WORKING WITH PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS TO KEEP THE GEOSCIENCES IN THE MINDS OF ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville has several pre-college programs serving students from the Northwest Arkansas area. The programs offer challenging pre-college experiences to students of high academic ability. Services are designed to develop the essential skills, study habits, and discipline necessary for success in high school and college. The project serves approximately 70 students, in grades 9-12, from participating schools in Benton and Washington counties. Participants commit to the program until high school graduation and participate in both a six-week summer residential program and an academic year component. Being curriculum-based, the program provides exposure to a wide variety of academic, cultural, and social opportunities simulating a college experience. Upward Bound students completing their senior year of high school receive free tuition for up to six hours of college credit.

In the state of Arkansas, public school students are exposed to geoscience concepts beginning in 1st grade. The concepts are woven throughout the elementary and middle school years. However, this is not the case in the high school frameworks set forth by the Arkansas Department of Education. Unless a student is fortunate enough to attend one of the few high schools offering a course in geology (not an essential science toward graduation), or choses to enroll in an environmental science track which can further bring geoscience into the picture (depending upon the teacher), then high school students are not likely to study geology for four years!

I have been teaching “Saturday” classes for the REAL Upward Bound students that selected the “environmental science” topic from a list of academic offerings. For this academic year, my goal is to positively influence 2 classes of 20 students each – working to instill an understanding about the integrated nature of the geosciences through an environmental applications perspective. Further, I am preparing to engage an additional 15 – 20 students in a 6-week long, summer residential experience through the Upward Bound Mathematics and Science Academy; there will be a research component 3 hours per weekday. Both school year and summer participants utilize WebCT, thus providing the high school students a chance to gain valuable skills prior to attending college.