Session Date/Time
Audience
Intermediate
Session Description
The Manta Naturalist course is designed for manta tour guides and operators in the marine tourism industry on the Kona Coast of the island of Hawaii and will be delivered primarily online, but include two face-to-face sessions. The goals of the Manta Naturalist course are to expand the students’ basic knowledge of manta rays, create awareness of manta ray conservation, and to familiarize students with the Manta Tour Operator Standards and their importance in sustaining the manta tour industry. Students will create and practice an interpretive educational briefing about manta rays. Ultimately, students will use this presentation with their guests to educate those who enjoy the experience.
Presenter(s)
- Wendy Laros, UH Manoa, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA
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I spent most of my years growing up on Udot, a small volcanic island in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia. I am currently working on a PhD in Educational Technology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. My area of interest encompasses the integration of educational technology and media in remote areas of the Pacific Islands, specifically in the Federated States of Micronesia.
Rathi Krishnan has an MA in Comparative Literature from Bangalore University, India, another MA in English from Cal State University, Long Beach, as well as doctoral coursework in English from University of California, Riverside, before she dropped out, and began to ponder on the meaning of education, education that is self-taught versus formal education. She has taught at several California community colleges, Cal State University, Long Beach, NYU, several online universities, and is currently a full time professor at Kaplan University. Her quest is to provide quality education to her students, as well as to contemplate the bigger picture of what education entails and affords for each one of us in our quest for self-discovery and in fulfillment of our goals, dreams, and ambitions. She lives in the San Francisco, Bay Area and as online teaching allows her to travel widely, considers herself to be a resident of “nowhere” and a denizen of “everywhere,” a state made possible in this internet era.
Dr. Michael Eskey is an associate professor of criminal justice at Park University. He has served as the program coordinator for the criminal justice administration program since 2009. Additionally, he is on half-time release as an online instructor evaluator with Park Distance Learning. Dr. Eskey has taught at both the graduate and undergraduate level since retiring from the military in 2001 at the rank of colonel.
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Cynthia Calongne is a researcher of virtual worlds, games, and immersive learning experiences with over 18 years teaching experience. She was a founding leader of Colorado Technical University’s Emerging Media Program in Computer Science Program after serving as a software engineer including the US Space Command. Cynthia, aka her avatar Lyr Lobo, was a co-recipient of the $25,000 1st prize for the Federal Virtual Challenge with Dr. Andrew Stricker in 2010 for their Mars Expedition Challenge. Cynthia’s presentations can be found at: 
Dr. Barbara Truman is a social entrepreneur who was a former faculty administrator from the University of Central Florida where she helped establish online learning. Barbara’s background is within Instructional Systems Design, Human Performance Technology, and Computer Science. She recently launched a non-profit corporation in Orlando, Florida to promote collaboration using virtual environments across industry sectors and beyond formal learning. Barbara studies how immersive learning environments promote transdisciplinarity using avatars and dialogue.
As the District Technology Coordinator for Cornwall-Lebanon School District, I promote the integration of technology within curriculums to enhance student learning opportunities. Web 2.0 tools, cloud computing, and open source ideals create a new dynamic journey for education. The culture shift of technological transformations within the classroom offers a vibrant future for education.