Goals and Requirements for Graduate Fellowships

Offered by:

The University of South Florida 's College of Marine Science through funding provided by the National Science Foundation

The OCEANS Fellowships are funded as part of the National Science Foundation's GK-12 initiative. These Fellowships seek to provide opportunities to highly qualified graduate students in NSF supported disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to serve as science resources in K-12 schools. The OCEANS program along with other GK-12 initiatives intends to 1) enhance the level of interaction in science education among K-12 schools and higher education in ways positive for all, 2) enhance appreciation and capability of graduate students for high quality science teaching, and 3) enhance both appreciation and capability for content-rich, inquiry-based approaches to teaching/learning science. Ideally, GK-12 Fellows will become emissaries for collaborative efforts between colleges of higher education, school districts, and community resources as part of their professional pursuits.

OCEANS Fellows will serve as ocean science content resources for K-12 classrooms in Pinellas County . Training courses will provide Fellows with insights into current trends and practices in science education, opportunities to develop inquiry-based instructional skills, and strategies to communicate scientific concepts effectively to a broad array of audiences. It is our hope that Fellows will enhance and enrich science-learning environments, while realizing their value as scientific resources and role models for the ocean science profession.

Specific Project Goals

1. Provide Graduate Fellows with an understanding of current trends and practices in K-12 science education, life-long teaching and evaluation skills, and experience communicating scientific concepts to a diverse audience of learners.
2. Provide Elementary-level Teachers (grades K-5) with a foundation of content knowledge, inquiry-based instructional skills, and other tools to effectively and confidently incorporate more science into their curriculum; and provide Secondary-level Science Teachers (grades 6-12) Professional Development to address gaps in science content knowledge and effectively incorporate ocean-based inquiry learning and research activities in their classes.
3. Improve the science-learning environment for students by increasing their content knowledge via high interest resources including the local ocean setting, and activities that invite inquiry and develop science processing skills, so students can understand the significance of real world applications and current career opportunities in science.
4. Strengthen the collaboration among the USF College of Marine Science, College of Education ( USF St. Petersburg ), and public school district administrators and teachers to improve the science literacy of the general citizenry, present and future teachers, and students.

Eligibility Requirements

• United States citizen, a national, or native resident of US possession; foreign students who hold visas are not eligible.
• Meet application criteria for admission to USF's College of Marine Science or Art & Sciences
• Enrolled in the College of Marine Science or Arts & Sciences graduate program
• Be in good standing within USF's College of Marine Science or Arts & Sciences
• Completion of 6 hours of College of Marine Science coursework or equivalent if a CAS student
• Demonstrate the ability to use a computer and other technologies as instructional and communication tools
• Be fully committed to the scheduling requirements for this fellowship
• Provide written approval of graduate advisor's support
• Provide information required by schools for working with K-12 students
• Demonstrate strong moral character and leadership skills
• Prior experience in a formal or informal teaching setting, desirable
• Enrollment or completion of CMS course, Scientist in the Classroom

Program Administration and Specific Inquiries to:

Teresa Greely,
College of Marine Science Office of Educational Programs/Outreach
E-mail: greely@marine.usf.edu
Location: KRC 2111
Voice mail: 727-553-3921

Selection Procedure

Applications that do not meet the minimum eligibility criteria or that are incomplete will not be considered. The Fellowship Committee consisting of the Program Director, GK-12 Faculty Mentors, and other Program Advisors will evaluate and make final selections for awards. Fellows will be selected on the basis of scholastic achievement and ability as evidenced by academic records, statement of purpose, support of faculty advisor, and letters of recommendation. In addition, candidates may be required to participate in a personal interview.

Conditions of Awards

OCEANS Fellows are required to be enrolled in the College of Marine Science or CAS graduate program. The GK-12 Fellowship CANNOT be combined with additional College or Federal Fellowships to ensure the intent of NSF to provide a quality GK-12 experience and degree progress. Current awards must be completed or deferred by May start date of GK-12 Fellowship. Recipients must have permission of the Fellowship Committee to accept funding from any other sources. After a GK-12 award, any major change in plan of study requires prior approval of the OCEANS Fellowship Committee. Each GK-12 Fellow will be required to participate in all aspects of program evaluation (e.g. on-line communications/journaling, meetings), submit an interim progress report due midway through the Fellowship year, and an annual progress report due at the end of each Fellowship year. Fellowship support is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance, satisfactory progress toward the appropriate degree, and adherence to the terms of the award.

Program Administration