Cataclysms and Catastrophes--The Role of Science

灾难和灾难-科学的作用该项目正在开发和实地测试基于科学在导致和/或理解灾难中的作用的课程材料。这些教材的目标是帮助高中教师将地球科学融入到物理、数学、化学和生物的教学中。这是德克萨斯大学地球物理研究所（UTIG）、经济地质局（BEG）和奥斯汀私人教育公司4empowerment的合作成果。能够激发教师和学生想象力的事件——例如，洪都拉斯米奇飓风造成的破坏、希克苏鲁伯小行星撞击事件和俄克拉荷马城爆炸事件——可以作为基于探究的实践学习活动的基础，这些活动使用UTIG和BEG科学家收集的数据。活动扩展到熟悉激光雷达（光探测和测距）、钻井、地震反射和折射、地球物理测井和互联网等技术。除了科学和数学的教学概念外，“大灾变和大灾难”主题还对灾害预防、认识和决策具有影响。例如，利用地震学识别核爆炸（监测全世界的核试验）对国家安全很重要。为该项目开发的课程材料发布在“增强权能”的网站“网络和水路”上，并通过电子邮件以及与州和国家科学和数学教育机构和组织的合作进行推广。课程材料也提供给DLESE（地球系统教育数字图书馆）和76个国家数学、科学和技术专业中等学校联盟的机构成员。该项目建立在德克萨斯大学研究人员于2000年开发的德克萨斯高中科学课程“地质、气象和海洋学”（GMO）领导力培训项目最近取得成功的基础上。TEXTEAMS是由美国国家科学基金会和德克萨斯州教育局赞助的一项针对K-12教师的专业发展和领导力培训认证项目。为“大灾难和灾难——科学的作用”开发的课程材料也将补充围绕“从德克萨斯到南极洲”主题设计的TEXTEAMS转基因产品。

Cataclysms and Catastrophes-The Role of ScienceThis project is developing and field-testing curricular materials based on the role of science in causing and/or understanding catastrophes. The goal of the materials is to help high school teachers incorporate geoscience into the teaching of physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology. This is a collaborative effort involving The University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), and 4empowerment, an Austin-based private education company. Events that capture the imagination of teachers and students alike-for example, the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, the Chicxulub asteroid impact event, and the Oklahoma City bombing-serve as the basis for inquiry-based, hands-on learning activities using data collected by UTIG and BEG scientists. Activities are expanded to include familiarity with technologies such as Lidar (LIght Detection And Ranging), drilling, seismic reflection and refraction, geophysical logging, and the Internet. In addition to teaching concepts in science and mathematics, the "Cataclysms and Catastrophes" theme carries implications for disaster prevention, awareness, and decision-making. Using seismology to identify nuclear explosions (monitoring nuclear testing worldwide), for example, is important to national security. Curricula materials developed for the project are posted to 4empowement's Web site, Cyberways and Waterways, and promoted through e-letters and collaborations with state and national science and mathematics educational agencies and organizations. Curricular materials are also available to DLESE (Digital Library for Earth System Education) and to the 76 institutional members of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. The project builds on the recent success of the ongoing TEXTEAMS (Texas Teachers Empowered for Achievement in Mathematics and Science) Leadership training program for the Texas high school science course, Geology, Meteorology and Oceanography (GMO), developed in 2000 by UTIG researchers. TEXTEAMS is a certification program of professional development and leadership training for K-12 teachers sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Texas Education Agency. The curricular materials developed for "Cataclysms and Catastrophes-The Role of Science" will also complement the TEXTEAMS GMO offering designed around the theme "From Texas to Antarctica".