Session Announcement and Call for Abstracts
Are You an Explorer? Using Adventure Learning as a Powerful Tool for
Your Scientific Mission
American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting
San Francisco, California
15-19 December 2008
Abstract Submission Deadline: Wednesday, 10 September 2008
For further information, please go to:
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/index.php/Program/SessionSearch/?show=…
Or contact:
Aaron Doering
Phone: 612-625-1073
Email: adoering [at] umn.edu
Papers are invited for Session E20: "Are You an Explorer? Using
Adventure Learning as a Powerful Tool for Your Scientific Mission,"
being convened at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, to
be held 15-19 December 2008, in San Francisco, California.
Session Description:
Following his discovery of the Titanic, Marine Biologist Dr. Ballard
pioneered the delivery of real-world science in the 5th - 8th grade
classroom across the nation with his multi-million dollar program, the
Jason Project. Today, hundreds if not thousands of scientists around the
globe are involved with IPY and the vital element of its mission to
"educate" learners of all ages about the polar regions. But how about
you, the "ordinary scientist?" As a good citizen scientist often funded
by public tax dollars we are asked to communicate and involve the wider
K-12 community in our explorations. How do you go about this
communication and education in a meaningful way that does not drain
resources (be it money or maybe more importantly time and people power)
and offers true substance beyond school visit(s) or website features
to showcase your findings? How do you share your explorations?
Adventure learning (AL) (Doering, 2005; 2006; 2007) is a proven
educational approach anchored in curriculum and collaboration, that uses
a hybrid online educational environment to connect students with
"explorers in the field." Scientists, fellow experts, students, and
educators investigate real-world issues through the authentic learning
experience presented in your research. The concept is proven with
literally thousands of classrooms on six continents and across every
state of the U.S. But, what is the future role of AL in the science
community? What is AL bringing to the toolbox for you the scientist? How
can scientists use AL for educational outreach?
This session is an opportunity to profile the implementation of the
principles of an AL program along with six-step process for designing
and implementing mini-AL environments, as well as the challenges and
rewards of using the AL framework. Session organizers invite abstracts
that discuss the role of educational outreach within the science
community while exploring the delivery of AL and the challenges involved
in such an approach. These challenges and opportunities range from
curriculum development, technical issues and solutions, and methods of
outreach utilized to maximize your AL program to its fullest extent in
your research location, the education and scientific community, the
media and to the broader audience.
The abstract deadline is Wednesday, 10 September 2008, at 11:59 p.m.
Universal Time. To submit an abstract, please go to:
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/?content=program
For further information about this session, please go to:
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/index.php/Program/SessionSearch/?show=…
Or contact the session conveners:
Aaron Doering
Phone: 612-625-1073
Email: adoering [at] umn.edu
Robert Max Holmes
Email: rmholmes [at] whrc.org
Paul Pregont
Email: ppregont [at] polarhusky.com
Mille Porsild
Email: mporsild [at] polarhusky.com
To learn more about Adventure Learning, please go to:
http://adventurelearningagu.ning.com/