How to bring our oceans and their inhabitants into the classroom

Mr Ndamane, an educator from Sophumemela High School and one of the champion educators in the SAEON programme, leads a group presentation (Picture: Thomas Mtontsi) Rocky shore studies. SAEON's Thomas Mtontsi (left) and Eco-Schools Node Coordinator Jo Peschen share their experiences (Picture: Busiswa Matyholo) Thomas Mtontsi (second from left) with SAEON champion educators Mr Ndamane, Ms Mbopa and Mrs Julius (Picture: Busiswa Matyholo) People are generally afraid of sharks and regard them as the most dangerous species found in our oceans. Presenters at the MCEN Conference made it clear that sharks are not the villains they are made out to be, and serve a valuable purpose in our marine ecosystems.

Thomas Mtontsi, Education Outreach Officer, SAEON Egagasini Node

SAEON delegates recently attended the 10^th Western Cape Marine and Coastal Educators Network (MCEN) Regional Conference, which was held in the Soetwater Environment Education Centre in Kommetjie. The conference theme was Coastal Treasures.

Conference attendance was not limited to MCEN members and officers of environmental centres; it was open to everyone with an interest in our oceans and their inhabitants -- everyone who wanted to learn more about the rock dwellers, sharks and other wonders of the seas and has an interest in educating people (adults as well as children) about the fascinating world of our oceans and coasts.

Recognising that educators in inland areas are faced with a huge challenge in teaching learners who have never even seen the sea about our oceans and getting them to interact and respond, the MCEN regional committee set out to assist the educators in addressing this challenge.

Adding to the pool of knowledge

The main purpose of the MCEN conference was to add to the pool of knowledge available to educators to support them in bringing the oceans into the classroom. It set out to equip educators with teaching skills and resources to portray our oceans and their inhabitants in an interesting and engaging way.

Environmental officers from various centres shared their knowledge with the educators and advised them on ways and means to attract the interest of the learners. The educators were shown how to balance their lessons by adding fun educational elements such as hands on activities illustrating ocean-related topics.

In an interesting and informative presentation Eco-Schools Node Coordinator Jo Peschen shared some useful ideas for lessons on sharks, including hands on activities aimed at identifying the shark type by looking at its egg shell, an activity learners ought to enjoy tremendously.

The conference was thought-provoking and informative throughout. Although the presentations were excellent, some of the educators involved in the SAEON programme felt that the presentations would have been more effective if they had been less complicated and pitched at the level of understanding of the general audience.