Teachers searching for a way to earn professional development credits while also learning about the latest research into marine life now have the option of a new, online course created in partnership between Fresno Pacific University and The Great Courses.
The course, called Life in the World’s Oceans, offers teachers the chance to earn three graduate-level credits from an accredited university. It combines the eye-catching videos of The Great Courses with the expertise of Fresno Pacific University’s faculty.
How Teachers Can Enroll
The course offers three graduate-level credits to teachers. Each video in the series is 30 minutes long and covers different aspects of ocean life. The course is available 100% online, offering teachers a great deal of flexibility in when and how they learn.
Each course includes a free companion guidebook that can be used to take notes. Teachers can learn the details about the course by visiting the Fresno Pacific University continuing education website.
What Teachers Will Learn
Science has unlocked many of the mysteries of the ocean’s depths. This course teaches educators about those findings, as well as helping them to improve how they teach students about this important topic.
The video series introduces teachers to undersea animals they know, but closer than they have ever seen them. They also show them animals they may not have seen, such as giant worms and sea spiders.
Some of the other fascinating information in the Life in the World’s Oceans course includes:
- Marine mammals such as dolphins and sea otters use tools, just like their cousins on the land
- While usually solitary creatures, humpback whales use complex communications and planning in a feeding method called “bubble-net feeding”
- Some kinds of dolphins, orcas and false killer whales seem able to recognize their image in a mirror, a sign of self-awareness that is rare in the animal kingdom
The courses are taught by Bill Cockerham, Ed.D., and Andrew Herrick, Ph.D. Cockerham has a doctorate in educational technology, a master’s and bachelor’s degree in biology. Herrick has a doctorate in curriculum and instruction.
Life in the World’s Oceans offers a convenient and engaging way to earn graduate-level credits for teachers who want to expand their knowledge and increase their teaching skills.