PolarTREC-Researcher: Educator Partnerships and the Legacy of the IPY

PolarTREC—Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating was a three-year (2007–2009) NSF-funded program of the Arctic Research Consortium of the US, which matched 50 teachers with researchers for two to eight week Teacher Research Experiences (TRE) in the Arctic and Antarctica during the fourth International Polar Year. PolarTREC contributes to the legacy of the IPY through the creation and dissemination of polar education resources, prolonged teacher–researcher relationships and contributions to scholarly knowledge on the impacts of TRE's.

Participating teachers brought scientific information about the polar regions to schools and communities through multimedia web-based communications and live events. Live events from the field attracted over 14,000 participants and PolarTREC teachers have constructed nearly 100 classroom lesson plans and activities as products of their experiences.

Although the research experience is central to the PolarTREC Model, many participants cite the ongoing collaboration and the relationship they built with their teacher/researcher as one of the best outcomes of the program. In addition, most participating scientists reported that the outreach activities related to the PolarTREC teacher positively impacted their project. Researcher satisfaction was reflected in the interest to repeat the experience, and many researchers have applied to host an additional PolarTREC Teacher.

Participating teachers cited PolarTREC as a life-changing professional development experience, which led to increases in their knowledge of the polar regions, science careers, the scientific process and effective instruction methods. Students of PolarTREC teachers reported an increased understanding of numerous science subject areas and that they explored science research activities more often.

The IPY emphasized improved scientific understanding through innovative approaches to education and outreach programming. Tested during the IPY, PolarTREC can serve as a model teacher research experience program for application in other contexts and locations to help scientists share their research with a broader public and progress student understanding to become the scientists and decision-makers of tomorrow.