ENGAGING STUDENTS THROUGH GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION: INSIGHTS FROM A GEOCORPS AMERICA™ PARTICIPANT AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Rocky Mountain National Park, with its soaring mountains and spectacular glacially carved valleys, provides an ideal setting for geoscience education to complement classroom learning. While geoscience is an important component of curriculum-based education, it is also a critical tool for fostering park stewardship. However, geoscience education and interpretation in national parks can be a daunting task for park rangers. Students may be more interested in other subjects, and park staff often does not have a strong geologic background or training in geologic interpretation techniques.

Through the Geological Society of America’s GeoCorps America™ Program, in partnership with the Geoscientists-in-Parks Program, a geoscientist was temporarily placed in the Environmental Education Division at Rocky Mountain National Park. Throughout the 2009 spring season, the participant prepared and presented geoscience education programs for school groups ranging from kindergarten to the college-level. As a result of this experience, several insights were made regarding strategies for engaging students in geoscience learning activities while inspiring them to protect and explore the national park. The three factors recognized to have the greatest control on student engagement were (1) instructor knowledge and enthusiasm, (2) activity type, and (3) social setting. These factors will be explored and related to the participant’s experience at Rocky Mountain National Park.