Texas Earth & Space Science Revolution

Professional Development for Educators 

Summer Institute A

TXESS Revolution is excited to provide a Summer Institute for Texas teachers!

Come and join us to learn more about Geoscience Field Techniques, EarthLabs Change Over time, and Earth Science By Design! The institute runs for two weeks in June, but if you can only come for one week, we can work to help accommodate you!  The specifics are below!

TRC Project Directors: Send your teachers to Earth Science By Design! This exciting portion of the institute is a week before the TRC Annual Meeting! If your teachers attend Earth Science By Design, the accommodations for that week (Dorms at UT) will be covered, as well as a $50 stipend/day (See Financial Considerations below).

TRC educator and TXESS Revolution STAR, Brenda Poloski, will be one of the instructors for Earth Science By Design! Check out Brenda’s profile on the TRC webpage: http://thetrc.org/web/trcnews.html

 

Date: June 13 (4:30 PM) – June 26 (1 PM)
No. of participant spots: 25
Location: Austin, UTIG
Lodging: UT-Austin Dormitories

Summer Institute A Application (click here to download). 

Please send applications to Elizabeth Polito. You may Fax them to 512-471-8844 or send them electronically to polito@ig.utexas.edu.

New Application Deadline: Friday, April 15, 2010. 

 

Institute Schedule

  • Orientation: Sunday June 13, 4:30 – 6:30 PM (Dr. Hilary Olson and Dr. Jon Olson), followed by group dinner and talk.
  • Monday June 14, Tuesday June 15, Geoscience Field Techniques
  • Wednesday June 16, Field Trip (Geology and Wine).
  • June 17 – June 18. EarthLabs; Change Over Time (Cryosphere)
  • June 19, Saturday TBA.  End at 2:00 PM
  • Sunday, June 20 is a day off. Participants, who want to travel home, may do so. We are planning an optional fun, educational field trip on Sunday for participants (and their families) who stay in Austin.
  • Summer Institute resumes Monday, June 21 at 8:30 AM.
  • June 21 – June 26. This week is focused on training in Earth Science by Design (ESBD), an innovative program developed by TERC and the American Geological Institute with NSF funding. ESBD is organized around a small set of ideas that scientists and educators have identified as the "big ideas". These concepts will serve as the organizing framework for the resources and units that participants will create. There will be a big emphasis on using space-age technology and visualization tools. Harold Williams, and TXESS Revolution STAR, Brenda Paloski from TERC will lead the ESBD team. Kathy Ellins and Chris Comer will help Harold and Brenda facilitate. Sample units are available at http://esbd.terc.edu/about/sample_unit.html.

    You might also want to investigate:

    Earth Science Literacy: http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org/

    Climate Literacy: http://climateliteracynow.org/

    Ocean Literacy: http://oceanliteracy.wp.coexploration.org/

    Atmospheric Science Literacy:

    http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/main/frameworks/asl_main.html

 

Financial Considerations

For Participants supported by TXESS Revolution:

Transportation costs to and from Austin (except for travel during the weekend of June 20-21) will be covered. Participants who travel home on this weekend will need to cover their own travel costs. The project will also cover lodging in a UT-Austin dormitory (two per room) and two meals (breakfast and lunch).

Participants are responsible for their own dinners. A $50 per day stipend will be provided to participants.

The project DOES NOT cover parking costs.

For Participants supported by the Texas Regional Collaboratives:

The project will provide lodging in a UT-Austin dormitory (two per room) and two meals (breakfast and lunch). Participants are responsible for their own dinners. A $50 per day stipend will be provided to all participants.

The project DOES NOT cover the cost of transportation to and from Austin. These costs are covered by the TRC, as stated in our proposal. Please contact Marsha Willis if you have questions about this.

The project DOES NOT cover parking costs.

Participant Responsibilities

Participants are responsible for attending each day of the training, developing activities to implement in their own classrooms and conducting outreach in connection with the summer institute in the following academic year.

 


Questions?
Please write to the TXESS Revolution coordinator, Elizabeth Polito (polito@ig.utexas.edu).