TEACHERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, SOCIETY AND INDUSTRY WORKSHOP: A MODEL OF TEACHING THROUGH APPLICATION

The Teachers, Environmental Science, Society and Industry workshop is a collaboration among a geology faculty member, a College of Education faculty member, and International Paper Company to enhance the teaching of environmental science for public school teachers. Funding for student tuition, field trips, and supplies is provided by a grant from International Paper. Up to 25, K-12 teachers are selected to attend this tuition-paid all day four-week long workshop. Fifty-two teachers have completed the program in the last three years. This workshop includes lectures, demonstrations, hands-on activities and field trips to provide background material and illustrate the application of fundamental aspects of earth science, biology, chemistry, and physical science. Topics include but are not restricted to soil fertility, geologic hazards, water resources, water pollution, and waste management particularly within the Coastal Plain of Georgia. Emphasis is placed on the interconnections among Georgia’s coastal geology, natural environments, both renewable and nonrenewable resources, population, and industry. In contrast to the first two years of this program when only science teachers were selected, this year teachers of all content disciplines were selected. The workshop participants are expected to incorporate these environmental science concepts into their classrooms through demonstrations, laboratory exercises, outdoor activities, or supplement classroom curriculum already taught. Therefore, science will be incorporated into language arts, social science, and mathematics classrooms. These classroom projects must meet specific Quality Core Curriculum objectives established by the Georgia Department of Education.