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The NOAA Marine Debris Program created Making a Marine Debris “MAP”: A Guide to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project for Educators (Guide) as a resource for educators who are interested in implementing Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) surveys with their students. MDMAP is a NOAA community science initiative that volunteers around the world use to survey and record the amount and types of marine debris on shorelines.This Guide provides instructions and tips for participating in MDMAP and planning, conducting, and following up on monitoring surveys with student groups.
The training video series introduces participants to MDMAP and how to conduct a survey. If you are interested in watching the MDMAP training videos with your students, we have compiled potential discussion questions for each video. The MDMAP training videos are also available in Spanish.
MDMAP Training Video 1: Introduction to MDMAP
- What questions is MDMAP trying to answer? What type of data are being collected?
- What are the steps needed to conduct your MDMAP survey?
- How can MDMAP surveys help protect our environment?
- Extension Question: Research and discuss NOAA Careers.
- National Ocean Service Career Profiles
- NOAA Education Career Resources
- Careers at the National Weather Service
- NOAA Research Scientist Profiles
- Women of NOAA Fisheries (and NOAA Fisheries Careers and More News)
- NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Career Profiles
- Office of Response and Restoration “Minds Behind OR&R” blog series
MDMAP Training Video 2: Choosing a Site and Gathering Gear
- What equipment is needed to conduct MDMAP surveys? Which of these do you think is the most important and why?
- What makes a good site for conducting MDMAP surveys? Why do you think that?
- How large does the area need to be?
- What kinds of features should the area have (and not have)?
- What are some things you should do to prepare for your survey before going to your site?
- Extension Question: Research and discuss the equipment that is suggested for conducting MDMAP surveys. Can you make any of it yourself? Can you redesign any of it using repurposed materials?
MDMAP Training Video 3: Conducting a Survey
- What are Hillary and Michael called when they are doing a survey? [They are “field surveyors” - Once we complete the surveys, we will be field surveyors too!]
- What is the purpose of the survey coversheet? What kinds of information is included there and why might that be important?
- What are transects and why are they used for MDMAP surveys? How are they selected for each survey?
- Draw or describe how to outline and walk a transect, being sure to include how to make sure your survey is 5 meters across all the way to the waterline.
- What is the “back barrier” at this site? Why do you think it’s surveyed differently than the rest of the beach? What other materials could make up a back barrier? How can you address challenges in accessing or identifying back barriers?
- What types of debris did Hillary and Michael find in their survey?
- Extension Question: Research and discuss randomness. Why is this important for science? What happens if things that are “random” are not scientifically randomized?
MDMAP Training Video 4: Categorizing Debris and Uploading Data
- What types of debris should not be recorded in your survey?
- Why should we record debris?
- How did Hillary and Michael record the debris they found on their Transect Survey Forms?
- Extension Question: Explore the MDMAP database. Identify any nearby survey sites, or any gaps in survey areas near you. You can conduct “scavenger hunts” to understand common types of debris in your area, and discuss the donut charts to explore unique ways to visualize the data from MDMAP surveys.