NO SMALL TASK: BRIDGING THE EARTH SCIENCE GAP IN ALASKA'S SCHOOLS

Teaching Alaskans… Sharing Knowledge (TASK) is a newly implemented NSF-funded program through the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) with the mission to improve the quality of science education in Alaska's classrooms. Tripartite partnerships between UAF graduate students, faculty, and local teachers form the basis of this science education and outreach program. Graduate students from all fields of natural and biological sciences, mathematics, computer science and engineering have the opportunity to improve their teaching skills and gain valuable classroom experience while imparting their knowledge of math and science to local teachers and students alike.

Science curricula currently have the lowest priority in schools that have failed the national standards tests in math, reading and writing. In some schools, teachers have been directed not to allot any time for teaching science. For teachers in these ‘failing' schools, having a TASK fellow in the classroom serves two purposes: 1. the presence of a science expert is justification for having daily science lessons, and 2. the fellows' expertise significantly enhances the lesson dynamics. Here I will explore the challenges and successes of an Earth scientist working in this partnership.