O.Henry Middle School teacher, Michelle Brown has temporarily traded in her grade book for arctic gear -- traveling to Antarctica with the PolarTrec program. The eighth grade science teacher's travels are being documented online, allowing students, parents and fellow teachers to learn about her journey, as well as the work she is doing on two separate ecological projects. Through distance learning, Brown can chat with students and answer their questions about her time spent in Antarctica.
AISD is encouraging all students, parents and teachers to become virtual participants in the expedition. Check out Brown's journal entries at www.polartrec.com/expeditions/human-impacts-in-antarctica-2011/journals . New entries from the South Pole will be posted at: www.polartrec.com/expeditions/space-weather-monitoring-on-the-antarctic-plateau.
For more on what inspired Brown to head south, read her special article published in the Austin American Statesman last month: http://www.statesman.com/opinion/insight/austin-teachers-schedule-in-antarctica-1940835.html.