2004 FPG Summer Project #00033

Last Modified: Mar 24, 2004

Name	College	Department or Division
Robin McCord	Chandler-Gilbert Community College	Physics
Employee ID	E-mail Address	Work Phone
xxxxxxxx	robin.mccord@cgcmail.maricopa.edu	(480) 732-7038
Project
Title		Location
Environmental Physics Enquiry: Research and Pedagogical Methodologies Here and Abroad		CA and Eastern Europe
Group Application
This is not a group project

Project Dates and Amounts
	Summer I view timeline details	Summer II view timeline details
Timeline Dates	May 31 - Jun 30, 2004	Jul 5 - Jul 25, 2004
Hours	0	205.75
Wages	$0.00	$4,573.82
Registration Fees	0.00	0.00
Subtotals	$0.00	$4,573.82
Total Proposal Amount		$4,573.82

Details
Abstract Write a concise overview with descriptive information about your project (location, time span, etc.) not to exceed 120 words. To take advantage of spelling and word count tools, you can compose this in a blank Word document, copy the text, and paste it in below (all formatting will be reset to normal text).
I respectfully request $2,925 to 1) attend a one-week National Science Foundation institute in environmental problems (EP) of urban-runoff as physics pedagogy, at UC San Diego. This experience includes field-data collection/data analysis and classroom methodologies. It will: broaden my experience in scientific disciplines, provide training with new technologies and interaction/networking with other scientists. 2) Immediately after, I will practice urban runoff-physics as the (gratis) international instructor for physics at the 4th edition of the Pristina Summer University in Kosovo, sponsored by the University of the Netherlands. Urban-water problems common to Arizona and Kosovo provide a context for examining social, political, economic and public administration issues related to physics. Working in Pristina will benefit students and colleagues by producing comparative anecdotal, quantitative data and establishing connections for future partnerships.
Purpose Explain your purpose in depth and include relevancy and components of the project. Include a statement of goals and objectives. This is what you want to do and why.
My purpose is to learn how to use EP content to make physics education and MCCCD competencies more relevant to students. I would also like to share CGCC's learning philosophy and mission with Eastern European Universities (EEU)that are looking for recovery and assistance in evolving from the standard communist (hierarchical) model to a contemporary collaborative one. The goals of the project are to: (1) improve technical knowledge relative to the cultural history, environmental issues, and the ecology of local water systems; (2) understand hierarchical habitat analysis; (3) employ biotic indices and microscopic techniques to evaluate pollutant effects on organisms; (4) analyze anthropogenically (human) induced landscape changes over time with Geographic Information System technology; (5) analyze nutrients, metals, and microbes in a stressed stream ecosystem, (6) providing the opportunity to learn about new interdisciplinary curricular designs; (7) learn and try out new field techniques and new pedagogical approaches; (8) Assist recovering EEU physics department design and implement curriculum consistent with western institutions, and (9) Train EEU faculty in the use of new pedagogy, technology and physics education to create a sustainable curriculum. Project objectives include: (1) make science more inclusive and engaging; (2) maintain a strong science background and a high level of research enthusiasm, (3) improve preparation of future teachers, especially for urban environments, (4) conduct an outreach activity at CGCC, (5) learn and use AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science)science standards and assessment techniques, (6) create international partnerships, and (7) build original EP databases for general use.
Professional Growth Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, and possibly other colleagues. How will this project affect you professionally? What skills will you learn? What environment will you be working in, and how will it influence your teaching or other responsibilities?
I will grow professionally as a scientist by working with colleagues prominent in the field of EP who will identify the dominant issues of the field and learn to use new equipment for collecting biological and physical samples. I will also gain experience in working with new spreadsheet programs for data analysis. As an educator I will gain professional growth by learning how to use EP as a thematic and interdisciplinary approach to teaching physics. I will also have opportunities to practice new pedagogies and have my performance critiqued. The Institute will also provide information on programs developed and implemented at other institutions whose representatives will share strategies for implementing change. Going to the University of Pristina immediately afterwards provides me with an opportunity to try out EP and fine tune it for use at CGCC. Both Kosovo and Arizona have strong incentives (mining, agriculture soil contamination, etc.) to study water quality analysis and recognize its relationship to other subjects. Going to Kosovo also demonstrates CGCC's and MCCCD's commitment to international education by offering assistance to our long-time colleagues at the University of Pristina (UP). The UP has only recently reopened its doors because prior to retreating from Kosovo, Serbians looted and vandalized the UP by taking almost all its laboratory and computer equipment. What couldn’t be carried off was destroyed. While conditions are improving, power failures are routine as is a lack of running water. There are no textbooks, recent reference materials and almost no on-campus Internet access. Physics faculty at the UP are in dire need of assistance in modernizing their curriculum and finding contemporary methods to teach their classes under these conditions. When I return to CGCC I am sure I will be grateful for what I have and be more patient about down time and equipment failure. I imagine I will also be better prepared to understand the issues associated with non-English speaking students and those recently arrived in the US as a member of the future International Education Committee.
Benefits
Select the primary area of benefit:	Benefits to your colleagues or department
What benefit is this project to the group checked above? What new information, ideas, attitudes, skills, appreciation, etc. will you bring back?
This project will benefit colleagues in my department by identifying and developing activities and instruments that will meet our program review, NCA, budgeting and Math and Writing Across the Curriculum requirements. By participating in the summer institute and the year-long follow-up, I will be provided with electronic and written materials, data, and summaries of teaching strategies, key references, and student assessment instruments at no cost to CGCC from the NSF project. My department will routinely become eligible as a program/grant partner for external funding which is critically needed. The Science Departments of all participating institutions will automatically be included in the dissemination of new assessment, grant proposal/program announcement and research bulletins. The department will also become an active member of a nationwide network dedicated to keeping science curriculum contemporary and meaningful in both content and pedagogy. As CGCC contemplates starting its own International Education program, I believe my experiences will be beneficial to that committee and I will be better prepared to write grants and proposals. My College will benefit from the Institute’s grant writing and cooperative education training. CGCC will also gain access to restricted list serves run by the Institute and will become a potential grant partner for future projects. I expect to gain skills in using the newest generation instrumentation and automated analysis software and using proper field techniques and identifying new issues to be integrated into future curriculum. I will be working at several California University labs and state field sites (restricted wildlife areas)which will help me get more physics out of the classroom and into the community to provide practical applications.