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

跨学科(99)面向非理科专业的学生以及在职前和在职的科学教师正在通过探索一个与社会和个人相关的问题--阿巴拉契亚的煤炭工业--来整合科学和人文学科。利用该地区独有的问题，这是他们文化遗产的一部分，使学生的科学个性化。学生正在学习和重视科学，因为他们与科学建立了情感上的联系。该项目是对学习社区概念的一种适应，在学习社区概念中，学生团体共同注册跨学科的科学课程--阿巴拉契亚中心的煤炭和人文课程--民俗学导论。后一门课程强调煤炭的文化影响。为在职前、中级科学教育专业学生举办的专题综合科学研讨会正在提高学生对科学之间相互联系的理解，并加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做法。

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.