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PlantingScience
– www.PlantingScience.org
We are up to something we trust you will find thought-provoking, and I'm asking you to become involved. We've germinated and are growing an ONLINE community where scientists support teachers to actively engage their students in the scientific process through the development of research projects. We've read the reports1 and understand the importance that science and innovation play in ensuring a prosperous future, and we actively support improved science literacy. We agree, experiencing science is a critical component in understanding science.
The Botanical Society of America led program, supports members from our 14 Scientific Society partners who are donating thousands of hours to mentor students through the process of conducting research. Yes, we're linking scientists with teams of middle- and high-school students, and turning them loose to tackle student-designed research questions. And their collaboration is all done ONLINE... Yes, our scientists are able to go into classrooms anywhere in the country, in fact the world, to support improved scientific literacy!
PlantingScience
is a concept we've put into practice, and the key is simple—who better to encourage hands-on research
and share the experience of scientific discovery than practicing scientists!
I ask you to walk with me through the program as outlined below, visualize the potential, and join in our journey.
Why
get involved? Again, it's simple—we believe science literacy is an important aspect in a mature society. An understanding
of science and scientific concepts is critical in maintaining
advances in innovation and technology. Science drives
a flourishing economy and fuels our ability to create a sustainable
future.
More Good News!
PlantingScience
- The Birds-eye View
At its core, PlantingScience
uses three concepts recognized by the National Research Council to facilitate learning: 1) hands-on, inquiry-based science,
2) peer-to-peer dialog and team learning and
3) mentorship support from topical experts.
As you read, please consider the program in terms of its scalability, cost-effectiveness and adaptability as an efficient way to harness and share a valuable resource—our scientists' time, and to reach out to teachers and students in a manner designed to take science to a new level. Also consider the fact that the program itself acts as a research project designed to understand and expand learning through online collaboration. We use data and participant feedback to improve after every session.
Now, imagine a team of middle- or high-school students designing and
conducting a research project as a means to better understand
science and the scientific process. As the students conduct their
research, they post data and information in real time to a web
page.
Their teacher leads the process and is supported by inquiry-based
materials written to encompass core biological principles (in line
with national and state science standards). They support a clear
understanding of how best to capitalize on the experience of hands-on
science as a learning tool.
Add a scientist volunteering as a mentor to the team of young
researchers. The mentor guides the students by posing questions
designed to help them discover the answers they seek.
Now imagine not
one team, but thousands of teams, all working simultaneously
on various projects around the country.
Students are using the online communications tool PlantingScience,
which allows them to share their experiences and build collaborative
networks to solve problems. All of the information, experiences
and knowledge are posted online and freely shared throughout the
community, and with other students in schools around the country.
 Starting with the future...
Planning is underway for the future. Student and mentors have asked for a way to communicate in real-time. We're working on the concept and looking for a Tech partner interested in supporting the idea. We're also growing a response to the request from students (and mentors) who are interested in taking the PlantingScience experience to a higher level of research. It seems science is as fun and exciting as we thought!
The diagram to the right is a conceptual design we considering that allows students to gain additional research experiences. We'll build on the base PlantingScience engagement and in doing so; add psE-Badge as a means of rewarding students for the completion of projects. A ps-Badge will trigger an invitation to the next level of research experience and act as a personalized electronic "BADGE" indicating to the Scientific Community the attainment of a certain experience/skill/knowledge set. Each level/project will have a specific ps-Badge. You take your ps-Badge with you where ever you go (Face Book, YouTube..). And yes, we are considering ps-Badge for teachers and mentors as well. We'll celebrate science and scientific achievement!
Back to the Beginning - Our
Vision
We are committed to infusing authentic inquiry and science experts
into a research experience for middle- and high-school students
(and their teachers). We are taking a comprehensive approach to
project implementation, assessment tool development, support resources,
and services that improve the teaching and learning of science.
We use plants as inexpensive and accessible model research organisms
to explore a range of biological concepts.
Our Experience So Far
In 2005 we began putting together and testing our program. PlantingScience
has quietly doubled the number of students participating in the
program each year. To date, Scientific Society members have volunteered thousands
of hours, and we have had the privilege of working with 124 schools in 34 states, working with
100+ teachers and supporting over 9,000
student-led research projects. Over 1,900,000 people
have visited the PlantingScience
web site. We have continued to grow participation at a manageable
rate while we learn the intricacies of the online environment.
We are also beginning to see marked improvement
in our ability to engage students using online communications.
 Please note: Many of the classes participating
wouldn't have considered running an experiment beyond a single
class period. PlantingScience
has allowed them to experience hands-on research for 3-8+ weeks
with scientist mentors as part of their team.
The Numbers and the Potential
Participation and online activity continue to grow. There are
now 14 Scientific Societies involved in the program, with
a combined membership of over 250,000 scientists. More Societies
are coming on board as partners once they see and experience how
easy it is to become involved. I mention the scientist side of the equation, as their participation will always be a limiting factor.
To date we have spent very little time marketing the program. We've been quietly building our base, with the target of recruiting
~5% of members across each of our Society partners. Just that small amount of participation will provide us with the capacity to
reach/mentor 250,000+ students in a given year. Now imagine promoting the program in conjunction with the actual need to
develop science literacy in the US—A Compelling Call
for Support. I feel the 5% target is but a fraction of the response we'd achieve from our members to a national call to participate. It's important to note, the 14 participating groups are a small part of the Scientific Society community.
At present, 8%+ of the Botanical Society of America’s members
are involved in the PlantingScience
program. I see this increasing to about 15% over the next two years as the program gains recognition. This will be mirrored across the partner Societies over time.
Keeping It Simple
A key to what we are putting together is how easy it is for
scientists and teachers to be involved with PlantingScience.
We ask scientists one simple question: "Would you donate just a few hours each year if you knew you could become part
of a team of online-mentors making a difference in US science
education, and our future as a nation?"
Of course they would! For
scientists, all we ask is volunteering 2-3 hours, one or two times a year, spread out over a 3-8+ week period—yes, that's all it takes. The PlantingScience
team and systems handle all communications and notifications to
keep them up to speed with the teachers they support and the teams they mentor.
Teachers are the key to success in using the program. The grants
we have received from the National Science Foundation and Monsanto
Fund are aimed at supporting what they do in the classroom and developing materials that make using student-lead inquiry as easy as possible. I'll also note that what you see on the web is but a small component of the teacher support mechanisms built into the program. Behind the scenes, there is a thriving community with topic discussion forums, teacher-to-teacher forums, teacher-to-scientist forums and a long list of materials supporting each inquiry topic. We are also developing a series of short video clips enhancing the use of PlantingScience as a classroom tool.
Program Participation
In 2004, the Botanical Society
of America and several K-12
Educators from the National Research Council
- Teacher Advisory Board started as partners in this
endeavor in an effort to bridge scientific research and education.
PlantingScience
was designed to integrate the partners’ expertise and capitalize
on the contributions scientists and teachers could make working together to
improve scientific literacy.
As the project evolved,
more Scientific Societies, scientists and educators came
on board in support of our efforts. In 2006, the American
Society of Plant Biologists came on board as a partner, adding to the depth of the team and the long-term vision for the project. In 2007 we joined with Texas A&M University to establish an educational research component to the program. We are pleased to report that
the following Scientific Societies are now taking a partnership role as
the program moves forward:
 In 2009, 4-H
became our first "user" partner. They
will be looking to strategically use the program as a means of
enhancing their ability to support the goals of the 4-H
Science, Engineering and Technology Program. We're pleased to
be heading into the after-school setting.
It
must be noted:
Our online interface evolves and improves after each session based on results and consultation with participants—students, teachers and scientists. We have engaged in
the development of an idea, implemented the program, modified
our delivery in conjunction with the needs/specifications of our
stakeholders, and qualitatively assessed our ability to support
our goals.
Research
At its heart, PlantingScience is a research project. We have collected over seven-years of student-mentor-teacher interations, copious quantities of survey information, as well as student pre- post test results.
This has allowed us to improve and adapt our systems in an efficient and timely manner based on real data and user experiences. What you see on the web is but a tiny part of the overall program.
Development Support
We want to thank the following organizations for stepping forward
in support of PlantingScience.
* The Monsanto Fund stepped up as our first
corporate partner, providing support for topic development. At
present we have two PlantingScience
topics online (Wonder of Seeds and the Power of Sunlight) and
four more in development (Genetics, Ecology, Economic Botany and
Respiration). We hope to have topics available using plants as
model organisms in scientific inquiry projects that cover all
core biological concepts by 2012.
* The National Science Foundation came next and
supports the teacher development and educational research
components for the program.
How
You Can Help
We hope our vision and record of achievement will encourage you
to consider becoming a PlantingScience
partner.
Teachers—explore your opportunities - Learn More
Scientists—join us. Go to www.PlantingScience.org/NewMentor/
Scientific
Societies—we welcome and encourage
you to come on board as a partner. This is a no-cost,
participation-only program. It couldn't be easier. Please send me an email (WDahl@Botany.org).
Corporations, foundations and individuals—please give me a call. Let's talk about how you can assist (314-577-9566 or 314-566-6842). Your support is always welcome, and is an important part in the growth of this free-to-the-teacher program.
We are just beginning the process of planning for the next five-ten years. We'll be seeking specific skills as we move to enhance the experience. A technology partner(s) would be a big help as we look to add "live" features such as "Office Hours" video chats linking scientists directly with their teams at critical times in the research cycle, chats for teachers and scientists to support better planning , and ensure we have the ability to keep pace within a fast evolving online environment.
Remember, at its core PlantingScience is all about science, effective learning and sharing the scientific experience.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Bill Dahl
Executive Director
Botanical Society of America
314-577-9566 or 314-566-6842 (mobile)
WDahl@Botany.org
www.PlantingScience.org
1. Some of the National Academy of Sciences reports used to formulate and continue the development of the PlantingScience program:
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- GO GREEN – THINK BALANCE – BE
SUSTAINABLE