GK-12 Project WEST (Water, the Environment, Science and Teaching)

标题：GK-12项目西部（水，环境，科学和教学）机构：犹他州大学P.I.： 大卫S.查普曼，地质与地球物理系研究员人数：11名研究生研究员; 3名本科生研究员学区合作伙伴：湖城学区第一年目标受众：4年级，8年级和9年级设置：城市与农村外展NSF学科：地球科学轨道：轨道1 GK-12项目WEST（水、环境、科学和教学）将犹他州大学、犹他州自然历史博物馆、以及湖城学区在加强四、八、九年级的探究式科学教学以及对大学研究生和本科生进行地球科学方面的跨学科培训。西部（水和环境）的统一主题是重要的，因为它对这个干旱地区的人类生存和生计具有明显的重要性。 国家标准和犹他州标准的教学科学在这个年级范围内集中在这个主题。 犹他州的每一个学校和大学学生以及每一个居民都受到当地水文循环的影响：我们的山脉接收的降水量是谷底的十倍，水通过溪流或雨水流入地面，支持着海拔12,000英尺至3,000英尺之间的许多生态系统，水为农业和城市消费提供了水源，最终流向大盐湖独特的生态系统。 水影响娱乐、经济和定居。 通过对水在环境中的作用的进一步了解，特别是在这个严重干旱的时期，学生们将思考他们在自然界中的地位。为实现WEST和GK-12目标，设计了七项具体活动：（1）教师研讨会，（2）研究生研究员跨学科研究项目/研讨会，（3）研究生研究员教学/学习研讨会，（4）课堂教学活动和教学资源的准备，（5）K-12学生实地考察，（6）开发WEST网站，以及（7）每年一次的WEST务虚会，将研究发现与有效的教学实践联系起来。 西部项目促进小学，初中和高中学生在核心课程要求和国家标准的框架内进行综合和探究式学习。 它以材料，观察站，研讨会和实地考察的形式为K-12教师提供专业发展工具，以促进更有效的科学教学。 WEST的多学科性质（地质学，地球物理学，气象学，生态学）为被选为GK-12研究员的研究生和本科生提供了智力刺激和增强的学习机会。这个项目的NSF知识价值可以在上面的概念主题和活动2、3和7中找到。 更广泛的影响包括参与西部教育技术方案的学校的多样性。在每个阶段对项目进行评估，确保发现并遵循最佳做法。 该项目得到地质科学局资金的部分支持。

Title: GK-12 Project WEST (Water, the Environment, Science and Teaching) Institution: University of Utah P.I.: David S. Chapman, Department of Geology and Geophysics Number of Fellows: 11 graduate fellows; 3 undergraduate fellows School District Partners: Salt Lake City School District first year Target Audience: Grades 4, 8, and 9 Setting: Urban with rural outreach NSF disciplines: Geosciences Track: Track 1 GK-12 Project WEST (Water, the Environment, Science, and Teaching) links the University of Utah, the Utah Museum of Natural History, and the Salt Lake City school district in enhancing inquiry based science teaching in grades 4, 8, and 9 and the interdisciplinary training of university graduate and undergraduate students in the geosciences. The unifying theme of WEST (water and the environment) is significant is the west because of its obvious importance for human survival and livelihood in this arid region. National standards and Utah standards for teaching science in this grade range focus on this theme. Every school and university student and every resident in the State of Utah is impacted by the local hydrological cycle: our mountain ranges receive ten times the precipitation of valley floors, water runs off in streams or percolates into the ground supporting the many ecosystems found between 12,000 ft and 3,000 ft elevation, water provides for both agriculture and urban consumption, and flows ultimately to the unique ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake. Water affects recreation, the economy, and settlement. By gaining an enhanced understanding of the role of water in the environment, particularly in this time of severe drought, students will contemplate their place in nature. Seven specific activities are designed to accomplish WEST and GK-12 goals: (1) teacher-fellow workshops, (2) a graduate fellow interdisciplinary research project/seminar, (3) a graduate fellow teaching/learning seminar, (4) classroom teaching activities and preparation of teaching resources, (5) K-12 student field trips, (6) development of a WEST web site, and (7) an annual WEST retreat that will link research discovery with effective teaching practice. Project WEST facilitates integrative and inquiry based learning among elementary, middle, and high school students within a framework of core curriculum requirements and state standards. It provides professional development tools to K-12 teachers in the form of materials, observatories, workshops, and field trips that promote more effective science teaching. The multidisciplinary nature of WEST (geology, geophysics, meteorology, ecology) provides intellectual stimulation and enhanced learning opportunities for graduate students and undergraduates selected as GK-12 Fellows. The NSF intellectual merit of this project is found within the conceptual theme and activities 2,3, and 7 above. The broader impacts include the diversity of the schools participating in WEST. Evaluation of the project at every stage ensures that best practices are discovered and followed. This project is partially supported by funds from the Directorate for Geological Sciences.