Sustainability [Ocean Science Explorer]

Grade 9-12 | 7 Courses

Course Description

Do you love the oceans and going to the beach? Are you interested in learning more about what lies beneath our planet’s oceans and your role in protecting them? Complete seven courses and gain an awareness of the important role that oceans play in the global environment. You’ll be able to describe how human interactions affect the health of the world’s oceans, marine animals, coral reefs, and mangroves. You’ll develop foundational knowledge in marine, orca, and shark biology and ecology and be able to state the threats of microplastics and ghost gear to ocean environments. This education, a collaboration of OrcaNation and IBM, seeks to ignite a passion and awareness in students for environmental stewardship and ocean sustainability.

Learning Objectives

Course 1: Oceans and Us | OrcaNation So, you love the water and want to know what lies beneath the surface? In this course, you'll be introduced to the wild, unusual and diverse life in our oceans. You'll find out how all human beings are connected to the water and you'll gain insights into the challenges facing our oceans.
Course 2: Coral Reefs | OrcaNation Have you ever snorkeled in the ocean and seen the beautiful coral? Sadly, the world's coral reefs are disappearing. In this course, you'll learn what coral is made of, why it's so important for life underwater, and how you can help save it.
Course 3: Mangrove Ecology | OrcaNation Mangroves are unique ecosystems where trees at the coastline in tropical and subtropical locations meet the ocean. In this course, you'll learn about the benefits of mangroves and why they need to be protected. Visiting a mangrove forest visit might not have been on your bucket list, but after learning about mangroves you'll be sure to visit one the next time you're near one!
Course 4: Orcas: Biology and Ecology | OrcaNation Orcas are beautiful, graceful, and deadly—the perfect combination of traits to wow anyone interested the oceans! In this course, you'll acquire basic knowledge about orcas to impress others on your next school project or family party.
Course 5: Sharks: Biology and Ecology | OrcaNation No animal sparks the imagination as much as sharks do. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the wacky hammerhead, to the funky guitarshark to the intimidating great white and the cute blacktip reef shark. In this course, you'll learn about the different kinds of sharks, how to identify them and how crucial they are for the ocean ecosystem. Sharks are friends, not food!
Course 6: Marine Microplastics | OrcaNation Have you ever wondered why plastic is all around us? Plastic is versatile, cheap, and indestructible. Eventually, small parts of plastics, or microplastics, end up our oceans, which impacts all living organisms—animals, birds, fish, humans—and the environment. In this course, you'll learn about the impact of microplastics and solutions to eliminating plastics in the world's oceans.
Course 7: Ghost Gear | OrcaNation Have you ever had to help clean up the house after a party? It's a lot of work isn't it? Did you know some fishing boat captains throw their nets overboard rather than bring them back to shore? These dumped nets get tangled, mangled, and trap ocean life. Ghost gear is a big threat to marine ecosystems and animals. In this course, you'll learn about this largely unknown phenomenon and what can be done about it.

Skill Focus

Enhances Critical Thinking Skills

Resource Links

IBM SkillsBuild Workplace Skills