Transforming Geoscience Preparation for K-8 Pre-Service Teachers: Including Testing the Significance of an Intensive Field-based Experience

该项目正在开发和测试一种模式，以改善本科职前教师的准备工作，这些教师将继续在K-8年级教授地球科学。先前一学期的物理地质学和教育科学方法课程被合并为一年的课程，由地质和教育学院教授。该课程将地球科学内容的学习与教学方法相结合，培养知识渊博、热情高涨的下一代K-8科学教育工作者。结合修订的课程和实验室经验，职前教师正在开发教学资源的共享数字组合。另一项工作是测试参加为期一年课程的职前教师为期四天的预备强化实地经验对学习的影响。通过明确整合内容和教学方法，该项目直接解决了许多职前中小学教师在物理科学和科学本质学习方面缺乏准备的问题。除了为该地区未来的教师队伍做出贡献外，该项目还通过网络资源和会议研讨会向全国观众传播协作、综合科学/教育课程的模式。

The project is developing and testing a model for improving the preparation of undergraduate pre-service teachers who will go on to teach earth science in grades K-8. Prior semester-length courses in physical geology and educational science methods are being combined into a year-long course taught by both Geology and Education faculty. The course integrates learning of earth-science content with the methodology of how to teach it, producing a next generation of K-8 science educators who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. In conjunction with revised classes and laboratory experiences, pre-service teachers are developing shared digital portfolios of teaching resources. An additional effort is testing the impact of a preparatory, four-day intensive field experience on learning by pre-service teachers who enroll in the year-long course. Through explicit integration of content and pedagogy, the project is directly addressing the lack of preparation in physical science and learning about the nature of science among many pre-service elementary and middle-school teachers. Beyond contributing to the future teacher workforce in the region, the project is also disseminating the model of a collaborative, integrated science/education course to a national audience through web resources and conference workshops.