Teachers Earth Science Institute for Middle and High School Teachers Sponsored by the National Science Foundation

Goal Enhance content knowledge and pedagogical skills of middle and high school science teachers through inquiry-based activities that integrate concepts in mathematics, physics and chemistry with economics, history and social sciences

Objectives  Provide inquiry-based active learning environment for members of scientist/teacher teams by hands-on field experiences and laboratory work  Increase ability of teachers to discover and apply scientific knowledge and reasoning to real world situations

Objectives  Equip teachers with skills and materials to discover the world about them and to integrate skills into classroom practice and adoption by students  Demonstrate through hands on experience how to integrate science disciplines with other academic domains such as economics, history and social sciences

Theme  Learning and teaching in the local environment  Use mining and minerals as a vehicle to enhance the learning and teaching of science in middle and high schools

Teacher Commitments  Attend institute sessions for three weeks in summer of first attendance and two weeks the following summer  Maintain a journal of experiences resulting from institute attendance and participation  Develop and implement classroom plans and activities that incorporate materials from the institute

Teacher Commitments  Share experiences and materials with colleagues  Serve as role models and mentors to new science teachers  Participate in institute assessment and academic year workshops  Become a resource to schools, districts and professional organizations

Teacher Benefits  Inquiry-based field experiences and laboratory sessions led by scientists and researchers  Classroom materials, model lesson plans, manuals, workbooks, mineral kits and other take-home materials related to mineral exploration, mining, mineral recovery and use, and environmental stewardships  Formal professional development sessions in assessment and leadership

Teacher Benefits  Graduate certification credits (up to 6 semester credits)  Stipends of $60 per day ($300 per week)  Transportation, accommodation and meals at no cost to participants  Round-trip transportation reimbursement  Free weekend room and board. Hard hats, hearing protection, safety glasses and steel toe boots

Activities  Mineral Exploration  Mining  Mineral Processing  Environmental Protection  Culminating Activity

Mineral Exploration  Geology and geologic formations  Mineral formation  Mineral identification  Field trips to geologic and mineral formations

Mining  Estimation of mineral reserves  Mining techniques  Field trips to surface and underground mining operations  Drilling and blasting  Mucking and rock support  Mineral hunt

Mineral Processing  Mineral processing techniques  Crushing and grinding  Concentration (gravity separation, magnetic separation, flotation, etc)  Field trips to mineral processing plants and refineries

Environmental Protection  Reclamation  Remediation  Recycling

Culminating Activity  Inquiry-based integrative research on opening a mine  Feasibility studies  Data acquisition  Data analyses  Interpretation  Report and presentation

Components of Activities  Build students’ understanding to explore connections and relationships  Provide field and laboratory experiences with scientists and researchers that provide connections to real world applications  Guide students in active and extended scientific inquiry that promote higher order thinking skills  Integrate math and science inquiry teaching resources that model exemplary curriculum and instructional models

Components of Activities  Provide opportunities for scientific discussion  Integrate instructional technology with real world connections  Provide instructional materials that are easy to obtain, transport and implement in classroom  Continuous monitoring of achievement that engage students in communication of scientific and mathematical information

Evaluation  Diagnostic Evaluation  Formative Evaluation  Summative Evaluation

Challenges  Relocation of principal investigator and subsequent transfer of project  Subcontract difficulties  Logistical issues in contract administration

Challenges  Limited school visitations to ensure materials are implemented in classroom activities  Sustainability issues  Lack of financial support for teachers to disseminate results of project

Collaborations  Red metal Minerals  Cleveland Cliffs Empire Mine  White Pine Copper Refinery  Peninsula Copper Industries  Superior Sand and Gravel  Keweenaw Gem and Gifts  Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration

Summary*  TESI is of high quality and should be replicated in similar projects  Past participants are using their knowledge from the institute in ways that capitalize on local resources and geography  All phases of TESI are important to the classroom application, especially the final integrative project * From report of external evaluators

Summary*  The teaching of earth science and other disciplines are enhanced in the classrooms of TESI participants  Project deserves and demands continuation  Program is cost effective and is satisfying and exceeding the promises made in the original proposal to NSF * From report of external evaluators

Other Evaluator Comments  Teachers feel very privileged to work with scientists in actual field settings  Teachers bring reality into their classrooms through photo tours of their experiences  Lessons used by teachers after the mining project are inquiry-based projects modeled after activities at TESI

Other Evaluator Comments  Networking of teachers from geographically diverse areas enhances the variety of experiences that students acquire  The total immersion in the work that miners and scientists do is a major benefit of this field-based program  The ‘Bridge to the Classroom’ component permits classroom connections to be made on site