Dow Innovation Teacher Fellowship promotes sustainability
An educational partnership hosted in the city of Midland is seeking to increase sustainability education in the mid-Michigan area.
The Dow Innovation Teacher Fellowship (DITF) was formed from a partnership between the Dow Chemical Company Foundation, the University of Michigan School of Education Center for Education Design, Evaluation and Research, and Delta College.
DITF aims to help prepare K-12 teachers of all disciplines to educate their students on innovation and sustainability. At this time, DITF works with educators in Arenac, Bay, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw counties.
Emily Schaller, DITF program director, told the City Paper that the DITF has been working toward their goal for the past three years and is on its third cohort of teachers.
“We seek to provide teachers with the ability to implement place-based sustainability education with their students and connect to the community that they’re living in,” Mrs. Schaller said.
According to DITF’s website, 15-20 teachers are selected yearly to join the organization as fellows. Fellows participate in professional development and curriculum design, connect with community partners on sustainability issues, and design a learning unit focused on a particular sustainability problem.
Topics can include environmental issues like water quality, waste, composting, and climate change.
Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend, as well as mini-grant opportunities for implementing sustainability units into classrooms
DITF fellows gathered at the Chippewa Nature Center Tuesday, August 10, for a hands-on professional development workshop focused on water quality testing.
This was the culmination of a three-week virtual learning module which the teachers went through during June and July. Mrs. Schaller emphasized the importance of the ability for fellows to meet face-to-face.
“We really encourage teachers to get their feet wet and their hands dirty, and to encourage their students to do the same,” Mrs. Schaller said.
The August 10 session included information on safety and risk factors. As a field experiment, participants conducted water quality testing in the Chippewa River.
“Our goal with the professional development is to outline methods for place-based education, which is based in inquiry, is using community resources, using the community as a classroom, so we really emphasize bringing community partners into the classrooms to help teach relevant issues to students and give them that grounding in the subject matter,” Mrs. Schaller said.
The City Paper previously learned from Delta College that the DITF will be hosted at the new Midland Center, which opens for fall classes August 30.
“We’re excited to use the building for professional development in hopes that we can continue gathering people in the region at different Delta locations,” Mrs. Schaller said.
Michael Piwowarski covers education, including higher ed and Midland Public Schools, for the City Paper.