PROGRAM QUALITIES THAT MAKE A FIELD

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE VALUABLE TO

CLASSROOM TEACHERS

• Teacher at Sea -NOAA/NEAQS/ICARTT -Air quality

MY RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

• Teachers in the Woods-Portland State University--Andrews Experimental Forest-Forest ecology

• Teachers on Summer Assignment-National Forest Service and Oregon Forest Research Institute -Forest fire ecology

• Science Teachers in Academic Research Settings -Texas Alliance for Science Math Education-Chemical oceanography

Make Me a Better Teacher

Help Keep Me Enjoying Teaching

Help Me Teach So Students Want To Learn

Help Me Teach Them How To Think

Help Me Teach Them Science

PRE- PROJECT EDUCATE THE TEACHER

•Send teacher to sit in on science planning sessions or conferences.

•Provide teacher with background materials about the project and the science.

•Provide specific formal training on the science involved in the project.

EDUCATE THE SCIENTISTS AND THE PUBLIC

• Thoroughly prep scientists.

• Distribute press releases.

I’M HERE--NOW WHAT?

• Definite, but flexible meaningful tasks.

• “Adequate” amount of time with different scientists and projects.

• Constant access to revisit research personnel.

• Formal instruction.

PROVIDE TOOLS

• Provide digital cameras and laptops.

• Internet and photo logs, and email contact with students.

POST PROJECT SUPPORT

• Scientists keep the teacher(s) informed of their research.

• Send teacher to scientific and/or NSTA conferences.

• Subscribe the teacher to journals and membership in organizations.

• Mini-grants for classroom projects.

IT’S NOT JUST THE LESSONS

•More is brought back to the classroom than just lessons.

•Informal “teachable moments” may make students say WOW more than formal lessons.

AUTHORS

• Kirk Beckendorf

• Jennifer Hammond

• Elizabeth McMahon

• Eric J. Williams

• Tim Bates