• background information for both the teachers and students, since there is a role for reading and direct delivery of content in learning, as part of the overall process;
• by student sheets, which provide guidance through the experiences and ask both specific response and reflection questions to ensure that students are on track and are thinking about what they are doing and why;
• by assessment pieces for individual activities and for entire Modules, providing a means for both grading, as appropriate, and checking in with student advances in understanding; and
• finally by optional extension inquiries, which provide suggestions on how the concepts, skills, data, and questions addressed in the activities can be pursued in more depth by classes or individuals interested in taking their explorations to the next level.

• Inviting educators to complete a feedback form which asks about what works well and what can be improved about the materials. This form will remain available for a full year to give educators the opportunity to use the materials in the classroom and then complete this form.
• Evaluating the use of the curriculum by educators participating in NERRS led professional teacher training workshop. This evaluation will include not only an analysis of whether teachers find the products useful and effective, but whether they were able to guide their own students in inquiry. In other words, the evaluation will consist of two phases: one at the time of delivery of the training and one after the teachers have been able to use the training in their classrooms. Data will be collected during these two phases. Educators will be invited to be researchers, providing information and experience about bringing estuarine concepts and monitoring data into the classroom.

In the near future we expect to develop an assessment package focusing on change in students' conceptual understanding,
thinking skills and attitudes toward estuarine science. Some of the summative evaluation techniques we might develop include several approaches to measure:

• Teacher training program implementation and success.
• Coastal science knowledge and estuarine literacy gains among teachers who participate in the training and/or use the curriculum and website.
• Coastal science knowledge, analytical skills and estuarine literacy improvements among students in classrooms using Estuaries 101. These assessments will be coordinated with classroom teachers to relate to the specific concepts and skills presented.

As soon as these instruments are available, we will post them on this section of the website and notify all educators who have registered to help with a formal evaluation of the curriculum. So, please register if you are interested in participating.

The information gathered during this upcoming year will inform improvements that need to be made and/or other support structures that need to be set to ensure effective implementation. Regular updates will be published throughout this timeframe.