THE ALGAE FOUNDATION'S PROJECT PROVIDES ALGAL-BASED STEM EDUCATION TO K-14 EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGH A HANDS-ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ENTITLED ALGAE SUMMER SCIENCE INSTITUTE. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS WEEKLONG PROGRAM IS TO TRAIN TEACHERS ON ALGAL-BASED STEM EDUCATION. THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEK FOCUSES ON ALGAL EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS, EXPLORING WHAT ARE ALGAE AND WHY ARE THEY SO VALUABLE TO HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK OFFERS AN INTENSIVE STUDENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY THAT INCLUDES ALGAL SCIENCE LESSONS, LABS, AND FIELD TRIPS. THE TEACHERS WILL IN TURN OFFER THIS CURRICULUM DURING A WEEK-LONG STEM EXERCISE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS DURING THE UPCOMING FALL TERM. THIS MODEL ALLOWS TEACHERS TO RECEIVE INTENSIVE TRAINING AND APPLICATION THROUGH HANDS-ON TEACHING WITHIN THE SAME WEEK. THE CURRICULA MEET STEM STANDARDS AND FULFILLS THE HUMAN IMPACT REQUIREMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS. THE ALGAE SUMMER SCIENCE INSTITUTE FULFILLS THE OBJECTIVES OF AFRI PRIORITY - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS.THE ALGAE FOUNDATION, A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, SEES A FUTURE THAT EMBRACES ALGAE AS AN ESSENTIAL SOLUTION FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY PLANET. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE POWER OF ALGAE TO TRANSFORM HUMAN SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT UPON WHICH IT DEPENDS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION, THE ALGAE FOUNDATION HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDING: ALGAE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM - DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREES IN ALGAE CULTIVATION AND BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE ALGAE ACADEMY - DEVELOPMENT OF K-12 STEM CURRICULUM AND SCIENCE KITS.$128,536
· FY2019 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture