The mode of instruction for the DataStreme courses infuses the flexibility of an online education with the benefits of a close mentoring relationship with peer facilitators. Facilitators (LIT leaders) are educators (formal and informal) who can assist, support and encourage participants as they proceed through the semester long course. LIT classes are always filled and the popularity and requirements for teachers to have knowledge in Earth Systems sciences, science certification of lateral entry teachers and to meet the standards of the No Child Left Behind initiatives have only increased the demand for these classes. Mentors meet with their participants three times a semester and provide weekly feedback and assistance with assignments. It is during these sessions of mentoring and networking that engages the teachers to form a powerful scientific community of learners across the state.
Participants in North Carolina not only get mentoring from other science educators but also have the advantage of networking with National Weather Service meteorologists, state and Air Force climatologists, and oceanographers. These scientists also serve as teacher mentors, and prove a valuable resource for educators and students in the classroom. They provide the classroom teacher with insight concerning the role of a scientist in both the scientific realm and general community at large. DataStreme course meetings are held at the National Weather Service on the campus of North Carolina State University. It is this vital collaboration between mentors and the scientific community to plan joint meetings that provide a rich culture that embraces and supports the role of the teacher as a lifelong learner and a prevailing influence on science education in North Carolina.
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