Terms of Reference

The GCOOS Education and Outreach Council (EOC) is the primary body to provide guidance and assistance to the GCOOS Regional Association in matters of education, outreach and public awareness. The EOC plays the lead role in developing, implementing and evaluating the Education and Outreach Plan for the GCOOS Regional Association. The EOC ensures that the Plan is consistent with the current Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Development Plan and the GCOOS Annual Business Plan. The EOC collectively is expected to be familiar with the GCOOS functions and operations, ocean science education standards, education and outreach pedagogy and evaluation techniques, and constituency building techniques among diverse audiences in the Gulf of Mexico. EOC membership will include representatives from formal, nonformal and informal education communities that reside in the Gulf of Mexico region. The members will be appointed by the GCOOS Board of Directors. At least one member of the Board of Directors shall serve as a member of the EOC Council. The Chair of the EOC will be selected by the Council.

Education & Outreach Council

Meetings & Reports

The first meeting of the Education & Outreach Council was held 24-25 April 2006 in Biloxi, MS. The meeting report is available. The second meeting was held June 18, 2007 in Spanish Fort, AL. The meeting report is now available. The third meeting was held June 5-6, 2008, in Pensacola, FL. The meeting report is now available.

Action Plan for 2008

The GCOOS Education and Outreach Council Work Plan for 2008 is:

1. Establish a sustained central E/O office.
   • Hire a full-time education and outreach coordinator.
   • Seek extramural funding and support for EOC activities.
   • Develop a one-page summary of GCOOS EOC to use in recruiting members.
2. Ensure diversity and inclusiveness in EOC membership.
   • Review membership on an annual basis.
   • Actively seek and recruit members, including those from underrepresented and underserved populations.
3. Increase collaborations, coordination, and communication efforts within the broader Gulf of Mexico E/O communities by increasing and maintaining effective partnerships that reach diverse audiences.
   • Identify liaison contacts with potential partners.
   • Establish a list of E/O organizations that may utilize GCOOS materials.
   • Coordinate joint meetings with other E/O associations and entities (i.e. GOMA EEN, Sea Grant, NERRS).
   • Establish collaborative efforts with state and federal agencies, colleges and universities, private sector and non-profit entities and the variety of educational organizations in the Gulf of Mexico Region.
4. Enhance the GCOOS E/O community by supporting and developing professional development programs and practices of formal and informal educators.
   • Raise awareness of GCOOS products and services by augmenting the awareness and understanding of EOC members.
   • Hold an annual meeting of EOC to review the strategic plan, consider resource availability, and set priorities for work to be completed by the next meeting.
   • Create a listserv of 1) EOC members and 2) use the GOMAEEN listserv to communicate to regional educators.
5. Develop and reinforce key messages in the daily work of GCOOS EOC members.
   • Create rewards and incentives for all who engage in GCOOS education, outreach, and communication activities.
   • Conduct professional development programs at meetings attended by the EOC.
6. Facilitate two-way communication between data providers and users to maximize relevancy and usefulness of products.
   • EOC members whill be assigned to each GCOOS committee to maximize in-network communication and the development of appropriate education and outreach products.
7. Develop GCOOS EOC relevant programs and materials for diverse stakeholder audiences (such as the general public, formal and informal educators, coastal decision makers and resource managers).
   • Conduct a market analysis and needs assessment for specific audiences within the Gulf of Mexico region.
   • Inventory existing information and educational resources.
   • Develop an annotated catalog of both current and future products based on the analysis and interpretation of needs assessment surveys.
8. Increase the awareness and understanding of GCOOS products and services by various audiences.
   • Design key and consistent messages and themes for GCOOS that are consistent with IOOS messages.
   • Develop materials with clear and consistent messages.
   • Disseminate messages and themes through traditional (TV, radio, print) and non-traditional (web, podcasts, blogs) mass media.
   • Guide the development of GCOOS exhibits, brochures, and materials for use at conferences and meetings (these materials should have specific audiences in mind).
   • Develop partnerships between private/public/academic agents to ensure a coherent suite of education and outreach products for specific audiences.
   • Review materials to assess usefulness, effectiveness, and accuracy regularly.
   • Maintain an engaging and accurate E/O presence on the GCOOS website.
   • Provide inventory of existing materials and GCOOS E/O on website.
9. Target E/O effort at diverse stakeholder groups.
   • Establish comprehensive list of stakeholder organizations and associations that utilize or could utilize GCOOS products and services.
   • Develop the most effective tools to reach target audiences.
   • Leverage current technology to reach diverse communities.
   • Provide and staff display booths at major stakeholder conventions/festivals.
   • Inform public audiences through free-choice educational opportunities.
10. Ensure K-16 teachers are aware of GCOOS as a platform for teaching and learning science, math and technology as well as an opportunity for a professional or vocational career.
    • Create post-secondary curricula that addresses identified workforce needs.
    • Develop vocational/technical training and retraining programs.
    • Develop and implement programs to attract, nurture, develop and retain underrepresented groups.
    • Engage professional societies to develop professional certifications.
    • Expand awareness and understanding of careers aligned with OOS.
    • Increase the number of local education leader experts who use OOS information to highlight related careers.