GK12 (GRADUATE-K-12) AT NMSU: HOW INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE EDUCATION ENHANCES THE EARTH SCIENCES

The focus of the GK12 program at New Mexico State University (2003-2006) was inquiry-based, interdisciplinary science. Eleven fellows (MS or PhD science graduate students) each year were recruited from the departments of biology, chemistry, geological sciences, and physics. Each fellow was partnered with a middle school science teacher for one academic year, during which they developed and taught interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lessons. The requirement that the modules include at least two scientific disciplines proved to be a challenge because both the fellows and the teachers, while knowledgeable in their discipline, tended to be much less knowledgeable in other scientific disciplines. In addition, the general knowledge level of earth materials and processes was much lower than for biology, chemistry, and physics, for all participants (fellows, teachers, and university faculty).

The interdisciplinary focus resulted in significant enhancements in the teaching of earth science in the middle schools and in the scientific development of the fellows. Of the participating classrooms, 16% were 6th grade (earth and space science), 44% were 7th grade (life science), and 41% were 8th grade (physical science). However, because of the interdisciplinary nature of the lessons, earth science was included in 35% of the lessons, and 21% of the lessons taught in 7th and 8th grade included an earth science component. In this way, earth science concepts were presented to students for all three years of middle school. Not only did middle school science teachers significantly broaden their understanding of earth processes, they also learned how earth science concepts are connected to their existing knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics.

The fellows' earth science knowledge was significantly broadened at the same time that their knowledge in their discipline was deepened. For instance, 57% (13 of 23) of the lessons that included earth science were written by biologists, chemists, and physicists. In addition, 62% of the biology, chemistry, and physics fellows wrote earth science lessons. Thus, the interdisciplinary focus of the NMSU GK12 program increased awareness of earth processes for fellows who otherwise had little reason to think about earth processes past their middle school or high school education.