The Development, Marketing, Preparation, Presentation, and Evaluation of a Water Topics Course Based on Project WET and Presented at Wisconsin Academy Sites

Abstract

The intent of this project was to open elementary teachers to an abundance of learning opportunities about water. Using varied approaches, introduced to an assortment of water education materials, and associating with guest resource people, teacher peers would leave the course with a wealth of possibilities for relating water topics throughout their schools' curricula. The many water experiences in the course offered a broad background from which to teach about water topics in ways that could have meaning for participating educators and subsequently meaning for their students. Through Wisconsin summer academies many teacher audiences throughout the state had access to the course. The course, "Water Works", was based on the structure of Project WET, and it was presented to elementary teachers at five, weeklong summer academies over the summers of 1997 and 1998: Christa McAuliffe Academy held at Appleton North High School in Appleton, Wisconsin, 21-25 July 1997 and 20-24 July 1998; Cray Academy held at Chippewa Falls Middle School in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 28 July - 1 August 1997; Sally Ride Academy held at Wauwautosa West High School in Wauwautosa, Wisconsin, 4-8 August 1997; Southwest Academy held at Southwest Technological College in Fennimore, Wisconsin, 27-31 July 1998. Incorporating self-discovery, activities, scientific processes, discussions of current events issues, field experiences, participant presentations, guest speakers, and industry tours - all pertaining to water - teachers were able to leave the course grounded in many approaches to apply water themes in a variety of curricular areas at their own schools. Participants took pre-course and post-course assessments. A further measure of participant response was through the academies' evaluations.