HR: 0800h
AN: ED31A-1203    [Abstracts]
TI: Administration, Best Practices, and Evaluation of the National Weather Center REU Program
AU: * Zaras, D S
EM: dzaras@ou.edu
AF: Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma 100 E. Boyd, Suite 1110, Norman, OK 73019 United States
AU: Gonzalez-Espada, W
EM: wilson.gonzalezespad@mail.atu.edu
AF: Department of Physical Science, Arkansas Tech University 1701 North Boulder Avenue, Russellville, AR 72801 United States
AB: The National Weather Center Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in Norman, Oklahoma, is a unique undergraduate career exploration experience, drawing upon the resources available in the National Weather Center's (NWC) state, federal, and university groups. This program takes full advantage of our location by including a wide variety of professionals from throughout the NWC community as mentors and contributors of lectures, workshops, tours, field trips, and job shadow experiences to expose the students to a broad spectrum of research topics and careers in meteorology. Students actively practice good research methodology by being paired with mentors who are productive researchers. The program aims to provide a strong and transformative educational experience that models the life of a scientist. This presentation will include a brief overview of program administration, analysis of applicant characteristics, "best practices" learned since 2001, and new additions to the NWC program funded through a 2-Year Extension for Special Creativity. The presentation will conclude with a brief evaluation of how well the program meets its goals of helping students clarify graduate school and career plans, and build self-efficacy regarding their potential for a career in scientific research.
UR: http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~zaras/reu/
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0840 Evaluation and assessment
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
DE: 0855 Diversity
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005