ed report 4 page cover - Arctic Research Consortium of the United ...

W O R K S H O P S U M M A R Y
The logistically challenging expeditions characteristic of polar A relatively inexpensive and attractive
research can spark students’ interest in science, while new educational model exists in the Linking
information technologies allow researchers to communicate Education with Antarctic Research in New
with students from remote regions. Above, second mate Tom Zealand (LEARNZ) program. LEARNZ is a real
Baker takes students from Prebbleton School in Lyttleton, New
time, interactive, multimedia resource for schools
Zealand, on a tour of the research icebreaker Nathaniel B.
Palmer before she puts to sea to investigate the Antarctic for that uses a range of educational resources,
eight weeks in 1998. Students at the school and from all over including live audio-conferencing from remote
the world are following the voyage of the Palmer on a web site locations in Antarctica, to promote
(http://learnz.icair.iac.org.nz/98/index.htm) as part of the understanding in science and technology. An
LEARNZ program. See pages 17 and 23 for more details.
arctic program would add to this model a
Photo by Peter Sommerville.
networking feature with students from the Arctic
mentoring or guiding students from outside the Arctic in their electronic quests. An
international partnership with LEARNZ could develop a program featuring the polar
regions, allowing students in New Zealand and the United States to develop a more
comprehensive understanding of arctic and Antarctic research and international research and
logistics collaborations.
6
The program would include multi-month
blocks of educational curricula offered on the
WWW as electronic or virtual arctic field trips.
The blocks would initially focus on topics
relating to existing programs such as the Rural
Systemic Initiative (RSI) or Global Learning and
Observations to Benefit the Environment
(GLOBE). Concurrent with these blocks would
be curricula developed around topical, seasonal,
or otherwise noteworthy arctic science.
Other recommendations. ARCUS was encouraged by participants to take a significant
coordinating and developmental role in arctic science education.
Participants applauded the efforts of the NSF-OPP to integrate science education with polar
research and suggested several measures to strengthen these endeavors.
♦ The Office of Polar Programs Arctic Section was encouraged to establish partnerships
to increase support throughout the Foundation for the development of education
programs which complement arctic research efforts; and
♦ The Office of Polar Programs was urged to provide supplemental funding to existing
arctic research grants for project-based educational efforts.
Curriculum development
The second working group assessed the linkages among researchers, educators, and
communities with an emphasis on building better communication among these groups. A set
of common themes for researchers, teachers, and community members was a key objective.
The development of a universal curriculum that could be tailored for local views was