Kristin Elmstrom Klenk
Science Teacher, South Kingstown High School
In the summer of 1975,
following my junior year in high school, I attended a National Science
Foundation program at GSO. The program was designed to introduce
oceanography to high school students interested in learning about
the ocean. For me, it was the beginning of a lifelong fascination
with the field of geological oceanography. My goal was to study
at GSO, and I worked toward that end through college where I majored
in geology.
I spent eight years at GSO (1978-1986) as
a research technician, graduate student, and finally as an editorial assistant
to Dr. James Kennett, who was chief editor of the journal Paleoceanography.
During those years, I learned the ins and outs of scientific research
and came to appreciate the school as both a research institution and an
educational facility. At GSO I learned to think independently and use
an inquiry-based approach to my education. My training at GSO has been
invaluable to me throughout the years.
I teach Oceanography and Earth Science
at South Kingstown High School in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Geographically,
it is a short distance from GSO and, as a result, I have taught
the children of GSO faculty and staff members. Teaching was an afterthought
to my initial goal of a graduate education in science, but it is
extremely rewarding. Every day I think about the ideas that have
fascinated me since I first became interested in geological oceanography.
Curious young students are full of questions, forcing me to probe
deeply into the processes that shape the earth and its geologic
history. To me, teaching at the high school level is extremely challenging.
One of the oddest questions I am asked is, "Are you bored?"
It would be very difficult to be bored in a high school as every
day presents a new challenge: classroom management and discipline,
providing an environment conducive to learning, and motivating students
to perform their best.
Earth science is a fabulous topic
to teach high school students because it is so dynamic. In my classes
I use a hands-on, student-centered approach to teaching, very similar
to my graduate studies. The students investigate various topics
from earthquakes and volcanoes to marine organisms. They use an
assortment of resources, including the Internet, to research subjects
that they then present to their classmates. I try to teach them
to think for themselves and to read critically, skills that I learned
at GSO.
GSO still plays a role in my work
and continuing education. Last year, I attended a program in Marine
Studies for Rhode Island teachers conducted by URI's Office of Marine
Programs. The program provided a great opportunity to meet other
teachers in Rhode Island who teach marine-related courses and to
stay current in the field. I continue to rely on the scientific
training I was provided during my tenure at GSO and can only hope
that some of my students will benefit from the same opportunities.