NOAA: New Ocean Literacy Guides
Feb 20, 2020
Ocean Literacy: The Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts of Ocean Sciences for Learners of All Ages (the Ocean Literacy guide) has been translated into Spanishoffsite link. It joins other translations and adaptationsoffsite link of this seminal work hosted by the National Marine Educators Association.
The Ocean Literacy guide describes the seven most important ideas about the ocean that everyone should have the opportunity to learn and understand. The English language versionoffsite link of the Ocean Literacy guide, which was first published in 2005, received some minor updates as well.
“One of the barriers to this translation was disagreement among bilingual ocean literacy advocates as to the correct translation for ‘ocean literacy,’” said Sarah Schoedinger, Senior Education Program Manager in NOAA’s Office of Education. “The word for literacy does not translate well, and even creates problems in English.”
After careful consideration among colleagues who are fluent in Spanish and English and have a background in marine science, the translation team agreed to use the term “conocimiento oceanográfico” for “ocean literacy,” which roughly translates to “ocean science knowledge.” “Conocimiento” is also the term used in the Spanish version of the Climate Literacy guide.
“Given how challenging it was to get agreement on the term and knowing that there were other translations out there in use, we acknowledge that there can be many interpretations for translating this term,” said Sarah.
“Spanish is spoken in many different countries, each with its own unique dialects, slang, and cultural nuances,” said Alfonso Macias Tapia, one of the colleagues who helped get this translation to completion. “Multiple Spanish speakers, with expertise in different topics relevant to this guide, have reviewed the document to produce this high-quality translation that can resonate with Spanish-speaking audiences across the globe. By providing resources in another language, we hope this process also promotes inclusivity and diversity in educational settings, fostering a more welcoming environment for students from different cultural backgrounds.”
The Ocean Literacy guide is the cornerstone of the Ocean Literacy frameworkoffsite link, which also includes the scope and sequence for grades K-12, the alignmentoffsite link to the Next Generation Science Standards, and the International Ocean Literacy Surveyoffsite link. It was the first piece of the framework and the one that has been translated and adapted into other languages.
Individual printable copies in English and Spanish may be downloaded from NMEA’s website. To request a hard copy in either language, please email education@noaa.gov. Copies will begin shipping in March 2024.