Field Research for Teachers

Teachers conduct local, place based field research using iNaturalist and GLOBE to develop phenomena for student investigation

COVID19 has changed the way professional development will be delivered during the summer of 2020. This presents a unique challenge to the South Dakota Discovery Center as our professional development is structured to give educators experiential, inquiry based learning experiences, many of which are based outside. Field Research for Teachers was developed to address the challenges COVID10 has presented by empowering educators to do field work at a site local to them with the support of the course facilitators.

Research Using Citizen Science

In this independent study professional development opportunity, teachers use iNaturalist and GLOBE in place based field research that specifically addresses NGSS cross cutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas. The teacher researchers will integrate their research into lessons as the phenomena for student inquiry and investigation. The lessons will be formatted so the lesson can be delivered remotely, in person or in a hybrid format.

The research will focus on one of three investigation questions:

How does energy move through the organisms in my place?
How do land and water in my place impact each other?
How does my place change over different time scales?

Teachers may develop their own investigation questions that meet the following criteria:

The investigation utilizes iNaturalist or GLOBE protocols.
The investigation relates to cross cutting concepts and/or disciplinary core ideas of the NGSS.
The investigation requires at least two days or six hours worth of field work.

This is an independent study PD with regular check-ins with the course facilitator. Those contributing data to the GLOBE database must become GLOBE trained. Those already who are GLOBE trained will need to become trained in the protocol for their research question if they are not already.

Standards

These investigations were developed to support NGSS 3 dimensional instruction of cross cutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas using the science and engineering practices of developing and using models, mathematical and computational thinking, and analyzing and interpreting data.

The investigations are anchored by driving questions that will guide inquiry into the phenomena that is generated from the field study.

Objectives

As a result of participating in this professional development, teachers wil be able tol:

Develop and execute a field study.
Contribute data to a citizen science project
Teach standards compliant lessons using the data from their research
Apply a 5E/EEARS lesson plan template to their teaching using 3 dimensional teaching strategies

Assignments

Meet with course facilitator at the beginning and end of your research project. More meetings as needed.
Develop and conduct a field study.
Contribute data to the citizen science project per the field study requirements.
Create a lesson plan or series of lesson plans using the data.

This class is an independent study class and will not involve regularly scheduled meeting times as a group.

Course Info

Dates: June 29-Aug 7

Times: Varies

Grades: 4-12, science

Cost:

Pierre and Eagle Butte School Districts Free
Members: $5
Nonmembers: $10

Credit:

One credit University of Sioux Falls, $45. Register for credit.
Contact hour certificate for 15 contact hours

Registration: https://sd-discovery.org/event-3838255

GLOBE Registration: https://www.globe.gov/get-trained/workshops/workshop/jT1U/136302

Contact: Anne Lewis 605-224-8295

Class meeting (optional)

10 AM Monday June 29

2 PM ET/1 PM CT/12 PM MT

Zoom (you will be sent an invitation)

This optional meeting time will give you an opportunity to connect with your fellow field researchers, discuss your field research, and ask any questions you may have about your project. This fulfills the requirement of meeting with the course facilitator.

Page updated

Report abuse