TEACHING KEY EARTH SCIENCE TOPICS WORKSHOP

The Teaching Key Earth Science Topics summer workshop at The University of Akron enriched the content knowledge and pedagogical skills of 26 middle school teacher attendees. The workshop was collaboratively planned and taught by a geology professor, a science educator, and two middle school teachers. The workshop focused on the major concepts of plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes, key benchmarks of the Ohio Science Standards. Topics were taught using an integrated, interconnected, dynamic Earth system perspective. For example, participants were assigned to a scientific specialty (seismology, volcanology, geography, and geochronology) and using a jigsaw technique they built their understanding of plate boundary processes. Active learning techniques, such as making models, completing Venn diagrams, writing minute papers, and working collaboratively on other hands-on activities dominated instruction. Formative and summative assessment took place by the use of conceptests and the Geoscience Concept Inventory, respectively. Participants translated their workshop experiences into lessons they could teach to their students. Workshop evaluations showed gains in teachers' content knowledge, their ability to transfer this knowledge to their classrooms, and their overall satisfaction.

The workshop was the final component of a yearlong program to reform college and middle school earth science lessons that was directed by the North East Ohio Center of Excellence (NEOCEx) and funded by the Ohio Board of Regents. The NEOCEx program provided financial support for the teachers and the University of Akron donated graduate credit to participants.