BUILDING LONG-TERM TEACHER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS: FIFTEEN YEARS OF THE BAY AREA EARTH SCIENCE INSTITUTE

Nearly ten years after the National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996) placed earth science on a par with the other sciences, a move that was heralded as a major victory in the geoscience community, earth science continues to languish in the shadow of physics, chemistry, and biology in many schools. Clearly, standards alone will not lead to earth science education for all students because few pre-college teachers have the background to teach a quality earth science course.

Recognizing a critical and continuing need for well-qualified earth science teachers, the Department of Geology at San José State University has committed to a multiyear, ever-evolving program in teacher education in earth systems science. The centerpiece of these initiatives is the Bay Area Earth Science Institute (BAESI), a professional development program for educators founded in 1990. BAESI has served more than 1,400 teachers in weekend and summer workshops and field trips and has operated continuously for fifteen years with and without support from the National Science Foundation. Keys to sustainability include: 1) support from the department chair and college dean, 2) scalability to match fluctuating resources, 3) diversification, using the BAESI model and reputation as a springboard for participation in other programs, and 4) collaboration with community stakeholders to match services offered with current interests and needs.