Flagstaff teacher receives award from Sustainable Economic Development supporting local economy

Science Foundation Arizona funded teacher training made award-winning design possible

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Amy Larson, a seventh grade science teacher from Flagstaff Junior Academy, was recently recognized by northern Arizona's Sustainable Economic Development Initiative (SEDI) with a "Teacher Award in Sustainable Curriculum." The award was reflective of her project with middle school students titled, "Flagstaff Localvores: A GIS Approach to the Local Economy."

The innovative curriculum engaged seventh graders with multidisciplinary opportunities focused on studying the costs and benefits of buying locally-made products. Larson designed the project to explore the economic and environmental trade-offs we have as consumers. This involved mapping the area of downtown Flagstaff using geographic information systems (GIS) and noting where residents can shop locally for products while decreasing their carbon footprints. The final project, expected to be publicly accessible by August, includes an interactive Google Map to help educate consumers and promote local business.

This project was made possible through software, tools and training that Larson received in 2010-2011 from the Northern Arizona Power of Data (NAzPOD) project, which Science Foundation Arizona granted to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning and the Departments of Geology and Geography at Northern Arizona University through the Arizona Department of Education. The program brings together science, math, career and technical education teachers from across Northern Arizona to forge productive and interdisciplinary learning opportunities that help kids understand academic subjects by solving complex problems. The yearlong hands-on professional development, which encompassed the examination of mass wasting and erosion as well as the effects of the Schultz Fire through GIS, equipped Larson with the tools and knowledge necessary to develop her award-winning "Localvores" project.

Through Larson's project, students learned the process of data analysis and interpretation in the context of real world problems. This important STEM initiative led to increased student achievement over the course of the project and helped them experience an increase in self-efficacy towards technology.

"Problem solving and critical thinking skills are critical to future career success for our youth," said Len Fine, scientific program officer at Science Foundation Arizona, a nonprofit public-private partnership that serves as a catalyst for investments in research and education in Arizona while strengthening its economic future.

"We're pleased that the NAzPOD project we initially funded led to Larson's award from SEDI. This is just one of many STEM success stories," said Fine.

SEDI created the Teacher Awards for Sustainable Curriculum to recognize and encourage innovative educational systems that help students appreciate the intrinsic value of sustainability and develop the skills they need to thrive in the world they will soon lead.

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization initiated in 2006 by the Greater Phoenix Leadership Inc., Southern Arizona Leadership Council and the Flagstaff Forty in conjunction with the executive and legislative branches of state government. SFAz serves as a catalyst for high-wage, knowledge-based jobs and economic diversity through administration and strict oversight of research, development and education grants to public education and other non-profit research performing institutions. For more information, visit www.sfaz.org.