HR: 14:25h
AN: ED43C-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Reciprocal Education Experiences In Two GK-12 Programs: Teachers Learning And Students Teaching In Diverse Settings
AU: * Mayo, M
EM: mmayo@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, USF CMS 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Williams, C
EM: cynthia_williams@places.pcsb.org
AF: Madeira Beach Elementary, 749 Madeira Beach Causeway, Madeira Beach, FL 33708 United States
AU: Rodriguez, T
AF: Escuela de la Comunidad Juana Rodriguez Mundo, Carr. 857 Bo. Canovanillas, Carolina, PR 00983 Puerto Rico
AU: Greely, T
EM: greely@seas.marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, USF CMS 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Pyrtle, A J
EM: apyrtle@seas.marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, USF CMS 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Rivera-Rentas, A L
EM: ac_alrivera@suagm.edu
AF: Universidad Metropolitana, Escuela de Asuntos Ambientales, PO Box 21150, San Juan, PR 00928-1150 Puerto Rico
AU: Vilches, M
EM: nheinc@hotmail.com
AF: Universidad Metropolitana, Escuela de Asuntos Ambientales, PO Box 21150, San Juan, PR 00928-1150 Puerto Rico
AB: The National Science Foundation's Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Program has enabled science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduate schools across the country to become more active in local area K-12 schools. An overview of a graduate student's experiences, insights gained and lessons learned as a Fellow in the 2003-2004 Universidad Metropolitana's (UMET) environmental science and the 2004-2005 University of South Florida's (USF) ocean science GK-12 Programs is presented. The major goals of the 2003-2004 UMET GK-12 Program were 1) to enrich environmental science teaching and learning via a thematic approach in eight local public schools and 2) to provide UMET graduate students with exposure to teaching methodologies and practical teaching experience. Utilizing examples from local environments in and nearby Carolina, Puerto Rico to teach key science principles at Escuela de la Comunidad Juana Rodriguez Mundo provided numerous opportunities to relate science topics to students' daily life experiences. By 2004, the UMET GK-12 Program had successfully engaged the entire student body (primarily comprised of bilingual minority kindergarten to sixth graders), teachers and school administrators in environment-focused teaching and learning activities. Examples of such activities include tree planting projects to minimize local erosion, conducting a science fair for the first time in many years, and numerous opportunities to experience what "real scientists do" while conducting environmental science investigations. During the 2004-2005 academic year, skills, insights and lessons learned as a UMET GK-12 Fellow are being further enhanced through participation in the USF GK-12 OCEANS Program. The overall objectives of the 2004-2005 USF GK-12 OCEANS assignment at Madeira Beach Elementary School in Saint Petersburg, Florida are to 1) engage students from various ethnic backgrounds and cultures in hands-on science activities, 2) enhance the school's third grade ocean science education curriculum, and 3) foster dialog between students at Madeira Beach Elementary School and Escuela de la Comunidad Juana Rodriguez Mundo, via exchange of pictures, video recordings, letters and emails related to environment-focused learning activities being undertaken at the two schools. In addition to these objectives, during the 2004-2005 academic year several ocean science-focused activities, the majority of which were adapted and/or identified from either the UMET GK-12 or USF OCEAN GK-12 Programs, will be utilized to further stimulate Madeira Beach Elementary School third graders' critical thinking skills. Examples of such activities, including hands-on exercises, case studies, games and field trips are highlighted in this presentation.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 0830 Teacher training
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting