Getting The Public Ready for TREC!, Pre-field experience activities Options

[Janet_Warburton]

How are you getting your students, peers, public ready for your TREC experience?

[Amy_Clapp]

Since my students are very familiar with the PARTNERS Project, due to their experience last year, I am trying to get them hooked with connections to the culture. We are starting to learn more about the cultures of the far north where I will be, and I hope to get them involved with some of the other TREC projects as well (See Student Friendly Project Descriptions in Brainstorm Room!)

I have also been contacting libraries to try and get some momentum with the public going. Summer is an awfully busy time for so many folks. One thing that I have thought of is that I am going to take down email addresses and bring them with me to the field so that I can email individuals who are interested in learning more and getting involved with the TREC. I am doing that in addition to handing out the TREC web address because I know there are many websites that I say I am going to look up, but then I don't remember or can't find the time to do it. By collecting emails of students and colleagues and then sending them an email with the link to the web page while I am in the field is much more inviting to the public (less work for them!)

I would love to hear what others are doing....

[Robert_Oddo]

Just starting to get the word out. I have talked to the school district PR person, I will put a link on the school and district webpage so people can contact me. I have put out an email out on the school district distribution list with the website and contact information. Have started discussions with our staff developers on how I can help help others develop curricular material pertaining to the Arctic. Starting a distribution list of friends, family and others with information Looking forward to other ideas!!
Bob

[Steve_Marshall]

My preparations are probably most similar to Robert's; Contacting the school PIO, sending out e-mails with project links to other teachers, lead science teachers and coordinators at other schools, family, friends, etc. I've also come across some of the things Amy mentions too...people being busy. We're in the middle of standardized testing, much of which is online, so not only are the teachers preoccupied with that, but the tech people are too. This means I need to be ready to go full force once testing is complete since there won't be much time between the end of testing and my departure on June 11. Testing is mostly complete on the high-school level, so I'm going to start working with my students to show them all the links and how the virtual base camp works.

One thing that I'd find helpful would be if you all are using the computers ARCUS lent you, or start using them if you're not, to take advantage of the instant messaging (AIM). I've seen a few of you online with the VBC, and I've sometimes had a few questions I wanted to ask but don't have any quick way of getting in contact with you. If you use the AIM, I think you'd find it very helpful if you also had a few questions. It worked great when I first used it and had some questions for some of the ARCUS crew. They were logged on to it and I was able to have my questions answered immediately.

As for links to the project, I try to cover as much as possible for ALL the projects and other sites of interest in the hopes of reaching a broader audience just in case they don't find my project to be in their field of interest as much as some of the others. I have the links incorporated into a short Word document that you can find here just in case you find it helpful. If you want to use it, you could easily modify it by putting in links to your project where I have links to mine, and you could also taylor it to whoever you are sending it to; The one I'm attaching was directed towards the teachers in my district.

[Leslie_Pierce]

I've gotten a few things going already. Talked to classes in school and showed them how to access the website and ask us questions. I've sent emails out to teachers throughout my district and to a statewide teacher network as well.

Brian and I are going on the KBRW morning radio show tomorrow! We'll talk about our project and get our host, Earl Finkler, excited about it. Hopefully, Earl will remind folks to check up on us while we are out in the field. I'll give him a calender with all the TREC projects so he can send out updates on all of our projects as well. Steve, I'm not sure how much time you have in Barrow but if you wanted to try to get on the radio while you're here, just call Earl at KBRW. Or, you may want to email him ahead of time at finklers@barrow.com.

I'm also planning on submitting a story for the local paper (need to get working on that!)

I will be making flyers to post in the public library as well. Lots of students hang out at the computers there, so I'm hoping that putting posters by each computer will encourage communication!

[Steve_Marshall]

Steve, I'm not sure how much time you have in Barrow but if you wanted to try to get on the radio while you're here, just call Earl at KBRW.  Or, you may want to email him ahead of time at finklers@barrow.com. 

Leslie--I'm spending an extra day and a half in Barrow AFTER the cruise. We're scheduled to get back on Monday, June 27th (maybe 26th?), and I fly out Tuesday around 7:00 pm. If you think they might be interested in an "after cruise" story, I'll look into it.

Steve

[Janet_Warburton]

Leslie--I'm spending an extra day and a half in Barrow AFTER the cruise.  We're scheduled to get back on Monday, June 27th (maybe 26th?), and I fly out Tuesday around 7:00 pm.  If you think they might be interested in an "after cruise" story, I'll look into it.

Steve

Maybe if you called them ahead of time (before leaving) and they might be interested in phone interview and then an in person interview after the trip. Also, we should let them know about your live call in event on July 14th.

Janet

[Leslie_Pierce]

Hi Steve,

About KBRW radio ( I don't know how you guys added the quote!)....
You should DEFINITELY email Earl ahead of time. He books up his morning talk shows a few weeks ahead of time, so if you can give him the date now, he should have it open! He knows about the TREC program and would love to talk to you after the fact, I'm sure! Earl is a wonderful science nerd!

Leslie