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TEA Program Regional Workshop

Summary of Regional Workshops:

Regional workshops are an opportunity for TEAs to expand upon the TEA field experience by sharing polar resources and inquiry-based teaching strategies with their local communities in a meaningful professional development format.

Each workshop will be planned and facilitated by a lead TEA, who will submit a proposal to the TEA Management on or before October 4, 2004. The proposal must include a budget, agenda, anticipated outcomes, communication from a polar researcher verifying his/her parcticipation, and initial indication of parcticipant interest. Parcticipants can include TEAs and Associates from surrounding states, as well as other educators interested in polar science. Each workshop will include components that focus on polar content, the process of science (with connections to the classroom), the role of inquiry in science instruction, and existing curriculum materials and classroom resources. It is anticipated that each workshop will be designed to meet local interests and needs and to take advantage of local resources; each workshop will be unique. Workshop outcomes will be reported by the TEA facilitator and will be included on the TEA Web site.

It should be noted that the local workshops are an excellent way for TEAs and their mentees to work together; we request that the mentoring connection be addressed in the proposals.


Eligibilty Info

Selection will be based on the parcticipant's:
Involvement in TEA – The proposed facilitator(s) must be a TEA teacher who has completed his/her field experience. Has the proposed facilitator(s) met (or is meeting) her/his TEA responsibilities? Is the proposed facilitator(s) currently active in TEA?
Leadership - Does the proposed facilitator demonstrate the capability to facilitate the workshop he/she is proposing? This includes logistical capabilities as well as vision. In parcticular, is the proposed facilitator able to address current understandings of scientific inquiry and inquiry in the classroom?


Proposal Preparation Instructions

  • Rationale: The facilitator’s vision for the workshop. What is the driving motivation behind offering this workshop?
  • Goals: What does the facilitator hope the workshop will accomplish? What does the facilitator hope each parcticipant will accomplish?
  • Design and Work Plan: Overview of components of workshop and a draft agenda. Some level of detail as to the polar researcher who will attend and polar related materials to be included in the workshop.
  • Follow-up Activities: Post workshop goals/outreach efforts for facilitator and parcticipants
  • Logistics: Who, What, Where, When
  • Budget: Detailed Proposed Budget


    Workshop Guidelines

    TEA Regional Workshops will be between one and two days in length (not including travel days and include between twenty and thirty parcticipants. At least one polar researcher must attend and contribute to the workshop (e.g. give a presentation about her/his research). Each workshop will include components that focus on polar content, the process of science (with connections to the classroom), the role of inquiry in science instruction, and existing curriculum materials and classroom resources. It is anticipated that each workshop will be designed to meet local interests and needs and to take advantage of local resources.


    Funding Information

    The TEA Program can fund a minimum of two regional workshops to occur between October 2004 and May 2005. The maximum amount of funding available, including stipends, is $12,000. This funding can be used to cover the following expenses and may not exceed any of the amounts listed for each category:

  • double occupancy housing for 20 parcticipants for 2 nights
  • meals for 20 parcticipants for 2 days
  • airline travel for 2 researchers
  • stipend for 20 parcticipants at 75 per day for 2 days
  • stipend for meeting facilitator(s) $1600 total (see below)
  • meeting room and A/V rentals, miscellaneous materials and supplies $1200

    The Lead TEA will be considered a consultant (TEA Regional Workshop Consultant) and be compensated for one day of pre-workshop preparation, two days of actual workshop (or one if a one day workshop), and one day to prepare a summary. The daily consulting fee is $400 for a total of $1600 per workshop. If there is more than one TEA facilitator, the consulting fee will be divided between the facilitators.


    Submission Instructions

    Proposals must be submitted via email to Arlyn Bruccoli at

    Those TEAs selected to host Regional Workshops will also parcticipate in a pre-workshop conference call with the TEA management team. The purpose of this call is to offer facilitators the opportunity to ask questions and to share ideas. Such communication will increase the likelihood that the Regional Workshop guidelines are applied consistently among facilitators. Facilitators will also parcticipate in a post-workshop conference call and may be asked to complete a brief evaluation form to discuss the successes and challenges of the event.


    Proposal Review Criteria

    The TEA Management Team will use the following criteria to evaluate each submission.

  • Eligibility: Does the facilitator(s) meet the above stated eligibility requirements?
  • Location: The workshops should occur across the Nation. The TEA management team will encourage collaboration if more than one TEA from an area proposes a workshop.
  • Guidelines: Does the proposal follow the guidelines and include all components?
  • Feasibility: Can the stated workshop goals be attained?
  • Impact: How will the workshop build on parcticipants’ skills for bringing inquiry into the classroom? How will the workshop help establish a network for long-term collaboration among parcticipants?

    Notification of proposal status will be made within three weeks of submission.


    Agendas from Funded 2004-2005 Proposals

    Agendas from Funded 2003-2004 Proposals

    Award Information

    Documentation Responsibilities of Facililtators

    Suggestions for Proposing Facilitators