Over the last 8 years, that adds up to approximately 80,000 Massachusetts students and 4800 teachers who have taken advantage of Harbor Explorations and Envirolab III, adding a measure of practice to classroom theory. The Medfield students seemed particularly knowledgeable about marine science, answering many of the questions posed by the instructors. For teachers, the program is really outstanding. Kryzanek says that all of her students studied the Charles River watershed as 8th graders, and that she incorporated the study of a small stream that runs behind the high school into the Charles as part of the curriculum this year. Mike Borek, Harbor Explorations coordinator, says that the summer institute exposes teachers to marine science and to as many local resources as possible, including such programs of the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Whalenet at Simmons College, the Massachusetts Bays Program, Massachusetts Marine Educators and others.
Teachers then use the resources to enrich their curriculum.
Kryzanek's students appear to be reaping the benefits of such enrichment. Medfield High School is a good example. Borek says that Envirolab III's program can be modified to suit 5th graders through high school students by going into more or less depth on the testing and other activities. Since 1985, Harbor Explorations has been engaged in marine education from UMass Boston. Its offices are located in the Institute for Learning and Teaching in the Graduate College of Education.