August 1, 2024
Science education study abroad trips provide life-changing experiences
Spending their summers in different countries is nothing new to East Carolina University science education faculty Dr. Tammy Lee and Bonnie Glass.
The two have led study abroad trips to Costa Rica, Belize, Ireland and, more recently, Mallorca, Spain. This course focused on how human have connected with and impacted the ecosystems of Mallorca, one of Spain’s Balearic Islands of the Mediterranean. The seven-day trip was filled with experiential learning through the island’s terrestrial ecosystems, including salty and humid zones, mountainous areas, gorges and cliffs.
“My favorite part of the last day was swimming in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, which is something I never thought I would be able to do,” said Allison Schaefer, a graduate student in science education. “Jumping off the boat into the crystal-clear turquoise water and the beautiful backdrop is something I will never forget.”
A few highlights of the trip included visiting the Palma Aquarium and seeing injured/rehabbing sea turtles, exploring Cabrera Island, snorkeling in the blue cave, visiting the villages of S’Arraco and Valldermossa, hiking through the Serra De Tramuntana mountain range and visiting the Black Vulture Conservation Foundation.
“This was a great trip, especially for my first time leaving the country!” said Megan Campbell, a graduate student in science education and current teacher. “I learned a lot and had a lot of fun experiencing so many new things.”
Ten students joined Lee and Glass on the trip, including three undergraduate elementary education majors and four current teachers who are obtaining their master’s in science education. Of these, Schaefer has traveled with the duo before on study abroad trips to Ireland and Belize.
“These trips have been absolutely amazing with Dr. Lee and Mrs. Glass,” she said. “They are so much fun to be around, and even when things may not go our way, such as when our flights got delayed from Belize which caused us to miss our connecting flight, they always make the best of the situation. On these trips, they are our biggest advocates. They make a huge effort to make the trip the best it can possibly be, keep our spirits high, and help us learn about nature. I think that the most interesting thing about these trips is that though they are faculty in the College of Education, there have been people from a variety of majors on these trips, and they really do find something for everyone to get out of it.”
Lizzie Phipps, a recent Honors College graduate with degrees in biology and neuroscience, is one of the non-education majors who has traveled to Belize and Ireland with Lee and Glass.
“Studying abroad during college is definitely one of my top highlights of the past four years,” she said. “I was able to have life changing experiences, and bond with fellow students in unimageable ways. I am still good friends with my roommates from both trips, the bonds you make while navigating a new place and new people are so special! Not to mention, I have become very close with Dr. Lee and Mrs. Glass. They have seen me at my worst and best on these trips and have listed to me talk hours on end about all the nervousness and excitedness I have for the future. They have been a part of my life for half of my college experience and I truly rely on them for guidance and advice.”
Lee and Glass have first-hand experience with how valuable study abroad and place-based learning is for students in general, and especially future and current teachers.
“I traveled out of the country as a beginning teacher with the Museum of Natural Sciences and went to Belize and Canada and other place-based experiences, like in the mountains of North Carolina,” Lee said. “As a young educator, it was impactful for me and was impactful for me to bring back to my students. At that point in my career, I always said if I had the opportunity to take students places and allow them to be immersed into a place, that was what I was going to do.”
Phipps and Schaefer both agreed that studying abroad helped them become comfortable with being uncomfortable and become better at being adaptable to changing circumstances, a skill that can serve teachers well.
Lee and Glass have focused on climate change and its effects across the globe in their study abroad trips.
“We’re also trying to build in our students to be advocates, to be scientifically literate and literate about the issues that are approaching us as a society so they can make informed decisions when they’re in their next job or place and they can understand that they need to look at things from all perspectives,” Lee said. “There’s not one answer or solution to everything, and we want to give them a wider perspective.”
They have found the impacts of the trips are far-reaching. Students have remained connected to nature and continue to participate in activities such as kayaking or hiking that they may have first experienced abroad. Educators can also bring these experiences and the lessons learned during their trips to the classroom.
“As future educators or educators in the field, being able to bring back these types of experiences to the classroom is invaluable,” Lee said.
Glass agreed: “It changes you and how you see the world, so it will in turn change how your students see the world.”