TRANSFERRING RESEARCH INTO THE CLASSROOM: THE RISING TIDE PROJECT

The Rising Tide Program involves collaborative marine science research between high school teachers, undergraduate students, and university researchers to enhance high school scientific education. Results from these research projects are incorporated into web-served, standards-based, educational activities for use in the high school classroom. Based upon research for the South Carolina Coastal Erosion Project, several geological activities have studied shoreline processes and barrier island evolution. The most recent activity allows high school students to examine and measure coastal change, using historical aerial photographs of North Island, SC, through a web served geographic information system. This data is paired with hot linked ground penetrating radar and core images to allow students to view shoreline change and calculate sediment accumulation within the prominent southern spit. Determination of this sediment sink provides an introduction for discussing sediment budgets and shoreline management. The Rising Tide Program provides a sustainable approach to collaborative research between local educators allowing for the development of research-based, user friendly, classroom activities.