Are you a Florida public elementary school teacher looking for a professional development experience that bridges many scientific disciplines?
We invite you to apply and be part of the first cohort of Florida elementary school teachers for our professional development program titled, “Moving and Improving the Florida Museum of Natural History Fish Collection.”
Cohort members will attend a weeklong professional development workshop this summer. Much of the workshop will take place in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s brand-new, state-of-the-art Special Collections Building. The building houses roughly 4 million specimens preserved in 60,000 gallons of ethyl or isopropyl alcohol that make up the Museum’s expansive “wet” collections, including those from the Herpetology, Ichthyology, Invertebrate Zoology, Mammals, and Ornithology divisions. Storing specimens used by scientists worldwide, the building serves as a space for researchers to conduct studies that provide critical information for our global community.
During the workshop, participants will learn what it’s like to be a scientist working with museum collections and the processes involved in moving specimens and updating a collection. These processes may include identifying, preserving, cataloging, photographing, and digitizing specimens for use. Scientists also help organize, provide access to, and properly store specimens. Participants will leave the workshop with content expertise that is sure to get their students excited and expose them to STEM topics. Teachers will also get the opportunity to work with cohort members and scientists throughout the year!
This is the first of two annual cohorts dedicated to museum collections and the nature of science. This project is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
A cohort of 10 Florida elementary school teachers will be selected. Teachers who work at public schools that receive Title I funds are especially encouraged to apply.
Cohort I Launch Workshop Dates & Location:
This cohort will begin with an initial weeklong residential workshop on June 24-28, 2024 at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. Participants will be responsible for travel to and from any in-person cohort activities taking place in Gainesville or at other sites to be determined. All teacher participants will be housed at a workshop-provided hotel regardless of which county they reside in. A detailed agenda will be provided to participants before travel.
Workshop Benefits:
Participants will leave the PD with:
- Authentic scientific research experience
- Access to a teacher-scientist network related to the project for continued scientific support
- A chance to collaborate with peers and co-develop practical lessons for the classroom
- A chance to expose students to scientist role models and careers in science
- Chance to have a scientist visit your classroom
- A $1,000 stipend for successful completion of the program
Workshop Components:
- Presentations and seminars
- Lab time
- Teacher-teacher and teacher-scientist collaboration
- Lesson development
- Area field trips
Workshop Expectations:
To receive the $1,000 stipend, participants must:
- Attend the entire PD and all required sessions
- Successfully complete a PD lesson in the classroom during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Complete regular check-ins with the project team after the PD has concluded.
- Schedule a visit with a scientist to their classroom during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Participate in and complete any evaluations, assessments, and surveys required as part of the program.
Cohort I Workshop Eligibility:
In order to be considered for this cohort, applicants:
- Must be a public school elementary school teacher in the upcoming school year within the state of Florida. Teachers who teach at schools that receive Title I funds are especially encouraged to apply.
- Must plan to continue teaching at a public school for the 2024-2025 school year.
- Must be able to attend and actively participate in all of the cohort programs.
- Must be enthusiastic to learn!
To apply:
Please apply online by visiting the following link by April 15, 2024:
https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CCYwAATN2Nv22W
*Teachers will be notified of selection by April 25, 2024
Instructors
- Dr. Larry Page, Curator of Fishes, Florida Museum of Natural History
- Rob Robins, Ichthyology Collection Manager, Florida Museum of Natural History
- Zach Randall, Biological Scientist and the Digital Imaging Division’s Collection Manager
- Dr. Megan Ennes, TESI Director and Assistant Curator of Museum Education, Florida Museum of Natural History
- Stephanie Killingsworth, Scientist in Every Florida School
- Brian Abramowitz, Scientist in Every Florida School
Funding Sources
