HR: 08:50h
AN: ED31B-04    [Abstracts]
TI: An Educator's Resource Guide to Earthquakes and Seismology
AU: * Johnson, J
EM: jendaj@comcast.net
AF: EarthScope, 1924 NE 47th St., Portland, OR 97213, United States
AU: Lahr, J C
EM: JohnJan@lahr.org
AF: USGS-Emeritus, PO Box 548, Corvallis, OR 97339, United States
AU: Butler, R
EM: butler@up.edu
AF: University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, United States
AB: When a major seismic event occurs, millions of people around the world want to understand what happened. This presents a challenge to many classroom science teachers not well versed in Earth science. In response to this challenge, teachers may try surfing the Internet to ferret out the basics. Following popular links can be time consuming and frustrating, so that the best use is not made of this "teachable moment." For isolated rural teachers with limited Internet access, surfing for information may not be a viable option. A partnership between EarthScope/USArray, High Lava Plains Project (Carnegie Institution/Arizona State University, Portland State University, and isolated K-12 schools in rural SE Oregon generated requests for a basic "Teachers Guide to Earthquakes." To bridge the inequalities in information access and varied science background, EarthScope/USArray sponsored the development of a CD that would be a noncommercial repository of Earth and earthquake-related science resources. A subsequent partnership between the University of Portland, IRIS, the USGS, and Portland-area school teachers defined the needs and provided the focus to organize sample video lectures, PowerPoint presentations, new Earth-process animations, and activities on a such a large range of topics that soon the capacity of a DVD was required. Information was culled from oft-referenced sources, always seeking clear descriptions of processes, basic classroom-tested instructional activities, and effective Web sites. Our format uses a master interactive PDF "book" that covers the basics, from the interior of the Earth and plate tectonics to seismic waves, with links to reference folders containing activities, new animations, and video demos. This work-in-progress DVD was initially aimed at middle school Earth-science curriculum, but has application throughout K-16. Strong support has come from university professors wanting an organized collection of seismology resources. The DVD shows how the study of seismology advances our understanding of the Earth and how students and teachers can access seismic data from USArray stations to promote discussion about earthquakes worldwide. Instructions on how to view USArray data, as well as activities using data from EarthScope's vast array of monitoring equipment, are being generated and incorporated as they prove effective.
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
DE: 7200 SEISMOLOGY
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting