If you want a "bird's eye view" of student inquiry, just take our "Supporting Student Science Investigations" course!  BirdSleuth is accepting applications from 7th and 8th grade classroom science teachers who would like to field test an exciting new online course focused on inquiry through citizen science and birds. We invite you to apply!

This is the second annual course, and the effort is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.  Your participation will give you tools and experience that will help you conduct BirdSleuth inquiry in your classroom. For example, last year's teachers each completed their own research study and we've published them online (see the special edition)!  Over 90% of the participants ranked the course "very good" or "excellent" in final evaluations. 

The application deadline is June 12, 2009. The course will take place this summer from July 20-August 24, 2009. Online interactions occur at least weekly, but are arranged by you at your convenience.

More Details:

• You must be a 7th or 8th grade classroom science teacher.  Due to the contraints of the grant, we can not accept other grade levels or informal educators.
• Participants are required to log in at least once per week every week of the course.  However, last year almost all of the participating teachers reported that they logged in at least 3 or more times a week during the course. 
• You can expect to spend 4-6 hours per week on the course (5 weeks July 20-August 24, 2009).  But you can log in any time that is convenient for you (night owls and early birds are welcome!)
• You'll be asked to support BirdSleuth evaluation efforts through:
  - providing written feedback
  - submitting course assignments
  - responding to brief follow-up surveys about your use of the materials in your classroom/teaching
• A $200 stipend is provided to all teachers who complete the course and submit their final evaluation.  A $30 course registration fee will be collected from accepted applicants beofre the course begins. However, this fee is returned to you when you complete a final survey at the end of the school year.
• We do NOT offer course credit at this time.  However, some teachers have been able to get CEU's by showing their course completion letter to their principals and districts. When you complete the course, a letter will automatically be mailed to you.
  

We'd love to work with you this summer!  Please click here to learn more!  If you are ready to apply, please click here!