IPY Stem Polar Connections is a curriculum development and professionaldevelopment program involving a summer residential institute atUMass-Amherst and academic year, on-line communication for teachersinvolved in the professional development of colleagues.  The projectproduces and disseminates a range of curriculum modules related to thePolar regions and climate change. The purpose of the summer institutes(2008 and 2009) is to test the modules and prepare teachers to disseminate selected materials in workshops in their districts, in their states and nationally. The institute agenda balanced content presentations with hands-on activities for use by teachers with diverse backgrounds and classroom settings. Power point presentations and accompanying flash videos are all posted on our website along with teacher guides and student handouts.  Most of the materials were designed to be adaptable to a range of inquiry-based levels.  The teachers shared their own experiences with dissemination in rounds of focus groups.  Pre institute and post institute surveys confirmed our success in increasing the personal knowledge base of the teachers despite the fact that most were veteran teachers.   The mainoutcomes of participation were the development of relationships with other teachers, enhanced knowledge of earth system science and inspiration for introducing the materials to their students.  Many did see funding, time and state frameworks as potential barriers to including materials in their classrooms.

Contact:
Mort Sternheim, University of Massachusetts, http://umassk12.net/IPY/

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