This 4-year Leadership project will target five geographically distributed districts in Wisconsin, and is designed to (1) increase participant knowledge of Wisconsin geology and ecology; (2) increase the amount of field-based science used in the classroom; (3) develop participant understanding of the research base of teaching and learning as well as the application of that knowledge; (4) develop participant leadership skills and apply those skills in community and professional activities; and (5) develop a professional support network. The project will also select teams of two teachers per school; provide sessions for principals that engage them in field-based activities; actively work with the teachers in their schools to implement a field-based program; utilize a Materials Resource Center developed through a present NSF project for earth science teachers; and use the experience of the Wisconsin Elementary Science Teachers (WEST) to work with participants in the development of quality workshops for other elementary teachers in the district as well as across the state. Twenty-seven days of scheduled activities, most of which are in the field, will be held. A resource Center will provide an overview of available field-based materials as well as a source of activities. This proposal is appropriate for teacher enhancement because it plans a strong Leadership project designed to increase the amount of field-based science used in the classroom, and to develop participant understanding of the research base of teaching and learning as well as the application of that knowledge. Non-NSF cost-sharing is approximately 38% of the amount requested from NSF.
