Ecosystem Literacy Initiative:
Environmental Science Literacy Fellowships

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2010
If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for this year, please contact Cornelia Harris at (845) 677-7600 x321 or harrisc@caryinstitute.org

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 2010 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.

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 23-27, 2010, for a total of $750. 
• 5 days of workshops and project participation during the 2010-2011 school year for a total of $750.
• A final stipend of $200 upon submission of portfolio (outlined below) 
• 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 23-17, 2010. 
• Attend and actively participate in 5 additional days of professional development workshops and related activities during the 2010-2011 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 a portfolio at the end of the school year that will include: brief commentary about your teaching and its impact on your students, sample lesson plans with comments about student thinking and learning, assignments and samples of student work in response to these assignments, and other materials demonstrating your activities and/or your student attainment.

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