This interactive field trip is set to launch on September 17, 2009 at the Maritime Industries Academy High School in Baltimore City

“We are very excited about teachers using this website as a resource to enhance their instruction,” said Nancy S. Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools. “The online field trip gives students an opportunity to explore a world that they would not otherwise be able to access.”

The first section of the website, “Working at the Port” allows students to learn about a variety of careers related to the transportation system such as longshoreman, tug boat operations, pilot, customs and border protection, marine operations, accountant, freight forwarder or customs broker, and trucker.

Each career description provides links to higher education, typical salary, and information on future job prospects.

Next is the section with the “Tech Challenge.” Here students get to play two interactive games while at the same time learn about loading a ship and dredging.

Detailed lesson plans based on the Technology Education state curriculum and also include mathematics and science concepts accompany each game that teachers can download and implement with their students.

The final section, “All About the Port” shows how the Port is a major influence to Maryland’s economy and focuses on the Port as a transportation system. It includes students understanding concepts such as Ro/Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off), containerized cargo handling, intermodal transportation and the unusual equipment and scheduling methods that make the Port of Baltimore a transportation leader.

“Now, through this online field trip, all students can come to know the Port as the economic engine of the state of Maryland and its influence on all of our lives,” said former Congresswoman Helen Bentley, for whom the Port is named. “There’s a story in almost every corner of the Port, every hour of the day, and that is the Port of Baltimore.”