HR: 16:45h
AN: ED44A-04 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: Virginia Earth Science Collaborative: Developing Highly Qualified Teachers
AU: * Cothron, J
EM: jcothron@msinnovation.info
AF: MathScience Innovation Center, 2401 Hartman Street, Richmond, VA 23223,
AB: A collaborative of nine institutes of higher education and non-profits and seventy-one school divisions developed and implemented courses that will enable teachers to acquire an Add-On Earth Science endorsement and to improve their skills in teaching Earth Science. For the Earth Science Endorsement, the five courses and associated credits are Physical Geology (4), Geology of Virginia (4), Oceanography (4), Astronomy (3) and Meteorology (3). The courses include rigorous academic content, research-based instructional strategies, laboratory experiences, and intense field experiences. In addition, courses were offered on integrating new technologies into the earth sciences, developing virtual field trips, and teaching special education students. To date, 39 courses have been offered statewide, with over 560 teachers participating. Teachers showed increased conceptual understanding of earth science topics as measured by pre-post tests. Other outcomes include a project website, a collaborative of over 60 IHE and K-12 educators, pilot instruments, and a statewide committee focused on policy in the earth sciences.
UR: http://www.virginiaearthscience.info
DE: 9800 GENERAL OR MISCELLANEOUS
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting