THE IMPORTANCE OF MARINE EDUCATION IN THE AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM

byKelly Goodingham, Bob Moffatt and Ward Nicholas

Marine Teachers Association of Queensland

Queensland Studies Authority Shared Visions ConferenceThursday 29th April, 10.10 - 11.10Brisbane Southbank Convention Centre

Marine education*

“Marine education is a study of the cultural, commercial, environmental and recreational aspects of the sea and how it is managed.

It can be taught to all ages because we never stop learning to appreciate and value our aquatic environment.”

* Source: An Introduction to Marine Studies, 1998 by Tim Ryan (Qld), Mick O’Connor (NSW), Mike Sudgen (Tas), Greg Wirth (SA), Alan Wolfe (WA) and Bob Moffatt (Wet Paper Publications) and later adopted by the Qld and Aquatic Practices Syllabus, 2002

1. Marine education history

2. Importance of marine education in schools

3. MTAQ history and achievements

4. Summary of importance of marine education in schools.

This presentation is in 4 parts

• The views expressed in this presentation are held not only by Queensland MTAQ members,

but also by

• MESA (Marine Education Society of Australia)

• NSW and Western Australia MTA’S

• Other marine educators in Australia, for example

Surfrider Foundation

Australian Marine Conservation Society

1. History of Marine Education

A complete history is beyond the scope of this presentation.

• However the following slides may give an insight

into how the subject started and why it is so highly valued by those who teach it

• A detailed account is on our web page in our ACARA submission

Friday 9th October 2009 News.

www.marineteachers.org.au

• Groups of teachers in Queensland, NSW and WA were already incorporating marine education into Science (Multi-Strand Science) and Nautical Studies in the late 1970’s

• The subject in Qld was born out of a State run assessment system that had difficulty moderating exam questions in• Navigation• Snorkelling• Boating and• Marine communications

Marine Education began in Australia in 1979 in Tasmania and Queensland and gathered pace in the early 1980’s.

• However it was not until 1985 that a syllabus was considered by the Board of Secondary School Studies

• It took three years* to get a version approved for trial largely due to support from Education Queensland who wrote their own Marine syllabuses.

*Stiff resistance came from academics who failed to see the rigor the subject had to offer and other subject areas who could see the natural attraction of students to the subject. All credit to John Pitman, Jim Leach and Cyril Connell for making it happen in the 1980’s

Education Queensland wanted to give students the opportunity to

• study a syllabus with topics which were

dedicated to practical content with

academic rigor that gave the students a

reason to come back to school to complete

years 11 and 12

Some examples:

Mathematics and Numeracy (Navigation)

Human Biology (Snorkelling)

English and Literacy (All topics)

Technology (Powerboating)

Mathematics and Numeracy (Navigation plus others)

• Though this is covered in the Mathematics A syllabus, Marine Studies users a very real life approach.

• Number relationships and calculations are learnt by plotting courses on waterways that students physical travel while boating.

• Confidence was gained by

Arriving safely at a place on a chart, on time, having navigated physical hazards

The rigor in the subject was evident as the course progressed

Human Biology (Snorkelling* plus other topics)

• Structure and function of the ear

• Understanding was gained by

Studying physics and physiology topics related to snorkeling.

An example: Equalizing the ear at depth and relating it to knowledge of pressures in the middle ear and Eustachian tube

Sea sickness and relating to knowledge of semicircular canals

*As a teacher what is a better way to start human physiology?

• Today we are going to learn about the physiology of the human ear or

• Today we are going snorkelling and we will investigate the effects of pressure on the physiology of the human body

English and Literacy (Marine radio communications, Marine Management and many others)

• Speaking clearly

• Literacy's of Science

• Presentations to a group

• Assessment based on article appraisal, Scientific reports, essay writing, extended experimental investigations, etc.

• A simple example Using a radio microphone to communicate safety details

before a boating voyage

Management assignments/power-points, oral presentations to communicate a personal marine issue to a target audience.

Technology (Power boating and other topics)

• Systems and subsystems in design

• Establishing Aquaculture systems

• Using ICTs including data loggers, video conferencing, digital microscopes, etc.

• Example: Starting an outboard motor

The student needs to understand the interconnectedness of the following systems safety, propulsion, fuel, ignition, cooling, and electrical systems to operate a motor correctly and safely.

If the motor does not start the student has to analyze the system and make decisions based on

sub system knowledge

• Marine studies introduces life skills that 15 - 17 year olds can value.

• Through this process the students want to come to school in years 11 and 12. (Earlier in some cases)

• The students can see a purpose in learning higher order skills such as

• information processing and reasoning

• performing integrated skills tasks

So Marine Education provides:

• a unique opportunity for students to gain

recreational and commercial qualifications at

school

• while studying academically challenging

content required for University entry.

• Navigation and Marine Communications can gain a

TAFE navigation certificate and a AMSA radio

operators tickets that can count towards a commercial

coxswains ticket

• Snorkelling can progress and include a recreational diving and first aid certificate

• Power boating can gain a recreational Boatsafe licence

or commercial competencies in 3 national MEM boating

modules

For example students studying

Typically students are also able to participate in

community based or commercial marine programs

including:

• Reef guardians

• Coral watch

• Waterwise

• Aquaculture

• Thus providing an opportunity to educate the whole person

• Other Marine Education topics provide the opportunity of students to study academically challenging content required for University entry

• As an example

• Physics

• Earth Science

• Chemistry

• Marine Biology

• Aquaculture

Physics and Earth Science

• In a 7-8 week unit on beaches, students could study:

Wave motion, refraction patterns forces on sand dune systems, erosion

Ocean currents, tides and rips

Tides and storm surges

Wave speed calculations

Tsunami wave speed calculations

Surfing predictions of swell direction and arrival

• This provides the opportunity for project assessment on beach protection needed for predicted sea level rises and the intelligent design of sand dune systems

Chemistry

• In a 7-8 week unit on water quality and aquaculture, students could study:

Composition and properties of sea water

Measurements of salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, temperature, pH, nitrates, phosphates

Application for growth of aquaculture organisms

Field work on aquaculture farm

• This provides the opportunity for project assessment on aquaculture farm design and management, conservation restraints, financial viability and product export.

Biology

• In a 7-8 week unit on reef ecology and management, students could study:

Reef ecology

Contemporary issues of coral bleaching, data collection and coastal zone protection

• This provides the opportunity for practical conservation projects - involvement in volunteer programs, waste and energy reduction in the home, communication of topic to local community, awareness of emissions or carbon trading schemes and willingness* to accept it.

*20 years ago we wasted water, now through education Australians know how to save it. We also have an attitude that accepts a vote for legislation that is going to charge us 20 times more than in 1990.

It is no wonder then that of the 3400 high schools in Australia, over 1200 (representing 34% of all schools)* are now teaching marine studies from a State approved syllabus

*Source State Ed Departments NSW, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, Marine Teacher Associations NSW, Qld, WA and book sales data 1988 - 2010 Wet Paper Publications

A. Educational rationale

B. Social and international responsibility

C. Economic responsibility

D. Our unique marine environment

E. Our coastal lifestyle

2. So why is Marine Education so important for the

Australian curriculum?

A. Educational rationale

The protection and safe use of our marine

environment is entirely dependent on the education

of the user groups.

As the marine environment becomes larger and more threatened, education and awareness become even more vital. (coral sea fisheries)

• On the sixteenth of November 1994,

Australia more than doubled its size with

the proclamation of the Exclusive

Economic Zone (EEZ)

• In April 2008 the United Nations granted us

an additional 2.5 million square kilometres

of EEZ seabed making more sea than

land!

• The total area of the continental shelf around

Australia is 14.8 million square kilometres.

We have approximately 12,000 islands and 783

major estuaries.

Many rivers have been pronounced "almost

dead“. Education and preventative treatment are

the only hope to save these precious catchment

areas.

• There is an urgent need to lift the level of awareness of the marine environment within the general public, and this is delivered at home and schools

• The EEZ should have the same comprehensive treatment in schools as its land mass equivalents. Examples:

Aquaculture vs Agriculture

Fishing vs Forestry etc

• The Federally Funded State of our Marine Environment (SOMER* reports) in 1995 stated that

"most Australians leave school with little more than a basic understanding of the sea and the important issues affecting the marine environment”... and concluded that

“ the main source of information about the marine environment in Australia today is television".

*http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/publications/somer

• The length of the coastline is estimated to be 69,630

kilometres and marine scientists are just beginning to

understand its ecosystems

* It was said by NASA that more is known of the

moon’s surface than beneath the sea.

• The rivers of Queensland’s east coast catchments are estimated to deliver 14 million tones of sediments to estuaries and coastal marine waters annually.

• In NSW, 37% of estuaries have more than half the land area of their catchments cleared of vegetation.

• The oceans span nearly 75% of the Earth’s surface and directly produce 70% of the Planet’s oxygen.

• Of the 33 phyla in Australia

28 are found in the sea

13 are exclusively marine

• Australia has the largest area of coral reefs in the world

• 80% of the known species in southern waters are endemic

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) are explicit in their demands for nations to

prevent, reduce and control degradation of the marine environment, and to promote the integrated management and sustainable development of marine resources

B. Social and international responsibility

• Australia is required to manage, research, develop, preserve and protect the marine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

So it is required to manage and develop these resources or risk losing them

• SOMER describes the state of the Australian marine environment as ‘generally good’.

“Education is needed to keep it that way and to address the poor ratings given to those marine habitats around urban and industrial areas”

• There will need to be a national strategy for economically sustainable development.

Any such strategy will rely on a well informed and responsible public.

It is patently obvious that this will only be achieved through our education systems

• Coastal habitats of tropical Australia

For example seagrasses, mangroves, and

fringing reefs are critical to most of the species

that sustain indigenous hunting, recreational

fishing and tourism, and commercial fishing.

• Australia is also required to manage predicted sea level rises and changing climate patterns.

A critical understanding of ocean/land interactions will be required by future Australian Scientists

• Predictions are that with a sea level rise of 0.2m some Sydney beaches could experience shoreline erosion up to 22 metres.

• Rising sea temperatures

Coral bleaching will dramatically affect our coral reefs

A disintegration of our GBR would change the face of Queensland forever

• We would see surf impacting on cane fields and mangrove ecosystems

• Sea defence systems would cost the Qld economy billions

• In 2007, the National Oceans Office estimated that Australia’s marine industries contributed between $40 billion per year to the national economy

• In December 2009, the AIMS Index of Marine Industry valued it at $48.4 billion

C. Economic responsibility

1. Fishing

2. Aquaculture

3. Offshore oil and gas

4. Ship building

5. Commercial shipping

6. Tourism and recreation

7. Support for high tech industries and services

Marine industries recognised by the National Oceans

Office included

1. Australia’s wild fish catch is 400,000 tonnes per year, worth $3.2 billion with a potential of $5 - 10 billion by the year 2020.

• It is estimated that the southern bluefin tuna industry could be worth more than the Australian beef industry within ten years

• Australia has the third largest fishing zone in the world

2. Our new aquaculture industry is estimated to be worth $1 billion by the year 2020 and is set to be a major employer in the marine industry.

• Crayfish, barramundi, scallops, prawns, oysters, peals, crocodiles, seahorses, salmon, crabs, silver perch and blue fin tuna are but a few examples.

• Our pristine waters are the envy of the world, yet as a nation we appear to care little for our waterways and estuaries

3. Oil and gas are worth $12.12 billion per year. 85% of this comes from offshore.

• 90% of this country’s untapped reserves are in the EEZ

• In August 2009, China signed a $50bn contract for the supply of gas from WA’s N/W shelf

• Recent research has highlighted the potential for seabed-based methane hydrates to meet some energy demands as these may contain over 30 times the existing natural gas resources worldwide.(Marine Coast and Community Network - MCCN).

• The Carnegie Corp estimates that between Perth and Brisbane there is around 500GW of recoverable wave energy available in the oceans,

This is more than 10 times the current installed power generation capacity in Australia (MCCN*).

*Marine Coast and Community Network

4. Over 99% of everything that enters or leaves Australia comes by ship

The shipping industry carries more than $200bn worth of cargo in an out of Australia each year mostly in foreign-owned vessels.

• International shipping is worth $1.15 billion with, - Coastal $647 million and - Shipbuilding $237 million.

• There are 12,000 overseas shipping arrivals and 380 million tonnes of cargo is carried annually in Australian waters

5. Recreational Boating and supporting marinas are an Australia-wide industry

nearly triple the size of the Australian snow ski resorts,

twice the size of the backpacking industry and

in direct employment, larger than the forestry industry and equivalent to coal mining and water supply.

*Data from Australian Marine Safety Web Sites

6. In 2009, there were over 490,000 registered boats in Australia.

This generates over $10.3bn in spending and

supports over 500,000 jobs

In January 2010 - 592,179 licences were held by Queenslanders.

As a matter of interest over 3000 licences are issued by Queensland Marine Teachers annually as a result of approximately 40 hours of teacher instruction time in the classroom and a further 8 hours of practical lessons.

7. The fastest growing sector of the Australian tourism industry is caravanning and camping yet coastal caravan parks are closing in Australia and being taken up by developers.

Over 68% of visitors to Australia come to experience our unique natural environment, mainly the coasts, sea and reefs

AIMS estimates the marine tourism market is worth $15.9 billion

It provides 4.6% of all jobs in Australia.

• Initial work by the Bureau of Tourism Research reports that

• 42% of domestic tourism and

• 50% of international tourism is now marine or coastal-based.

• Australia has 51,000 km2 of seagrasses,

representing

the highest biodiversity of seagrasses in the

world,

the largest areas of temperate seagrass and

one of the largest areas of tropical

seagrass.

D. Uniqueness of our Marine environment

• Die-back of seagrass beds is one of the most

serious issues affecting Australia’s marine

environment, caused in part by elevated

nutrients from stormwater and sewage

discharges.

• In Victoria’s Westernport Bay, around 85% of the

total biomass of seagrass has been lost.

• Australia has the third largest area of mangroves in the world, lining about 6,000 km of Australia’s coast, providing habitat for both bait-fish and table fish.

Mangroves are also essential nursery habitats

for prawns and are vital for sustaining the

northern prawn fishery, one of Australia’s most

valuable fisheries.

• More than 2,000 species of macroalgae have been identified around Australia’s southern coastline from south-west Western Australia to NSW and Lord Howe Island.

Western Australia has 558 species of macroalgae (seaweed) while the World’s tallest kelp forests, up to 30 m high, are off Tasmania’s east coast.

• Australia has the largest area of coral reefs in the world

the GBR is the largest complex of reefs in the world

• Australia has the largest percentage of marine endemic species in the world

80% of the known species in southern waters are found nowhere else in the world

• One quarter of all Australians live within three kilometres of the coast

86% in the coastal catchments and

two-thirds reside in coastal towns and cities.

E. Our coastal urban life

• While 70% of the Australian coast is sparsely populated, there are major existing pressure points on coastal environments

• New regions include

central and northern New South Wales,

south-east Queensland,

south-east Melbourne and

south-west Western Australia.

• 90% of new dwellings were constructed in the coastal zone in the past 10 years.

• It has been estimated that

17% of mangroves and

21% of saltmarsh

have been lost to coastal development

The greatest impact on coastal waters comes from

• recreation

• waste disposal

• urban and agricultural drainage

• fishing and aquaculture

• toxicants

• physical habitat destruction

• the introduction of exotic organisms

• mineral exploration and extraction

• reclamation and construction

• transport

Our achievements so far

• Developing an accredited junior Marine Studies Syllabus with QSA (see syllabus handout)

• Conducting an annual conference since 1994 at various locations in Queensland and around Australia

• Introducing Marine Studies and Marine and Aquatic Practices into the Queensland curriculum for over 3,000 students each year since 1994

• Developing aquatic based vocational and community based programs eg: Commercial coxswains tickets, recreational powerboat licences (both last a life time)

We provide professional advice to

• Education Queensland on marine and aquatic safety eg. Dept Safety Manuals

• Queensland Studies Authority on qualifications for teachers in boating, syllabus design and evaluation. Eg Restricted coxswains schools certificate, powerboating practical exam CD

• Marine Safety Queensland on schools boating in both primary and secondary schools. Eg Boatsafe licencing scheme (Secondary) and Kids and Water (Primary)

• Marine Education industry in general. Eg Ecotourism (Brampton Is) and field study centres (Lady Elliott Is)

We can confidently say that

• We have over 18 years experience in the Marine Education Industry

• Our membership base has all the knowledge, skills and a willingness to provide advice and assistance on the development of a national syllabus in marine education

• The subject should be recognised for

inclusion into the national curriculum

• And or blended through

4. We feel its so important that….

Examples for discussion

• Junior Marine Syllabus

• Senior Marine and Aquatic Practices

• Senior Marine Studies Syllabus

For all information about MTAQ visit our web site

www.marineteachers.org.au

Thanks next slide !

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Thanks you to Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for

the use of their slides

Kelly Goodingham and Bob Moffatt for there words!

Photos Ward Nicholas and Bob Moffatt et al. (2004 Marine

Teachers friend)

Students and staff of Heatley Secondary College

Queensland Studies Authority for allowing us to present