Channel Islands Live

Bringing Channel Islands National Park to the People through Technology and Education

Welcome and Introductions

Carol Peterson

Education Coordinator

Channel Islands National Park

Carol_Peterson@nps.gov

Cathy Reznicek

Educational Technology Specialist

Ventura County Office of Education

Creznicek@vcoe.org

Partnerships & Collaboration

Partnerships & Collaboration

Both agencies dedicated to providing opportunities for teachers, students, and

the general public to learn more about the Channel Islands and their unique place in

the local ecosystem.

Interagency Cooperation: Original partnership began in 2002-2003 during the JASON XIV: From Shore to Sea expedition. Collaboration continued after the expedition year ended.

Channel Islands National Park &

Ventura County Office of Education

Access to the Islands a Challenge Because of its remote location

only about one-half of park visitors ever get out to the islands.

A solution is finding a way to bring the islands to the people.

Bringing the Park to the People through technology allows visitors and students to “virtually connect” with park resources at their convenience.

Anacapa Island14 miles

Santa Cruz Island20 miles

Santa Rosa: 46 miles San Miguel: 58 miles

Park Headquarters

Anacapa Island14 miles

Santa Cruz Island20 miles

Santa Rosa: 46 miles San Miguel: 58 miles

Santa Barbara Island55 miles

Virtual Kelp Forest Dive For over almost 25 years the park has offered a live

interpretive dive program on Anacapa Island.

Technology Takes You to a Hidden World Video cameras and special

two-way communication equipment allows visitors to talk with divers as they explore the kelp forest.

Favorite program for visitors

Effective in communicating the values of this prolific marine ecosystem

Linking the Island to the Mainland From 1995 to 2001 a 915 Mhz microwave link

transmitted the dive program from the island to visitors at park headquarters in Ventura Harbor.

The park needed to reestablish and expand the reach of this program.

Ventura County Office of Education’s (VCOE) needs

Countywide need to decrease cost and increase the bandwidth between the county office and county school districts.

Needed for everyday school operations

Increased bandwidth also supports web-based services, applications, and rich interactive multimedia educational content

The Technology

VCOE Wireless Links

July 2007

Laguna Peak, Broome Property

South Mountain

Red Mountain

VCOEASC

Hueneme

OxnardEl

RioSD

OceanView

Fillmore

Santa Paula SD

Ventura USD

CHINPS

SimiValley

USD

Anacapa Dive

Program

Santa Cruz

Eagle Cam

VCOECESC

VCOE Wireless Links

July 2007

Laguna Peak, Broome Property

South Mountain

Red Mountain

VCOEASC

RioSD

OceanView

Fillmore

Santa Paula SD

Ventura USD

CHINPS

SimiValley

USD

Anacapa Dive

Program

Santa Cruz

Eagle Cam

VCOECESC

Red Mountain, Ventura

Diver in the water off AnacapaInteraction and viewing at

Visitor’s Center

Channel Islands Park Headquarters

Anacapa Island solar building

Fiber run

Landing Cove

18-mile microwave wireless link

6-mile wireless link

Channel Island Live’s Vision Connect people to the resources values of the park

and marine sanctuary

Bring Channel Islands research to students and learners of all ages

Enhance student learning as research shows students better understand key science concepts through multimedia interdisciplinary approaches

Better prepare students in science and technology literacy, essential for the 21st century

What is Channel Islands Live?

Real-time interactions with a remote resource Live Dives, Hikes, TalksTerrestrial CAMs

Bald eagle Pelicans

Underwater CAM

Education

JASON From Shore to Sea

Provided a multidisciplinary, standards-based curriculum that we continue to use

Allowed us to experience impact of reaching a much larger, international audience

Created a strong local educational interest in distance learning possibilities

Education

Partner collaboration includes development of teacher and student learning resources

Leverage the standards-based JASON XIV curriculum to be used as a continuing learning tool

Develop pre- and post-live broadcast activities for teachers to use in the classroom to scaffold student learning

Create and deliver face-to-face and online professional development opportunities for teachers

Education

The curriculum is place-based and can be continually updated to insure its relevancy.

Encourages young students to get outside and make connections with their local environment.

No Child Left Inside!

And more…..

Channel Islands Live provides opportunities for teachers and students to become active researchers, both in the field and virtually via live interactivity.

A Pilot Program—From Ventura to California and Beyond Pilot participants:

Four 4th grade classes at Haycox School/Oxnard

Two 5th grade classes at Sheridan Way School/Ventura

Four 6th grade classes at Blackstock Middle School/Oxnard

BWET: Bay Watershed Education and Training Program A NOAA grant Supports teacher training Funds students’ field experiences

Curriculum Kelp Forest Ecosystems: Monitoring and

Management Conserving our Natural Resources: A

Balancing Act LiMPETS: Long Term Monitoring Program

and Experience Training for Students

Scientists in Training Participate in Live Dive Conduct inventorying and monitoring

Bald EagleCAM

First bald eagle in over 50 years hatches on Channel Islands

Channel Islands Live technology thrills public

Media frenzy Thousands of hits,

hundreds of articles Funded by MSRP for two

years

Bald EagleCAM Discussion board

IWS and USFWS biologists post current information for public to read

Regularly used by classrooms for journal writing and development of observation skills

Opportunity to develop stewards New park stewards range from

stockbrokers in NYC to Cottage Hospital ICU staff

New stewards volunteer to help manage site Post latest video clips Document observations for scientists Help monitor discussion forum content

What’s Coming CINP has prioritized Channel Islands Live as its most

important interpretive project.

VCOE received BWET funding for year two and has applied for year three.

VCOE is continuing to develop its ability to deliver high bandwidth signals to area schools and beyond via Internet and Internet2.

Media server: Archived video and other media to support teaching, learning, and research throughout the year should begin to be posted later this year.

What’s Still Needed Further develop evaluation tools to use with both

students and general public

Demonstrate how research that shows the effectiveness of distance learning applies to this program

Develop additional educational resources and continue to enhance the website content

Meet staffing and funding challenges to expand the program

Increase awareness of and access to live and archived footage for scientific research

Partners Support NPS and VCOE Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Institute for Wildlife Studies

Marine Science Institute, UCSB

Minerals Management Service

Montrose Settlements Restoration Program

The Nature Conservancy

Santa Barbara County Education Office

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

References Channel Islands Live

http://chil.vcoe.org

Contact Info:

Carol Peterson: Channel Islands National Park, carol_peterson@nps.org 805.658.5735

Catharine Reznicek: Ventura County Office of Education, creznicek@vcoe.org 805.383.9326