GreenPower and Broader Impacts at DRI

9 July 2015

Today’s discussion

1. GreenPower transition to DEES and its significance for education at DRI – Tim Minor for Dr. Beverly Ramsey

2. GreenPower achievements and the road ahead – Ameila Gulling, GreenPower Administrator

3. Showcasing GreenPower program successes – Craig Rosen, Education Administrator; Mackenzie Peterson, Green Box Administrator; and Leah Madison, STEM Coordinator VISTA

4. Partnerships with Faculty and your feedback – Meghan Collins, Environmental Education Lead

DRI’s GreenPower K-12 Education and Outreach

• “To support Nevada's preK-12 educators in science-based, environmental education by providing the tools, resources, and knowledge they need, so all students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to work, live and contribute in our community.”

• Programmatic Areas: – Green Boxes– Teacher trainings– School Site Support – Community Outreach – Faculty Engagement

• Who we serve– Schools in Nevada through teacher support

Current funding streams come from: • Local businesses• Family foundations• Corporate Foundations• Personal Giving• City, County, State Funding• Federal Funding

$350K-$400k

Program Offerings

2013 2014 20150

50100150200250300350400

125

247

359

Nevada GreenPower Schools

Schools Linear (Schools)

• Green Boxes-• Inquiry based science model 5-E• NGSS aligned• Unit worth of materials on various topics • Currently over 50 Boxes this will grow to over 100 by 2016• Reached over 20,000 students in first two years of the program- on

track to reach another 25,000- 30,000 this 2015-2016 year

• Teacher Trainings• Offer professional development credits • Aligned to NGSS and teaching practices • Offer minimum four trainings in Reno and Las Vegas each year; fall,

spring, annual (winter), and summer training.

• School Site Support • Fieldtrips• Classroom Speakers• Special Projects/Programs 2014 2015

02000400060008000

1000012000140001600018000

7328

16538Students reached through Green Boxes

FACULTY OUTREACH TO EDUCATORS

DRI Scientist Ted Hartwell Presenting at Summer Teacher Training 2014

Teacher Training Fall 2014

DRI Boulder City

Boulder City Review interviews DRI Scientist Dr. Markus Berli

Drs. Jay Arnone, Amanda Keen-Zebert, and Curt Robbins conduct lab tours for our Teacher Training Jan. 2015

Nina Oakley delivers a Keynote on Climate Change and then teaches a hands-on workshop from the Climate Change Green Box

Dr. Henry Sun presents to

teachers about the Astrobiology

Green Box he has been grant funded to work on Winter

2015

FACULTY OUTREACH TO STUDENTS

Dr. Grzymski visits with students at Wooster High School conducting Oral Microbiome experiment

Dr. Scott Hamilton Brehm awards High School student for naming DRI 13

FACULTY OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY

DRI OPEN HOUSEApril 2014

OVER 550 people in attendance

• Lab tours• Soil Lab• Archaeology Lab• Quagga Mussels• Environmental Microbiology

Lab• CEMP

• 2 community presentations• Dr. Markus Berli• Dr. Lynn Fenstermaker

• Hands-on Science experiments

Lab Tours for all ages

GREEN BOXES

o Self-contained teaching kits provide educators with hands-on science experiments.

o Standards-based lessons are designed to enhance student literacy in various STEAM subject areas.

o FREE of cost to any educator in Nevada!

Develop a Green Box

• Partner with teachers to integrate your research into meaningful curriculum for Nevada’s youth.

• DRI faculty involved:• Dr. Brian Fitzgerald• Dr. Alex Lutz• Dr. Henry Sun

o Augment learning outcomes by demonstrating real-life applications of Green Box content to students.

o Participate in the professional development of PreK-12 educators.

• DRI faculty involved:• Nina Oakley• Curt Robbins• Rose Shillito• Ted Hartwell• Dr. Lynn Fenstermaker• Dr. Richard Jasoni

Present from a Green BoxP

Faculty Involvement with Green Boxes

GREEN BOXES

o Self-contained teaching kits provide educators with hands-on science experiments.

o Standards-based lessons are designed to enhance student literacy in various STEAM subject areas.

o FREE of cost to any educator in Nevada!

Develop a Green Box

o Partner with teachers to integrate your research into meaningful curriculum for Nevada’s youth.

o DRI faculty involved:• Brian Fitzgerald• Dr. Chris Fritsen• Dr. Alex Lutz• Dr. Henry Sun

o Augment learning outcomes by demonstrating real-life applications of Green Box content to students.

o Participate in the professional development of PreK-12 educators.

o DRI faculty involved:• Nina Oakley• Curt Robbins• Rose Shillito• Ted Hartwell• Dr. Lynn Fenstermaker• Dr. Richard Jasoni

Present from a Green Box

How does GreenPower bring broader recognition to DRI research?

Impactful experiences: As students interact with DRI science, the memorable experiences stay with them throughout their careers (Think: “Broad dissemination to enhance science and technological

understanding”)

Experts teaching the teaching experts: Broad recognition among STEM educators of the people behind the science (Think: “Integration of science and education”)

How does GreenPower education bring broader recognition to DRI research?

Getting in front of the right players: We partner with numerous important funders such as NV Department of Education, NV Energy, SouthWest Gas, United Way, Keyser Foundation…

Understanding what is DRI? Community engagement helps the public understand what DRI does and why it is important to the state of Nevada

Faculty Perspectives on working with GreenPower

“Faculty can promote their own research and potentially find new funding sources... Some grants require an education/outreach component, for which GreenPower is ideal.”

“DRI faculty can be amazing educators – if they are willing to step out of their comfort zone.”

What motivates our faculty to be involved?– Expanding the reach of DRI into the public– Funding– Recognition of the need to support educators– Passion for outreach

Working to better support faculty at DRI

GreenPower team is made

up of specialists in

informal education

GreenPower is adaptable to your

ideas and commitment level

GreenPower model is

demonstrated to be

successful

Build on our successes in your proposal

What are my options to partner with GreenPower?

Target interest areas of your choice: • STEM literacy • Title 1 schools (low-income)• Under-represented groups in

science• Girls in science

We are flexible to your level of commitment, from very hands-off to very hands-on

We want to partner on proposals to: • Help develop Green Box curriculum• Present as a Keynote at a themed

teacher training• Host lab tours or a field trip• Participate in events – e.g., lecture

series, student science competition• Speak at schools• Support rural schools and teachers

What are my options to partner with GreenPower?

Target interest areas of your choice: • STEM literacy • Title 1 schools (low-income)• Under-represented groups in

science• Girls in science

We are flexible to your level of commitment, from very hands-off to very hands-on

We want to partner on proposals to: • Help develop Green Box curriculum• Present as a Keynote at a themed

teacher training• Host lab tours or a field trip• Support rural schools and teachers• Participate in events – e.g., lecture

series, student science competition• Speak at schools

Look for our short poll in your inbox to help us understand your interest areas

We want your feedback: How can we better meet your needs?

• What does GreenPower need to know about you and your research (e.g., constraints and motivations) so we can be better partners?

• How can we better help you as a vehicle for broader impact?

• Are there needs for broader impact or outreach that are currently unmet?

• Are there models for partnerships between informal educators and academic faculty that we can learn from?

Longitudinal study measuring the impact of

GreenPower experiences on teachers and STEM teaching

effectiveness

Brainstorming ideas for the future

Create an ongoing funding pool to

compensate faculty for school support programs

DRI Open House to showcase research to the

community

Virtual experiences to connect with researchers

in the field or the lab

Increase support for rural or tribal educators

Thank You!

Desert Research Institute2215 Raggio ParkwayLas Vegas, NV 89502

775-673-7488

www.dri.edu/greenpower