PEER GK12 Summer Training 20052006

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PEER GK-12 Summer Training2005-2006
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Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural
Health (PEER)
College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas AM
University
Funded by National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciencesand the National Science
Foundation
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Public School Higher Education Interface
through
Scientists Visits to Schools
Curricular Development
Distance Learning Community
Professional Development
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Goals of the GK-12 Program
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Program Goals
1) Enhance students' opportunities to learn
science by increasing access to inquiry-driven
experiences in content areas from national and
state educational standards 2) Assist teachers
in gaining more science knowledge and increase
their confidence about teaching science and
mathematics 3) Provide middle school students
with diverse role models 4) Improve student
attitudes regarding their involvement in science
and mathematics
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Program Goals

• Help GK-12 Resident Scientists improve
  pedagogical, communication and teamwork skills,
  thus enhancing future employment opportunities
• 6) Provide resources to rural schools throughout
  Texas via a distance learning community and
  resources worldwide through a teacher-requested
  resources feature of the PEER website
• 7) Assess the short-term and long-term impacts of
  the program on middle school students, their
  teachers, and GK-12 Resident Scientists
• 8) Facilitate long-term interactions between
  teachers, teacher educators and scientists and,
• 9) Facilitate a long-term sustainable interface
  between Texas AM and public schools.

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Important!
This program is NOT intended to turn science,
math and engineering students into teachers.
Our goal is to ensure that the next generation
of researchers in academia, industry and
government are aware of and sympathetic to the
challenges and opportunities of K-12 education
and aware of how they can be of help.
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Resident Scientists
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What Resident Scientists Are

• Full-time graduate students in math, science or
  engineering
• Taking 9-12 graduate credits, researching (or
  both)
• Working toward Masters or Ph.D. degrees
• Parents, spouses, siblings

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What Resident Scientists Are NOT

• Most Resident Scientists have no formal training
  in working with children, nor is it a goal of
  this program to make them teachers.
• Resident Scientists are not just an extra set of
  hands in the classroom.
• Resident Scientists are not supposed to take
  over a class they must be partners with the
  teacher or teachers.

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What Does a RS DO?

• Varies by School
• provides content expertise
• provides demonstrations/presentations
• provides materials and resources
• provides a walking example of scientific thinking
• serves as a role model and representative of
  someone who enjoys science, mathematics and
  technology

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Standards
Standard Dictate EVERYTHING Resident Scientists
must become familiar with the TEKS and learn how
to address them in produced activities/presentatio
ns.
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RSs are School-Wide Resources

• 1st 2nd Six Weeks Period RS may work
  exclusively with LT.
• 3rd 4th Six Weeks Period RS should work
  with at least one additional teacher.
• 5th 6th Six Weeks Period RS may work up to
  40 of their time with additional teachers.

• GOAL Impact as many teachers and students as
  possible!

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Where Do RSs Work?

• Math, Science or Technology classes during school
  hours
• After school math/science activities with
  students and sometimes parents
• Science Fairs

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Lead Teachers
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Lead Teachers Are

• Mentors
• Organizers
• Facilitators
• Communicators

Lead teachers help make the scientists a
school-wide resources
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Lead Teachers Expectations.

• Facilitate how will the RS best help meet your
  schools needs?
• Organize what resources will be necessary and
  where will they come from?
• Mentor what is the culture in your school like?
• Communicate what does project management need
  to know about how things are going in YOUR school?

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What is it Like to Be a Math or Science Teacher?

• Exceptional versatility required
• Varied school responsibilities
• Often working on advanced degree or other
  professional development
• Parents, spouses, siblings

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What is it Like to Be a Math or Science Teacher?

• Work week does not actually end up being 40
  hours
• District meetings
• Building meetings
• Parent meetings
• Extra tasks
• playground duty
• lunch duty
• bus duty

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What is it Like to Be a Math or Science Teacher?

• Must treat every student as an individual
• Teachers never have enough time
• Teachers are on tight schedules therefore, they
  rely on keeping to the plan
• Many teachers teach other subjects as well
• Science requires more planning, logistics and
  materials than other subjects.

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Expectations and Rules
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Expectations of Resident Scientists PEER GK-12
Dress Code

• No hats in buildings
• Clean, un-tattered jeans are acceptable torn,
  dirty, sagging or holey jeans are not
• T-shirts are not acceptable
• No commercial logos or text promoting
  unacceptable behavior
• No bare backs, stomachs, shoulders, thighs,
  midriffs, etc.
• Look professional. Be professional

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Expectations of Resident Scientists

• You are representing our PEER program and Texas
  AM University.
• Your dress is independent of how the teachers at
  your school dress.
• You are expected to be punctual.
• No cell phones, pagers or other electronic
  devices will be allowed in schools.

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Confidentiality

• No information gathered by the project is used in
  any way that an individual school, teacher or
  student can be identified.
• Full student names are not to be used in any
  discussions, including discussions with other
  Scientists.
• Group meetings are times to vent, complain, be
  frustrated, etc. Do not gossip or complain about
  the program or individuals associated with the
  program anywhere else.

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Serious Offenses

• Bringing a weapon or anything that could be
  used as a weapon -- onto school property. THIS
  INCLUDES JACKKNIVES. School property includes
  the parking lot and grounds.
• Swearing or using abusive language with a
  teacher, student, or administrator
• Showing up under the influence of drugs or
  alcohol, or bringing drugs, alcohol or tobacco
  onto school property. This includes prescription
  and over-the-counter drugs, as well as anything
  illegal.
• Repeated failure to turn in documentation
  materials (journal, activity log, schedule).

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Serious Offenses

• Resident Scientists MAY NOT UNDER ANY
  CIRCUMSTANCES be left alone with students.
• The potential for legal action in case of injury
  or accusations of harassment is enormous.
• Violation of this rule is cause for removal of
  the Resident Scientist from the teachers
  classroom.

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What to Expect
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What is Actually Going to Happen?

• First week of school
• Students complete pre-surveys before Resident
  Scientists go into the schools.
• Introductory Videotapes of RS will be completed
  and made available to teachers.
• RS and LT will start planning process.

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What is Actually Going to Happen?

• First weeks of school
• Lead Teachers show videotapes and talk to the
  students about what their scientist or
  mathematician will be doing before their first
  visit to the classroom.

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What is Actually Going to Happen?
DO NOT refer to scientists as fellows or
graduate students. They are Resident
Scientistsor Resident Mathematicians
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What is Actually Going to Happen?

• First weeks of being in the school
• Teachers introduce your scientist to the
  principal and to other teachers. Let them know
  what the scientist will be doing in the school
• Scientists spend a lot of time watching and
  listening to get used to the climate of the
  school.

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What is Actually Going to Happen?

• First Six Weeks
• The first few weeks are a time of adjustment
• Get to know each other personally
• Establish ground rules
• Dont ignore problems they dont go away on
  their own.
• TALK TO US IF YOU NEED HELP

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What is Actually Going to Happen?

• Resident Scientists will plan with their LT and
  submit several working plans of interaction
• 1st 2nd Six Weeks Plan due August 16th
• 3rd 4th Six Weeks Plan - due Nov 1
• 5th Six Weeks Plan due Feb 14th
• 6th Six Weeks Plan due April 4th

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Meetings
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RS Group Meetings

• Once per week
• Mandatory
• This is the place to talk about successes
  frustrations, pose questions, and talk about
  future projects
• Questions submitted in your last journal will
  direct the agenda of the meeting

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Teachers Group Meetings

• Meet once per month
• Pick up checks (payments) at these meetings
• Questions submitted in journals will direct the
  discussions or agenda
• This is the place to talk about successes
  frustrations, pose questions and talk about
  future projects
• Teachers receive professional development credit
  from TAMU for attendance.

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All-Hands Meetings

• Once every three months
• Meeting of LTs, RSs and GK-12 Administration
• Chance for everyone to get together
• Share perspectives and suggestions for
  improvement of the program

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Weekly Responsibilities
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Weekly Responsibilities of RS

• 10 hours of Direct Interaction in the Schools
• 8 hours interacting with Students
• 1-2 hours planning with Lead Teachers
• 0-1 hours involved in the DLC (really done
  outside the schools)
• 5 additional hours of Related Activities
• 1 hour for weekly, group meeting
• 4 hours activity lesson plans, demos, etc.
  completion of journals, activity logs, and
  schedules out-of-class planning with
  teachers

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Weekly Responsibilities of LT

• Completion of online journals
• Mentoring of and coordinating with your RS (10
  hours per week)
• Planning with RS for future weeks activities.

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TO DO(before School Begins)
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Between Now and August 16th

• Teachers give your RS a tour of your school
  building
• Explain emergency procedures fire, tornado,
  other
• Explain how to sign in and out
• Explain any specific policies of your school
• Talk about the specific culture of your school.

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Between Now and August 16th

• Scientists give your teacher a tour of your lab
  or office
• Introduce your mentor if possible
• Explain what you study and why you are interested
  in studying it.
• Give them an idea of what your typical day is
  like.

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Between Now and August 16th

• All Logon to our GK-12 Data Collection Site
• Become familiar with the data collection system
• Update your Profile
• Change your Password
• Teachers Your first journal is due the week of
  August 16-20th.

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