Constructing Partnerships with Arctic Research to

further Education, Outreach and Scientific

Literacy

Renee D. CrainAssistant Program Officer

Arctic Research and Education

Spending Perspective

National Science Foundation$5 billion/year, fraction for E&O

Department of Education $71.5 billion/year, 3% federal budget

Nation-wide total spent on Education$909 billion/year, state, local, private

NSF’s Mission in Education

Programs to strengthen scientific and engineering research potential,

Science and engineering education programs at all levels and in all fields of science and engineering

Address issues of equal opportunity in science and engineering

Education Continuum

K-12

Undergrad Graduate

Public

Post Doc

What Do You Know?

What do we remember?

What do we think is important?

How does something gain importance?

What Education Research Tells Us

Knowing (what, where) and Doing (how, why) Constructivist Learning

– Each student has a history and builds on their existing notions and experience

– Learning continues throughout life

– “Desirable Difficulty”

Inquiry-based, Hands-on Learning Place-based Education Extension of Place to Understand New Places

Bringing Together NSF’s Roles

Broader Impacts

Research in Education

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Arctic Research Sites

Arctic Sciences Section

Arctic Natural Sciences Arctic Social Sciences Arctic System Science Arctic Research and Education Arctic Research Support and Logistics Arctic Research and Policy Arctic Cyberinfrastructure

Arctic Research and Education

Provide support to projects that: Increase diversity in (polar) sciences,

including northern Indigenous people

Develop resources with and for K-12 science teachers and students

Attract and retain students in STEM fields

Promote science literacy and polar research

Develop long-term collaboratives in education

OPP Partnerships

Education and Human Resources, EHR– Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education

– Informal Science Education

Long-Term Ecological Research, BIO Environmental Research and Education, ERE GeoSciences Education, GEO Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, OLPA Cooperative Agreements: ANSC, BASC, ARCUS USFWS, NSB DWM, NASA

NSF Programs

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) in Regional Resilience and Sustainability

GK-12, Graduate student mentors PISCES Program REU sites Svalbard, Iceland, Matanuska Glacier LTER Schoolyard program in Barrow Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)

– Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program

OPP Post Doc Fellowship

K-12 Teachers: Professional Development

Teachers Experiencing Antarctic and the Arctic (TEA), 1998-2003

Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating (TREC) 2004, 2005

Projects and Spin-ups

Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic (TEA) cofunded with EHR

Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating (TREC)

Eider Journeys by USFWS

Oral History of Wales by 5th graders

Glaciology in physics

Researcher-driven Education

Arctic River BiogeochemistrySchool Network

Alaska Lake Ice and Snow Observatory Network (ALISON)

Polar Huskies GoNorth!

Science Writers at Toolik Field Station

REU Sites

More Program Highlights

Arctic Alive! Arctic Visiting Speakers Climate change in the Arctic

K-12 teachers and students Teacher mentoring in Barrow Student participation in

workshops Media in the field (CBS, NYT, and others)

Innovations

Use of technology to share and transfer knowledge– Chat rooms

– Live broadcasts

“Webinars”

Spatial Data Infrastructure

Classrooms contributing to real research

These Projects Provide

Teacher Enhancement Opportunities– Hands-on, inquiry based experience

– Bringing experience to classrooms

Formal Education Materials

Place-based experiences for students in the Arctic and those whose teachers translate materials

Inquiry-based learning for students

Information to the public about arctic research

What’s to Come

Continuing OPP and NSF programs

SEARCH Education and Outreach

International Polar Year

– ICSU Expressions of Interest (30 of 74)

– “Bridging the Poles Workshop” 2004

– IPY Education Workshop 2005 (NOAA)

Conclusions

Current arctic research engages people and makes the Arctic relevant to all people

Hands-on experiences challenge and motivate learners

Role models and engaging experiences improve diversity in arctic sciences

The arctic research community has been innovative and effective in achieving NSF’s education and outreach goals