Project-Based Investigations on Improving Water Quality in the Kentucky River

To improve middle school science teachers' content knowledge of watersheds, and understanding and application of the nature of science and scientific practices through long-term, job-embedded professional developing employing project-based learning pedagogy to explore the Kentucky River Watershed. To improve middle school students' content knowledge of watersheds, understanding and application of the nature of science and scientific practices, and improve scientific skills and literacy through community-based projects on the Kentucky River Watershed. To improve middle school science teachers', students', guidance counselors' and parents' understanding of science careers within their communities and the Commonwealth and improve students' attitudes toward science. To improve middle school teachers' and students' Internet based, critical literacy skills through collaborative reading, writing, and communicating. To improve middle school teachers' use of communication technologies to support networking with colleagues and support students' sharing of study outcomes with other students across the region. Face-to-face summer institute for teachers; embedded PD throughout the school year through webinars, face-to-face meetings, and visiting experts collaborating with teachers through co-teaching and modeling activities with middle school students