New GK-12: Utilizing Local Resources and Educational Setting to Stimulate K-12 Learning

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GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOWS IN K-12 EDUCATIONABSTRACTPROPOSAL #: 0742554PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Karen Viskupic INSTITUTION: Boise State UniversityTITLE: Utilizing local resources and educational settings to stimulate K-12 learningBoise State University?s Graduate GK-12 Fellows will partner with three local learning centers to develop and deliver educational activities in biology and the geosciences. GK-12 project will use local and regional science issues to stimulate learning in the K-12 community. K-12 classes that visit the learning centers will use some of the developed activities, while other activities will be used in traditional classroom settings through outreach. The project will help K-12 students to increase their understanding of science topics, and how those topics relate to their lives, through the use of local and regional themes. Together, the partner learning centers will serve a total of over 40,000 K-12 students each year, and the project has the potential to affect a large percentage of Idaho students.Expected outcomes of the project include: 1) Funding many graduate students? educations, which will allow them to pursue diverse research goals in science fields; 2) The infusion of research-based science and its importance into the consciousness of local students; 3) Training several graduate students in communicating science to non-technical audiences; 4) Enhancement of K-12 students? understanding of science concepts, which may lead to increased interest in pursuing careers in these fields; 5) Development of educational activities that can be used by teachers and classes not directly participating in the project; and 6) Development of a sustainable collaborative partnership between Boise State University and the K-12 community.