Coal in the Heart of Appalachia: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Science and Culture of Coal

跨学科 (99) 面向非科学专业以及在职和在职科学教师的课程，通过探索与社会和个人相关的问题——阿巴拉契亚的煤炭工业，将科学和人文融为一体。利用该地区特有的问题（作为其文化遗产的一部分）为学生提供个性化的科学知识。学生们通过与科学建立情感联系来学习和重视科学。 该项目是对学习社区概念的改编，其中学生小组共同注册跨学科科学课程“阿巴拉契亚中心的煤炭”和人文课程“民俗研究概论”。 后一课程强调煤炭的文化影响。为职前中等科学教育专业学生举办的研讨会“科学主题整合”正在提高学生对科学之间相互联系的理解，并增强他们将这些知识应用于社会问题的能力。这些课程以建构主义为基础，促进公民责任并示范科学教育的最佳实践。

Interdisciplinary (99) Courses for non-science majors and pre- and in-service science teachers are integrating the sciences and the humanities through the exploration of a socially and personally relevant issue, the coal industry in Appalachia. Use of an issue unique to the region that is a part of their cultural heritage personalizes science for the students. The students are learning and valuing science as a result of the emotional connection they are making with it. The project is an adaptation of the learning community concept in which groups of students are co-enrolled in the interdisciplinary science course Coal in the Heart of Appalachia and the humanities course, Introduction to Folklore Studies. The latter course emphasizes the cultural impacts of coal. A seminar for pre-service, secondary science education majors, Thematic Integration of Sciences, is improving the students' understanding of the interconnectedness among the sciences and is enhancing their ability to apply this knowledge to societal issues. The courses are constructivist-based, promote civic responsibility and model best practices in science education.