Thriving Amongst the Pandemic

With less than a week to prepare, in the semester of Spring 2020, 4 out of our 5 faculty and their students went from face to face education delivery to online learning. The change incurred was anything but subtle. In less than 2 weeks time, faculty modified their curriculum and entered the virtual world of Zoom. Internet access such as reliability and affordability were constant challenges for both faculty and their students. The inequalities in educational access were quickly addressed as colleges acted quickly providing creative solutions such as cell phone rentals, outdoor wifi points, and utilizing large conference rooms for few students to safely gather in an online classroom capacity.

Many of us (faculty, students, staff, and administration) served by this grant project grappled with these challenges while supporting our families. Although this situation was felt nearly worldwide, it is important to note, for it delayed project year 1 goals and objectives. Despite the challenges, however, there were notable successes.

Partnerships were strengthened at ASCC, NMC, and COM-FSM with local stakeholders and folks in their communities where many volunteered their time to ensure the marine/environmental science programs thrived. At ASCC for example, the sole Marine Science Instructor, Ms. Curtis, has remained in California since the Spring 2020 semester awaiting a repatriation flight back to American Samoa. To compensate for her displacement, staff with the Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG) and the UH SeaGrant Extension Agent have conducted field work and shared their expertise with the students. Ms. Curtis developed a new curriculum for a benthic surveying lab for her students and was assisted with CRAG staff in its implementation where ASCC students used NSF ATE purchased Hobo logger, snorkel gear, and cameras. Ms. Myers (NMC) established a new partnership with the Johnston Applied Marine Science, a marine/environmental consultation organization, to offer internship and work experiences for NMC marine/environmental science students. Student interns from COM-FSM worked with farmers and integrated local knowledge in developing a three tiered system designed to promote sea cucumber conservation.

Former ROV associated training provided by the MATE Center partnership in Summer 2018 included tools and training. Additional training was to occur in the Summer 2020 and has been moved to Summer 2022 due to the pandemic. However, materials for students to build “mini” ROV kits have been purchased and shipped to the colleges. The Education Specialist, Ms. Wetzell, is working with the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center’s Director, Diedre Sullivan, to create two virtual skill building labs (i.e. hydraulic and short circuit kits) that students can do independently or in pairs (a socially distanced safe design). Training videos and curriculum are in development and anticipated to be completed for the Fall 2021 semester.

Student research projects and internships have resumed despite the challenges in navigating the CDC guidelines during the pandemic. Although the number of internships offered this year was substantially lower than anticipated, due to the pandemic, a total of 10 students conducted research and/or accepted internships in STEM. Five of these students’ research experiences are highlighted in the Features section of this website. Students prepared research papers, presented their research (virtually) and/or led class discussions. Overall, these experiences yielded valuable technology and leadership skills and strengthened their relationships with their mentors at the local resource management level.

Although efforts to assist local high schools in developing science programs and to recruit students into the STEM disciplines at all five community colleges has been delayed due to the safety recommendations by the CDC, several colleges were able to conduct outreach in compliance with CDC’s guidelines. COM-FSM participated in a college recruitment event where 50 high school students were able to visit with marine science students from their program. They showcased the DJI drone sensor with the students and explained how the technology can aid in monitoring coral bleaching and shoreline mapping. An ROV convention was sponsored by MATE held in American Samoa in April 2021. Seven schools, ten teams total, participated in the event. Marine science students at ASCC assisted with the event Integrating NSF ATE students into the education and outreach activities at the middle and high school levels has been an effective tool to attract students to STEM fields. This strategy is used as priming the pipeline for marine/environmental science interest and application at the college level.

Faculty at all colleges, except CMI, adjusted their curriculum from face to face to online delivery for Spring 2020, Summer 2020 and mostly, Fall 2020. Laboratory classes and field work were cancelled and resumed in a hybrid or alternating format by Spring 2021. CMI’s program operated as business as usual where other colleges like PCC continue virtual learning. The notable achievements in project year 1 include all programs remained operational and all students had access to learning. Despite the challenges involved with accessing virtual learning, over 500 students enrolled in marine/environmental science courses at the five community colleges. That is, the enrollment increased for all programs and remained the same for ASCC. 

Although the Covid-19 cases at all 5 colleges remains at zero, at the time of writing this article, educational delivery for Fall 2021 semester varies among college. ASCC and CMI will begin with face to face instruction while COM-FSM and PCC will continue a hybrid strategy. NMC will operate completely online as the institution continues to rebuild from the 2018 Super Typhoon Yutu.