From June 24-28, 2024, our first cohort of 10 Florida Elementary school teachers attended a new professional development workshop titled, “Moving and Improving the Florida Museum of Natural History Fish Collection.”
Much of the workshop took place in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s brand-new, state-of-the-art Special Collections Building. The building houses roughly 4 million specimens preserved in 60,000 gallons of ethyl or isopropyl alcohol that make up the Museum’s expansive “wet” collections, including those from the Herpetology, Ichthyology, Invertebrate Zoology, Mammals, and Ornithology divisions. Storing specimens used by scientists worldwide, the building serves as a space for researchers to conduct studies that provide critical information for our global community.
During the workshop, participants learned what it’s like to be a scientist working with museum collections and the processes involved in moving specimens and updating a collection. These processes included identifying, preserving, cataloging, photographing, and digitizing specimens for use. Scientists also helped organize, provide access to, and properly store specimens. Participants left the workshop with content expertise that is sure to get their students excited and expose them to STEM topics. Teachers will also will have the opportunity to work with cohort members and scientists throughout the year!
This is the first of two annual cohorts dedicated to museum collections and the nature of science. This project is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
2024 – 2025 Cohort
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Workshop Benefits:
- Authentic scientific research experience
- Access to a teacher-scientist network related to the project for continued scientific support
- A chance to collaborate with peers and co-develop practical lessons for the classroom
- A chance to expose students to scientist role models and careers in science
- Chance to have a scientist visit your classroom
- A $1,000 stipend for successful completion of the program
Workshop Components:
- Presentations and seminars
- Lab time
- Teacher-teacher and teacher-scientist collaboration
- Lesson development
- Area field trips
Workshop Expectations:
To receive the $1,000 stipend, participants must:
- Attend the entire PD and all required sessions
- Successfully complete a PD lesson in the classroom during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Complete regular check-ins with the project team after the PD has concluded.
- Schedule a visit with a scientist to their classroom during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Participate in and complete any evaluations, assessments, and surveys required as part of the program.
Instructors
- Dr. Larry Page, Curator of Fishes, Florida Museum of Natural History
- Rob Robins, Ichthyology Collection Manager, Florida Museum of Natural History
- Zach Randall, Biological Scientist and the Digital Imaging Division’s Collection Manager
- Dr. Megan Ennes, TESI Director and Assistant Curator of Museum Education, Florida Museum of Natural History
- Stephanie Killingsworth, Scientist in Every Florida School
- Brian Abramowitz, Scientist in Every Florida School
Funding Sources
