The Natural Science Program at the University of New Mexico: Geosciences Play a Central Role in Preservice Teacher Training

Details The Natural Science Program at the University of New Mexico: Geosciences Play a Central Role in Preservice Teacher Training The Natural Science Program at the University of New Mexico: Geosciences Play a Central Role in Preservice Teacher Training

Dec 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007agufmed41b0483n&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #ED41B-0483

Computer Science

Learning

0805 Elementary And Secondary Education, 0810 Post-Secondary Education, 0820 Curriculum And Laboratory Design, 0830 Teacher Training, 0850 Geoscience Education Research

Scientific paper

An important component for future directions of geoscience departments is public education. The role of geoscience departments in the preparation and professional development of K-12 teachers is particularly critical, and merges with other teaching missions within the University. The importance of geoscience content for teachers (and the general public) is evident in the numerous earth science related public policy issues that are the subject of ever-increasing attention (climate change, energy resources, water utilization, etc.). The earth and space sciences are not only included in both state and federal science content education standards but are also inherently interesting to students and therefore provide an important gateway to foster interest in science as well as other scientific disciplines. For over 10 years, the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) at the University of New Mexico (UNM) has housed and supported the Natural Science Program (NSP), which provides science content courses and numerous programs for K-12 pre- and in-service teachers. Classes and laboratories are integrated, and are capped at 21 students in the 200-level courses, assuring an active and supportive learning environment for students who are typically science-phobic with negative or no experiences with science. Enrollments are maintained at ~150 preservice teachers per semester. The program is staffed by two lecturers, who have advanced degrees in the geosciences as well as K-12 teaching experience, and several part time instructors, including graduate students who gain valuable teaching experience through teaching in the NSP. With continued support from the department, the NSP has expanded to develop robust and functional relationships related to science teacher professional development with Sandia National Laboratories and local school districts, initiated development of a graduate certificate in science teaching and, advanced a proposal for the development of an Energy Education Program at UNM. Finally, the NSP provides a ready avenue for the incorporation of grant funded faculty research into teacher education programs, thus providing a viable and functional method for addressing broader impacts related to NSF funded programs.

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