Overview Text

The Recharge the Rain Program builds environmental literacy among 6-12th grade teachers through educational curricula and hands-on water harvesting techniques. Using a systems thinking approach, a community of “Changemakers” capable of reasoning and communicating for a sustainable, resilient future in the face of weather-related challenges will be developed. Changemakers will help implement water harvesting systems in their communities and become ambassadors for spreading this awareness and expertise to the public. Please see (Flyer) for an overview of the project.

Dedicated teachers and schools are the key to the Recharge the Rain Program’s success. Teachers will engage in professional development that builds environmental literacy, provides integrative rainwater harvesting design certification and evolves instructional practices in the classroom. Over 4 years, the cohort of teachers will become a Professional Learning Community (PLC) utilizing face-to-face meetings and an online platform to collaborate with each other, WMG, NOAA and APW specialists, and University of Arizona scientists. Please view (Professional Development Timeline) for an overview of the professional development requirements.

Target Audience Questions

  1. Are you a Tucson-area teacher?

If no, please exit this survey.

  1. Can you commit to participating in this program for 4 years (Spring semester 2017 – December 2020)? See Professional Development Timeline

If no, please exit this survey.

  1. Have you informed your principal about your application to the Recharge the Rain Program and the commitments required?

If yes,

  1. Does your principal support your participation in the Recharge the Rain Program?

Hands-on learning about water harvesting is a powerful way to impart students with a meaningful understanding of the natural environment and the connection to community resilience.Rainwater harvesting systems (basins, berms, swales etc..) that are installed at schools need to be maintained in order to retain functionality over time.

  1. Is your school able to commit to maintaining a rainwater harvesting system for the next 10 years?

If yes to number 5

  1. Explain how you will ensure that a rainwater harvesting systemwill be maintainedfor the next 10 years. (1000 characters)

If no to number 5

  1. Explain why your school won’t be able to commit to maintaining a rainwater harvesting system.(1000 characters)
  2. Are you applying to Recharge the Rain Programwith a partner teacher from your school or district?

If yes

  1. Your partner teacher will be required to submit a separate application. Please list your partner teacher’s name here.

Background Information

  1. First and Last Name
  2. Primary Contact Information: School / Work Affiliation School
  3. Secondary Contact Information: Home / Other
  4. You are:
  • Male
  • Female
  1. You are: (Please select all that apply)

African American / Hispanic / Caucasian / Asian/Pacific Islander / American Indian / Other / Choose not to disclose
  1. How did you learn about Arizona Project WET:
  • School Admin.
  • Professional Organization
  • Exhibit
  • Contact with APW Staff
  • Teacher
  • Internet/Email
  • Publication
  • Students
  1. What grade level do you teach? (Please select all that apply)

Pre K / 7th
K / 8th
1st / 9th
2nd / 10th
3rd / 11th
4th / 12th
5th / College/Adults
6th / N/A
  1. You are: (Please select one)
  • A classroom teacher
  • A pre-service teacher
  • A non-formal educator
  1. You are: (Please select one)
  • An elementary teacher
  • A middle school teacher
  • A high school teacher
  • Special education teacher
  • Home school teacher
  • College student
  • Superintendent/Principal
  • Curriculum specialist
  • Youth organization leader
  • Resource agency personnel
  • Parks 'n Rec staff
  • Other
  1. What subjects do you teach? (Please select all that apply)

Science / Art
Math / All Primary
Social Studies / Other
Language Arts
  1. Describe Other (if chosen)

School Questions

  1. Briefly describe your school and community. (3000 characters)
  2. What is the population of your school?
  3. School Ethnicity (use % - must add up to 100%)
  • Native American
  • Asian
  • Black or African American
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
  • White
  • Multiracial
  1. Percentage of students who receive free or reduced lunch
  2. Average class size
  3. Total number of students you teach in a year

Over the course of the four years, the cohort in the program will develop curriculum modules on weather, climate, and rainwater harvesting, utilizing citizen science, hands-on engineering projects and systems thinking in the classroom. Please describe how your background will support this work.

Motivation

  1. What motivated you to apply for this opportunity? (7500 characters)
  2. Describe your experience with developing curriculum for your classroom.(7500 characters)
  3. Explain why you want to use systems thinking and engineering design practices in your classroom? (7500 characters)
  4. Explain how you envision incorporating climate literacy and engineering design of rainwater harvesting into the class(es) you teach. (7500 characters)
  5. Describe how you currently engage students and facilitate learning when teaching new and complex topics, concepts or issues. (7500 characters)
  6. Using examples from your own experience including your role and the contributions you made to a team effort, describe how you work as a member of a team. (7500 characters)
  7. How many students do you anticipate using curricula and resources from the Recharge the Rain project each year? (1000 characters)
  8. Are you willing to administer embedded and follow-up assessments with your students and share with the Recharge the Rain team? (1000 characters)
  9. Are you interested in receiving college credit for the professional development that is part of the program?
  10. Are you willing to pay for University of Arizona rates per unit for college credit?

Teaching Experience and Education

  1. What type of university degree or other academic experience or qualifications do you have?
  • Bachelor’s Degree (Major)
  • Bachelor’s Degree (Minor)
  • Master’s Degree (Discipline)
  • PhD Degree (Discipline)
  • Other Degree
  1. How many years of teaching experience do you have?
  2. How many years have you been teaching at your current school?
  3. List up to 5 relevant professional licenses, certifications, awards or honors you have received for your teaching. (3000 characters)

Technology

  1. Do you have access to a laptop that you can use during the professional development?

If yes to #41

  1. Can you ensure that Excel and Google Earth are installed on your laptop?
  2. Do your students have access to computers at school?

If yes to #43

  1. Describe students’computer use and accessibility. (3000 characters)
  2. Describe your experience in working in an online Professional Learning Community. (5000 characters)
  3. What is your experience/comfort level with using the following technology tools?
    (We will be using these tools in this program and this question will help us in our planning.)

I use this tool with my students / I use it myself, but not with my students / I know how to use it, but don't use it / I have a little experience with it, but not much / I've never used it, but would like to learn
Excel
Google Earth
Google Drive
Google+ and Google Community
  1. What questions do you have for AZ Project WET or Watershed Management Group?