Teaching Inquiry using NASA Earth-System Science (TINES): Lessons Learned for Teacher Professional Development

The TINES project applies the Backwards Faded Scaffolding model (BFS; Slater et al. 2008) as a professional development model for pre-service and in-service Earth Science educators by providing them opportunities to use NASA Earth Science data in a structured workshop setting, discussions of the theory and practice of BFS, and development of activities that are suited to help K-12 learners to practice Science using these data coupled with their own observations.

The TINES approach has included strong partnerships with the GLOBE Program Office (UCAR) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Learning Center to bring additional value to our workshops. Other major lessons learned thus far include forging a partnership with the NSTA Learning Center to provide a central portal for all participants to communicate and access a wealth of valuable resources on science education, having at least one follow up face to face workshop during the academic year gave participants a chance to discuss issues they were experiencing and clarifying the requirements for completing the program, and allowing teachers to be creative with how they were going to embrace science inquiry in their classroom