The TRIAGE project engages two cohorts of 60 middle school students in authentic research experiences on the theme of environmental sustainability. Students work with faculty and pre-service teachers from Calvin College, teachers from five local school districts, and science professionals from local businesses and the Bunker Interpretive Center and Ecosystem Preserve, the site for the student research projects. Students explore careers in science through the resources of the business partners. Each student receives over 150 hours of out-of-school educational experiences that enhance and supplement their in-class science learning. The project conducts research on the student participants to determine effects on their achievement, interest, self-efficacy and their understanding of the nature of science in comparison to a control group of comparable students not participating in the project. The research also studies changes in the self-efficacy and understanding of the nature of science for participating pre-service and in-service teachers.
