Carrie’s Fellowship is based around several goals that all work together to benefit her students, colleagues, school and community. The Fund For Teachers Fellowships are meant to be experiential learning and professional growth experiences for educators–that also bring back something to one’s community!

Here’s what Carrie (“Ms. Clark” to her many wonderful students) has set out to achieve through the wonderful Fellowship opportunity presented to her…

Making The Most Of An Opportunity

The Goals:
• Teacher Growth & Learning
• Student Growth & Learning
• Benefiting The School Community

Teacher Growth & Learning

One of the best aspects of this fellowship is that it gives me a chance to elevate my art of teaching by weaving a common theme of my own throughout the year. We already have our state content and skills that guide us, as well as the overall concept of conservation of mass, matter or energy. However, it’s almost as if the Yellowstone Fellowship can become uniquely my own, like a signature.

I have always valued reflection as a way to look at one’s direction. Camping under the stars at Yellowstone will sharpen my ability to reflect daily. I think that reflection is one of those character traits that can get lost in the comfort of familiarity and the stresses of everyday life.

– Carrie Clark

Student Growth & Learning

Conceptual Connections:

The link Yellowstone makes through chemistry, motion, Earth and life science and then seamlessly integrates with the conservation of mass, matter or energy presents a rich opportunity not to be missed. This connection from one content area to the other will help those students who might otherwise struggle and will provide ideas for further exploration to students who are ready to move ahead.

This will impact the comprehension students have of data collection methods, on interpreting graphs, and identifying variables. I am certain that as my students increase their usage of LabQuest, their interpretation and analysis abilities will increase, improving their district and state test scores. Students will be better prepared to compete on a school, state and nationwide level, especially if they have regular access to the same types of technology being used by science professionals in the field.

– Carrie Clark

Training Leadership

I would like to train 6-8th grade student assistants, so that they may be of service and support to teachers who want to use the LabQuest technology in their classrooms. Students today are already so technology savvy, I know they will learn quickly and be glad to share their skills with faculty and other students. These students will become some of the school’s and district’s technology leaders.

– Carrie Clark

Outdoor Field Research

I hope to be a role model in showing students how to collect scientific data and how to use a combination of traditional and modern science techniques in the field. Yellowstone is filled with an astounding array of natural wonders and I hope they will feel inspired to become explorers and researchers, perhaps following a science-based career. I want them all to enjoy learning and discovery so that it becomes a life-long pursuit.

– Carrie Clark

Benefits to School Community

Growing & Experiencing Benefits Together

Our school’s mission is to promote self-discipline, social growth and excellence in learning. I believe that by bringing my colleagues examples of how the LabQuest was easy to use and the types of data collected in Yellowstone, it will help us all on a new path to increasing student learning and social growth. My fellow colleagues are a very innovative crew–after looking at the different collection methods, I imagine they’ll be quick to develop their own innovative applications for using LabQuest in the parks around our community.

– Carrie Clark

Preparing the Workforce & Leaders Of Tomorrow

Our district’s goal includes getting students ready to be successful in a changing society. That includes staying on top of changing environmental, ecological, geological conditions in our world. The career area of monitoring and predicting these changes has consequently become more important. Staying abreast of changing equipment and techniques becomes equally important.

As our school district moves ahead technologically, training students to be leaders in technology and giving them more hands-on time to collect and analyze their own data is important. Part of the grant money will purchase 2 additional probes and lab books that I will use for the fellowship project and then be able to donate to the school–making available a greater number of LabQuest labs applicable to Earth, Life, Physical sciences.

– Carrie Clark