West Virginia GLOBE Program

WV GLOBE Summer Institutes 2006

 

Dear Teachers,

Have you ever wondered how to increase inquiry-based teaching and learning in your elementary or secondary science classroom?  Would you like to see your students working with local scientists to measure, report, and analyze environmental data as part of a worldwide project?  If so, join over 31,000 teachers in 109 countries participating in the NASA sponsored GLOBE Program. 

This June the WV GLOBE Consortium will provide TWO levels of GLOBE professional development targeting teachers in Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Ohio, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tyler, and Upshur counties.  Through a grant from Higher Education Policy Commission (ITQ-06-MSTC-01), participating teachers will receive a $500 stipend, over $300 in science equipment, $50 in supplies (from participating counties), certification to report environmental data through GLOBE, and the option to earn 3 graduate credits. 

For the past two summers, these workshops have filled up fast, so PLEASE check your calendar and register as soon as possible.  Priority Registration for targeted counties ends March 31 and applications are accepted on a first-come basis.  If you have ANY questions contact the WV GLOBE Program Coordinator, Todd Ensign at 304.367.8438 or todd.ensign@ivv.nasa.gov

Introductory Workshop June 26-30, and November 4, 2006

For teachers who are new to GLOBE, you are invited to register for the Introductory Teacher Workshop to be held this year at the West Liberty State College’s SMART Center from June 26-30, with a mandatory follow-up on November 4, 2006.  You will receive a $500 stipend, $50 in supplies (from participating counties), certification in GLOBE, your own GPS unit, and a variety of science instruments for your school including: instrument shelter, max/min thermometer, rain gauge, 50 meter tape, compass, several texts, the GLOBE Teachers Guide, a clinometer, turbidity tube, and access to classroom sets of GPS units, Water Quality Kits, Soil Sampling equipment, and more! 

To register, click on the link below and complete the online form.  (If this doesn’t open by itself, copy the URL and paste it in the address bar of a browser.)  You will be notified by email that your registration was received.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2254JV3VVA4

Advanced Land Cover & Phenology Workshop June 19-23, and Nov. 11, 2006

This workshop is for teachers already certified in GLOBE and will be held at the NASA IV&V Facility Educator Resource Center in Fairmont from June 19-23, with a mandatory follow-up on November 11, 2006.  This session will provide training in advanced protocols including remote sensing, surface temperature, soil moisture, bud burst, MultiSpec and ARC View GIS software, and advanced graphing using Excel.  You will obtain the skills and tools to guide your students in the spatial correlation of collected data to watersheds, elevation, temperature and more.  This session is taught by WV scientists who want to work with you and your students to make learning science an engaging, authentic, inquiry-based experience.  You will receive a $500 stipend, $50 in supplies (from participating counties), and science equipment for your school including an Infrared Thermometer, science probes, and the latest GIS software (valued at $1,000) for use in your school.

To register, click on the link below and complete the online form.  (If this doesn’t open by itself, copy the URL and paste it in the address bar of a browser.)  You will be notified by email that your registration was received.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2254K8CW46J

What do WV Teachers say about GLOBE?

The students at Troy have become very involved with weather data collection.  The station is used by 4 grade levels (1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th).  They have taken ownership of the weather station.  Some of the students even volunteer to collect the data during their recess breaks. 

-Debby Shackleford, multi-subject, first grade, Troy Elementary

I have found that my students (and I am, too) are more aware of the weather around them.  When we discuss what the numbers and cloud types are possibly indicating, they are quick to make guesses and we are usually right!  We have also found the ozone readings interesting and a little disconcerting because they are higher than we expected.  They are very willing to make readings every day and if I forget to send someone out, they will remind me.

.-Kathleen Prusa, 6th grade Science, Philippi Middle School

My students are thrilled to be a part of "real science". The most engaging part of this program for them is the idea that their data is inputted to a real web site to be used by real scientists. No amount of my preaching that you do science everyday in everything that you do has had the effect that this program has. The students have used measurement techniques and tools in practical ways and this use has spawned great classroom discussions of weather, acid rain, the proximity of our Haywood Power station. GLOBE has proven to be a welcome addition to my curriculum.

-Beckie Alvaro, Science 8, Bridgeport Middle School

I attended the GLOBE Advanced Atmosphere Magnet workshop. . . I used the surface ozone test strip reader (Zikua) and had my students collect actual data from their school, then analyze the data. Not only were they required to graph the data, but they also had to analyze it and interpret their graphs. This provided a meaningful, relevant research project that went across the curriculum with mathematics and language arts content standards completed along with science. . . I have always brought new ideas and ways to teach into my classroom after attended these workshops. Even the follow up workshops have yielded new ways of teaching from the other participants.

-Stefan L. Smolski, CATS 9, Oak Glen High School

The WV GLOBE Consortium

GLOBE is delivered in WV though the efforts of many organizations and institutions including:  Alderson-Broaddus College, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, NASA IV&V Facility Educator Resource Center, West Liberty State College SMART Center, West Virginia Conservation Association, West Virginia Geological Survey, West Virginia State University, West Virginia View, and The GLOBE Program Office.