HR: 1340h
AN: ED53A-0324    [Abstracts]
TI: Ocean Science in a K-12 setting: Promoting Inquiry Based Science though Graduate Student and Teacher Collaboration
AU: * LoDico, J M
EM: jlodico@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Greely, T
EM: greely@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Lodge, A
EM: alodge@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Pyrtle, A
EM: apyrtle@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Ivey, S
EM: sivey@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Madeiros, A
EM: abbymadeiros@places.pcsb.org
AF: Southside Fundamental Middle School, 1701 10th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 United States
AU: Saleem, S
EM: shay@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AB: The University of South Florida, College of Marine Science Oceans: GK-12 Teaching Fellowship Program is successfully enriching science learning via the oceans. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the program provides a unique opportunity among scientists and K-12 teachers to interact with the intention of bringing ocean science concepts and research to the classroom environment enhance the experience of learning and doing science, and to promote `citizen scientists' for the 21st century. The success of the program relies heavily on the extensive summer training program where graduate students develop teaching skills, create inquiry based science activities for a summer Oceanography Camp for Girls program and build a relationship with their mentor teacher. For the last year and a half, two graduate students from the College of Marine Science have worked in cooperation with teachers from the Pinellas county School District, Southside Fundamental Middle School. Successful lesson plans brought into a 6th grade Earth Science classroom include Weather and climate: Global warming, The Geologic timescale: It's all about time, Density: Layering liquids, and Erosion processes: What moves water and sediment. The school and students have benefited greatly from the program experiencing hands-on inquiry based science and the establishment of an after school science club providing opportunities for students to work on their science fair projects and pursuit other science interests. Students are provided scoring rubrics and their progress is creatively assessed through KWL worksheets, concept maps, surveys, oral one on one and classroom discussions and writing samples. The year culminated with a series of hands on lessons at the nearby beach, where students demonstrated their mastery of skills through practical application. Benefits to the graduate student include improved communication of current science research to a diverse audience, a better understanding of the perspective of teachers and their content knowledge, and experience working with children and youth. The GK-12 teacher mentor benefits include a resource of inquiry based ocean science activities and increased knowledge of current scientific ocean research. The K-12 students gain an opportunity to be engage with young passionate scientists, learn about current ocean science research, and experience inquiry based science activities relating to concepts already being taught in their classroom. This program benefits all involved including the graduate students, the teachers, the K-12 students and the community.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005