PLACE-BASED, DATA-DRIVEN EDUCATION ABOUT WATER

Place-based education methodologies are increasingly being used for Earth-systems education as a way to increase student interest and excitement for learning in the geosciences. However, many of these activities are field-based, or rely field trips to local sites and connections to local culture. At the same time, research on Earth-systems is being transformed by the availability of large data sets which are made possible by increases in remote sensing and satellite technology. Hydrology is in itself a multidisciplinary field spanning an array of Earth Science and Engineering fields. Water data comes in many forms from many sources; the CUAHSI Water Data Center operates a platform which makes all time-series water data accessible in a centralized catalog used by multiple university research projects while interfacing with large data repositories from federal agencies. Using tools such as these allows teachers to create science curriculum around data that is relevant to their own locality and approach education that encourages students to investigate the water processes that most impact their own environments. By organizing sample modules and creating a manual for teaching place-based and data-driven water science education, CUAHSI is developing resources to help utilize water data resources in a way that engages teachers to provide data analysis exercises designed to support systems thinking and promote multidisciplinary education and research.