HR: 16:00h
AN: ED13F-07    [Abstracts]
TI: The Development of Sustainable Educational Networks Through Web-Based Project-Based Science Curricula: How HUNSTEM Will Accomplish the Possible
AU: * Hoge, B E
EM: hogeb@uhd.edu
AF: University of Houston - Downtown, One Main Street, Suite 724-N, Houston, TX 77002-1001 United States
AB: The integration of research data into K-12 earth science curricula has been accomplished sporadically, but has been difficult to sustain due to limitations in the duration of available resources and waning excitement as the novelty of the research wanes, removing it from public awareness. Teachers remain isolated from the network of researchers, universities, and informal institutions involved in these projects once they have been completed, and do not generally revisit earth science topics through interactive curricula until the hoopla of the next wave of research data hits the screen. What's needed for earth science to remain in the spotlight are projects that maintain contacts between teachers and the learning communities that emerge during these exciting episodes. This requires two steps, systemic change in the way earth science is incorporated into the curriculum, and projects capable of maintaining teacher and student interest in earth science topics. The first step will have to be argued for in every stage of curriculum development, and will take time, but the second stage can happen right now, through the development of web-based project-based earth science resources. The University of Houston-Downtown is in the process of establishing HUNSTEM (Houston Urban Network for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). HUNSTEM will develop a large interactive web site for the accumulation and distribution of materials to many students, parents, teachers, schools, universities, professional societies, industries, and research facilities in the greater Houston area and beyond. Once established, HUNSTEM will become a hub for projects connecting teachers and students with informal settings and a broader learning community. HUNSTEM will be a dynamic resource for developing new curriculum as well as connecting existing electronically STEM-based materials across the entire learning community. HUNSTEM will be an ideal model of how technology can be utilized in an effective manner to promote the interests of many diversified groups in a particular geographic area, who all share a common interest in STEM education and awareness. This project will eventually become a national model for resource sharing and community involvement centered on the promotion of STEM-related project-based learning. Earth science projects will be a major component of HUNSTEM.
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting