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GLOBE and STEELS Standards in Pennsylvania
Contributed by Allison Mackley, U.S. GLOBE Partner at Berks Nature.
During the winter of 2024, Berks Nature took on the task of aligning the GLOBE Program’s protocols with the Pennsylvania Science, Technology and Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) Standards. The project’s purpose was to create a document that would be used by elementary and secondary teachers as they decide which protocols match the needs of their curriculum.
The education team took on the challenge of creating a crosswalk by identifying standards that represented each of the GLOBE protocols. Initially, the goal was to develop the crosswalk for grades 3–5, but throughout the process, there were connections across all grade levels, so the project expanded to encompass Kindergarten to 12th grade. According to Michael Griffith, Environmental Education Coordinator and Watershed Specialist, this task was one of the most difficult experiences during his career at the nature center. Taking the 46-page set of standards and digging through them to find connections was not an easy feat. The entire education team sat together to locate and debate each standard as it was matched to a protocol. Ultimately, an extensive and comprehensive crosswalk was developed.
Since the GLOBE protocols are steeped in research learning objectives, the team also sought out standards from the Pennsylvania Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening Standards to supplement those from the STEELS curriculum. This addition gave strength to the research-based language in the protocols.
In addition to the crosswalk, Berks Nature held two professional development opportunities, one elementary and one secondary. Both were well received, and the teachers will now have the knowledge to bring GLOBE into their classrooms. Michael Griffith and Beckey Seel, GLOBE trainers, were encouraged by the engagement of the teachers as they immersed themselves in science.
The students were not left out of this grant process. Berks Nature was able to purchase six tablet computers to use in data collection. During several programs, students used the tablets to submit their data, bringing the protocols to life. When students can see they are making a difference in the work of science, it makes the research process worthwhile.
The goal of the GLOBE Partnership Mini-Grant Program is to support U.S. Partner activities to help achieve the GLOBE Strategic Priorities and contribute to the evaluation of the impact of GLOBE within the United States. Access the Mini-Grant Award Padlet to learn about how Partnerships that have been awarded a mini-grant are using the funding.
News origin: United States of America