This document describes a Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program run by the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The program sends K-12 teachers from Milwaukee Public Schools to Panama for 3-4 weeks over the summer to study tropical ecology and participate in scientific research. The goal is to bring this experience back to the classroom to develop curriculum on tropical ecology. Teachers collaborate with scientists and have access to resources to create classroom materials like activities, photos, videos and blogs. The program aims to support educators teaching underrepresented student populations and expand STEM programming.

1. Expanding K-16 LACS Programming to STEM and Beyond
LASA
June 1, 2013
Washington, DC
Bringing the Tropical Forest
to the Urban Classroom
Julie Kline
Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

2. Research Experience for Teachers
(RET)
Funding by the National Science Foundation
Summers 2010-2013
Project Director: Stefan Schnitzer
(Professor of Biological Sciences, UW-Milwaukee)
Teacher Lead: Sarah Oszuscik
(5th
grade, La Escuela Fratney)
Project support: CLACS

3. Photo credit: Christian ZieglerBarro Colorado Island, Panama

4. •RET Panama
•Opportunity for selected K-12 teachers to live and
study in a 1,560 hectares tropical forest
•Approximately 3-4 week experience
•Interaction with scientists from around the world
•Participation in research activities
•Access to Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
(STRI) libraries and resources
•Collaboration to develop tropical ecology curriculum
units

6. Open to teachers in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)
Nine MPS teachers will have participated between 2010-2013
La Escuela Fratney (Sarah Oszuscik, Dana Thome): K4-5, dual language
Greenfield School (Veronica Ocampo): K4-8, bilingual
Mitchell Integrated Arts School (Angela Rich): K4-8, bilingual
Roosevelt Creative Arts Middle School (Marcel Piatek, Sara Wroblewski): 6-8
Rufus King Middle Years (Sue Browne): 6-8
Tippecanoe School for the Arts and Humanities (Sara Feider): K4-8
Vieau School (Armando Dominguez): K4-8, bilingual

7. MPS School Student Diversity
Latino/African-
American
Limited
English
Proficient
Eligible for Free
or Reduced-Cost
Lunch
Fratney 59%/22% 28% 80%
Greenfield 92%/3% 40% 94%
Mitchell 77%/13% 35% 95%
Tippecanoe 28%/14% 2% 40%
Roosevelt 2% /90% 0% 76%
Rufus King 6%/69% 0% 50%
Vieau 95%/2% 55% 94%
Source: greatschools.org

8. Meet the Smithsonian Scientist Stefan Schnitzer

10. •Website
•Classroom activities / supplemental materials
•Photos
•Video
•Teacher blogs
•Conference presentations
•Teacher workshops
•Public programs

11. Website

12. Photos
A Walk on BCIA Walk on BCI

13. Brief video clips with scientists

14. Mariah Hopkins: What questions are you trying to answer with y

15. Lilián Alba (Colombia): full interview

16. Beck Wehrle: What observations are you making in the field?

17. Brian Sedio: What tools do you use in your research?

18. Navasha Singh: Why Science?

19. Teacher
Blogs

20. Classroom Activities

23. Conference Presentations
National Science Teachers Association
Indianapolis
March 2012
Presenter(s): Sarah Oszuscik and Dana Thome
(La Escuela Fratney)

24. Workshops

25. Tropical ecology nature photographer
Christian Ziegler
Regularly featured in National
Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine,
and Ranger Rick
October 1, 2013
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
http://www.naturphoto.de/
Public Programs

26. Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

27. Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

28. Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

29. Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

30. Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

31. Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

32. Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

33. LACS Outreach and STEM
•Reach to new subject areas
•Unique research experience for selected teachers
•Professional development support of educators
teaching under-represented populations
•Opportunity to align with university campus STEM
initiatives
•Access to STEM funding for future projects

34. NSF Research Experience for Teachers NetworkNSF Research Experience for Teachers Network
NSF RET Grant InformationNSF RET Grant Information

35. Bringing the Tropical Forest
to the Urban Classroom
RET Panama
Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies
UW-Milwaukee
Julie Kline
jkline@uwm.edu
www.tropicalecology.uwm.edu