INOVATIONS IN UNIVERSAL ACTIVITIES FOR GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION

The CLASS (Creating Laboratory Access for Science Students) Project, funded by NSF, has been inventing and testing universal geoscience activities developed for improving the quality and accessibility of science education for pre-college and college students. Advances in technology are making disabilities less of a hindrance for scientific careers. Public awareness and attitudes are making new opportunities for students with disabilities. Our research and laws emphasize the importance of making adaptations and curriculum that is inclusive and multi-sensory. Initially the adaptations we made to laboratory activities for the sciences were just ways to overcome physical obstacles. As we experienced students performing science we realized that the students had to rely on a variety of senses depending on the disability. In addition the first labs we modified were not designed to be inquiry based. The newest activities are aligned with National Science Education Standards and are designed to be intellectually developing. As we were making adaptations to the new activities we realized that were being taught to rely on other senses. We began designing activities that were multi-sensory and found that ALL students gained higher levels of understanding. In summer 2003 we implemented universal activities involving paleontology and the history of life. The results indicate that we are correct path for developing science education curriculum that will make the geological sciences more accessible and more engaging for ALL students. The information gained is being implemented in the College of Science and Mathematics at Wright State University for Geological Sciences, Biology, and Chemistry. The results are that students who previously thought that careers in the geosciences were not an option now know that the sciences can and will accommodate them and that they can be valuable members of the scientific community.