FUNtastic 4 Team Members: Brianne Fitzgerald, Miguel Medina ,Eva Morris, Diego Barraza-Avila

Garibaldi found in the Great Tide Pool!

Learning Activity
This narrative will be shared with the interns as an investigative project. It will be used as a final
assessment for their week-long course in aquarium ma
rine science and conservation issues.

Last week, divers discovered a Garibaldi living amongst the rocks in the Great Tide Pool
at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This sighting is one for the books! According to a naturalist
for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), this species was last seen in
the bay over 75 years ago! How did it get there? This mystery is currently being
investigated by scientists from both organizations. You have been asked to help the
scientists create a hypothesis of how this fish came to be in the Tide Pool.

Learners
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is hosting twelve interns over the summer, who are juniors at colleges
throughout the United States studying marine biology. The students have a fundamental understanding of
marine science, and have limited experience with field methods.

Facilitator
Intern Supervisor at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Goals/Learning Objectives
Terminal Objective: Using a multi-media presentation, learners will deliver their hypothesis explaining why
the Garibaldi is in the Great Tide Pool.
Enabling Objective 1: Generate a hypothesis with arguments that are supported
by research.
Enabling Objective 2: Determine which information is needed to support a
hypothesis.
Enabling Objective 3: Successfully work collaboratively in a group using open
communication.

Learning Theories
Vykotsky: Zone of Proximal Development
The learners have some basic knowledge of marine biology and climate change. The facilitator will guide
them during the Face-face kickoff session to ensure they are setting out on the correct investigative path.
Because of the varying levels of knowledge, students will be able to assist each other through
collaborative work.
Situated Learning
Students are actively participating in the learning experience through group collaboration (online and in-
person), on-site research at the aquarium, and online research.
Linda Harasim: Core Design Principles of OCL
1. Idea generating: the brainstorming phase, where divergent thoughts are gathered
2. Idea organizing: the phase where ideas are compared, analyzed and categorized through
discussion and argument
3. Intellectual convergence: the phase where intellectual synthesis and consensus occurs,
including agreeing to disagree, usually through an assignment, essay, or other joint piece of work.

Role of Technology
The Monterey Bay Aquariums Learning Management System will serve as a starting
point for the learners. Links to the aquarium database and other internal files will be included.
The students research findings will be uploaded into the LMS.
Each student has an iPad and a smartphone that allow them to freely move through the
aquarium and gather information both from staff and online resources (internet web searches,
intranet searches). This mobile technology enables them to communicate through social media
and instant messaging (twitter, snapchat) as needed for relaying cool discoveries to their team
mates (opportunity for instant feedback, keeps teammates updated).

Strategy
1. Face-to-face kickoff meeting to:
a. Deliver narrative/problem
b. Place into teams (3 teams, total of 4 learners per team)
c. Set-up social media team site
d. Determine variables to investigate during the week.
2. Through the week, the students independently go out and research the variables. They
will be able to conduct interviews with aquarium staff members and scientists, as well as research
data online.
3. While the team is apart, they will add their information to the LMS, and collaborate online
through the aquariums LMS discussion feature as well as the social media team site.
4. End of week face-to-face meeting:
a. review all their data
b. determine hypothesis
c. make plans for multimedia presentation
5. Team will work asynchronously to develop presentation.
6. Team will deliver as co-presenters.