Workshop Announcements

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 Workshop 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 which provides an opportunity for teachers to investigate weather. Each participant will be provided with a variety of handout materials.

Format of the Workshop Lectures provided by staff from the Oklahoma Mesonet and other 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 provide 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 Workshop is primarily designed for current K-12 teachers and university instructors of meteorology courses for non-meteorology majors along with graduate 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 Workshop 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

We anticipate having funding to cover travel expenses for 30 participants. If the State Budget changes and we are unable to provide the level of support described below, we will notify participants immediately.

 

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:

  1. Must be an Oklahoma certified teacher, education major, or university instructor.
  2. To receive funding for lodging - You must work more than 50 miles from Norman.
  3. To receive funding for per diem - You must be eligible for lodging funding. (OU does not pay per diem for commuters.)
  4. 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 60 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.

 
Topics Basic Meteorology
  1. an overview of the vertical structure of the atmosphere,
  2. a discussion of seasons, air masses, fronts, and
  3. a discussion of commonly used weather maps.
National Weather Center Agencies
  1. Oklahoma Climatological Survey and Oklahoma Mesonet
  2. Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office
  3. Storm Prediction Center
  4. National Severe Storms Laboratory
  5. OU School of Meteorology
Possible Advanced Topics
  1. climate impacts
  2. thunderstorms and tornadoes
  3. understanding watch/warning products from the National Weather Service
  4. case studies of servere weather and winter weather events
  5. programming weather radios
Software and Web Pages
  1. a review of the types of products available on the Oklahoma Mesonet and National Weather Service (NWS) Web pages,
  2. instructions for downloading and installing the WeatherScope 1.8 software package,
  3. hands-on instruction using WeatherScope 1.8 software,
  4. instructions on how to interpret weather data, and
  5. contact information for additional help.