TAPPING AN UNDERUTILIZED RESOURCE, INVOLVING SECONDARY EDUCATORS IN YOUR RESEARCH

This poster presents the benefits of using primary and secondary educators as research partners and assistants. As a NSF GK-12 fellow at Bowling Green State University, I participated in a pilot program allowing my teaching partner to participate in my research for a summer. Leslie Galyas, an 8th grade teacher at Springfield Middle School traveled with me, logged data for my thesis, and participated in another student's fieldwork. Not only was she a participant, but she proved to be a valuable member of the team. Not surprisingly, science teachers generally have a great interest in science, and a working knowledge of the scientific process, they ask pertinent questions that sometimes we as scientist over look in the pursuits of our very specific research. Using teachers as Finding teachers to participate in this type of program proved to offer no difficulty. At a recent presentation of the program, in Northwestern Ohio, most of the teachers at the session were asking who to contact, and when they could get started. These partnerships provide the educators insight into scientific research they may not have experienced previously. Co-operation with a scientist improves their ability to bring excitement to the classroom, and prepare future scientist very early in their learning careers.