CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION: RESPONDING TO THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS

Unlike previous national science education standards, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) contain climate change topics. Twenty-six states are involved in drafting the new standards and it is anticipated that most states will adopt the NGSS framework. Climate and climate change are not taught in most teacher preparation programs and, despite a plethora of excellent online resources, not widely taught in 6-12 classrooms. Why? 1) “climate change” classes aren’t offered in middle or high school or 2) when climate change is taught, it is taught through elective environmental science courses. Given the new standards, as well as the societal importance of a more climate literate citizenry, it is vital that climate change education is incorporated into 8-12 school classrooms and teacher preparation programs.

In June 2011, we convened a New Mexico EPSCoR supported Innovation Working Group (IWG) aimed at the specific question of how online climate data resources, such as numerical and spatial datasets, can be implemented into 6-12 classroom instruction. Participants agreed that climate literacy could be enhanced using data-rich instruction. However, issues such as classroom computer accessibility, teacher and student data skills and literacy, student motivation and teacher climate change knowledge are significant barriers.

Outcomes of the IWG included efforts to collect data on pre-service teacher graphical literacy skills and survey data on in-service teachers’ instructional preparedness for using data to teach climate change. In summer 2012, these outcomes informed a successful climate change science teacher professional development program that engaged 12 middle and high school teachers in learning about available data-rich resources and curriculum. Parallel to these two projects was development of curriculum using long term datasets from the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) that provide multi-disciplinary context for climate change investigations in college courses. RMBL climate change curriculum can be integrated into middle and high school life science without losing fidelity to required science standards. We will present outcomes from the IWG and examples of climate change curricula adaptable to both teacher preparation programs as well as middle and high school classes.