GK12: Environmental Sciences and Molecular Biosciences in the Natural State

Arkansas State University Main Campus, Jonesboro AR

Investigators

Abstract

GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOWS IN K-12 EDUCATION ABSTRACT PROPOSAL #: 0809317 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Alan Christian INSTITUTION: Arkansas State University TITLE: ?Land Use, Land Cover, and Biodiversity in the Mississippi Embayment? The Mississippi Embayment is one of the most modified ecosystems in North America, being converted from forested wetland ecosystems into highly productive row crop agriculture. The conversion has left a highly fragmented and modified ecosystem. Biodiversity, defined here as genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity, is highly influenced by spatial and temporal changes in land cover and land use and has led to extensive hypothesis generating research on atmospheric, soil, and water resources at ASU. A GK12 theme was developed based on Environmental Sciences Graduate Program faculty research addressing regional biodiversity across ecosystems and organisms. This project places 8 doctoral Fellows per year in 5 east Arkansas schools to teach 6th ? 8th grade students lessons based on the Fellow?s research. The four main goals of the project are: 1) Fellows will receive training in best practices pedagogical methods and will gain experience in teaching to a broad range of education and age levels. The Fellows will receive in-depth training in inquiry based education methods that can be applied across the K16 curriculum; 2) Teachers will receive professional development via workshops covering pedagogical methods, development and implementation of lesson plans and gain a deeper understanding of science content and inquiry based teaching and learning; 3) Students? will become more interested in STEM and STEM careers and receive an enriched STEM environment; 4) Partnerships between ASU and school districts will be strengthened. The intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposal are: 1) Fellows also will receive training that will add greatly to their skill set increasing their success of future outreach and educational activities; 2) increase STEM interest, excitement, and career choice of K-12 students; 3) provide teachers exposure to the Fellows? methods and analyses exposing them to the latest techniques; and 4) linkages between higher education and school districts being strengthened and becoming more accessible, especially to underserved populations.