Ocean and Coastal Integrated Science GK-20 Program
Bringing marine science into high schools in Seattle and the San Juan Islands
Summary
Through the OACIS program marine science graduate students from UW will work with teachers and their classes, contributing subject knowledge to enrich classroom experiences while improving their own teaching and communications skills.
You will partner with a marine science graduate student who will assist in your classes. For example, graduate students could help teach a component of the curriculum, set up demonstrations and student lab activities, develop new teaching modules, and act as a content resource for you and your students. Graduate students will put in, on average, 10 hours per week in your classroom, and 5 additional hours per week preparing for class activities and meeting with you.
Background
Due to its interdisciplinary nature, marine science can be used to teach basic science (biology, chemistry, physics) and mathematics, while taking advantage of our local coastal environments. Marine science is often a small part of K-12 curricula, yet this is an excellent stage at which to promote awareness of the oceans and our relation to them. UW marine sciences graduate students involved in cutting-edge ocean research are eager and well suited to bring their own research into local classrooms. These students can take part in biology, marine biology, and environmental science classes. They can help communicate what science is about, how it is done, and how discoveries are made. UW has received 5 years of funding to host a NSF GK-12 program.
Teacher Responsibilities
Introductory day: June 7, 2008, held in Seattle.
This workshop will provide teachers and graduate students a common learning experience to set the stage for collaboration during the following school year. The workshop will also introduce ocean and coastal themes that can be used as interdisciplinary models in the classroom.
Workshop: August 18-19 at UW, August 21-22 at UW’s Friday Harbor Laboratories
This workshop will focus on marine science content and on planning for the upcoming school year. Teachers and graduate students will spend time examining marine habitats and organisms, taking part in research cruises, and attending seminars on current research in the field of marine science. Time will also be scheduled for teachers and graduate students to work together, and OACIS GK12 coordinators, and marine science professors will be available for consultation. All travel and meals paid by the program.
Culminating workshop: June 22-25th, 2009 in Seattle (exact dates may change)
This will be a follow-up session to share experiences and outcomes of the previous year, and to introduce the next year’s fellows to the teachers who they may be working with.
Academic School Year 2008-2009
Classroom Activities. Teachers will host marine science graduate students in their classrooms for ten hours per week through the school year. Teacher responsibilities include mentoring the graduate students as they carry out their duties in the classroom. Program coordinators will communicate regularly with teachers to make sure graduate students are engaged appropriately and are performing their duties as expected, and will meet with fellows bimonthly at UW.
Weekly Meetings between Graduate students and Teachers. Teachers will meet with graduate students for at least an hour each week to plan activities and to review progress during the previous week. This meeting will be in addition to the classroom hours regularly scheduled for the graduate students.
Quarterly Meetings with OACIS GK12 Coordinators. Teachers will meet quarterly with the coordinators and other participating teachers. These meetings provide opportunities for brainstorming and troubleshooting with other teachers participating in this program. Coordinators will visit the schools, and observe fellows in the classes.
Teacher Compensation (2008-2009)
• Approximately $4,500 stipend for teachers. (This will help compensate for your summer work time and time working with graduate student)
• Workshop travel, lodging and meals will be covered (For workshops or other field trips that are part of the program)
• Possibility of travel support to present the work resulting from your teacher-graduate student collaboration at regional or national conferences.
• Opportunity to apply for credits through UW extension for your work.
Application
Please e-mail your answers to the following questions to tansy@u.washington.edu
1. Where do you teach?
2. What grade levels and subjects do you teach?
3. How long have you been teaching?
4. In approximately 1 paragraph, briefly explain why you are interested in participating in this program.
5. Are you able to commit to participate in the workshops and to work with a marine science graduate student as outlined in this announcement?
*Note: The role of the marine science graduate students are to support and enhance classroom activities; they are not substitute teachers or teacher aides.