PlantingScience – www.PlantingScience.org

We're up to something you might be interested in! Remember, performance and understanding of science and scientific concepts are critical in maintaining a leadership position in innovation and technology—both important drivers within our economy, as well as our ability to find a sustainable future. The PlantingScience concept is simple—who better to encourage hands-on research and talk about scientific discovery than practicing scientists! I encourage you to walk with me through the PlantingScience program, visualize the potential, and join in our journey.

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.

Imagine a team of middle/high school students designing and conducting a research project as a means to better understand science and scientific processes. 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, but thousands of teams, all working simultaneously on various projects around the country.

They 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.

Our Vision
We are committed to infusing authentic inquiry and science experts into a research experience for middle school 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, society members have volunteered thousands of hours and we have had the privilege of operating in 86 schools, in 32 states, working with 110+ teachers and supporting over 7,500 student-led research projects. Over 1,200,000 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 on track to meet our goal to reach and work with over 10,000 students online by 2010. 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 2-6+ weeks with scientist mentors as part of their team.

The Numbers and the Potential
Participation and online activity continue to grow. There are now 13 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.

Marketing the program in conjunction with the actual need to develop science literacy in the US (A Compelling Call for Support), it is felt we could easily recruit 5% of members across each of our Societies – that’s reaching/mentoring 250,000 students per year. Even at a simple 2% involvement, we will have the capacity to reach roughly 100,000 students per year. As you can see, the numbers look good!

At present, 6%+ of the Botanical Society of America’s members are involved in the PlantingScience program. I see this increasing as the program gains recognition to about 10% over the next two years. I anticipate each of the participating Societies will see similar involvement as members experience the simplicity involved in making a contribution, note the ease of participation and share this with colleagues and peers.

Keeping It Simple
A key to what we are putting together is how simple it is for scientists and teachers to be involved in the PlantingScience program.

For scientists, all we ask is volunteering 2-3 hours of time, twice a year, spread out over a 2-6+ week period—yes, only 4-6 hours in total per year. The PlantingScience team and systems handle all communications and notifications to keep them up to speed with the teams they mentor.

Would you donate a few hours a year if you knew you were part of a team of scientist mentors making a difference in US science education, and our future as a nation? Of course you would!

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.

Current Participants
The Botanical Society of America, American Society of Plant Biologists 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 (www.plantingscience.org) is designed to integrate the partners’ expertise and capitalize on the contributions scientists and teachers can make toward improving scientific literacy. As the project evolves, we believe more scientific societies, scientists and educators will come on board in support of our efforts. We are pleased to report that the following Scientific Societies are now taking a partnership role as the program moves forward:

We are please to report that over the past summer, 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.

Development Support: How can you help?
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 significant teacher development and educational research (quality assessment) 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.

How can you help? 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.

Corporations, foundations and individuals—our most pressing needs are in the area of continued web development and research into the effectiveness of online mentoring as an educational tool. Sponsorship and/or partnership in these critical areas are most welcome! Please consider how you can assist.

In closing, I ask that you consider PlantingScience in its current form as a tool supporting science (biology). Now, imagine how it might evolve into other areas and send me your thoughts!

Remember, at its core PlantingScience is not just about biology—it's all about science, effective learning and sharing the scientific experience (and meeting/working with scientists) with young people around the country.

Please take a few minutes to give me a call. I'm happy to tell you more about PlantingScience and how you can become involved.

Sincerely,

Bill Dahl
Executive Director
Botanical Society of America
314-577-9566 or 314-566-6842 (mobile)
wdahl@botany.org
www.PlantingScience.org