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Hi Ailbhe,
Thank you for your response to module 1. I am glad you enjoyed the module. You’re absolutely right that community trust and support is just as important as legal permissions in many situations, especially when the ocean is invloved.
Dún Laoghaire is a great location, your students have excellent opportunities for hands-on learning with the ocean so close by. There are some great rock pooling posters online under The Irish Biodiversity Data Centre, they may help the students recognise certain species.
The ARC Team
Hi Katriona,
Thank you for your response to module 1.
I am glad you found the topic interesting. I think looking at pictures and videos of aquaculture farms is a great place to start introducing the topic to the students. I agree that the concept of social license can be really interesting to the students, I like that you would look at both opinions on fish farming, helping the students critical thinking skills.
The ARC Team
Hi Alison,
Thank you for your response to module 1.
It’s great that you think the ARC resources could help ‘bridge the gap’ for those with limited access to coastal areas. I think it’s incredibly important that the inland schools of Ireland have access to marine education. There are also multiple aquaculture farms inland where freshwater species like trout and duckweed are farmed, these farms are also providing career opportunities.
I am glad that you enjoyed the ARC videos and resources.
The ARC Team
Hi Louise,
You made a great point about how we sometimes overlook the efforts companies make towards sustainability, great that you recognised some Cork based companies. I am glad to hear your school implements the 3 R’s motto as much as possible, this is something I also speak to students about!
When encouraging sustainability and the sea in class, a good place to start is talking to the students about seafood labeling and the meaning behind certain terms like ‘organic’, this can often lead to fun activities like ‘design a poster’ project.
The ARC Team
Hi Brian,
It’s great that you mentioned the nutritional benefits of both salmon and shellfish. I agree that the Eye Spy activity is a great one for students, I think that they can learn so much from their seafood labels (nutritional facts, biological information and even sustainability details).
I really liked your point on the salmon of knowledge folklore, the students often respond really well to this video on the ARC, usually it can lead to deeper discussions on omega 3 and the sustainability of seafood.
The ARC Team
Hi Niamh,
I agree that the resources can be useful even when some of the content may be aimed at older students, I am really glad you think it may be useful towards informing your own knowledge. I think starting with simple, practical activities in the younger classes can help build a strong foundation for STEM. These activities may include following the salmon lifecycle, designing a simple aquaculture farm or choosing a favourite farmed species and researching some facts.
The ARC Team
Thank you for your reflective piece Katriona. I am glad you found module 2 interesting.
I agree that this would be a very engaging topic. Looking at real aquaculture farms in Ireland would help make the topic more relevant and easier for students to understand. I also like the idea of exploring both the benefits and the concerns, encouraging critical thinking and sustainability.
The ARC Team
I’m glad you enjoyed the online lessons and the resources, it’s great to hear you might use some of the content in your own class. I think you could link aquaculture quite easily to science and geography, you mentioned some nice topics to explore.
I liked your point about developing their skills in a way that feels natural rather than taught separately. Often linking aquaculture to local farms or seafood products they see in the shops can be a good connection for them.
The ARC Team
Great point Cathal!
I agree that some of the ARC resources are aimed at older students, but as you mentioned, they can absolutely be adapted to the younger students. They encourage the pupils to be curious, ask questions and work together to solve problems. I also think introducing the students to aquaculture and existing Irish farms can help them understand how STEM is connected to everyday life and future career possibilities.
The ARC Team
Hi Eimear,
Great reflective piece. It’s fantastic to hear that sustainability is practiced in multiple ways in your locality, those are some brilliant initiatives!
Aside from your village, I am delighted to see that sustainability is also a big part of the school day! I think the sustainability surveys are a great idea for allowing the students to become involved. Feel free to use the ARC resources in class to enhance the discussion of sustainability at sea.
The ARC Team
Hi Louise,
Thank you for your reflective piece. It’s great that you recognised the nutritional importance and benefits of seafood from module 4. I also agree that there is a huge focus on nutrition in the classroom, I think discussing the topic together with the staff is a great way of encouraging it.
Tasting sessions are a brilliant way of introducing the students to seafood. I find a good place to start is with smoked salmon or seaweed sheets (both can be found in most supermarkets), the tasting sessions could then lead into more detailed lessons on seafood labeling, sustainability and nutrition.
The ARC Team
Hi Ciara,
Thank you for your reflective piece, I also agree that the ARC resources fit well with the STEM Education Policy Statement, the topic of aquaculture can be linked to geography, maths, and science, creating opportunities to study different projects and enhance various skills.
I liked your point on working together as a school and setting STEM related goals, and making STEM a regular part of school life.
The ARC Team
Thanks for sharing David, it’s great that you recognise Irelands existing marine resources more after completing this module.
I agree that the existence of an aquaculture industry in rural areas of Ireland can be a great support in providing employment opportunities to young people. In many areas, oyster farms provide fantastic seasonal work to young people. There are some great career choices available along the entire supply chain of seafood.
Th ARC Team
Great reflective piece Paddy, I like that you mentioned an interesting topic of research for each farmed species. I think a research project linked to your local area is a great way to introduce the students to aquaculture and as you mentioned to other subjects like nutrition.
I also agree that social license is important for supporting the students critical thinking and communication skills.
The ARC Team
Hi Niamh,
Great piece, I am delighted to hear you have explored similar topics with the students such as your ‘farm to fork’ theme, I completely agree that looking at seafood may be a natural next step – you could work under a ‘tide to table’ theme! as you mentioned, it’s so important to highlight choosing local seafood where possible.
I think taste sessions are a brilliant way to explore this theme, smoked salmon tends to be a favourite in younger age groups!
The ARC Team