YOUNG EARTH SCIENTISTS (YES): AN INQUIRY-BASED PALEONTOLOGY PROJECT FOSTERING COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTANT SCHOOLS

Young Earth Scientists (YES) is an ongoing, inquiry-based project focused on producing increased awareness in students of the value of scientific method and logical reasoning for problem solving in real world settings beyond the classroom.

Fourth graders from two geographically distant schools took part in the 2002 project (Davie School in Anna, Illinois and Ellis School in Belleville, Illinois). Through the generation of an initial hypothesis in the classroom and the analysis of fossil specimens collected by students at a site near their school, students from Anna and Belleville were able to develop and evaluate a supportable hypothesis about the prehistoric nature of each site. Using Internet communication, students from these two schools were able to extend the analysis of their sites by comparing and contrasting their data. Students also used the Internet to gather inquiry focused information from subject-matter experts.

A permanent hub has been established at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) for expansion of the project to additional schools. The SIUC School of Geology and the SIUC University Museum are the primary components of this hub. As additional schools are taken into the YES project, the hub will provide a centralized means for the distribution of information and coordination of activities.