EarthStorm

Workshop Announcement

The Oklahoma Climatological Survey will be sponsoring a workshop on Meteorology for teachers in grades K-12. Hosted by the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Mesonet, and the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. The EarthStorm Weather Institute brings together meteorologists from the Norman area and educators from Oklahoma.

EarthStorm is a free four-day workshop for new participants and a free two-day workshop for returing participants that provides an opportunity for teachers to investigate weather. Each participant will be provided with a variety of handout materials.

Funding to attend the workshop is limited to 15 new participants and 15 returning participants. We can accommodate another 5 local, unfunded-participants. Maximum workshop capacity is 35 participants.

Format of the Workshop

Lectures provided by staff from National Weather Center agencies will focus on developing content knowledge of weather and increasing understanding and use of weather products.

Tours usually include the National Weather Service forecast areas, Oklahoma Mesonet facilities, the observation deck, and watching the launch of a weather balloon.

We hope to have some open time where teachers can share tips, tricks, and lessons they use to teach weather in their classrooms. Be sure to bring something to share.

Who Should Attend

The EarthStorm Weather Institute is primarily designed for current K-12 teachers and university instructors of meteorology courses for non-meteorology majors along with graduate and undergraduate (junior or senior) education majors.

Teachers from other states are eligible to attend but OCS is unable to provide financial support for travel, hotel, or meals.

Workshop Funded by

The EarthStorm Institute is funded by the Oklahoma Mesonet. The Oklahoma Mesonet is partially funded by the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education through its support of Oklahoma State University and the Unviersity of Oklahoma.

Participant Funding

Funding will be provided for mileage, lodging, and per diem for a maximum of 30 participants. A reimbursement check will be mailed to the address you provide after the completion of the workshop. Allow 3-4 weeks for the travel claim to be processed through the OU system and the check to be mailed. This workshop occurs early in the new fiscal year and unavoidable delays may happen. Please email earthstorm@mesonet.org if you have not received your check within 4 weeks.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be an Oklahoma certified teacher, education major, or university instructor.
To receive funding for lodging - You must work more than 50 miles from Norman.
To receive funding for per diem - You must be eligible for lodging funding. (OU does not pay per diem for commuters.)
Funding for mileage will be provided in the following manner:
1. Lodging eligible - one round-trip between your work town and Norman if you work more than 50 miles from Norman.
2. Commuters - one round-trip between your work town and Norman for each day of the workshop if you work less than 50 miles from Norman.
3. Carpoolers - no mileage if you did not drive your personal vehicle (i.e., you rode with another participant or drove a school/district vehicle).
4. mileage will be paid directly to your school or district if you drove a school/district vehicle.

We will not be able to provided funding for Kansas teachers like in past years.

Topics		Basic Meteorology
		an overview of the vertical structure of the atmosphere, a discussion of seasons, air masses, fronts, and a discussion of commonly used weather maps.

		National Weather Center Agencies
		Oklahoma Climatological Survey and Oklahoma Mesonet Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office Storm Prediction Center National Severe Storms Laboratory OU School of Meteorology

		Advanced Topics
		climate impacts thunderstorms and tornadoes understanding watch/warning products from the National Weather Service case studies of servere weather events

		Software and Web Pages
		a review of the types of products available on the Oklahoma Mesonet and National Weather Service (NWS) Web pages, instructions for downloading and installing the WeatherScope 1.7 software package, hands-on instruction using WeatherScope 1.7 software, instructions on how to interpret weather data, and contact information for additional help.