TREES - Technology, Research, and Ecology Exchange for Students

DESCRIPTION: New York City provides the "living laboratory" where Title I and Title III middle school students study ecological and environmental sustainability in urban ecosystems. This program is designed to train interdisciplinary teams of teachers and to translate newly acquired knowledge into core curriculum for experiential learning in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

OUTCOMES: 2011-2013: design, delivery, and assessment of three intensive Summer Institutes for training interdisciplinary teams of teachers from middle schools in Harlem, the South Bronx and Brooklyn, reaching 80 teachers and 9,000 students; translation of newly acquired content and skills into core curriculum within the schools, especially through project based and problem based approaches; linking of all curriculum to the Common Core Standards for purposes of defining STEM skills and content to enhance student and teacher performance; distribution of curriculum products; and the articulation of "lessons learned," especially as they inform best practices. Researchers will also participate in regular project assessments; annual third party evaluations of on-going impacts on pedagogy at the individual teacher level and core curricular approaches within schools; and the publication of a study on program processes, results and impacts.