For Teachers

1. BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS & STUDENTS

2. PARTNERSHIP SHOWCASE

3. HOW TO GET INVOLVED?

4. REGISTERING

5. SUPPORTING LEARNING

1. BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS & STUDENTS

Teachers have the opportunity to meet and create links with seafood industry representatives.  Students can benefit by: 

• Contact with people who work in the seafood industry for career inspiration
• Learning more about the importance of the seafood industry to local communities, both economically and socially
• Understanding the roles associated with the seafood industry in their community, from catching and harvesting through to processing, research and marketing
• Learning about how the seafood industry is meeting sustainability and environmental challenges, and future challenges to the industry

2. PARTNERSHIP SHOWCASE

The first partnership of the Adopt a Fishing Boat program was created between fisherman, Bryan Denny and a Year 4 class at Lauderdale Primary School in the third term of 2009.  Bryan is a commercial diver, abalone diver and cray-fisherman.  He participated in two face to face sessions with the class and accompanied a class visit to the Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre (note: this excursion was facilitated by the class teacher and Centre staff; it is not part of the Adopt a Fishing Boat program.)

During Bryan’s class visits, children were able to view and handle fishing equipment, including an aluminium dinghy and scuba gear.  Students had the opportunity to ask questions about target catch, fishing location, occupational health and safety, accessing marine resources, logistics and career opportunities.  In addition to his class visits, students received regular at-sea email updates from Bryan about his fishing activities.  Bryan provided the class with a navigational chart, which students have used to map his progress in a science journal.  Students have also calculated Bryan’s catch (by weight) based on his email reports.

3. HOW TO GET INVOLVED?

If you would like to create an Adopt a Fishing Boat or Adopt a Marine Farm partnership please register your interest.  We will ‘match’ you with a fisherman or farmer (depending on your interest) and offer support in developing units of work and accessing information about the seafood industry.  If you already know a fisher or farmer (such as a parent or acquaintance), registering your intended partnership will ensure that your class has access to a range of educational resources and OH&S recommendations. 

Finding a partner

There are three ways to create a partnership:

• The SIPS Project Officer and OceanWatch Australia, acting as a facilitator, can bring interested teachers and fishers or marine farmers together.
• A teacher may initiate a partnership
• A fisher or marine farmer may initiate a partnership

Important information – if your partnership is initiated by you or a fisherman, it is strongly recommended that you register your partnership as part of the Adopt a Fishing Boat or Adopt a Marine Farm programs.  Registration ensures that you receive support from the SIPS Project Officer and information about OH&S, as well as program updates and access to learning resources.

Working with a partner

Once you have been matched with or found a partner, it’s important to discuss with your fisherman or farmer your class needs and expectations, and their availability and commitment (remember, they are volunteering their time.)  You can do this by meeting face to face, via a telephone conversation or email.  The SIPS Project Officer is available to facilitate all first-time meetings and any communication thereafter.

You should consider the following:

• How do you want to use your fisher/farmer in the classroom? 
• How often you would like contact with your fisher or farmer, and how much time are they prepared to contribute?
• How will you communicate with them (for example, would you like them to send emails, text  messages or Facebook status updates from sea, and is this possible for them?  How regularly can both partners access the internet?)
• What are some project or excursion ideas you can share?
• What is the busy time of year and the down-time for your fisher or farmer?
• What type of data from the fishing boat or farm is available to share with the class?

Good character checks and security

All fishermen who have any type of contact with students are required by State and Federal governments to undergo security screening.  The SIPS Project Officer will work with you and your partner to ensure that all security checks are in place prior to the commencement of your partnership.

All fishermen and marine farmers who participate in the Adopt a Fishing Boat and Adopt a Marine Farm programs receive information about their roles and responsibilities and occupational health and safety.

4. Registering

You can register your interest in an Adopt a Fishing Boat or Adopt a Marine Farm partnership here.  In addition to providing your contact information, you should think about the following:

• The program partnership you are most interested in
• Your preferences for how your partnership will operate
• Your year level and subject areas most relevant to your students
• Any specific class or student interests

Once you’ve registered your interest and preferences, you will be partnered with an appropriate fisher or marine farmer.  If there’s nobody available, OceanWatch Australia will endeavour to recruit an appropriate a partner for your class.  You can also nominate or request your preferred partner.

The benefits

Registering your partnership will provide you with access to:

• Learning support from OceanWatch Australia
• Teacher resources including information about the seafood industry in Tasmania and appropriate learning programs
• Email updates and newsletters about the Adopt a Fishing Boat and Adopt a Marine Farm programs featuring fishermen’s profiles, information about the seafood industry and the marine environment, partnership showcases and ideas for activities
• Occupational health and safety information

5. Supporting learning

The SIPS Project Officer coordinates partnerships and offers support and resources to fishers and schools.  We can also provide access to up-to-date and locally relevant information on commercial fisheries, aquaculture and sustainable resource issues.

This is a pilot project, currently available only in Tasmania.  Teacher feedback is incorporated into the development of the Adopt a Fishing Boat and Adopt a Marine Farm programs.  The Vocational and Applied Learning and Science Curriculums are targeted to provide a structure for teachers to assess learning outcomes for students.