surface on my own knowledge about climate change, and gave me a greater sense of urgency to share this knowledge with my students. Professionally, I feel more confident to teach about climate change and share the importance of the topic with others because I have been in the field with scientists.

What were some unplanned or unexpected experiences or outcomes of your fellowship? Or, how did the fellowship you crafted differ from the actual learning experience?

Some unplanned experiences that came out of my fellowship were to get to learn and grow with such amazing people from around the country. I was inspired by so many of my team members. The fellowship plan did not differ greatly from the actual learning experience, with the exception of learning more about microplastics than I previously knew, so that was helpful. Being able to work in the intertidal zone along the coast of Maine to compare it with the Gulf of Mexico Coast (home) was incredible.

Impacting Your Classroom, School and Community

Outline specific plans you have to implement your fellowship and reach your student goals.

I am going to use the knowledge I shared with students to not only learn climate change and use lessons that center around marine impacts, but also I plan to incorporate microplastics more than I planned. I hope to raise funds to be able to purchase the equipment we used in the lab at Schoodic. I believe my students would gain such great “aha” moments just like I did. My specific plans include lessons for my students to collect water locally and sample these for microplastics to compare to ME.

What is one way you can leverage your fellowship to create one authentic learning experience for students? (e.g. hands-on learning, projects, community engagement)

Definitely one way I plan to create the “authentic learning experience” for my students is to get them outside and collect water samples. We have a local group called Mobile Bay Keepers. I reached out to them and they are going to collaborate with us for a walking field trip to a stream we can sample. They also have some lab equipment for water quality they are going to show the students how to use. The FFT fellowship lit the spark to reach out and collaborate with our local group for students.

How, specifically, will your fellowship extend beyond your classroom? (e.g. families, school-at-large, afterschool groups, surrounding community, colleagues, etc.)

My fellowship will extend beyond my classroom because we are collaborating with a local environmental group. This will enable us to expand our program and will hopefully create a project that will continue for years to come. The families of my students will also be impacted because the students act as ambassadors for our program. When they are excited to learn, the enthusiasm is contagious and spreads.