About HI-MOES
The Kohala Center is currently working with thirteen intermediate and high school teachers from Kona, Kohala, and North and South Hilo for a one-year program that focuses on Bay and Watershed Education.
HI-MOES (Hawai‘i Island Meaningful Outdoor Experiences for Students) aims to support teachers on Hawai‘i Island with meaningful outdoor research experiences for their students, while meeting Hawai‘i Content and Performance Standards. Research will be focused on four diverse ahupua‘a on the island: Kohala Mountain, Kahalu‘u Bay (Kona), Kaʻūpūlehu, and Hilo Bay Watershed.
An outdoor educator from The Kohala Center or the Kohala Watershed Partnership will provide technical, logistical and programmatic support to classroom teachers throughout the program. Throughout the year, teachers and their students will design, create, and implement outdoor research projects in ecosystems of their choice.
The program will culminate in the Hawai‘i Island Environmental Education Conference in April 2013 at which students will share the findings of their research projects. This year will be the third year of HI-MOES, providing project-based and place-based outdoor education for Hawai‘i island students.
Click here to see a list of participating teachers.
To learn about past years please see information about the 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 programs. To learn about our HI-SEES (Hawai‘i Island Science-Based Environmental Education for Students) program, run in 2011-2012, see the Web site, or download the proceedings.
HI-MOES Participating teachers receive:
• Year-long consulting support from outdoor educators from The Kohala Center or the Kohala Watershed Partnership for both classroom and field activities;
• Classroom presentations on oceans, bays, and watersheds, the scientific method, and statistical data analysis.
• Presentations or site visits from cultural practitioners and scientists working in the area; • Assistance with organizing and carrying out field trips to sites chosen for the research projects;
• Mini-grants to support project-related supplies and substitute teachers;
• Coverage of transportation costs for field trips;
• Assistance with implementing a year-long, hands-on, investigative research project from outdoor educators and scientists;
• Access to curricular resources compiled to support the program;
• Training opportunities in the use of new technologies, including GIS.
Examples of scientific research projects that may be done through HI-MOES:
• Comparing water quality parameters in different locations or over time;
• Calculating and comparing the amount of marine debris/trash in nearshore areas;
• Risk assessment in coastal hazard/tsunami evacuation zones;
• Comparing nutrient input to algal cover on coral reefs;
• Species abundance and comparison in ecosystems such as reefs, tide pools, or forests.
HI-MOES Project Timeframe:
• August 31, 2012: Registration deadline; notification of participation by September 10;
• September 2012: Participating teachers meeting and orientation; classroom presentations begin;
• October–December 2012: Identification of class research project; mini-grant applications due; classroom presentations by outdoor educators and scientists continue;
• January–March 2013: Field trips; research projects underway;
• April 2013: Year-end conference; project reports due.
HI-MOES outdoor educators:
The outdoor educators for HI-MOES are Melora Purell and Erica Perez. Melora holds a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology, is a sixteen-year veteran classroom teacher for middle and high school sciences, and currently coordinates outreach and environmental education for The Kohala Watershed Partnership. Erica Perez, field educator for The Kohala Center, holds a bachelor’s degree in marine science and minor in conservation biology and is an experienced marine educator who has worked with K–12 classes and special programs in marine and environmental education.
“The HI-MOES Program is a unique partnership that allows students to study and experience Hawaiian ecosystems from a scientific perspective. Without this partnership, I feel that many of the students would never see the amazing flora and fauna that once existed on their island. I hope that by providing this experience, students use their new knowledge to respect and protect the living things that surround them and share their experiences with others.” –Mari Taira, a teacher at Waikoloa Middle School and a participant of HI-MOES 2009-2010.
This project is a partnership between The Kohala Center and The Kohala Watershed Partnership and is supported by NOAA B-WET funding.
