Congratulations to Dr. Cory Miller and team (Kara Haas, Ben Botwinski and Jillian Osbourne-Hawkins)! The group was awarded a $50,000 grant through CREATE for STEM to develop a program that helps assess the impact of increased observation and practicing of place-based, outdoor science instruction on preservice teachers' science identity.
Ebersole Education Center, Lansing Public School's outdoor environmental education camp will partner with the MSU team.
During a three-week experience, participating students will explore their elementary science teacher identities, practice outdoor, nature-based pedagogy, strengthen scientific knowledge, particularly related to ecology and develop place-based teaching and learning practices. Throughout the three weeks, participants will engage in interactive, reflective journals that will be shared with the facilitators and researchers. Journaling activities will support participants in thinking critically about their experiences and their perceptions of science teaching. The journals will include activities to support participants in developing connections to the spaces where they are learning and teaching.
This exciting initiative will take place during May of 2025; the research team is hoping to share at the 2026 Michigan Science Teacher's Association conference.
