GK-12: Middle School Investigators in Environmental Science

提案摘要新墨西哥州州立大学正在与新墨西哥州中南部的三个公立学区和奇瓦瓦沙漠自然公园(CDNP)合作，CDNP是一个为K-12教师和学生提供环境科学体验的非营利性组织。这些研究员是生物、化学、生物化学和地质专业的研究生，他们与中学科学教师和CDNP合作，使用AWS Converging Technologies，Inc.生产的天气软件，允许学生、研究员、教师和CDNP工作人员访问、处理和分析全国6000多个地点的天气数据。这些团队参与实施现有的CNDP和AWS学习模块，并开发新的模块，将天气数据、地质、生物和化学整合在一起，以满足课程需求并满足新墨西哥州和国家科学教育标准。这项活动的更广泛影响包括中学生和与他们一起工作的同事之间发展的指导关系；中学生对从事STEM学习和职业的兴趣增加；参与活动的教师提高了开发以气候为中心的课堂模块的能力，反映了教师增加的教学知识和对探究式学习技术的适应程度。研究人员正在改进沟通技能(特别是与非科学家的沟通)，以及对教学方法和学习过程的了解。此外，这些团队的跨学科性质增加了研究员对跨学科研究的欣赏，并增强了对他们研究的更广泛的科学和社会影响的理解。项目标题：GK-12：环境科学方面的中学生调查人员机构：新墨西哥州立大学PI/共同PI：Nancy J.McMillan，新墨西哥州立大学；Stephanie Bestelmeyer，奇瓦瓦沙漠自然公园；Erlinda Martinez，拉斯克鲁塞斯公立学校区；Cynthia Nava，Gadsden公立学校区；佐治亚州莱恩，哈奇公立学区合作学区：拉斯克鲁塞斯，加兹登，哈奇预算：三年共1,267,299名研究员/年：11名研究生目标受众：中学环境：城市，农村学科：生物，化学，生物化学，地质学

Proposal SummaryNew Mexico State University is partnering with the three public school districts in south-central New Mexico and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park (CDNP), a non-profit organization that provides environmental science experiences for K-12 teachers and students. The Fellows, graduate students in biology, chemistry, biochemistry and geology, partner with middle school science teachers and the CDNP to use weather software produced by AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. to allow students, Fellows, teachers, and the CDNP staff to access, process and analyze weather data from over 6,000 locations nationwide. The teams are involved in both implementing existing CNDP and AWS learning modules and developing new modules that integrate weather data, geology, biology, and chemistry to fit curricular needs and address New Mexico and national science education standards. The broader impacts of this activity include the mentoring relationships developed between the middle school students and the Fellows who work with them; the increased interest of middle school students in pursuing STEM studies and careers; the enhanced abilities of participating teachers to develop climate focused classrooms modules reflecting the teachers' increased content knowledge and their increased comfort with inquiry-based learning techniques. The fellows are developing improved communication skills (especially with non-scientists), and knowledge of teaching methods and learning processes. In addition the interdisciplinary nature of the teams are resulting in increased Fellow appreciation for interdisciplinary research and an enhanced understanding of the broader scientific and social implications of their research.Title of Project: GK-12: Middle School Student Investigators in Environmental ScienceInstitution: New Mexico State UniversityPI/Co-PI: Nancy J. McMillan, New Mexico State University; Stephanie Bestelmeyer, Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park; Erlinda Martinez, Las Cruces Public Schools District;Cynthia Nava, Gadsden Public Schools District; Georgia Lane, Hatch Public Schools DistrictPartner School Districts: Las Cruces, Gadsden, Hatch Budget: 1,267,299 total for three yearsNo of Fellows/year: 11 Graduate FellowsTarget Audience: Middle School Setting: Urban, RuralDisciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Geology