08/12/1997

AU Fisheries Department Hosts Inservice Training for High School Teachers Across the Nation

AUBURN, Ala. - About 25 educators from across the United States, primarily high school vocational agriculture teachers, visited Auburn University recently to learn how the study of aquaculture can be applied in their classrooms.

The five-day program, sponsored by the National Council for Agricultural Education, focused on using aquaculture in high school curricula to foster learning of math and science, according to John Grover, professor of fisheries and allied aquaculture in Auburn University's College of Agriculture and coordinator for the inservice program.

Each state was invited to send one teacher as a representative to attend the program.

The Council, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., became involved with using aquaculture to provide inservice training for vocational agriculture teachers in the late 1980s, according to Gordon Mengel, special projects director for the Council.

"Why aquaculture? It's a great opportunity to motivate students and involve them in applied math and science," Mengel said. Auburn University's Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures was chosen as the site of this year's program because of its solid reputation in the aquaculture industry.

"Auburn University is the foremost university for aquaculture training, both nationally and internationally," Mengel said. The two goals of the program are to give teachers an understanding of how they can use aquaculture in the classroom and an understanding of the commercial aquaculture industry, Mengel said.

The participants were presented model aquaculture curricula and informed of educational and career opportunities for their students in aquaculture. They also got a first-hand look at aquaculture research at the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures' field facilities, and they toured businesses in Alabama's fish farming industry.

The teachers in the program are expected to use what they've learned to become role models and resources for other high school teachers in their home states, Mengel said.

"We hope this exposure will provide you with some new ideas on how to do things," James Marion, dean of the College of Agriculture, told the group.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Anna M. Lee

August 12, 1997