Update - Spring Course March 2012
Date: 26 March 2012 - 13 April 2012
Topic: Physical Science with Terrestrial Carbon and Methane Focus
Registration Deadline: 23 March 2012
The spring 2012 professional development course is underway! Applied Physical Science Concepts for Educators in the Context of the Polar Regions II will feature course topics of Carbon and Methane. These two elements are receiving much attention due to their impact on global climate. Participants will develop basic understanding of natural carbon and methane cycles, environmental factors affecting carbon and methane, and implications of these two components in global climate. Our focus will be on scientific research conducted in the Arctic on terrestrial carbon and methane processes.
Webinar Expert Speakers
Thursday, 29 March 2012 at 3pm Alaska Daylight Time [4pm PDT, 5pm MDT, 6pm CDT, 7pm EDT].
This event will be archived for future viewing.
Elizabeth Webb is the field manager on the Carbon in Permafrost Experimental Heating Research project in Healy, Alaska. She is responsible for daily maintenance of the field site and monitoring treatment effects using methods such as radio carbon and methane flux sampling. You can see her involvement with PolarTREC teachers in the past and present by visting:
- 2011 Expedition to Healy, Alaska: Carbon Balance in Warming and Drying Tundra with PolarTREC teacher John Wood.
- 2012 Expedition to Healy, Alaska: Carbon Balance in Warming and Drying Tundra with PolarTREC teacher John Wood.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012 at 12pm Alaska Daylight Time [1pm PDT, 2pm MDT, 3pm CDT, 4pm EDT].
This event will be archived for future viewing.
Elliot Friedman is a PhD candidate in Dr. Lars Angenent's Lab at Cornell University. His research focuses on engineering applications of microbial electrochemical technologies. He designed and constructed the biosensors being used in the Arctic. You can see his involvement with PolarTREC teachers in the past and presently by visiting:
- 2011 Expedition to Barrow, Alaska: Microbial Activity in Thawing Arctic Permafrost, with PolarTREC teacher Jim Miller.
- 2012 Expedition to Barrow, Alaska: Microbial Activity in Thawing Arctic Permafrost 2012 with PolarTREC teacher Cristina Solis.
About the C-ISE Learning Community
These courses are made up of three 1-credit modules offered in the spring, summer, and fall starting in March 2011. Annually, the modules will cover a specific polar science subject related to physical, earth, or life sciences. The course design allows K-12 educators, especially those who teach multiple subjects with fresh content related specifically to the subjects they are teaching. Each session is limited to 15 participants, and some scholarships will be available each semester.
Course content is administered by and developed in consultation with teachers well versed in transferring polar research to the classroom and polar scientists, especially early career polar scientists. Polar scientists interested in making contributions to the course should e-mail info [at] polartrec [dot] com with your name, institution, location, and a brief description of area(s) of science expertise.
Current Course:
Spring 2012
26 March 2012 - 13 April 2012
Applied Physical Science Concepts for Educators in the Context of the Polar Regions II
Course Syllabi:
Spring 2012 Syllabus (PDF - 136KB)
Registration & Scholarships
Registration for the current class is closed.
Return for more information on our summer 2012 course in the future.
DO NOT send registration forms to University of Alaska - Fairbanks. This form must be returned by fax or email to ARCUS. Contact information is available on the registration form.
Scholarships:
A limited number of scholarships are available for participants on a needs-based basis.
Please fill out the scholarship form found here:
Scholarship Application (PDF - 57KB)
Scholarship applications must be completed at the time of registration. Applications must be submitted by E-Mail (info [at] polartrec [dot] com) or by fax (907-474-1604). All fields are required.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How often is the class offered?
It is offered three times a year, in the spring, fall, and summer.
How long is the course?
Completion of the course takes 3 weeks, and includes 3 internet/phone presentations in addition to asynchronous course work.
How many people can participate in the course?
In order to maximize interaction between instructors and participants, each module will be limited to the first 15 participants.
How many credits will I receive and how much does it cost? Each course module is 1 credit. If you take all three modules, you could earn up to three credits within the year. The course is offered through the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the 500-level, and will cost approximately $90.00.
What happens to the lesson plan, lab plan, video, or PowerPoint I develop as a capstone project?
Final student projects will be reviewed by science content experts for accuracy, and then placed in the online PolarTREC Learning Resources database.
Is there a book or any required course materials? No, the course will utilize primarily online resources and real-time presentations for content. Course participants will be expected to have access to a computer and internet to complete course-related materials.
