Geosciences in the Classroom

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GEOSCIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM
in progress, 2003-2004

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEXAS TEACHERS USING MATERIALS DEVELOPED FOR THE NSF-SPONSORED CATACLYSMS AND CATASTROPHES PROJECT

THECB Teacher Quality Grants

The University of Texas at Austin Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) is providing professional development for several middle and high school science teachers through a yearlong program entitled, "Geoscience in the Classroom." The teachers will receive a total of $3,400 for their participation. UTIG GK-12 Fellow Vanessa Svihla will continue working with teachers throughout the academic year. Teachers may earn three graduate credits from the Science Education Center at The University of Texas at Austin or credit for professional development hours.

Target Group: (1) in-service science teachers who incorporate Earth science in their teaching but have no formal training in the subject; (2) beginning and certified teachers seeking additional certification in science education; and (3) mid-career professionals changing to the teaching profession who require initial certification.

The program began with an eight-day summer institute (July 31 - August 8, see the table below for activities). Several other workshops are being planned for the rest of the year. Stay tuned for more updates!

Table. Summer Institute (example activities)

Date	Activity
Day 1 - (PM 1/2 day) 7/31	Orientation and overview. Administer pre-workshop assessment and collect initial data for evaluation.
Day 2 - 8/1	Plate Tectonics. Activities: (1) working with Seismic Eruption software; (2) using paleomagnetic data to test the hypothesis that the Hawaiian hot spot is fixed; (3) plate tectonics simulation (board game); (4) using PLATES to investigate the flora and fauna of Madagascar; (5) presentation by guest scientist; (6) summative assessment; and (7) participant presentations
Day 3 - 8/2	Earthquakes. Activities: (1) working with Seiswave software; (2) Using data from HKN and other seismograph stations to locate an earthquake; (3) an exercise in forensic seismology; (4) using radiocarbon dates from fossil coral reefs to measure tectonic uplift (5) presentation by guest scientist; (6) summative assessment; and (7) participant presentations
Day 4 - 8/3	Field Trip. A one-day field trip; location TBA
Day 5 - 8/4	Tsunamis. Activities: (1) understanding tsunamis and their sources; (2) tsunami wave characteristics; (3) creating a tsunami hazard map ; (4) presentation by guest scientist; (5) summative assessment; and (6) participant presentations.
Day 6 - 8/5	Coastal Processes. Activities in development; completion expected June 1,2003
Day 7 - 8/6	Hurricane Mitch. Activities: (1) GIS training; (2) using GIS and Lidar data to assess flooding in Tegucigalpa; (3) hurricane tracker (3) presentation by guest scientist; (4) summative assessment; and (5) participant presentations
Day 8 - 8/7	Chicxulub Impact Event. Activities: (1) mock senate subcommittee public hearing on a $50 billion planetary defense system to reduce the risk of asteroid or comet/Earth collision; (2) using gravity measurements and seismic data from the Yucatan Peninsula and adjacent Gulf of Mexico to investigate the Chicxulub impact hypothesis; (3) ODP Leg 171B KT boundary activities; (4) presentation by guest scientist; (5) summative assessment; and (6) participant presentations
Day 9 - (AM 1/2 day) - 8/8	Review, post workshop assessment and participant evaluations. See appendices.

Last modified: 15 Mar 2004 10:51

Institute for Geophysics; J.J. Pickle Research Campus, Bldg. 196; 10100 Burnet Road (R2200); Austin TX 78758-4445
Phone: (512) 471-6156; FAX: (512) 471-8844
Last modified: 15 Mar 2004 10:51
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GEOSCIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM in progress, 2003-2004

GEOSCIENCES IN THE CLASSROOM
in progress, 2003-2004