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Goals & Themes
Promoting Sustainable Watersheds and Science Education by “Tracing a Drop of Water Inland to the Coast”
Themes:
UT’s GK-12 project uses watersheds that extend from central Texas to the mid-Texas Gulf Coast as thematic organizing units for environmental science in teaching the Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Our field and classroom focus areas reflect the strengths and study areas of participating UT academic departments,
while annual meetings in Austin and Port Aransas allow Teachers and Fellows to integrate these themes into specific lesson plans. Students gain a holistic view of how the water
cycle operates in our region, while grasping scientific concepts and relating them to the real-world issues surrounding ecosystem sustainability and conservation.
GK-12 Goals:
The University of Texas at Austin:
- Promote the academic and professional development of K-12 and University level participants by building long-term partnerships between K-12 school districts and University of
Texas researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Help teachers adopt diverse and innovative field and inquiry-based teaching strategies to promote student learning, especially with underrepresented groups, within the framework
of state and national curriculum standards
- Build long-lasting partnerships between K-12 teachers and academic researchers and enhance professional development through direct contact with UT scientists
- Develop Fellows into scientists with improved communication and pedagogical skills, an awareness of science education standards, and the desire and ability to transmit scientific methods and knowledge to students, teachers, and the public.
- Deliver new content in the classroom that will improve student understanding of science and, mathematics while encouraging students to consider careers in STEM disciplines
National Science Foundation:
- To develop partnerships between schools and universities with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduate students and upper-level undergraduates working with
teacher colleagues to improve STEM education at the K-12 level.
Further Information:
- GK-12 Assessment Objectives
- Background for Emphasis on Middle School Grade Levels [Show Details]
We believe we can have a greater impact by focusing on grades 5-8 and on 5th grade in particular. There are several reasons that we will emphasize the 5th grade level:
1) It is the first level where Texas students are given the standardized Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exam in science
2) It is the first level where science is taught as a separate class
3) It is the earliest grade where curriculum closely matches (and requires) the expertise of GK-12 Fellows.
The 5th grade TAKS test assesses knowledge that is gained throughout elementary school. A student’s mastery of the science curriculum through the 5th grade sets the tone for their
learning in later grades and their scores on 8th, 10th, and 11th grade tests. Intervention prior to this initial test can make a difference in their achievements for years.
Our project will focus on 5th grade because lower grades in Texas do not have a dedicated science class where Fellows can have the maximum impact. Additionally, the 5th grade
science curriculum units (Mixtures and Solutions, Force, Motion, and Energy, Landforms, Life Cycles and Ecosystems, Climate, and Aquatic Environments) match our integrated emphasis on
watersheds and coastal ecosystems.
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