Project INSTAR

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Project INSTAR
Investigating Nature through Science Teacher
Active Research
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What is INSTAR?

• K-12 Teacher Professional Development Institute
• Teachers work with scientists to learn content
  and research skills
• Scientists work with teachers to share their
  expertise and joy of doing science

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Four Themes
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Teachers Receive

• Earth Systems Science Content
• Science as Inquiry
• Technology training
• Networking w/fellow teachers
• Field, lab and research skills
• Grant Proposal writing skills
• Three (3) Graduate credits

Tool kits of teaching materials and theme binders
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Scientists Receive

• Education and outreach opportunities required on
  all NSF grants (broader impacts)
• Improved skills in communicating their science
  broadly to K-12 teachers and students
• Future students at the university
• Science as Inquiry training
  for K-12 audiences
• Extra income

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WHY INSTAR?

• Strengthening STEM education to keep America
  globally competitive
• Addressing workforce needs (teachers, math,
  engineers, technology,etc)
• Enhancing understanding of the global environment
  (climate change, hurricanes, floods, tsunamis)

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WHY INSTAR?.........

• Teacher crisis in math and science
• Need more teachers trained in science content
  going into the classroom
• Encourage teaching certification for majors in
  science and math
• Connects classroom teachers with research
  scientists

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Contact Info

• Genevieve Healy, Ph.D., Director
• ghealy_at_projectinstar.org
• 919-610-8992
• Marilyn Zaragoza, Ed.D, Asst. Director
• mzaragoza_at_projectinstar.org
• 954-436-6566

www.ProjectINSTAR.org