A new initiative at Cal Maritime is creating collaboration between courses to enhance
the quality of education for students. The effort is funded through a Scholarship
of Teaching and Learning grants to conduct oceanographic surveys aboard the school's
Training Ship Cub 鈥� one of Cal Maritime's small training vessels.
The study integrates the Navigation Piloting Lab and the Oceanographic Instruments
and Analysis Lab. The combined courses conducted weekly oceanographic surveys of the
San Francisco Estuary this past spring. Students from both classes worked together
to develop voyage plans and navigate to sampling stations where students deployed
newly acquired, state-of-the-art oceanographic sampling instrumentation.
"We believed that the introductions of a real-life mission would improve student
engagement by providing added purpose to the class periods," said Dr. Alex Parker,
assistant professor of oceanography. "By working side by side, students would gain
proficiency in ocean literacy and navigation and vessel operations without being taught
those subjects in a formal classroom setting. The data that the students collected
has real scientific value during a year of unprecedented rainfall."
Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
"Working with my peers in both fields of study has given me opportunities to teach
what I am passionate about, and learn from the expertise of others," said Shaun Teter,
a marine transportation student pursuing a minor in marine science.
A paper describing the project has been accepted for presentation to the International
Association of Maritime Universities. Authors of the paper are Parker, Maritime Vocational
Instructor Tamara Burback, Marine Transportation Professor and Department Chair Steve
Browne, Maritime Vocational Lecturer Fred Reiman, and Cal Maritime Cadet Emily Shimada.
Contact
ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, 天美视频 is the only degree-granting
maritime academy on the West Coast. Located in Vallejo, California, the campus offers
undergraduate degrees that prepare students for careers in engineering, transportation,
international relations, business, and global logistics. Cal Maritime also offers
a master鈥檚 degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number
of extended learning programs and courses.