HR: 17:00h
AN: ED44A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: The DataTools Professional Development Program: Supporting the Integration of Data and Analysis in Middle School Earth Science Programs
AU: * Haddad, N
EM: Nick_Haddad@terc.edu
AF: TERC, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 01240, United States
AU: Ledley, T S
EM: Tamara_Ledley@terc.edu
AF: TERC, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 01240, United States
AU: McAuliffe, C
EM: Carla_McAuliffe@terc.edu
AF: TERC, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 01240, United States
AU: Dahlman, L
EM: LuAnn_Dahlman@terc.edu
AF: TERC, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 01240, United States
AB: TERC's professional development program Tools for Data Analysis in the Middle School Classroom (a.k.a. DataTools) addresses the need for well-prepared Earth science teachers by helping change the practice of those who are "approaching Earth sciences from a traditional perspective", and 2) those who are "challenged by the need to link research with classroom experiences". The DataTools program addresses this need via a yearlong professional development program that helps middle school teachers develop competence in locating and downloading Web-based Earth science data, and visualizing and analyzing that data using a suite of analysis tools. Leveraging the resources and techniques of the Earth Exploration Toolbook, the DataTools team promotes the practice of having students attempt to answer scientific questions by examining and analyzing relevant data using tools and fostering dialog as they evaluate and try to make sense of their results. In this session, we will describe the DataTools professional development program and the Earth Exploration Toolbook, and will summarize what we have learned during the first two years of this three-year program. We will also share some of the work that teachers have used with their students during the first two years of the program.
UR: http://serc.carleton.edu/eet
DE: 0830 Teacher training
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting