TEACHING EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE FROM AN INQUIRY-BASED PERSPECTIVE

As part of Kent State University's NSF-funded GK-12 program in “Inquiry-Based Approaches to Earth System Science”, a two-semester course sequence is offered to pre-service teachers at the advanced undergraduate level and to GK-12 Graduate Student Fellows, who are serving as science content resources for in-service teachers in Stark County, Ohio. Inquiry-Based Earth System Science I, the first course in this sequence, presents the Earth as a system by considering a broad spectrum of issues relevant to life on Earth today, including the water cycle, weather, plate tectonics, geologic hazards, and the impact of ecosystems and biodiversity on climate. This focus on scientific content is complemented by exploration of inquiry as a means of building scientific understanding. Each weekly class session pairs a scientific topic with an inquiry-based pedagogical theme. Mini-lectures are blended with student participation in a diverse array of inquiry-based collaborative group activities, including work with physical models, maps and satellite imagery, “real-world” data, and internet-based simulation tools. One goal of this inquiry-based approach is to enhance the effectiveness of student learning. A second goal is to demonstrate how a diverse array of inquiry-based methods could be successfully implemented in the classroom. The latter is particularly important as students in the course plan to either work as K-12 classroom teachers after finishing their degree program or to interact directly with K-12 teachers and their students as part of their participation in Kent State University's GK-12 program. Student reactions to the course, as measured by teaching evaluations, were very positive. Specific comments indicate that the inquiry-based activities helped students develop an in-depth understanding of the material. The format for the course, course evaluations, and the impact of the course on student learning will be discussed.