HR: 08:00h
AN: U11C-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Progress and Setbacks in K-12 Earth and Space Science Education During the Past Decade
AU: * Geary, E
EM: egeary@ucar.edu
AF: UCAR Office of Programs, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Hoffman, M
EM: martos_hoffman@terc.edu
AF: TERC, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 United States
AU: Stevermer, A
EM: asteverm@ucar.edu
AF: UCAR Office of Programs, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Barstow, D
EM: dan_barstow@terc.edu
AF: TERC, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 United States
AB: Since publication of the National Science Education Standards in 1996, key Earth and space science concepts have been incorporated into the science education standards in virtually every state. However, the degree to which Earth and space science standards have been implemented in actual classroom curriculum and state science assessments varies greatly from state to state. In a similar vein, the No Child Left Behind legislation calls for a highly qualified teacher in every classroom: in Idaho over 96 percent of high school teachers are certified to teach Earth science, while in Illinois, less than 42 percent of teachers are certified. Furthermore, in some states, like New York, approximately 20 percent of high school students will take introductory Earth science each year, while in other states, like Texas, less than 1 percent of high school students will take introductory Earth science each year. Why do we have this high degree of variability with respect to the teaching and learning of Earth science across the United States? The answer is complex, as there are many institutional, attitudinal, budgetary, and policy factors affecting the teaching of Earth and space sciences. This presentation will summarize data on the current status of Earth and space science education in the United States, discuss where progress has been made and where setbacks have occurred during the past decade, and provide some suggestions and ideas for improving access to high quality Earth and space science education courses, curricula, assessments, and teachers at the state and local level.
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 6600 PUBLIC ISSUES
SC: Union [U]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005