March 30, 2026
In Butler County Schools, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls, sometimes all the way to the shoreline. Through immersive, real-world experiences, students are not only gaining knowledge but developing a deeper understanding of their role in the world around them. A recent Marine Biology field experience brought this vision to life, highlighting how authentic learning fosters curiosity, responsibility, and global awareness.
Emily McAfee, a life sciences teacher at Butler County High School, recently led her Marine Biology students on an educational field trip to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) in Alabama. The experience offered students a rare opportunity to engage directly with coastal ecosystems, transforming textbook concepts into meaningful, hands-on learning.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s mission (“to provide wise stewardship of the marine environment through education and research”) aligned seamlessly with Butler County Schools’ Portrait of a Learner, particularly the pillar of Global Citizenship. Throughout the trip, students demonstrated this pillar by actively engaging in scientific inquiry, considering the broader impact of human activity, and developing a sense of responsibility for protecting natural environments.
Rather than simply reading about marine ecosystems, students experienced them firsthand. They stepped aboard a research vessel, where they observed and compared fishing methods such as trawling and plankton net sampling. As they examined various marine species collected during these demonstrations, students gained insight into biodiversity and the interconnectedness of ocean life.
The experience extended beyond observation. Students applied their classroom knowledge of ocean currents by designing and testing their own drifter prototypes, devices used to measure current movement. On the beach, they conducted simple yet meaningful experiments to analyze water movement, connecting scientific concepts to real-world applications.
“Instead of learning about Marine Biology through text or their screens, students were able to experience the ocean firsthand. They explored coastal ecosystems, engaged in authentic scientific investigations, and developed a deeper appreciation for the complexity and importance of protecting our marine environments,” McAfee shared.
The learning continued in the marsh ecosystems, where students used seine and sieve nets to collect and study organisms. Through this process, they analyzed biodiversity and gained a clearer understanding of the vital role marsh habitats play in sustaining coastal ecosystems. Working collaboratively, students practiced scientific techniques, shared observations, and discussed their findings as a group, strengthening both their content knowledge and their communication skills.
