0283 SS TAS06_rev030907

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
NOAA TEACHER-AT-SEA PROGRAM
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0283

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
Consistent with the support for research and education under the National Marine Sanctuaries
Act (16 U.S.C. 32 §1440) and other coastal and marine protection legislation, NOAA provides
educators an opportunity to gain first-hand experience with field research activities through the
Teacher-at-Sea Program. Through this program, educators spend up to 3 weeks at sea on a
NOAA research vessel, participating in an ongoing research project with NOAA scientists. The
application solicits information from interested educators, and participants in the program are
selected following review of their application. The application includes two recommendation
forms and a NOAA Health Services Questionnaire, the latter being a requirement of anyone
going to sea. Once an educator is selected and participates on a cruise, they write a report
detailing the events of the cruise and their ideas for classroom activities based on what they
learned while at sea. These materials are then made available to other educators so they may
benefit from the experience, without actually going to sea themselves. NOAA does not collect
information from this universe of respondents for any other purpose.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be
used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support
information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection
complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
Applications are accepted annually, from October through February, for the purpose of
identifying prospective participants in the Teacher-at-Sea Program. The specific items of
information on the application will be used in the following manner:
Name, Home Address, Home Phone, Name of School, School Address, Work Phone, email
address, citizenship, and Age Range are necessary self-identification information for the
applicants.
Gender information is used to accommodate berthing requirements aboard the ship.
The questions What subjects and grades do you currently teach? and What subjects and
grades are you likely to teach next year? are used to determine the areas of discipline of the
applicant. This information is useful when placing more than one teacher on a ship in order to
match their areas of expertise, when evaluating their classroom activities for their appropriate
subject matter and age level, and to determine that an applicant is, in fact, an educator.

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The question What leadership roles have you held in education? is used to evaluate the
applicants. Applicants are given a higher score for holding leadership roles in their schools,
participating in their own professional development, and being a role model for their students.
These skills and activities directly relate to a teacher’s ability to translate the experience into
their classroom.
Question #1, How will you use this experience to benefit your students and colleagues? is the
most important selection criteria on the application. The information details what plans the
teacher has for their follow-up classroom activities, as well as their plans for conducting
workshops, in-service training, and writing articles for publication. These are the "products" that
NOAA can show to justify the existence of the program.
Question #2, Describe your experience and ability to write your own classroom activities,
directly relates to an educator’s ability to make use of the experience for teachers and students.
The more skilled a teacher is at writing curriculum and adapting life experiences to the
classroom the better they are at taking an immersive experience, like being at sea, and translating
it to classroom lessons.
Question #3, What type of project would you prefer to join? Explain the parameters that go
into your decision? encourages applicants to consider what type of research they would be most
interested in pursuing and why. It also encourages them to consider where they would be most
suited and most likely to become meaningfully engaged in the project.
Question #4, Discuss your ability to adapt to the physical and personal demands of life onboard a ship, is an attempt to encourage the applicants to consider what life is like on-board a
ship. The quarters are small, space is limited, it is difficult to "get away" from other people,
communications and medical facilities are limited. All these factors are important considerations
to make before one embarks on a three-week cruise in the open ocean. While this information is
not used in the rating process, it is important for the applicants to give due consideration to these
conditions.
The recommendations, one from an Administrator and one from a Colleague, give good insight
into an educator’s teaching ability and their creativity in the classroom. This is an important
evaluation criterion.
The NOAA Health Services Questionnaire provides the necessary information for the NOAA
Medical Officer to determine whether an applicant is fit for sea duty.
The Follow-up Report is collected as a completion of the agreement between NOAA and the
participating teacher so that NOAA can distribute the materials to non-participating teachers
thereby broadening the impact of the program to benefit more teachers.
It is anticipated that the Follow-up Report will be disseminated to the public and used to support
publicly disseminated information. As explained in the preceding paragraph, the information
gathered has utility. NOAA will retain control over the information and safeguard it from
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improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for
confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response #10 of this Supporting
Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is
designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to
dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a predissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.
NOAA does not plan to disseminate the submitted Participant's Applications to the public.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
This application is available on the Internet and teachers are able to download the application
and check current ship schedules on-line. The Teacher-at-Sea Internet URL is widely distributed
and communication is often facilitated through direct email contact between the Program
Administrator and the applicants.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
There are no other known collections gathering similar information. The Teacher-at-Sea
Program is the only NOAA information collection directed at educators.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
No small businesses will be responding to this collection.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
If this information collection were not conducted the opportunity to participate in NOAA
research projects would not be open to a broad audience, and very few educators would be able
to participate.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
The collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the OMB guidelines.

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8. Provide a copy of the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments on the
information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received
in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those
comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their
views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and
recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be
recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A Federal Register Notice (copy attached) solicited public comment on this collection. No
comments were received.
The reviewers, consisting of NOAA employees and Teacher-at-Sea alumni, evaluate the
application during the selection process for clarity, ease of use and utility. NOAA employees
consist of members of the NOAA Education Council, NOAA Education Committee, and various
employees from different NOAA Line and Staff Offices with expertise in education. The
Teacher at Sea alumni consist of currently employed and former teachers who previously
participated in the Teacher-at-Sea Program. Applicants provide comments on the entire
application process, including the application itself, during the evaluation of the program
following their cruise. Several applicants have been contacted regarding the application to
determine the clarity of instructions and the amount of burden imposed.
The application is distributed widely at educators' conferences, through education publications,
and at workshops, all of which provide opportunities for further public comment. No major
problems have been uncovered as a result of any of these consultations.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
There are no payments made or gifts given to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
The NOAA Health Services Questionnaire will be protected as a Privacy Act record and treated
confidentially. A Privacy Act System of Records Notice is under review by the NOAA Privacy
Act Officer pending submission to DOC for approval.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
Except for the health questions, there are no questions of a sensitive nature or any matters that
are commonly considered private.

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12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
The estimates for the burden of the collection of information have been gathered by surveying
applicants. The estimates are as follows:
Application Process
Number of respondents expected annually = 125
Frequency of response = once annually
Average response time per respondent = 1 hour and 15 minutes
15 minutes to read the application
30 minutes to complete the application
15 minutes to deliver and discuss the recommendation forms
15 minutes to complete the Health Services Questionnaire
Recommendations (2 per applicant)
Number of respondents expected annually = 250
Frequency of response = once annually
Average response time per respondent = 15 minutes
Follow-up report
Number of respondents expected annually = 45
Frequency of response = once annually
Average response time per respondent = 2 hours
1 hour to gather data and materials
1 hour to write report
Total
Number of respondents =
375
Total annual responses =
420
Total hours =
308.75 (309)
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in #12
above).
The total annual cost burden to the respondents resulting from the collection is:
4 postage stamps =
$1.56
3 envelopes =
$0.20
Total cost ($1.76 x 375) =
$660.00
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
The estimated annual costs to the Federal government are outlined below:
Hours (780 @ $17.69) =
$13,798.20
Operational expenses (printing) =
$1,500.00
Total =
$15,298.20
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15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or
14 of the OMB 83-I.
No changes are requested
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
The results of the collection will not be published for statistical use.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
The expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection will be displayed.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the
OMB 83-I.
There are no exceptions to the certification statement.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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