Date

Announcing TREC 2005: Teachers & Researchers-Exploring and Collaborating (TREC)

Interested host researchers are encouraged to register for a TREC
"pre-application" informational webinar (web conference), scheduled for
Friday, 5 November, 2004. Webinar registration forms are due Monday,
November 1.
http://www.arcus.org/TREC/researcher_interest.html

Full teacher and researcher applications for TREC 2005 will be available
Monday, November 8, 2004 and are due Friday, December 31, 2004.

For further information, please contact:
Helen Wiggins
Phone: 907-474-1600
helen [at] arcus.org

and visit the TREC website at:
http://www.arcus.org/trec/index.html

RESEARCHERS PARTICIPATE IN A "PRE-APPLICATION" INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR
Researchers interested in hosting a TREC teacher may register to
participate in an informational webinar (web conference) scheduled for
Friday, November 5, 2004 or to request more information about TREC.
Although not required for the application process, potential TREC
applicants are encouraged to submit the form, as it will provide us with
useful planning information. Researcher Submission of Interest forms due
Monday, November 1.
http://www.arcus.org/TREC/researcher_interest.html

APPLICATIONS FOR TREC 2005 AVAILABLE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2004
Teacher and researcher applications to participate in a 2005 TREC field
research experience will be available on Monday, November 8, 2004. The
TREC application process will be open from Monday, November 8 through
Friday, December 31, 2004. Teachers, researchers, and research projects
for the 2005 research season will be selected to fill openings
available. We expect that applicants will be notified of selection
decisions before January 31, 2005.

BACKGROUND
Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating (TREC) is a program
in which K-12 teachers participate in arctic research, working closely
with scientists, as a pathway to improving science education through
teachers' experiences in scientific inquiry. TREC builds on the
outstanding scientific and cultural opportunities of the Arctic to link
research and education through intriguing topics that will engage
students and the wider public. The main components of TREC include:

  1. Arctic Field Research Experience
    The core of the TREC program is the field research experience, whereby
    TREC teachers participate in arctic field research for two or more weeks
    during spring/summer. Selected research projects represent the leading
    edge of scientific inquiry and include the K-12 teacher as integral part
    of science team.

  2. Classrooms and Public Connections
    Teachers and researchers connect with classrooms and the broader public
    through use of Internet tools such as online teacher and researcher
    journals, message boards, photo albums, real-time presentations and
    calls from the field, and online learning resources.

  3. Professional Development
    TREC provides professional development opportunities for teachers who
    participate in field research projects as well as educators who connect
    through the Internet. TREC provides a variety of content, tools, and
    seminars geared towards subject matter learning, teaching practices, and
    alignment of TREC experiences with current professional and teaching
    standards.

  4. Sustained Community and Support
    The TREC program is designed to extend the experience beyond field
    research to support a sustained community of teachers, scientists, and
    the public through traditional workshops, Internet seminars, an e-mail
    listserve, and teacher-to-teacher peer groups.

Through the above components, the TREC program aims to invigorate
science teaching and learning through increased content knowledge and
enhanced teaching skills among a collaborative network of researchers,
teachers, and communities.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Teacher and researcher applications to participate in a 2005 TREC field
research experience will be available on Monday, November 8, 2004. The
TREC application process will be open from Monday, November 8 through
Friday, December 31, 2004. Teachers, researchers, and research projects
for the 2005 research season will be selected to fill openings
available. We expect that applicants will be notified of selection
decisions before January 31, 2005.

For further information please contact:
Helen Wiggins at
Phone: 907-474-1600
helen [at] arcus.org or

and go to:
http://www.arcus.org/trec/index.html

Funding for TREC is provided by the National Science Foundation Office
of Polar Programs Arctic Sciences Section.