DataStreme Project Overview What is DataStreme? The DataStreme Project is a major precollege teacher enhancement initiative of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Its main goal is the training of Atmospheric Education Resource Teachers who will promote the teaching of weather across the K-12 curriculum in their home school districts. The initial step in the training of Resource Teachers is their participation in the DataStreme distance-learning course. The 13-week course is offered twice a year to selected participants. It focuses on the study of the atmospheric environment through the use of electronically transmitted weather data and learning materials combined with Study Guide readings and investigations. The Project is funded by the National Science Foundation with assistance from the U.S. National Weather Service and the State University of New York College at Brockport. DataStreme expects to train over 4,000 teachers nationally. How is the DataStreme course conducted? The DataStreme course is offered through DataStreme Local Implementation Teams (LITs) that are located around the country. LITs, typically composed of three members, coordinate the selection and delivery of the course to approximately eight teacher participants each semester. Each team advertises the course availability, recruits and selects participants, arranges and holds local meetings, individually mentors participants on course understandings and activities, provides participant evaluations, and assists in developing Resource Teacher action plans. Each LIT is composed of at least one master precollege teacher and most include one professional meteorologist. Who can participate in DataStreme? Participants must be teaching professionals at the precollege level who live in an area served by a LIT. Teachers of any grade level or subject who have an interest in promoting the teaching of weather across the curriculum may apply. Many participants are earth science, middle school and upper elementary teachers. Applications are sought from persons who can demonstrate potential for leadership as resource teachers. They must be willing to act as resource persons for other teachers and as advocates for promoting the use of electronically-delivered environmental data in schools. Teachers who are members of groups traditionally under- represented in the sciences, or teachers who are teaching in schools with large numbers of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, are especially urged to apply. How do I apply for DataStreme? Contact your nearest DataStreme LIT Leader listed on this Homepage under the heading "DataStreme LITs", and request information and application materials for the next offering of the DataStreme course. If there is no LIT listed near you or in your state, inquiries may be sent to find out if a LIT is forming in your area by email to: amsedu@dc.ametsoc.org To be considered for participation, a completed application form must be submitted to your local LIT leader. You will be notified of the status of your application by the local LIT leader. Enrollment is limited and selection is based on a number of criteria. What equipment do I need for DataStreme? You will need a PC or Mac computer, printer, and an Internet connection with browsing capability (such as Netscape or Microsoft Explorer software; or a service like America On Line, Prodigy or Compuserve). If you are reading this on-screen with your own equipment and you can print it out, you are essentially ready for DataStreme participation. The only other equipment requirement is access to a facsimile machine for transmitting and receiving materials between you and your LIT mentor. What materials does DataStreme supply? - Study Guide, Part A: Narrative, Part B: Applications, and DataStreme Homepage User's Guide, - USA TODAY Weather Book by Jack Williams, - Glossary of Weather and Climate, and Related Oceanic and Hydrologic Terms by AMS, - NOAA Weather Radio receiver, - Electronically-delivered daily weather summaries and learning materials based on current weather, - Continuously updated current weather information via the DataStreme Homepage. What benefits do I receive by participating in DataStreme? You will be prepared to act as your school's weather education resource person. By successfully completing the DataStreme course, you will: - Become your school's representative as part of a major national science education program conducted by the American Meteorological Society in close cooperation with the National Weather Service. - Learn weather fundamentals via a unique electronically- delivered distance-learning course that emphasizes the study of weather as it happens. - Develop computer-based real-time environmental information acquisition and analysis skills. - Receive resource and reference materials for your professional library. - Discover ways to instill the excitement of current real- world events across the precollege curriculum. - Develop collegial working relationships with the DataStreme Project, LIT members, and other course participants. All participants are enrolled in a 3 semester-hour graduate course, entitled ESC 675 Real-Time Weather Studies, through the State University of New York College at Brockport. Credit is awarded upon successfully completing course requirements the same semester as the course is taken. What will I need to do if I am selected for the DataStreme course? - Attend the three (or four) scheduled course meetings arranged by the LIT in your area. - Follow weather on a national scale via DataStreme delivery of real-time information throughout the course. - Successfully complete two learning activities with electronically-delivered components each week. - Complete Study Guide assigned readings and weekly progress reports. - Fax completed activities and progress report to your assigned LIT mentor on a weekly schedule. - Interact regularly with your LIT mentor by telephone and email to discuss course progress. - Document several examples of in-school applications of DataStreme course products. - Develop plans for becoming a weather education resource teacher. - Submit for review and evaluation a complete portfolio (archive) of course work at the final group meeting of the course. What am I expected to do after completing the DataStreme course? The goal of the DataStreme Project is to empower Weather Education Resource Teachers with the knowledge and capabilities to transform a virtually endless stream of environmental data into exciting and creative learning experiences for young people. As a Weather Education Resource Teacher, you will be expected to introduce other teachers and administrators in your school, parents, and members of the community to the benefits of utilizing electronically-delivered environmental data streams as vehicles for learning across the curriculum. The DataStreme Project expects to develop a long-term working relationship with DataStreme course participants. The goal is to upgrade scientific literacy by motivating teachers and through them, their students, to develop and nurture active interests in science, mathematics, and technology.