GK-12 Program

The goal of the program is to provide K-12 teachers and students with recent knowledge and innovative learning activities in the areas of biology, environmental science, aquatic science, geology, meteorology, and oceanography and to relate these topics to the impacts of environmental change on Texas habitats and residents. The school districts involved range from 1 to 17% limited English proficiency, from 23 to 47% economically disadvantaged, and from 12 to 65% minority.

This project emphasizes field research for students and teachers and builds on three existing programs between The University of Texas at Austin and local school systems from the Texas coast to the State's interior: The Marine Science Institute's Study of Arctic Change, The Institute for Geophysics' Adopt a School, Teachers in the Field, and the Environmental Science Institute's Outreach Lecture Series.

Program funds will provide annual fellowships for 9 graduate and 4 advanced undergraduate fellows in the environmental sciences over a three-year period. Special features of the program include numerous field activities for K-12 students and teachers led by graduate fellows, summer workshops for teachers focused on developing content knowledge in targeted interdisciplinary subjects aligned with State educational standards and goals, joint participation by teachers and graduate fellows at local and regional science conferences, and building partnerships between undergraduate science and mathematics students seeking teaching certification with graduate fellows and K-12 teachers. This project receives partial support from the Geoscience Directorate.

GK-12 Teacher Application:

Application can be downloaded here. (pdf)

Interested teachers must submit an application for the 2004-2005 school year by Friday, May 7, 2004.

GK-12 Graduate Student Fellowship Application:

Applications can be downloaded here. (pdf)

The deadline for submitting an application for the 2004-2005 school year is Friday, April 30, 2004.

Social Science/Natural Science Partnership

The Environmental Science Institute is also excited to announce that we are adding social science graduate students and teachers into our existing GK-12 program this year. The GK-12 initiative is entering its second year of teaming graduate students in the natural sciences with local K-12 science teachers. The addition will focus on the planning and development processes in central Texas with particular emphasis on the Edwards Aquifer. We anticipate the development of instructional modules that will allow students to visualize, explore, and where possible, quantify the historical evolution of transportation and land use patterns in the region. Included activities will allow teachers and students to learn about a critical local and regional resource while learning field and computer techniques incorporating global positioning systems and geographic information systems. The graduate student Fellow will receive a stipend of $30,000 per year (pending success of funding request to National Science Foundation) and teachers will receive a stipend of $3,000 for participation in this year's activities. The fellow will split time between two teachers for lesson planning, classroom exercises, field trips, regular meetings, and workshops. Austin-area social science and natural science teachers are eligible to apply if they have an interest in developing interdisciplinary curriculum materials.

Social Science/Natural Science Teacher Application

Application for the Social Science/Natural Science Teachers can be downloaded here (pdf)

The deadline for submitting an application for the 2004-2005 school year is Friday, May 7, 2004.

Social Science Graduate Fellow Application

Application for the Social Science/Natural Science Teachers can be downloaded here (pdf)

The deadline for submitting an application for the 2004-2005 school year is Monday, May 3, 2004.

 

Research Experience for Teachers (RET)

The Environmental Science Institute's new Research Experience for Teachers (RET) in the Environmental Science program offers elementary, middle, and high school teachers an opportunity for active research participation with The University of Texas at Austin faculty. Research Experience for Teachers is part of a nationwide effort by the National Science Foundation to provide opportunities for teachers to perform research both in the field and in the laboratory, and then to use their experiences to develop new curriculum units for their students. RET participants will work on hydrogeological, chemical, and biological investigations of the Edwards Aquifer that may include, but is not limited to the following:

• geochemical evolution of groundwater in the aquifer,
• protecting the quality of recharge in urbanizing areas of the aquifer,
• impact of brush control on aquifer hydrogeology,
• effects of root zone biodiversity and grassland herbivory on aquifer recharge.

Current teachers in the physical and life sciences are eligible to apply, and those selected will receive a stipend with additional funds to cover associated costs. Recipients of the RET award will perform the equivalent of five 40 hour workweeks spread through the next academic year and summer.

Research Experience for Teachers

Application for Research Experience for Teachers (pdf) - Deadline has passed

 

For More Information:
Please email Dennis Ruez (ruez@mail.utexas.edu).