Education

(B. Simmons, Coordinator; K.S. Baker, PI)

Research-Education Partnerships encourages communities of individuals to interact and learn about science in ways that can transform authentic educational experiences in the classroom and improve education and outreach.

Early efforts of the PAL outreach program focused on acquiring manipulatives, books, scientific papers, audio-visuals, maps, photos, equipment, and data time series files to create a physical presence for polar research in the classroom. Subsequent efforts involved partnering with artists, writers, teachers and scientists visiting Antarctica (actually or virtually), weaving their experiences and stories into lessons for classroom use.

Most recently new perspectives gained through implementation of assessment strategies in the classroom and with the general public are shaping more meaningful contexts for students to engage in scientific inquiry and test classroom scientific concepts.

The Palmer Education Framework bridges scientific research practice in the Antarctic with academic science providing an infrastructure that embodies an emergent notion of authentic science, identifies the needs of our community organization and bridges research and teaching in the classroom. It supports the use of our repository of materials, improves the acquisition, use and retention of conceptual scientific knowledge through an inquiry-based learning model and encourages the development of high-order thinking skills critical for learning science.