Frontiers in Physiology
 Local Outreach Teams
What are 
Local Outreach Teams?

 

Physiology
Learning Cycle Units
Local Outreach Teams (LOTs) are the grassroots arm of the Frontiers in Physiology program. LOTs disseminate Frontiers materials and resources to middle and high school life science teachers via inservice workshops and build connections between physiology researchers and local teachers and schools.

Applications are now available for:

View information and photosketch of two Montana LOTs
Who can 
serve on a 
LOT Team?		 Each LOT team must have a team leader who is an APS member. The team should include physiologists (and/or other biomedical researchers); local middle/high school teachers; and if possible, representatives from the local school system (e.g., the science supervisor or inservice coordinator) and from any large federally funded science education programs (e.g., NSF State Systemic Initiatives or Urban Initiatives). A good target number would be 6-8 members; this allows the team leader to distribute the team's tasks among a number of persons. If you would like to receive information on contact persons for science education reform initiatives in your area, contact the APS Education Officer. 
What are the responsibilities 
of the LOT Team Leader?		 The LOT leader is responsible for:
 Recruiting the members of the LOT team. 
Assisting the APS Education Office in securing a local site suitable for the LOT Training Institute
Ensuring that all activities of the LOT team, as listed below, are carried out.
Ensuring that APS receives all information and materials for evaluation or for financial reimbursement by the specified deadlines.
What are the responsibilities 
of LOT Team members?		 LOT team members are responsible for:
 Attending a Training Institute in your area:
A team of experienced LOT members will travel to your site to conduct an on-site Training Institute for your entire team.  Your new LOT will select 1-3 of the Physiology Learning Cycle Units to use at your workshops. Materials and resources for the in-site training will be provided by the APS office and the experienced LOT members will serve as mentors for the new LOT team of the first year of their program.
Recruiting 25-30 middle or high school teachers to participate in a 1-1.5 day workshop.  This may be accomplished through the school system but if you already have a list of contact teachers with whom you work, this is fine. Recruiting participants should not be difficult for this free workshop. For example, the San Diego LOT received 60 applicants for their 25 openings within a few weeks after mailing flyers to science supervisors and the Houston LOT received 90 responses to their mailing.
Conducting the 1-1.5 day workshop. 
Both researchers and teachers from the LOT should be involved in implementing the workshop. 
Hosting one follow-up "brainstorming" session with participating teachers. 
These sessions can focus on a variety of topics, including: how the workshop materials were used in the classroom; discussions of effective teaching strategies; demonstration of Internet resources for educators; presentations on careers in biomedical research; or opportunities for teachers at your institution. 
Participating in the evaluation component of the program by distributing participant surveys.
Surveys are provided by the project's external evaluator, Horizon Research, Inc.  
Consider holding future workshops for teachers in your area. The workshops organized by previous LOTs have quickly become oversubscribed! Teachers are eager for the type of information and interaction that the Frontiers workshops can provide. 

What resources are available for Local Outreach Teams?

 

 Physiology Learning Cycle Units are available for use by LOTs. 
Resources for distribution at workshops:
      Comic Books
     CD-ROM of Classroom Activities and APS Resources
     Career Brochures
     Resource Sheets
Suggestions for workshop leaders. 
The APS staff and members of previous LOTs have developed a list of suggestions and ideas to assist LOTs in recruiting participants, conducting workshops, and developing follow-up brainstorming sessions. 
Stipends for LOT team members. 
Each LOT team leader will have funds to provide stipends for the teachers who work as members of the Local Outreach Team. 
Funds to offset workshop costs. 
 Each LOT team leader will have funds to offset costs of workshop materials, breakfast or lunch (if provided), take-home materials, duplication, publicity, etc. These funds should be spent directly on benefits for participants and cannot be used for staff wages. 
Registration, materials, and mileage reimbursement for LOT Team members to attend a local Training Institute. 

Physiology Learning Cycle Units

What resources must the LOT contribute?

Provide a site for the workshop. 
 If the logistics make it feasible, we encourage you to invite teachers to the campus of your institution. If this is not possible, workshops can be held at schools, science museums, or community centers. 
Donate faculty time/support staff time for participation. We do not have funds to offset staff support or faculty time. 
Identify local school contacts and recruit participants. The APS staff can provide some assistance in identifying appropriate school officials but, in general, this responsibility resides with the LOT. We can, however, help each LOT team leader identify key federally-funded programs (such as State Systemic Initiatives) in his/her area. If you would like this information while preparing your proposal, contact the APS Education Office. 
Consider providing stipends for participants. 
The LOT should consider whether it is typical for workshops in your area to provide a stipend for participating teachers.

I want to participate on a Local Outreach Team! 

 LOT Applications (.pdf, Word  format)

Contact Mel Limson, mlimson@the-aps.org, or 301-634-7132 for more specifics.