New, GK-12: Initiating New Science Partnerships in Rural Education (INSPIRE)

密西西比州立大学和密西西比中北部三个农村学区之间的农村教育新科学伙伴关系（INSPIRE）项目侧重于7 - 12年级教室的地球和空间科学技术支持的探究学习。 该跨学科项目将从三个STEM学科（地球科学，物理学和工程学）招募50名研究员，他们将与教师进行2：1的合作。 该项目的创新方面包括使用空间分析平台（例如，Google Earth）在研究生课堂期间实施研究。 该项目旨在实现五个基本目标：1）提高研究员？沟通，教学和团队建设技能; 2）开发和实施技术支持，探究为基础的教学材料，注入研究员？STEM研究; 3）增加K-12科学教师？内容知识和技术技能; 4）建立K-12学区和大学STEM学科之间的伙伴关系，以支持K-12学生？追求高等教育和STEM相关的职业; 5）为研究员和教师提供国际研究经验，他们在那里接受跨越地理边界的培训。 该项目的智力价值是研究员的结合？通过使用技术将科学研究带入课堂，并通过国际培训经验将这一研究扩展到我国以外。 该项目的更广泛的影响包括创造未来的干领导者进行尖端科学，有坚实的沟通技巧，并拥有支持科学教育的热情;在密西西比建立一支熟练的干劳动力;和开发GK-12型活动的可持续性和制度变革在密歇根州立大学超越项目的生命周期。

The Initiating New Science Partnerships in Rural Education (INSPIRE) project between Mississippi State University and three rural school districts in North-Central Mississippi focuses on technology-supported, inquiry learning in the Earth and Space sciences for 7th-12th grade classrooms. The interdisciplinary project will recruit 50 Fellows from three STEM disciplines (Geosciences, Physics, and Engineering) where they will be partnered 2:1 with a teacher. The innovative aspect of this project includes the use of spatial analysis platforms (e.g., Google Earth) during the classroom implementation of graduate student research. The project aims to achieve five essential goals: 1) enhance Fellows? communication, teaching, and team-building skills; 2) develop and implement technology-supported, inquiry-based instructional materials that infuse Fellows? STEM research; 3) increase K-12 science teachers? content knowledge and technological skills; 4) build partnerships between K-12 school districts and University STEM disciplines that serve to support K-12 students? pursuit of higher education and STEM-related careers; 5) provide international research experiences for Fellows and teachers where they receive training across geographic borders. The intellectual merit of the project is the incorporation of Fellows? scientific research into the classroom through the use of technology and the extension of this research beyond our nation through international training experiences. The broader impacts of the project include creating future STEM leaders that conduct cutting-edge science, have solid communication skills, and possess a passion for supporting science education; building a skilled STEM workforce in Mississippi; and developing sustainability and institutional change for GK-12 type activities at MSU beyond the lifetime of the project.