HR: 15:10h
AN: ED13F-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Designing Effective Tools for Climate Change Education
AU: * Cordero, E
EM: cordero@met.sjsu.edu
AF: Department of Meteorology, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192-0104 United States
AU: Todd, A
EM: amt@sjsu.edu
AF: Department of Communication Studies, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192-0112 United States
AB: The current debate about climate change reveals gaps in public knowledge about causes and effects of global warming. This points to a need for updated educational models for increasing public understanding of climate change. The results from a series of surveys given to primarily non-science undergraduates from diverse backgrounds indicate that a majority of these students harbor significant misconceptions about the basic science related to global warming, and the relationship between global warming and ozone depletion. This interdisciplinary project seeks to frame new directions for environmental education, in particular developing pedagogical tools for increasing environmental awareness both in the classroom and also as part of public outreach programs. Initial directions include inquiry based learning and personal environmental impact as a motivator for learning.
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005