Overview
Suggestions
Connections to Existing Program Models
Into the Arctic A site designed to offer instructional materials and activities for teachers to use in the many contexts of their daily teaching routine. Information and activities are divided into four sections: Climate, Climate Change, El Niņo and the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2.
Polar Connections The National Science Foundation's 1998 National Science & Technology Week focused on polar science. The Web site is available; hardcopy packets are hard to find.
Interactive multi-media modules for undergraduates. Ellen Mosley-Thompson, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State directed development of computer-based modules (global warming, the greenhouse effect, and ozone) for instruction in global environmental change courses.
Antarctic Science and Policy: Interdisciplinary Research Education (ASPIRE). Paul Berkman, Byrd Polar Research Center. The Ohio State University. A 70-page instruction for group decision-making and interdisciplinary approaches for earth system science education and includes nine student presentations. Students learn by refining questions, designing and implementing self-directed projects, and contributing to group decision-making efforts. ASPIRE is a model capstone course for Earth system science curricula emerging in universities. Interactive multimedia courseware helps students enhance inquiry skills.
Funding Opportunities
Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement
".....The Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) Program supports projects that are expected to improve undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education (SMETE) by increasing the availability and use of high-quality educational materials and the employment of effective pedagogical strategies. Proposals that address all levels of undergraduate education are encouraged; proposals to improve introductory-level courses, curricula, and laboratories are especially welcome. NSF invites proposals to improve undergraduate SMETE in a broad spectrum of institutions, including 2-year colleges, 4-year colleges, and universities. Projects may involve a single institution, a collaborative effort among several institutions, or a collaboration with business and industry partners......" Note: While getting graduate and undergraduate students into the classroom does not directly tie into this program, it could include aspects.
Instructional Materials Development
This program ".....supports the development of materials and assessment strategies that are aligned with national standards and promote improvement of science, mathematics, and technology (SMT) instruction at the pre-K through 12 levels. These materials should enable students to acquire sophisticated content knowledge, higher-order thinking abilities, and problem-solving skills....." Program Announcement and Guidelines
Advanced Technological Education
The program "..... is managed jointly by ESIE and the Division of Undergraduate Education. ATE promotes improvement in the education of technicians in science and engineering related fields at the undergraduate and secondary school levels. It parcticularly targets 2-year colleges and encourages collaboration among 2-year colleges, 4-year colleges, universities, secondary schools, business, industry, and government. Proposals are solicited in the following three major tracks....." including development of new courses, laboratories, curricula, etc.
Resources
New ideas, suggestions for changes, recommendations for additions, etc. always are welcome and can be mailed to:
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