BUILDING A NETWORK

The North Carolina Leadership Network for Earth Science Teachers (NCL NEST) was a National Science Foundation-funded project that launched a statewide initiative to prepare secondary teachers to effectively instruct earth science using field-based techniques. Recognizing earth science was soon to be a state graduation requirement, NCL NEST sought to (1) develop field-based inquiry-oriented curriculum materials, (2) provide teacher professional development, and (3) build a network of earth science professionals and education leaders throughout the state. Teacher institutes and workshops at six university sites contributed to the accomplishment of the objectives of this six-year project. Reaching over 335 middle school and high school teachers, the project emphasized content, inquiry instruction, and field techniques as well as leadership development. The participating teachers were expected to write and implement their own Action Plans for changes in their classroom and strategies for assisting colleagues to improve their earth science instruction; this two-tier outreach effort reached an additional 1600 teachers. A cadre of teacher leaders emerged from these programs providing field-based instruction across the state through programs supported by organizations such as the North Carolina Teacher Academy and the Mathematics and Science Education Network. Some of these teachers have served on the Department of Public Instruction Secondary Curriculum Committee enhancing the state Standard Course of Study by providing inquiry-based activities and expanded objectives. These leaders have also presented innovative activities and enthusiastic sessions at both state education and national science conferences. In addition to these earth science teacher leaders, scientists and private sector professionals joined this growing network. This network has been effective with providing additional programs, meeting educational challenges and striving for continued classroom innovations. With the developed field-based curriculum materials and the earth science network in place, this state can begin to meet the need of preparing teachers to effectively teach earth science as a new graduation requirement.