Track 2: GK-12. GeoKids LINKS in Philadelphia: Continuing a University, Museum, Elementary School Collaboration in Science

轨道 2：GK-12。

• 批准号: 0440506
• 负责人: Karen Snetselaar
• 金额: $ 169万
• 依托单位: St Joseph's University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-04-01 至 2012-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0440506&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Track; GK; 12.; GeoKids; LINKS

This Track 2 proposal builds on successful outcomes from GeoKids LINKS, a collaboration bringing together faculty and students from Saint Josephs University and the Wagner Free Institute of Science, a natural science museum. The partners are collaborating with K-6 schools in the School District of Philadelphia to develop and implement place-based thematic life science units that incorporate hands-on activities, stimulate student inquiry and include considerable reading and writing. Fellows are better communicators, more knowledgeable about methods of education in general, and about issues facing urban elementary children and teachers in particular. Elementary students who had GeoKids improved more over the first year in reading, math, and science, compared with students in the same schools who did not have GeoKids, based on a standardized test administered nationwide. Their teachers report that the students have an increased interest in science and in learning in general, and children reading far below grade level seem to be especially motivated. Teachers report increased knowledge of science content and comfort with teaching science. Four teachers became involved in summer research with GK-12 faculty and Fellows. Additional intellectual merit of proposed activities includes further development of the collaboration and the curriculum as a model that works with underachieving urban children living in poverty. The proposed expansion using Service Learning students who are also future elementary school teachers, and the potential for integrating GeoKids curriculum into the curriculum frameworks of the School District of Philadelphia speak to broader implications. In addition, documentation of a careful mentoring system for graduate Fellows through two years of increasing responsibility for teaching and curriculum development may be an important outcome. There is strong support for building GeoKids LINKS infrastructure at Saint Joseph's University; 10 of the 34 graduate Fellowship years and 12 of the 16 undergraduate Fellowships will be funded by SJU through conversion of Graduate School assistantships. Faculty with Fellows are supported by the University with summer stipends, and Fellows have access to funds for research and travel to meetings. GeoKids also qualifies for corporate donations through a state education improvement tax credit program for which the Wagner is eligible.This project is receiving partial support from the Directorate for Geosciences.

这一轨道2提案建立在GeoKids LINKS的成功成果基础上，GeoKids LINKS是圣约瑟夫大学和自然科学博物馆瓦格纳自由科学研究所的师生合作项目。合作伙伴正在与费城学区的K-6学校合作，开发和实施以地点为基础的主题生命科学单元，其中包括动手活动，激发学生的探究，并包括大量的阅读和写作。研究员是更好的沟通者，更了解一般的教育方法，特别是城市小学儿童和教师面临的问题。根据全国范围内进行的标准化测试，与同一所学校没有GeoKids的学生相比，有GeoKids的小学生在阅读、数学和科学方面的进步更大。他们的老师报告说，学生对科学和一般学习的兴趣增加了，阅读远低于年级水平的儿童似乎特别有动力。教师报告增加了科学内容的知识和教学科学的舒适度。四名教师参与了夏季研究GK-12教师和研究员。拟议活动的其他智力价值包括进一步发展合作和课程，作为帮助生活在贫困中的成绩不佳的城市儿童的模式。使用服务学习学生（也是未来的小学教师）的拟议扩展，以及将GeoKids课程整合到费城学区课程框架中的潜力，都具有更广泛的影响。此外，一个重要的成果可能是，通过两年的教学和课程开发责任的增加，为研究生研究员提供一个认真的指导制度。在圣约瑟夫大学建立GeoKids LINKS基础设施得到了强有力的支持; 34个研究生奖学金年度中的10个和16个本科生奖学金中的12个将由SJU通过研究生院助教金的转换提供资金。学院与研究员由大学提供夏季津贴，研究员可以获得研究和旅行会议的资金。GeoKids也有资格通过瓦格纳有资格的州教育改善税收抵免计划获得企业捐赠。该项目得到了地球科学理事会的部分支持。