TAP STUDENT INTEREST BY TAPPING INTO POLAR SCIENCE: TEACHERS EXPERIENCING ANTARCTICA AND THE ARCTIC

One of the most significant changes in science education has been the shift from the strict transmission of content knowledge to the application of knowledge and acquisition of new skills. This “new” education is dramatically enhanced if students understand how and where the knowledge and skills will be used. The experience can be even more powerful if students and teachers have the opportunity interact with scientists at work.

One of the goals of Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic (TEA) program sponsored by the National Science Foundation is to provide a window into the life of scientists at work and to give students a chance to interact with scientists in polar regions. Each year, a small group of primary- and secondary-education teachers from around the country is selected to join researchers in polar regions. The teacher becomes a full member of the research team with the additional responsibility of reaching out to—and interacting with—as many students as possible via online journals, webcast conferences (both archived online), and e-mail before, during, and after his or her time in the field. TEA will have a significant impact on secondary science education in districts around the country because of the classroom transfer and mentoring components required of teachers who participate in the program.

Teachers are involved in research projects in all scientific disciplines. Experiences described here will relate one teacher’s involvement in geophysical research conducted at the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska using integrated near-surface seismic & ground-penetrating radar techniques to examine glacier structure and dynamics. Highlights of the field season will be presented and tips for successfully using TEA in K-16 classrooms as a tool to improve student engagement and learning will be discussed.