HR: 1340h
AN: OS23A-1279    [Abstracts]
TI: The ARMADA Project: Bridging Research and K-12 Education
AU: * Scowcroft, G
EM: gailscow@gso.uri.edu
AF: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882 United States
AB: The ARMADA Project (www.armadaproject.org) is a five-year effort led by the University of Rhode Island's Office of Marine Programs in collaboration with the URI's Graduate School of Oceanography, the Joint Oceanographic Institutions, the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, and the JASON Foundation for Education. At the heart of the ARMADA Project is the development of a unique system for fostering sustainable partnerships between ocean science researchers, teachers, and professional scientist/educators. The ARMADA Project is designed to establish a model framework for facilitating the involvement of a national "ARMADA" of K-12 teachers in active ocean, polar, and environmental science research and mentoring experiences. Further, the project cultivates ongoing relationships with existing successful ocean and earth science research projects, educational programs, and marine science information outlets to effectively disseminate research results and products, relevant standards-based classroom activities, and associated science content to thousands of science, mathematics, and technology teachers nationwide. There are two primary goals for the ARMADA Project: 1) to foster science teacher retention and renewal through pedagogy and content training, research experiences, and mentoring activities, and 2) to advance and sustain the integration of the geoscience research enterprise with the K-12 education community. The second goal directly impacts the scientific community as it fosters the broader impacts of its research, Currently in its second year, the ARMADA Project has placed 26 US master teachers and one Swedish teacher in research experiences around the world - literally from pole to pole. These master teachers have directly spread the impacts of their experiences to 38 mentees. The project is designed to assist the geoscience community with satisfying broader impact goals. There are several levels through which scientists may collaborate with ARMADA teacher teams. This presentation offers a vehicle for designing and implementing an effective education and outreach effort for a scientific research program. It provides a practical solution as well as a model for collaboration and assistance from the ARMADA Project staff. ARMADA Project successes and options for involvement will be discussed.
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0830 Teacher training
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting