Science Education at Ocean Commotion

Ocean Commotion Booth 11/05/15

The College of Human Sciences & Education featured two booths at Ocean Commotion on October 27, 2015 in the LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center. More than 2,500 students, teachers, and chaperones attended, learning about Louisiana’s coast and sea.

Children at Dr. Pamela Blanchard's Coastal Roots booth interactively potted seeds into “cells” that will be planted at restoration sites in the future. Coastal Roots Seedling Nursery Program establishes wetland seedling nurseries at schools in Louisiana’s coastal zone. There are currently 47 schools across 18 Louisiana parishes participating in the LSU Coastal Roots Program, as well as one school in San Pedro de la Paz Concepcion, Chile, and two schools in Santiago, Chile. Students from second grade to high school participate, becoming environmental stewards.

Dr. Bridgette Davis' SeaPerch booth showed off SeaPerch remote operated vehicles. Students use a kit to build these underwater robots. It follows a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. SeaPerch teaches students about robotics, engineering, science, and math.

LSU offers several program options related to science education. Undergraduate licensure programs include an interdisciplinary elementary education program and the GeauxTeach Kids at Ocean Commotion Math and Science program, in which teacher candidates earn a bachelor’s in biology, chemistry, or physics and a concentration in secondary education. At the graduate level, science education faculty teach in the Holmes programs. The Holmes Elementary Program is a one-year master’s program that complements LSU’s undergraduate elementary education program. The Holmes Secondary Program is for candidates who already have a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, physics, or a related field and are interested in earning a master’s degree and teaching certification.

CHSE’s science education faculty teach and mentor students specializing in science education in non-licensure graduate programs. Graduate students can advance their knowledge base as a master teacher or prepare for leadership roles within their schools with a Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction, with a specialization in science education. With the certificate of Educational Specialist (EdS), graduate students can continue their professional growth and specialization in science education beyond a master’s degree. Students in the MEd and EdS programs work closely with dedicated and knowledgeable faculty throughout their coursework and capstone projects. Finally, graduate students prepare to be scholars and leaders in the field of science education with the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Curriculum and Instruction, with a specialization in science education. Students in the PhD program work closely with dedicated and knowledgeable faculty and have opportunities to engage in research under faculty mentorship; present their scholarship at local, state, and national conference; and teach undergraduate courses.

Booth About SOE

The LSU School of Education offers graduate and undergraduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction and in Educational Leadership, Research, and Counseling. The school’s mission is to prepare P-12 educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners and scholars knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues.

Visit the School of Education at lsu.edu/chse/education

About CHSE

The College of Human Sciences & Education is a nationally accredited division of LSU. Formed in 2012, the college brings together programs and capitalizes on individual strengths to create a dynamic new college that addresses the socially significant issues we face as a state and nation. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Social Work and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer eight undergraduate degree programs and 18 graduate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 977 graduate students. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is continually working to improve its programs.