THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONUNDRUM: EARTH SCIENCE OR GEOSCIENCE, AND HOW TO TEACH IT?

The concept of a class in Earth Science as uniquely taught in most Community Colleges, is a broad and diverse subject. The diverse disciplines that should be part of a typical Earth Science class include geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. This broad range of disciplines initiates many challenges to both the student in an Earth Science class, and the faculty who teach it. These challenges are ultimately complicated by the common, and inappropriate, interchangeability of the concepts of earth science and geoscience by many schools as well as earth/geo-scientists. These multiple challenges may be broadly defined in terms of (1) the literacy of the student, which includes their scientific and earth science literacy’s, (2) the student’s success in the Earth Science class and beyond, and (3) the faculty teaching that Earth Science class. Some challenges unique to adjunct instructors will also be examined. Suggestions for possible solutions to the three main challenges will be proposed for discussion, which range in scope from national to school-specific initiatives and resources.