Did you know Mote Marine Laboratory helped pioneer virtual learning long before Zooming was part of daily life?
In 1986, Mote made a commitment to expand its K–12 education efforts. Just three years later, that vision came to life when Dr. Bob Ballard, the famed ocean explorer who discovered the Titanic, invited Mote to join the groundbreaking JASON Project.
This innovative program used live videoconferencing to take students on virtual expeditions to places like ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. Mote was the 12th site to receive broadcasts, and local excitement was immediate. The Selby Foundation funded all the equipment and Manatee and Sarasota County Schools brought 10,000 students into the experience.
This was Mote’s big leap into K–12 ocean education.
By 1994, Mote made headlines again—this time for allowing students in England to pilot an underwater drone in Mote Aquarium’s shark habitat. That success led to the launch of SeaTrek in 1996, one of the first full-scale, live virtual marine science programs.
SeaTrek featured:
- Real marine researchers as presenters
- High-energy, multimedia lessons
- Interactive classroom connections
Topics ranged from shark tagging to coral reef ecology. And the program’s reach? Over 15,000 students worldwide by 2006.
Mote’s leadership in virtual learning hasn’t gone unnoticed. Awards and recognition include:
- 2017 – Interactive Video Conference Content Provider Award from the International Society for Technology in Education
- 2020 – Inducted into the CILC Pinnacle Hall of Fame, honoring more than a decade of virtual learning excellence
- Multiple Pinnacle Awards from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)
Educators consistently praise Mote’s virtual programs for their energy, clarity, and educational impact.
📣 Want to See What We’re Doing Now?
Today’s programs build on this rich history. Check out:
- Virtual Focus Trips: Live, interactive experiences for K–12 classrooms
- Ask the Ocean: Submit a question to our ocean experts
- SEA Me Read: STEM story times
📬 Keep in Touch
Were you part of an early JASON Project? A SeaTrek session? We’d love to hear your story.
📧 Send questions or stories to marven@mote.org
🔗 Share your experience using #MyMoteMent
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Zoom in. Focus together. Wonder around.