OPIHI Teacher PD Opportunity

The University of Hawai‘i Curriculum Research and Development Group (CRDG) is recruiting secondary STEM teachers from across Hawai‘i for a citizen science professional development opportunity called Our Project In Hawai‘i’s Intertidal (OPIHI). In OPIHI, teachers and students will be immersed in rigorous, authentic, scientific research monitoring rocky intertidal areas.

As an OPIHI teacher, you will:

• learn from and with scientists,
• be eligible to receive a stipend ($150) and class supplies, and
• have the option of earning 3 PDE3 credits (for DOE teachers).

Reimbursement for bus transportation to a field study site is available. OPIHI is aligned to NGSS.

Last spring, 31 teachers and ~600 students surveyed 24 intertidal areas statewide! As a result of participating in OPIHI, teachers commented that their students had more appreciation for the nature of science. For example, one teachers said: “My students had a real-life experience, not a canned one. They learned and acted like scientists.”

There will be OPIHI PD sessions on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i Islands. Travel support is available for teachers from Moloka‘i and Lana‘i.

Additional information, including OPIHI PD dates, are on the attached flyer. 

Although OPIHI is an aquatic-focused program, CRDG thinks teachers in all STEM subjects will find the workshop content can be successfully integrated into their curriculum.

Please let Joanna Philippoff know if you have any questions, CRDG hopes you consider applying to this unique program!