GLOBAL LEARNING AND OBSERVATION TO BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT (GLOBE) BENEFITS TEACHER EDUCATION

Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) protocols have been integrated in environmental science and science education courses for teachers at Brooklyn College. Our objective is to promote the use of the internationally recognized GLOBE program in New York City schools to support technology-rich inquiry-based science teaching. In-service teachers pursuing graduate degrees in childhood or middle childhood education and undergraduate pre-service elementary school teachers have been trained by this initiative. Since we have begun training teachers in the GLOBE protocols as part of our program, the number of participating schools in Brooklyn has more than doubled. The full 24-hour GLOBE training protocol was incorporated into an existing 60-hour graduate-level course: Concepts in Environmental Science for Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Teachers, allowing course completers to qualify for GLOBE certification. The course is offered as one option among several science courses that satisfy the required science course for graduate programs in teacher education at Brooklyn College. Prior to the incorporation of the GLOBE protocols, this was a lab and lecture-based course that provided a broad introduction to topics in air and water pollution, solid waste, and natural resources and addressed scientific and technological issues related to the environment. It was recently revised to specifically address both content and pedagogy. The graduate course protocols are selected from Soil, Atmosphere, Phenology and Hydrology. Based on positive reaction to the graduate course, a selection GLOBE protocols were later integrated into a 30-hour undergraduate course; Education and Math, Science & Technology. A different selection of protocols is used in the undergraduate course. The thorough integration of math, science and technology in GLOBE protocols makes them a valuable resource for this course. The GLOBE protocols provide students with practice in the use of a nationally recognized, exemplary curriculum that is available to teachers and students at no expense. They are excellent resources for college teaching in both content and pedagogy. The incorporation of GLOBE training in our teacher preparation program has benefited our program, our students and our community.