EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE EDUCATION THROUGH THE EARTH SYSTEM

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE EDUCATION THROUGH THE EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE EDUCATION ALLIANCE Michael R. Witiw Eleanor W. Close Seattle Pacific University Robert J. Myers Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

ESSEA 2009 • 40 + university consortium • Funded institutions offer ESSEA courses for inservice middle and high school teachers • Courses are module-based and included content and pedagogy • Courses may be entirely online or hybrid online/on-site

NSF Geo Teach Program • Improve the quality of geoscience instruction - primarily middle and high school • Provide teachers with easy access to high-quality curricular materials and current science • Implement pre-service teacher training and in-service professional development programs designed to enhance students' understanding of and appreciation for the importance of the geosciences

NASA ESTCP • Endeavor Science Teacher Certificate Project (ESTCP) • New NASA – sponsored program • ESSEA courses count toward certificate

ESSEA Course Format • Example: for a 16 -week, 5 quarter-credit course – 3 -week introduction/orientation module – Four 3 -week scenario-based modules – Final assignment week

Orientation Module • Cycle A – Learn about the Earth system science approach through assigned readings and a tutorial – Become acquainted with classmates and form teams • Cycle B – Learn to analyze an environmental event from Earth system science standpoint using Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model • Cycle C – Reflect on PBL as learner – Consider what an instructor does to prepare a PBL module – Develop list of criteria for excellent PBL lessons

ESSEA Scenario-based Module • Cycle A (one week) – Explore prior knowledge and develop problem statement • Cycle B (one week) – Gather information and build an Earth system model • Cycle C (one week) – Develop a lesson plan

ESSEA at SPU Seattle Pacific University offered in-service courses for middle and high school teachers during the 2007 -2008 academic year and in summer 2008 • Five-credit course winter-spring 2008 • Three-credit course summer 2008 • Next course – three credits early summer 2009

Scenario-based Modules at SPU • • • Global climate change Brazilian deforestation Mt. Pinatubo Earth system science data and analysis Stratospheric ozone Living things

Sample Lesson Plans • Global Climate Change – How does climate change locally affect Earth system interactions? • Brazilian Deforestation – How does deforestation affect Earth system interactions? • Living Things – How is salmon life cycle is affected by events in habitat?

Teacher comments • …thrilled with how much thinking the students were doing • …all the students were engaged • …all the students could authentically contribute

Recruiting for ESSEA • Presentations at local schools • E-mails to teachers and science chairs • Washington Science Teachers association

Contact us: • Mike Witiw (witiwm@spu. edu) • Eleanor Close (closee@spu. edu) • Bob Myers (bob_myers@strategies. org)