Marine sciences pilot project to make a splash
Three schools to offer the subject to Grade 10 learners this year before it goes countrywide
THE Two Oceans Aquarium, in partnership with Gansbaai Academy, Simon’s Town High and South Peninsula High schools, will this month launch marine sciences as a pilot subject.
These three schools have been selected as “marine sciences node schools” and will offer the new subject to Grade 10 learners.
These learners will be the pilot group and successful candidates will be awarded a Two Oceans Aquarium Grade12 marine sciences certificate when matriculating. This pilot will guide teachers to introduce the subject as an official matric subject for Grade 10 students in 2020.
For Russell Stevens, head of education at the Two Oceans Aquarium, this is a milestone in the work towards the development of the subject which will be implemented in schools across the country from 2020.
“This project is gaining momentum and the process has put the Two Oceans Aquarium on the map for the most senior officials in the country.
“Our team has worked hard at developing partnerships with the Department of Basic Education and in the provincial education departments (Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KZN and the Gauteng Education Department).
“All are now familiar with our programmes and the significance of our offering in the South African education landscape. Support from senior officials in the departments of education has shown recognition for the contribution made by the Two Oceans Aquarium staff in the partnering with the formal education sector.”
The aquarium has an active and respected education department and is visited by about 70 000 schoolchildren each year who are introduced to marine ecosystems.
In addition, 30 000 children are exposed to the aquarium’s two outreach programmes.
Since 2005 the aquarium’s Environmental Education Centre has offered enrichment courses for learners from grades 6 to 12.
These courses, usually presented over weekends or during school holidays and through various sponsorships, are offered free for the learners.
It is from these acclaimed and popular courses that the aquarium’s education team was approached by the Department of Education to develop the marine sciences curriculum for schools.
The marine sciences curriculum has been conceived to cover five sub-disciplines:
● Marine geography and geology: this section deals with the structure and origins of coastlines, the sea floor and sediments, and how these change over time.
● Marine chemistry: the chemical composition and properties of sea water, and the effects of pollutants on ocean life.
● Marine physics: waves, tides and currents, as well as the ways in which the ocean acts as a driver of weather and climate.
● Marine biology: marine life, including ecology, fundamental biology, classification, evolutionary processes, and the adaptation of marine organisms to their environments.
● Humans and the ocean: this section highlights how humans use the ocean for food, travel and recreation, and how renewable and nonrenewable resources are harvested.
This section also considers the importance of research in understanding the ocean and the effects that human activities and practices have on the ocean and larger global patterns (for example, climate change, ocean acidification).
The issue of sustainability is foregrounded in the teaching of the entire subject.
There are five specific “marine sciences aims” which relate to the purposes of learning science:
● Know the subject content (theory).
● Conduct practical work and investigations.
● Understand the applications of marine science in everyday life, the history of marine science discoveries, and the relationship between indigenous knowledge and science.
● Understand the multidisciplinary nature of marine sciences and be able to explain variables in more than one branch of marine science.
● Understand the sensitive nature of the ocean, the scientific evidence of human impact on marine ecosystems, and the importance of sustainable management practices.
The marine sciences pilot subject will be launched at the node schools in this month as part of the Grade 10 curriculum.
It will be offered as an “afterschool” eighth subject at the node schools, over two afternoons a week (as determined by the school).
The subject will also be available to interested Grade 10 learners from neighbouring schools and nearby areas. A minimal cost for students will apply and be payable to the node schools’ governing body.
Node schools are inviting prospective Grade 10s who wish to take marine sciences from this year to apply. Each application will be considered in conjunction with the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Applicants need to submit the following to the marine sciences co-ordinating teacher at each of the node schools:
● Letter of motivation from the learner as to why he/she is interested in studying marine sciences.
● A supporting letter from their geography/natural sciences teacher or their grade head, recommending he learner and approving the application
● A certified copy of their Grade 9 June report.
● A letter from their parent/ guardian supporting the application, undertaking to arrange transport and to agree with payment of the afterschool marine sciences fees.
The following criteria will apply: ● Applications are open to Grade9s who will be studying Grade 10 in 2019.
● A maximum of 40 suitable candidates per node will be selected.
● Candidates must be taking Grade10 maths and physical sciences
● Have reliable transport to ensure attendance of the programme.
● If marine sciences will be the learner’s eighth subject, it must not interfere with their other subjects
For enquiries regarding the marine sciences curriculum and subjects, please contact the following node schools: Gansbaai Academy (0283842370); Simon’s Town High (0217861056); South Peninsula High (0217129318). |
The Two Oceans Aquarium has an active and respected education department and is visited by about 70 000 school children each year who are introduced to the wonders of the marine eco systems.