“Go with the Data Flow: AMS DataStreme Programs”

Michael J. PassowWhite Plains Middle School, White Plains, NY

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and

Teachers College, Columbia University

American Meteorological Society (AMS) Education Program (

www.ametsoc.org/amsedu) • Developed exemplary programs about

weather, ocean, and hydrologic topics • Trained hundreds of classroom educators

to serve as “Peer Trainers” • Reached 105 teachers and 106 students

across the U.S., Canada, and other countries

• Significantly involved with curriculum development and science ed Standards

AMS K – 13 Ed Initiatives

• Project Atmosphere

• Maury Project

• DataStreme Atmosphere

• Water in the Earth System

• DataStreme Ocean

• Online Weather Studies

• Online Ocean Studies

Project ATMOSPHERE• Cornerstone begun in 1991 with NSF and

AMS support

• Teacher enhancement and instructional resource materials development

• Goal: encourage studies of atmospheric environment to stimulate greater interest in science and math

• National-state-local approach

Project ATMOSPHERE

• Establish network of “Atmospheric Education Resource Agents” (AERAs) to use single-topic peer-training modules

• Master precollege teachers receive training through two-week summer workshops at NWS Training Center in Kansas City, and other NOAA facilities

• Approximately 300 teachers from US, Canada, and other countries have provided more than 5000 workshops to over 100,000 teachers

Project ATMOSPHERE

• About twenty single-topic modules developed as basis for workshops and other professional development formats

• Topics include “Hazardous Weather,” “Weather Satellites,” “Jet Streams,” and “Clouds”

• Hands-on materials for teacher-training and classroom investigations

www.ametsoc.org/amsedu

Several AMS publications provide additional resources for teachers and students.

International Impacts

• Project Atmosphere Canadahttp://www.smc-msc.ec.gc.ca/education/teachers_guides/index_e.html

15 web-based modules available to teachers through Environment Canada educational program

• Project Atmosphere Australiahttp://www.schools.ash.org.au/paa1/

Classroom and online activities, teacher support

• International Conferences in Toronto, Edinburgh, Australia, and Spain

Maury Project

• Begun in 1994, modeled on Project ATMOSPHERE

• Focus on the physical foundations of oceanography

• Training programs at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD

• Support from NSF, AMS, Navy, NOAA, and Maryland Space Grant Consortium

Maury Project

• Single-topic modules include “Ocean Tides,” “Wind-Driven Ocean Circulation,” “Shallow Water Waves,” and “Coastal Upwelling.”

• More than 200 peer-trainers have provided more than 1,300 workshops for more than 15,000 teachers

• www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/maury

DataStreme Atmosphere

• Initiated in 1995 to utilize potential of the Internet for national teacher enhancement

• 13-week course delivered through print- and web-based materials

• Offered by Local Implementation Teams (LITs) of master precollege teachers and college professors or scientists

• Almost 6,000 teachers have participated

DataStreme Atmosphere

• Custom textbook and study guide

• Two-a-week investigations based in part on printed materials and in part on web-delivered resources

• Supporting web page provides current data, background information, other resources htwww.ametsoc.org/dstreme

Water in the Earth System (WES)

• Started in 2001• Focus on global water cycle as vehicle to

explore Earth System Science• Modeled on DataStreme• Offered through LITs• Smaller in numbers than DataStreme,

expect to train over 1,600 teachers by end of NSF-funded period

www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/WES

DataStreme Ocean

• Most recent addition to AMS teacher enhancement program

• Modeled on DStreme Atmosphere

• Focus on marine geology, physical and chemical oceanography, marine biology, air-sea interactions

www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/DS-Ocean

Online Weather Studies

• “Turnkey, introductory college-level online distance-learning course”

• Based on DataStreme Atmosphere• Custom textbook, student study guides,

online resources for twice-weekly investigations

• Faculty support, assessment materials• More than 130 institutions utilize program

www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/online

Online Ocean Studies

• Modeled after “Online Weather Studies”

• Now in first year of trial offering

• Expands opportunities for community college and other institutions with smaller faculty

• Also available for high school enrichment programs

AMS Diversity Program

• Encourage more enrollment in beginning science courses by minority students, with goal of increased numbers entering careers in the geosciences and science teaching

• Summer workshops and OWS at more than 100 minority-serving institutions

AMS/NOAA CPESE

• Cooperative Program for Earth System Education

• Continued support for DataStreme ATMOSPHERE beyond NSF-funded period

• Development of DataStreme Ocean

• Encourage greater minority participation through increased teacher training

Other Influences by AERAs

• Active in development and implementation of National and state Science Education Standards

• Active in state and national science education organizations

• Active as writers/consultants for textbooks and other educational resources

• Active in developing outreach by colleges, government agencies, other institutions

“Weatherfest” programs have been held at AMS Annual Meetings to provide the general public with a wide variety of atmosphere-related activities and information.

“Peer-Training at Its Best”

• Through Project ATMOSPHERE, Maury Project, DataStreme Atmosphere, WES, and DS-Ocean, AMSEDU has created hundreds of Peer-Trainers

• They have had an impact on thousands of colleagues and millions of students

• Providing ongoing leadership in many states and other countries