LTER RET Program
Timothy Hidalgo-Vega and Vanessa Castellaños from the Felix Varela Senior High School Global Studies MAGNET testing equipment before collecting data under the watchful eye of Research Experience for Teacher fellow, Ms. Catherine Laroche
To engage students in authentic field-based science, teachers need time to deepen their understanding of research and its applicability to their teaching and students. The NSF-funded (RET) program matches K-12 teachers with scientists for 8-10 weeks of field data collection and independent research. The goal of the LTER RET program is to enhance the professional development of K-12 science educators through research experience at the emerging frontiers of science in order to bring new knowledge into the classroom. RETs are recruited from a variety of site partnerships. The RETs become intensely involved in individual research projects, and they are exposed to each sites broader research program. The goals of the programs vary from site to site although are based on similar principles.
LTER Site links sponsoring RET programs
- Palmer LTER
- California Current LTER
- Andrews Experimental Forest LTER
- Florida Coastal Everglades
- Shortgrass Steppe LTER
- North Temperate Lakes LTER
Cross-site RET exchange
With the help of a virtual classroom, several LTER programs coordinate RET exchanges. Sites are encouraged to demonstrate the diversity of research experiences available across LTER sites allowing participants to connect with other educational professionals and learn new strategies for bringing science to their students. The exchange allows educators to share their experiences and build contacts and hear innovative new ideas. These cross site exchanges allow teachers to learn, practice, reflect, and implement ideas with other teachers and scientists and is an opportunity to transform the way teachers implement in their classrooms. See LTER intranet article: http://news.lternet.edu/Article
A list of RET-like programs in the U.S. for K – 14: http://www.retnetwork.org/about.php
