The Atmospheric Science Education Program (ASEP) established in 1986 at Purdue University had two components: (1) To conduct a summer program for teachers on topics in atmospheric science; and (2) To develop educational materials for teaching atmospheric science to grades five through nine.
The ASEP Summer Program for Teachers was conducted at Purdue University in July 1987 for selected Indiana teachers. Its purpose was to help teachers that teach science in grades five through nine to incorporate atmospheric science topics into their school curricula. The teachers participated in a four-week program that included lectures, laboratory sessions, educational applications seminars, field trips, and guest speakers.
The ASEP staff also developed a series of videotapes and an accompanying set of instructional booklets for students and teachers. These materials were designed to reach a nationwide audience of students and teachers of science so they could incorporate atmospheric-related activities into the general science classroom. The participating teachers in the summer program provided input on the suitability (for the targeted school grades) of these materials, which will become available in late 1988.
Follow-up visitations were made by ASEP staff to the schools of the summer participants to determine the impact of the summer program and to assist the teachers with implementation of atmospheric science into their science classrooms. These visitations and other correspondence with the participating teachers have revealed that the teachers are actively adapting the educational materials and components of the summer program instruction into their science curricula, as well as conducting in-service training for other teachers in their own school districts and at state science-teachers' meetings.
1 This program was funded in part by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF-TEI-8550912 and TEI-8741434). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of NSF.
2 Current affiliation: Department of Oceanography, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402
3 Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
