LEARN is a teacher enhancement program designed to familiarize teachers with concepts relevant to the atmospheric sciences. The project is designed to increase teachers' knowledge of and interest in the atmospheric sciences so that they are better prepared to present scientific content to all students in ways that are interactive, relevant, and meet district, state, and national education standards. The target participant group is 5th through 8th grade teachers from rural schools in Colorado. Between October and April, LEARN staff, NCAR scientists, and presenters from the Science Discovery Program at the University of Colorado traveled to the rural regions and conducted two, full day, hands-on training programs for up to 21 teachers in each region. These professional training days included hands-on activities in chosen topics of atmospheric sciences, scientific demonstrations and talks by NCAR scientists, and leadership and pedagogical training.
In the school year of 1996/97, 131 teachers in seven rural areas attended these two days of inservice training. For the first day, Science Explorers, teachers participated as a team with five of their students in a full day of hands-on activities. This year the theme was convection and 655 students were in attendance with their teachers. The teachers returned to their classrooms with written curriculum, kits of materials for teaching the curriculum, and five very excited students to help them teach the rest of the class. Two scientists from NCAR, Drs. Margaret LeMone (MMM) and Charles Knight (MMM) participated in the second day of training providing more content, demonstrations, and the opportunity for teachers to get their questions answered.
The three-week summer institute was held in June, 1997 with 31 lead teachers, several from each of eight rural regions. Twenty-six scientists from NCAR, UOP, and UCAR participated in the summer institute providing scientific expertise, hands-on demonstrations, and the latest in atmospheric research. The content focus this first summer was on weather, atmospheric physics, global dynamics and weather forecasting. In addition, teachers learned about such educational topics as assessment, TIMSS (The Third International Mathematics and Science Study), equity, and state, national and local standards.
During his visit to Colorado in March 1997, NSF director Dr. Neal Lane met with students from one of the rural districts where teachers have participated in LEARN programs. The students engaged Dr. Lane in hands-on activities demonstrating concepts in the atmospheric sciences. In addition, former Project LEARN teacher Judy Lee, nominee from Texas for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, discussed the impact of her participation in Project LEARN on her teaching and students.
In FY 1997 three issues of Science Now were published in collaboration with SIRS, (Social Issues Resource Series, Inc.). Science Now is a publication for educators which highlights current research in atmospheric science. SIRS distributed four issues to more than 7,800 schools in the U.S. and abroad.
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