Late Pleistocene Extinction and Paleoenvironments in Southern Nevada: Combining Effective Geoscience Curricula with Authentic Research for High School Students and Teachers

这个创新的地球科学教育伙伴关系将新影子岭高中（2003年8月开业）的行政和教师、克拉克县学区K-12数学、科学和教学技术服务（MSITS）部门、内华达州大学和社区学院系统（UCCSN）的地球科学家以及一些有影响力的社区合作伙伴联系在一起，以开发和实施一项创新的、更有效的基于探究的地球系统科学教与学模式。影岭高中开设了本区第一个地球科学荣誉班。该课程整合了三个强大的学习组件，以提高学生在地球科学方面的成绩，并增加学生完成严格的地球系统科学课程的人数：1)EarthComm模块和实验室活动，由美国地质研究所和美国国家科学基金会共同开发，由It's About Time， Inc出版；2)利用从高中附近的更新世沉积物中收集到的大量已灭绝的动物化石，并由Gilcrease自然保护区借出，在新高中建立地球科学实验室；3)学生和老师对图勒泉遗址进行的真实研究，因其在古生物学、地质学和考古学方面的重要性而被列入国家史迹名录。这些活动通过一个引人入胜的主题联系在一起，这个主题在专业古生物学和考古学文献中仍在激烈辩论：更新世末期北美近36个属（主要是哺乳动物）灭绝的原因（或原因）。通过专门开发的探究模块，学生和教师探索诸如图勒泉沉积物中人类人工制品与灭绝动物的关联，更新世晚期气候变化的证据，灭绝的哥伦比亚猛犸象的生物学和生态学等主题。UCCSN地球科学和考古学教师正在与Shadow Ridge HS地球科学教师和CCSD课程专家合作，在课堂上开发和实施这些探究模块。块调度是为了方便班上所有学生进行长时间的实地研究；数学、英语和社会研究教师将地球科学文献、数据和例子融入到他们自己的课堂中。聘用新教师时都考虑到这个项目。智力价值：该项目实施了一门新的地球科学荣誉课程，该课程基于国家科学标准，并使用有效的教学工具和教学方法（EarthComm）来提高学生的成绩，并增加学生参加具有挑战性的地球科学课程的人数。该项目为学生提供了实地和实验室环境下的真实研究机会，将他们的课程与新高中隔壁的国家重要地质和古生物遗址联系起来。可视化技术被用来加强学习，该项目将高中课程中跨越学科界限的许多活动联系起来。项目评估由影岭HS和MSITS进行，以确定项目的有效性。更广泛的影响：如果该项目在Shadow Ridge高中有效，那么该项目的课程和研究元素的更广泛实施可以显著提高高中生通过国家规定的2006届毕业要求的科学能力考试的机会。该项目可以作为高增长学区的地球科学荣誉课程的模型，例如CCSD（克拉克县的人口在1990年至2000年间增加了68%），在这些学区，新学校的建立为方法和课程的重大变化提供了频繁的机会。如果成功，该计划可能会在计划为CCSD开设的30所新中学中的一些学校采用，可能会惠及数千名中学生。强有力的社区伙伴关系，加上高中承诺将可自由支配的收入用于该项目，以及采用高中科学能力考试，有助于维持该项目。

Buck0331249This innovative geoscience education partnership links the administration and faculty of the new Shadow Ridge High School (opened Aug. 2003), the Clark County School District K-12 Mathematics, Science, and Instructional Technology Services (MSITS) Department, geoscientists from the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN), and a number of influential community partners for the development and implementation of an innovative, more effective inquiry-based model of Earth system science teaching and learning. Shadow Ridge HS has the District's first Earth science honors class. The class integrates three powerful learning components to improve student achievement in Earth science and increases the numbers of students completing a rigorous Earth system science class: 1) the EarthComm modules and laboratory activities, co-developed by the American Geological Institute and NSF, published by It's About Time, Inc; 2) the establishment of an Earth Science Laboratory in the new high school, based on a large collection of extinct fauna fossils collected from Pleistocene deposits near the high school, and loaned by the Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary; 3) authentic research at the Tule Springs site by students and their teachers, placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its paleontological, geological and archaeological importance. These activities are linked through an engaging theme still being vigorously debated in the professional paleontological and archaeological literature: the cause (or causes) of extinction in North America of almost three dozen genera of mostly mammals at the end of the Pleistocene. Through specially developed Inquiry Modules, students and teachers explore such topics as the purported association of human artifacts with extinct fauna in the Tule Springs deposits, evidence for climate change during the late Pleistocene, biology and ecology of the extinct Columbian mammoth, and others. UCCSN geoscience and archaeology faculty are working with Shadow Ridge HS Earth science teachers and CCSD curriculum specialists to develop and implement these Inquiry Modules in the classroom. Block scheduling is used to facilitate extended periods of field research for all students in the class; math, english, and social studies teachers integrate Earth science literature, data, and examples into their own classes. New teachers are hired with this project in mind. Intellectual merit: This project implements a new Earth science honors course based on national science standards and use of effective instructional tools and teaching methodologies (EarthComm) to improve student achievement and increase the numbers of students taking challenging Earth science coursework. The project provides authentic research opportunities in field and laboratory settings for students to link their course work with a nationally important geological and paleontological site next door to the new high school. Visualization technologies are used to enhance learning, and the project links many activities across disciplinary boundaries in the high school curriculum. Project evaluation is conducted by the Shadow Ridge HS and MSITS to determine the project's effectiveness. Broader impacts: If the project is effective at Shadow Ridge HS, wider implementation of this type of program with its curricular and research elements could significantly improve high school students' chances of passing the new state-mandated science proficiency exam, required for graduation for the class of 2006. The project could be used as a model for Earth science honors classes in high growth school districts such as CCSD (population in Clark County increased 68% between 1990 and 2000) where the establishment of new schools provides frequent opportunities for significant change in approach and curriculum. If successful, the program could be adopted in some of the 30 new secondary schools planned for the CCSD, potentially reaching thousands of secondary students. A strong community partnership coupled with commitment from the high school to divert discretionary revenue to the program and the adoption of a high school proficiency exam in science helps sustain the program.