Globe Year 1 Evaluation: Findings

Executive summary

Global learning and observations to benefit the environment (GLOBE) is an international environmental science and education program involving elementary and secondary school students in the collection of data concerning their local environments and the sharing of that data through the Internet. GLOBE seeks to strike a balance between its scientific objectives – to obtain accurate and reliable data to enhance our scientific understanding of earth systems – and it’s educational goals – to promote science and mathematics learning and environmental awareness. Although the involvement of students in the collection of environmental data, interchanges with practicing scientists, international telecommunication, and the sharing of data through the Internet have been features of previous education programs, GLOBE, is unique in terms of the scale of its initial implementation more than 1500 schools and it’s first year and in the weight, it gives to science, with students involved in real ongoing research, investigations by earth scientists.

GLOBE differs from a number of science education programs also in the flexibility it offers to school and teachers. Other than requiring careful adherence to the data collection protocols, GLOBE gives schools complete latitude and determining the (K-12) grade levels in classes in which to implement the program, the educational activities to provide, and the way in which the program will fit into the local curriculum.

GLOBE teacher training sessions begin in March 1995; by year end, 1659 U.S. teachers had received 3 to 4 days of GLOBE training. International workshops for GLOBE country coordinators outside of the United States, were held in three locations around the world during the summer of 1995. The country coordinators, then set up and conducted their own teacher training programs. By April 1996, 173 international (non- U.S.) schools from 19 countries had contributed to the GLOBE data archives.