The programs listed below are examples of both middle school and high school classes offered by DCP in the past, when we our office was located in Connecticut. Beginning in 2015, DCP looks forward to coordinating with schools and students in southern Florida to offer similar types of after-school programs. Stay tuned and check back with DCP to see what programs we are offering!
Pine Point School
The Dolphin Communication Project (DCP) and Pine Point School offered after-school educational programs to 4th & 5th grade students as well as middle school
students throughout the Stonington region from 2005 to 2011. We offered two programs: the DCP Youth Program (DCPYP, for 4th, 5th & 6th graders) and the DCP Dolphin Research Trainee (DRT) Program (for middle schoolers).
While this collaboration with Pine Point School is currently dormant, it is a program readily applied to other interested schools! Please contact DCP (see our contact page for snail mail and e-mail addresses) for more information to establish a youth or DRT program at your school!
WHAT: Learn about dolphin behavior & communication, and participate in processing video data collected by DCP researchers in The Bahamas & Honduras.
WHERE: Pine Point School, Stonington, CT.
WHEN: Wednesdays during Spring 2011 semester, 4:30 – 6 p.m. Exact schedule (syllabus below) is coming soon!
A brief history between Pine Point and DCP
Pine Point School (Connecticut) and DCP became partners with cross-cultural efforts and educational programing stemming from ongoing scientific research. In 2000, DCP, through Dudzinski, began a relationship with the Mikura Island School focused on learning about dolphins, a program that included elements of DCP’s dolphin communication scientific studies and the historical links between Mikura and New Bedford. From 2004 – late 2007, the research offices of DCP were based at the Pine Point campus and students began studying as dolphin research trainees (DRT). In 2005, a representative from Pine Point joined DCP’s research team and met with the educational leadership of Mikura. In addition to sharing dolphin communication research, Pine Point and Mikura Island Schools exchanged students as part of their studies. At Pine Point, these after-school classes for lower school students among area schools introduced them to the elements of DCP’s research with dolphin communication.
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| Video of DRT’s trip | ||
| Click here for info on how you can join DCP at RIMS | ||
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| DRT 2007 team at Mikura School with Mikura students | ||
Wallingford Middle Schools
From 2009 – 2011, DCP offered our DRT program to the junior high school students of Wallingford, Connecticut, in a class held once a week during the spring semester. Classes were late afternoon or evenings at one of the middle schools in Wallingford. Each session typically had 12 students who eagerly and enthusiastically participated in DCP’s DRT program.
Our 2010 DRT program in Wallingford was equally as successful as the 2009 class and several students participated in the week-long travel program to our Bimini field site. That is, each DRT semester program has an optional week visit to the DCP field site featured during the class.
The syllabus for DCP’s DRT classes is attached below as a download PDF file. This is an example of the type of semester program offered by DCP educators/researchers. A sample application is also listed as a PDF download. The application must be completed by DRT student participant.
The Williams School
The Williams School is a co-educational, college preparatory, day school for students in grades 7-12.
Founded in 1891 in New London, Connecticut, The Williams School encourages learning and self-discovery in a collegial atmosphere that provides academic challenges and personal rewards. Williams engenders respectful and collaborative relationships throughout all facets of the community.
The Williams School is located adjacent to Connecticut College and offers students a variety of academic programs. DCP launched our first high school education program to students at The Williams School during the spring 2010 academic semester. It was a resounding success with 10 students participating.
The high school program can be established at almost any high school. Contact DCP for more information on establishing this type of program at your school, with DCP. See the Contact Page for details about contacting DCP.
The High School Program
This unique DCP high school educational program allows students to experience marine research at its finest. Throughout the program, students will review current scientific literature, lead a presentation on DCP research projects, have the opportunity to participate in a pool session using one of the DCP arrays, and become a trained DCP volunteer. Additionally, all high school program participants will be asked to attend one middle school DRT program per month to assist with video identifications; the high school students learn not only to conduct and confirm dolphin identifications from video, but to teach younger students the same skill. For high school student participants who would like to join a DRT trip to a DCP research site, a mini-thesis project will be created for testing while on the trip. By the conclusion of this program, students will understand how scientific research is completed and will have developed the skills needed to assist with data processing.
The DCP high school program is offered during either the spring or fall academic session and runs for 16 weeks, with each class held as three-hour, bi-weekly classes, which allows for and fosters independent study between classes. Each class will be divided into 2 sections by a short break.
Students will develop the skills to continue volunteering with DCP as a community service activity, which gives them the opportunity to expand their resumes as they prepare for the college admission process. Students will be given a thorough introduction to the exciting path of scientific study and the learning process.