A CLIMATE CHANGE TOUR FOR A K-12 AUDIENCE

A Keyhole Markup Language “tour” of climate change exploits the functionality of Google Earth for use in the K-12 classroom. With a focus on snow and ice, this tour presents the latest scientific results and explains how snow and ice play critical roles in the changing climate. Scientists publish their results in refereed journals, the media interview scientists on engaging topics and citizens learn about climate change through multiple channels. But what do students understand about climate change and what questions do they have? In a classroom setting, middle-school students connect with National Snow and Ice Data Center scientists through interactive question and answer sessions. Students ask their questions and scientists respond. With down-to-earth examples and terms that are simple to understand, students and scientists share their thoughts and knowledge about climate change. The scientists are videotaped by CU undergraduate students funded by the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Scholarship Program as a part of their science education research. The videos are incorporated into an online climate change “tour” that takes the viewer to the various snow and ice regions of the world. In this tour, viewers observe data overlays and videos of scientists answering children’s questions about climate change. This “tour” consolidates science and technology into an educational Keyhole Markup Language file that can be viewed in any geobrowser such as Google Earth.