Ecosystem Literacy Initiative:
Environmental Science Literacy Fellowships

Please check back in February for the 2012 application.

Are you looking to enrich your knowledge of how students learn environmental science?

Apply for an Environmental Science Literacy (ESL) Fellowship at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. We are looking for dedicated middle and high school biology and environmental science teachers to join this exciting year-long program.  Participating teachers will attend the 2011 Teachers’ Institute and school year sessions, help design and carry out research into student learning in their classroom, and receive ongoing support from ESL project staff.

This program is part of a 5-year research project developing Culturally Relevant Learning Progressions for Environmental Science Literacy, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Math and Science Partnership Program. The aim is to develop a framework and assessments for environmental science literacy, along with effective teaching materials and professional development strategies in middle and high school science instruction.

Participating teachers will receive:

• A summer workshop rich in background knowledge on environmental science literacy including:  an exploration of the big ideas in environmental science; instruction on carbon cycling, water flow and quality, and biodiversity through inquiry-based projects in the field and classroom; practice with inquiry and culturally relevant teaching; a look at pathways of student thinking and learning about environmental science.
• Periodic school year workshops.
• Ongoing support from Cary scientists and educators throughout the 2010-2011 school year with planning and implementation of lessons.
• A stipend in the amount of $150 per day
• 5 days during the Summer Workshop, August 22-26, 2011, for a total of $750. 
• 5 days of workshops and project participation during the 2011-2012 school year for a total of $750.
• A final stipend of $200 upon submission of research support materials, including a teacher feedback form, student consent forms, and associated documentation.
• Continuing professional development credits. 
• Access to funds for teaching supplies and expenses (including travel), and to other teaching resources.

As an ESL Fellow, you agree to:

• Attend and actively participate in the full Ecosystem Literacy Initiative - Summer Institute, August 22-26, 2011. 
• Attend and actively participate in 5 additional days of professional development workshops and related activities during the 2011-2012 school year.
• Complete pre-, mid- and post-program assessment surveys about your environmental science knowledge, and about your teaching. These will be on-line surveys requiring no more than 40 minutes to complete for each of the three strands of the framework.
• Teach at least one “unit” focusing on one of the core topics (carbon, water, biodiversity), as appropriate to your curriculum and students, to be developed and implemented with project staff input and support.
• Administer pre- and post-instruction assessments to all students in at least one class. These will be either written or, preferably, on-line “tests” requiring no more than 40 minutes to complete.
• Participate in individual or focus group interviews on specific topics and/or teaching practices.
• Prepare research support materials that will include a brief commentary about your teaching and its impact on your students, feedback on teaching materials, and related research documentation. 

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