HR: 0800h
AN: ED11B-1108    [Abstracts]
TI: Broadening Educational Horizons: The National Science Foundation GK-12 Teaching Fellowship Program at the University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
AU: * Wilson, K R
EM: kristin.wilson@umit.maine.edu
AF: School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469 United States
AU: Kelley, J T
EM: jtkelley@maine.edu
AF: School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469 United States
AB: The future of meaningful scientific research in the United States depends heavily upon the quality of the science and mathematics education received by students in our grade K-12 education system. The National Science Foundation's GK-12 Teaching Fellowship Program provides opportunities for scientific enrichment for students and their teachers at the K-12 level. Currently in its fifth year at the University of Maine, Orono, the program is one of over 100 such programs in the country. Last year, the program was honored by the New England Board of Higher Education with a Regional Award for Excellence in Project Achievement. The program has three broad goals: to enrich the scientific education of students by providing equipment, role models, and expertise that they may not otherwise be exposed; to provide professional development for teachers through curriculum enrichment and participation at scientific conferences; and to improve the teaching and communication skills of fellows. Fellows represent a broad spectrum of research interests at the University of Maine, including Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Forestry, Geological Sciences, and Marine Science. This past year, 13 graduate students and 1 undergraduate student worked with 52 teachers and 2300 students in 26 schools across the state of Maine. The benefits of this program are tangible and substantial. New awareness of the innovative ways that K-12 and University education systems can work together to promote hands-on science and the scientific method, is one of the major contributions of the NSF GK-12 Teaching Fellowship Program.
UR: http://www.umaine.edu/NSFGK-12/
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005