Collaborative Research: Improving the Geoscience Major: Developing Community Expertise in Curriculum Design and Assessment

地学(42)从学生的角度来看，本科学习的最终目标是完成一个专业--一个特定学科的综合课程。该专业的课程方面通过以系为重点的合作课程元素得到加强，包括研究经验、社区服务和非正式的社会互动，这些元素共同构成了本科课程。虽然不同机构的计划应根据机构使命、学生人数、教师专业知识和当地资源而有所不同，但可以通过教育研究的应用和地球科学界之间的专业知识共享来大大加强计划。这个项目是以以前的工作为基础的，定义了蓬勃发展的部门的特点。它使用三种研讨会战略来加强地球科学课程和方案的设计和实施：1)专题研讨会，重点关注部门面临的单一问题--在这种情况下是评估部门计划的战略；2)为部门团队举办的传播研讨会，展示解决一系列问题的成功战略；以及3)与全国地球科学教师杰出发言人计划合作提供的访问研讨会计划，将经验丰富的领导者和定制的计划带到特定的部门。与讲习班联合开发的网络资源支持进一步传播加强各部的现有战略。评价计划采用纵向设计，从六个月到两年的时间尺度衡量对部门方案拟订的影响，旨在确定三种模式对部门加强方案拟订能力的相对影响。这一努力将产生一个经过检验的模式，用于举办国家和/或区域讲习班和相关的支助活动，帮助各部门解决被认为是建设一个更强大的部门的障碍的重要问题。该计划解决了在建设强大的地学系方面面临的挑战。此外，它寻求提供支持，以增强部门审查或评估其部门计划的能力，并培养有效计划评估的技能。这项技能在地球科学界并不发达，对于收集所需的数据至关重要，这些数据需要了解系计划的各个方面以及整个课程对所有类型学生的学生学习的影响。

Geosciences (42)From a student point of view, the ultimate goal of an undergraduate experience is the completion of a major - an integrated course of study in a specific discipline. Curricular aspects of the major are enhanced by departmentally focused co-curricular elements including research experiences, community service, and informal social interactions that together constitute the undergraduate program. While programs should vary between institutions in response to institutional mission, student population, faculty expertise, and local resources, programs could be strengthened substantially through the application of educational research and the sharing of expertise among the geoscience community. This project is grounded in previous work defining characteristics of thriving departments. It enhances the design and implementation of geoscience curricula and programs using three workshop strategies: 1) a topical workshop focused on a single issue facing departments - in this case strategies for evaluating departmental programs; 2) a dissemination workshop for departmental teams showcasing successful strategies for addressing a range of issues; and a 3) a visiting workshop program, offered in collaboration with the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Distinguished Speaker Program, that brings experienced leaders and a customized program to a specific department. The web resources developed in association with the workshops support further dissemination of existing strategies for strengthening departments. The evaluation plan uses a longitudinal design to measure impact on departmental programming on timescales from six months to two years and is designed to determine the relative impact of the three models on the ability of the departments to strengthen their programming. This effort will produce a tested model for conducting national and/or regional workshops and related supporting activities that help departments address important issues identified as impediments to building a stronger department. This program addresses the challenges faced in building strong geoscience departments. In addition, it seeks to provide support for enhancing the ability of departments to review or evaluate their departmental programs and build skill in effective program assessment. This skill is both underdeveloped in the geoscience community and critical to the collection of data needed to understand the impact of various aspects of departmental programs as well as the entire curriculum on student learning for all types of students.