GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION IN WEST VIRGINIA: A THIRTY YEAR INVESTMENT

For thirty years, Geologists and Science Educators in West Virginia have nurtured the training of in-service K-12 teachers in the absence of certification standards for Geoscience. In the past fifteen years, the intensity of offerings has dramatically increased through the support of two NSF grants, funding through the Eisenhower Professional Development Program, and most recently, a dedicated budget allocation from the state. We intentionally focused on in-service teachers to ensure immediate transfer to K-12 students.

The salient features are: -Coordinated, systematic Field-based experiences (26 states; 3 Canadian Provinces; over 1000 teacher experiences) -A program emphasizing Geology and the Teaching of Science -A four-course telecourse seqence (each are field-based) -A web-based Physical Geology course and associated on-line Virtual Field Trips -Annual participation in the State Science Teachers Meeting through Share-a-thons and field trips -Support of WV teachers in nation-wide workshops and field experiences (where they assist professional geologists)

Our design is based on the inclusion of geologists and science educators from more than one university/college, the state survey, and the State Department of Education. Additionally, K-12 teachers who have experienced sequenced training within the structure of the program have become teachers of their peers.

The years of effort have made a difference throughout the state with respect to both science teachers and students who have entered the universities. We now stand at the threshold of hammering out details for teacher certification in Earth Science.