Impacts and Outcomes
Less than a year after final pilot testing readied the program for distribution, components of Down-to-Earth were in use in 20 North Carolina counties, serving approximately 3,000 learners. Since early 1997, nearly 150 teachers, 4-H leaders, and other educators have received three to six hours of in-depth DTE training. Additionally, the success of the program has been shared with participants at eight professional conferences and symposia.

Preliminary impact data show that students who participate in DTE increased knowledge in seven of nine content areas. The greatest gains were in regard to students' knowledge of the scientific method, plants, fertilizer, and pests. Attitudes changed as well. Once they completed the program, students displayed a more positive attitude toward science, a greater understanding of the use of pesticides, and a better appreciation for good planning. Seventy-nine percent of the students agreed they learned a lot about health and human safety, and the environmental consequences of farm production. Furthermore, the students learned that for each DTE problem, there is not just one right answer or solution; investigative research and analysis often have many perspectives and much uncertainty.

DTE facilitates awareness and higher-order thinking processes. It shows that once you learn to apply the scientific method as a decision-making tool there are no wrong ideas, wrong experiments, wrong results, wrong conclusions or wrong answers.

The lessons align with content, teaching, and assessment standards set forth in the North Carolina Competency Based Teacher Handbook for K-12 Science. Additionally, DTE correlates with educational goals identified in The North Carolina Environmental Education Plan and Shaping the Future (a strategic plan for natural resources and environmental management formulated by CSREES). It is also cohesive with the experiential model being used by youth educators in 4-H nationwide.

A key spin-off component of DTE is a publication titled Keeping the Science in Your Science Project. Since 1997, over 3,500 copies have been used by students and teachers in 33 percent of the counties in North Carolina, and in 15 other states. This publication provides students with an easy, step-by-step approach to understanding how to use the scientific method. The publication not only shows them how nearly everything we do involves science, it also presents guidelines, examples, and instructions to improve their chances of producing a high-quality science fair project.

For more information on Down-to-Earth, contact:

Dr. Bob Williamson or Dr. Ellen Smoak at (336) 334-7956.