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Inventory and Assessment of K-12 and Professional Teacher Development Programs in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System

D. INVENTORY SUMMARY

K-12 Program Inventory

A total of 86 K-12 programs were reported from 23 Reserves. What follows is a descriptive breakdown of the programs by topic, target audience, and format. Other questions relate to logistics, implementation, marketing, funding, and evaluation methods, which are also summarized in this section. Note that some programs list more than one choice for each area.

K-12 Program Breakdown by Topic
Three program topics are the most common among Reserves. Seventy-nine programs cover the topic estuary biology and ecology, 71 programs cover the topic human impacts on estuaries (including land use), and 57 programs cover citizen stewardship as a topic (Fig. 3). These represent common topics that may be used as themes for a national niche.

Figure 3. K-12 Program Breakdown by Topic (Based on 86 programs)

Figure 3

K-12 Program Breakdown by Target Audience
The highest number of programs targets grades six through eight (64) and then grades four and five (59) (Fig. 4). In the follow-up telephone interviews and site visits, it was found that grades six through eight are a common target because these students have the ability to comprehend the subject matter, they are physically capable of performing program activities, and have the flexibility to participate in field trips.

Figure 4. K-12 Program Breakdown by Target Audience (Based 86 programs)

Figure 4

K-12 Program Breakdown by Format
Sixty-nine K-12 programs use hands-on activities as a program format, followed by 49 that use field investigation/research as a program format. Presentations and guided walks/hikes are also common program formats (Fig. 5).

Figure 5. K-12 Program Breakdown by Format (Based on 86 programs)

Figure 5

K-12 Program Number of Annual Participants
In 2002, approximately 66,000 to 67,000 students participated in Reserve K-12 programs. These numbers are based on the individual surveys submitted by each Reserve. In many cases summer camp programs were not included as a K-12 program, although some Reserves did submit these summer attendance numbers and they are included in the total numbers above.

K-12 Program Locations
K-12 programs are presented at certain physical locations and environmental settings. Forty-two programs occurred at a Reserve. It is interesting to note that nine programs occurred out in the field but at field sites other than the Reserve (Fig. 6).

Figure 6. K-12 Program Physical Locations (Based on 86 programs)

Figure 6

In many cases, a K-12 program has more than one activity and therefore occurs in more than one environmental setting. Sixty-six K-12 programs include an activity that occurs outdoors on land, 60 programs include an activity that occurs indoors and 44 of the programs occur outdoors in the water but not on a boat (Fig. 7).

Figure 7. K-12 Program Environmental Setting (Based on 86 programs)

Figure 7

K-12 Program Instructors
Education Coordinators teach 59 K-12 programs and other Education staff members teach 36 of the programs. Classroom Teachers are the third largest group of instructors accounting for 22 programs (Fig. 8). Please note that different people often teach programs, or parts of programs thus there are more than 86 responses.

Figure 8. K-12 Program Instructors (Based on 86 programs)

Figure 8

K-12 Program Marketing
There are a variety of methods that various Reserves use to attract school participation and many ECs use more than one strategy to reach potential participants. The most common marketing methods among the Reserves are word of mouth (70 programs), passing information directly to teachers (65 programs), and contacting past participants (47 programs) (Fig. 9).

Figure 9. K-12 Program Marketing (Based on 86 programs)

Figure 9

K-12 Program Partnerships and Funding
Fifty-one percent of Reserves partner with others to deliver K-12 programs. Even though approximately half of the programs involve partnerships, it is clear that most of the programs are funded through their internal budgets. The second leading source of funds is grant proposals, and the third leading source of funds is from partners (Fig. 10). Some Reserves list multiple funding sources.

Figure 10. K-12 Program Funding Sources (Based on 86 Programs)

Figure 10

K-12 Program Pricing
Eighty-seven percent or 75 programs are priced individually or are free for participants. Thirteen percent or 11 programs are offered as a group price. Tables 7 and 8 show the breakdown of pricing levels among Reserves.

Table 7. K-12 Program Individual Pricing (Based on 75 programs)
Includes free programs
Price
Percent of Programs
Free
84%
$.01-$5.00
5%
$5.01-$10.00
4%
$10.01-$15.00
1%
$15.01-$20.00
1%
More than $20.00
4%

Table 8. K-12 Program Group Pricing (Based on 11 programs)

Price
Percent of Programs
$.01-$10.00
9%
$10.01-$20.00
27%
$20.01-$30.00
27%
$75.00
27%
$150.00
9%

K-12 Program Evaluation Methods
In many cases more than one type of evaluation method is used to evaluate a program. The most common evaluation methods for K-12 programs are staff observation (61 programs) and tracking participation attendance figures (59 programs), while 27 programs are not evaluated (Fig. 11).

Figure 11. K-12 Program Evaluation Methods (Based on 86 programs)

Figure11