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Bill Schmoker

About

Bill Schmoker's picture
Occupation: Teacher
Organization: Centennial Middle School

Bill Schmoker is an Earth Science teacher at Centennial Middle School in Boulder, Colorado. He holds a Secondary Earth Science Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado, a master's degree in Secondary Science Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and has been teaching for 17 years. Additionally, Mr. Schmoker works with pre-service teachers, is a member of Centennial's Technology Committee, has authored, edited, and consulted on many Earth Science Education products, and has held many leadership roles at the building and district levels throughout his career.

Mr. Schmoker is also passionate about birding and bird photography. For several summers he has conducted bird monitoring transects for the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. He has been an instructor for the American Birding Association's Youth Birding Program and for their Institute for Field Ornithology. Bill has photographed over 600 species of North American Birds, and his photos appear internationally in numerous books, magazines, web sites, and interpretive signage. When not teaching or birding Bill treasures time in his gardens and with his family.

Bill Schmoker's Content

Title Type Last Updatedsort icon
That Sinking Feeling: Density Currents Lab Lesson 2 June 2013
Teacher wins national fellowship for Arctic Ocean research Article 27 May 2013
Centennial Middle teacher heads to Arctic for second expedition Article 17 May 2013
Beginning Year - Bill Schmoker Video 3 April 2013
PolarTREC_Dutch_Harbor_med.m4v Video 3 April 2013
Gas Hydrate Core Sample Video 3 April 2013
Bill Schmoker - Ice Maker Video 3 April 2013
PH Photocell fill Video 3 April 2013
USCGC Healy Boat Opps Video 3 April 2013
USCGC Healy Breaking Heavy Ice Video 3 April 2013
Ice Buoy Deployment aboard USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Conducting a CTD cast aboard the USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
CTD cast aboard USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Arriving in Dutch Harbor Video 3 April 2013
USCGC Healy experiencing the first ice of 2010 International Extended Continental Shelf Survey Video 3 April 2013
RHI opps on USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Gas Hydrate recovery from Southern Beaufort Sea aboard USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Gravity Coring Opps on USCGC Healy in Southern Beaufort Sea Video 3 April 2013
Black-legged Kittiwakes & Herring Gull in the Arctic Ocean Video 3 April 2013
USCGC Healy Foghorn Video 3 April 2013
Helicoptering from USGCC Healy to Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Louis S. St. Laurent Video 3 April 2013
Walking Tour of USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
USCGC Healy breaking ice in the Canada Basin Video 3 April 2013
USCGC Healy Helicopter Opps Video 3 April 2013
USCGC Healy entering the ice pack north of Barrow Video 3 April 2013
PolarTREC Teacher Bill Schmoker making ice in the Canada Basin aboard USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Louis S. St. Laurent seen from the USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Helicopter transfer from CCGC Louis S. St. Laurent to USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Packing up coring rail on USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Piston Core sampling aboard USCGC Healy, Canada Basin Video 3 April 2013
Piston Coring in the Eastern Canada Basin on USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Polar Bear in Beaufort Sea Video 3 April 2013
RHI Recovery on USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Summer Snow Day on the USCGC Healy Video 3 April 2013
Bathymetry: Mapping Mystery Bay Lesson 14 October 2011
Student Journal Booklet PDF Activity 8 August 2011
Centennial Middle School teacher Bill Schmoker heads to Arctic Ocean Article 31 January 2011
Title Reply Post date
Healy Noise etc.

Hi again Andrea- Interestingly, the noise didn't bother me too much, maybe I was just good and tired each night! I did bring ear plugs- my roommate had the midnight to 8 shift so when he was getting ready sometimes I'd pop the earplugs in. The noise I remember was kind of steady white noise so...{read more}

March 28, 2013 - 3:24pm
Yellow-billed Loons

For sure, make the time to try for the Yellow-billed Loons! Super cool birds, and much harder to see than Common Loons. Best- Bill

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June 28, 2012 - 6:58am
No Sleep for Bird Watchers

Most excellent!! Good luck birding- there are some pretty spiffing birds up there to be had, indeed!! -Bill

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June 16, 2012 - 9:01am
Greenlandic Birds

There are lots of arctic breeding birds on the tundra and sea cliffs- in my opinion the most awesome Greenland bird is a white-phase Gyrfalcon. Basically look for a feathered jet fighter that looks mostly white & you'll have it!

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February 9, 2012 - 12:40pm
Coolest bird

Personally, I think the coolest reasonable possibility for you up there is Gyrfalcon...

-Bill

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February 9, 2012 - 11:54am
Re: [PolarTREC] do you miss your famliy

Hi Caitlin- thanks for the note!

I definitely missed my family while I was gone, and one of the best
things I've seen in a while was my wife and son waiting for me at the
airport! I'm home now and back teaching. Being on the Healy was an
amazing experience and I'm so...{read more}

September 9, 2010 - 5:44pm
Re: [PolarTREC] HEY MY NAME IS RJ IM FROM ST MARK CATHOLIC SCHOO

Hello, RJ- thanks for the note.

None of our research involved animals, except for keeping an eye out for
marine mammals so we could keep our distance and avoid disturbance
whenever possible.

I did miss my family, and am very happy to be home now!

Being on the...{read more}

September 9, 2010 - 5:44pm
Re: [PolarTREC] Hi I am Daniel from St.Marck

Hi Daniel- thanks for writing.

It was pretty neat living on the Healy. On the one hand it was kind of
like a college dorm- I slept in a bunk (called a "rack"), had a
roommate, ate in a cafeteria, and hung out with friends. But the view
out my porthole was amazing, and...{read more}

September 9, 2010 - 5:44pm
RE: [PolarTREC] sealife

Hi Frankie- great to hear from you!

On this trip the sea life has fallen into four categories: Birds, Seals, Whales, and Bears.

We've seen a variety of seabirds including gulls, shearwaters, auklets, and murres. We've seen ringed and bearded seals along with minke, sei, and gray...{read more}

September 6, 2010 - 7:05am
RE: [PolarTREC] family

Hi Caitlin- thanks for the note. I certainly have family pics with me, both on my laptop and on my iPhone. I miss them but having email and satellite phone access has really helped in the 5 weeks I've been gone from home. I've had a great time up here but I'm also excited to start my way home...{read more}

September 5, 2010 - 6:05pm

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