Teacher Professional Development
B-WET Shifting Baselines Learning Community
The B-WET Shifting Baselines Project has developed a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) that uses maps, aerial photographs, and internet resources along with outdoor experiences to teach watershed concepts, science content and environmental stewardship to middle and high school students. It was designed to address science standards in Mississippi for grade 7 and in Alabama for grade 6, but the activities were tailored to teach 5th – 11th grade concepts.
As of January 2013, the program capacity has reached and we are unable to accept additional participants.
Participating Science Teachers
- Teach grade 6 and above
- Think outside the box to maximize their students’ ability to be good environmental stewards.
Project Components
Instruction to implement MWEE in the Classroom and Outdoors
- Watershed science, science standards, student stewardship
- Map and aerial photo use, including USGS topo maps and Google Earth
- Observation and data collection, including water sampling, GPS use, and elevation profiling
Resources
- United State Geological Survey geo-referenced maps of school and coast
- Wetland Education Through Maps and Aerial Photographs, www.wetmaap.org
- Heritage DVD: A Life on the Water, in which four generations of fisherman discuss coastal changes
Compensation
- Stipends of $700/year were available to compensate summer professional development and academic year interaction and implementation.
- Continuing Education Units
- A class field trip for 25 students to GCRL, including up to $500 support for transportation to GCRL
Summer Professional Development
Two sessions of the Shifting Baselines Institute were held during June 2012 at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
Teachers who participated in Session 2 implemented the classroom MWEE activities described below.
Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)
Participating teachers will complete these activities during 2012 and 2013.
- School activities for students
(supporting stipend - $400).- Map and aerial photo use
- Elevation profiling and GPS use
- Water sampling
- Stewardship
- One-day field trip for up to 25 students to GCRL, 2012-2013 ($1800 value).
- Bring up to five excellent students to Stewardship Summit (priceless).
B-WET Field Trip Photos
Eight school groups participated in field trips and the Stewardship Summit during 2012.
- Stewardship Summit
- Biloxi Junior High School
- Blackburn Middle School
- D'Iberville Elementary School
- LeFlore County High School
- Mooreville High School
- Philadelphia High School
- St. Pauls Episcopal School
- St. Stanislaus College School
For More Information
For more information on upcoming programs and opportunities, please contact Dr. Jessie Kastler, 228.872.4269, Jessica.Kastler@usm.edu or Aaron Lamey, 228.818.8861, Aaron.Lamey@usm.edu
