A SUMMER EARTH SCIENCE IMMERSION EXPERIENCE FOR K-12 TEACHERS

Teachers enrolled at the University of New Orleans (UNO) participated in a collaborative geology summer field course with West Virginia University (WVU). The field course was designed to expose teachers to geology from multiple viewpoints. These perspectives included the following: field experiences examining the geology of West Virginia, site visits to National Science Centers, and visits to local cultural sites that connected the history and geology of the area. Teachers were able to experience earth science in a variety of settings, which helped them formulate a contextual picture of how, why, and who is doing geology.

Teachers from UNO were paired up with university faculty and WVU earth science teachers for several days of West Virginia field geology. UNO teachers attended a workshop led by the WVU folks, which helped prepare them for the field geology. The group spent several days visiting locations such as Seneca Rock, Blackwater Falls, and Coopers Rock. Teachers worked together to teach the UNO group about the geology of the areas visited. Teachers were also encouraged to share their experiences with teaching secondary earth science. This was an enriching opportunity for teachers from two different geographical areas to compare notes and share teaching experiences.

After spending several days with the WVU crew the UNO teachers traveled to several National Science Centers. These sites included the Smithsonian Museums, NOAA, NASA, and the Maryland Science Center. Theses sites allowed teachers to see the “behind the scenes” work done at the centers. Bringing teachers to these organizations had tri-fold value; it increased their knowledge of what science was being done where, it exposed them to the potential opportunities that exist for educators and their students (i.e. the teacher at sea program), and it provided them with resources that they could use in their classrooms.

Teachers also visited several cultural sites that were connected to the geology of the area. Harpers Ferry and the Chesapeake Bay were among these sites. Teachers learned about the history of these areas and how the geology influenced the cultural growth. The combination of the field experiences, the site visits, and the cultural enrichment provided teachers with hands-on experiences that they will extend into their K-12 classrooms.