Appalachian Laboratory Environmental Science Education
Welcome! The Appalachian Laboratory Environmental Science Education (ALESE) program promotes environmental and science literacy among learners of all ages and in diverse settings. Our team designs, implements, evaluates and researches education projects with a focus on integrating real-world science practices, tools and professionals into K-12 and informal education settings. Our work builds directly on environmental science research conducted by scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory.
What’s happening in 2017?
- We are in our third year of the NOAA-funded STAR Partners project -- a collaboration between Appalachian Laboratory researchers and 15 Garrett, Allegany and Washington County high school teachers and their students to study nitrate pollution in schoolyard rainwater and runoff.
- We are in our fourth year facilitating the Informal Climate Change Education (ICCE) Community--a group of educators from museums, aquariums, parks and similar venues who are learning together on ways to enhance their climate change education efforts.
- We are working closely with our colleagues at the Educational Development Center near Boston MS on the Technology Observation Protocol for Science, which seeks to capture the quality of technology use in science classrooms.
- We are also collaborating with PEER Associates and Karen Peterman Consulting to explore Embedded Assessments for Citizen Science, which will help us better understand skills that volunteers gain when working with scientists.
Explore our website
- Citizen Science tab - learn how you can help with Appalachian Lab science research on American chestnuts in western Maryland and on Poplar trees throughout North America -- open to learners of all ages and no experience required!
- Geospatial Education tab - explore our map-based curricular materials and training that help K-12 teachers integrate real-world science tools and practices into their classrooms -- part of our collaboration with National Geographic and their online map tool FieldScope
- Schoolyard Ecology tab - learn how we are helping western Maryland schools use their schoolyards for science investigations that support environmental and science literacy
- Climate Change Education tab - check out our new Maryland and Delaware Sea Level Rise curricular units and how we are working with informal educators on climate change education in out-of-school settings
- Ed Research and Evaluation tab - learn about our work to examine the design and impact of environmental and science education efforts