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

地球科学（42）从学生的角度来看，本科经历的最终目标是完成一个主要的-在一个特定的学科学习的综合课程。该专业的课程方面得到了部门重点的共同课程元素的加强，包括研究经验，社区服务和非正式的社会互动，共同构成了本科课程。虽然各机构的方案应根据机构的使命、学生人数、教师专业知识和当地资源而有所不同，但可以通过应用教育研究和地球科学界之间的专业知识共享来大大加强方案。这个项目是在以前的工作定义蓬勃发展的部门的特点接地。它利用三个讲习班战略加强地球科学课程和方案的设计和实施：1）专题讲习班，重点是各部门面临的一个问题-在这种情况下是评价部门方案的战略; 2）部门小组传播讲习班，展示解决一系列问题的成功战略;和3）访问研讨会计划，提供与地球科学教师杰出演讲者计划的国家协会合作，使经验丰富的领导人和定制的计划，以特定的部门。与讲习班一起开发的网络资源有助于进一步传播加强各部门的现有战略。评价计划采用纵向设计，以六个月至两年的时间尺度衡量对部门方案拟订的影响，并旨在确定三种模式对部门加强方案拟订能力的相对影响。这项工作将产生一个经过测试的模式，用于举办国家和（或）区域讲习班和相关的支助活动，帮助各部门解决被确定为阻碍建立更强大的部门的重要问题。该计划解决了建设强大的地球科学部门所面临的挑战。此外，它还寻求提供支持，以提高各部门审查或评估其部门方案的能力，并建立有效方案评估的技能。这种技能在地球科学界都是欠发达的，关键的数据收集需要了解部门计划的各个方面的影响，以及对学生学习的所有类型的学生的整个课程。

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.