Teaching methods that are often recommended to improve the learning environment in college science courses include cooperative learning, adding inquiry-based activities to traditional lectures, and engaging students in projects or investigations. Two questions often surround these efforts: 1) can these methods be used in large classes; and 2) how do we know that they are increasing student learning? ... Full description.

This article describes the benefits of research partnerships to scientists, students, and teachers. There is growing awareness that the way science is experienced in the K-16 classroom deviates greatly from the experiences of practicing researchers. Whereas researchers are immersed in more open-ended observation and inquiry, many K-16 students find themselves cramming to memorize core scientific content ... Full description.

This article reports on the effectiveness of The Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) project, which was developed to make geology more relevant to non-science majors in Appalachian State University's Environmental and Applied Geology course. The authors describe the directed-inquiry approach, in which students are guided in applying the geoscience theory learned in the formal classroom setting to ... Full description.

This article provides a brief overview of the GLOBE Program and describes its benefits to scientists, teachers, and students. The program itself is designed to use environmental research as a means to improve student achievement in basic science, mathematics, geography, and use of technology. Linking of students and scientists as collaborators is seen as a fundamental part of the process. GLOBE trains ... Full description.

This secondary-level educational program in Earth Sciences includes an extensive selection of student learning materials, teacher resources, and assessment tools for a hands-on, inquiry-driven instructional program. Module topics include Earth's geosphere (volcanoes, earthquakes, plate tectonics), understanding your environment (landscape evolution, river systems, land use), Earth's fluid spheres ... Full description.

This article describes the Earth System Scientist Network, in which students and teachers participate in research projects with scientists. In these projects the scientists can take advantage of having an extended research team, and the students and teachers can contribute to a research project while developing skills in inquiry and expanding content knowledge in Earth system science. Several issues ... Full description.

In 2001/2002, the American Honda Foundation funded a research initiative directed at improving the abilities of adult volunteers as trainers and teen volunteers as leaders of a hands-on, inquiry-based science curriculum with 4H youth. This project built upon the "Step-Up" Incremental Training Model by adding a Training of Trainers component for 4H adult volunteers. This report outlines the results ... Full description.

NOTE: This is a large file, 5mb in size! Space-age technologies have revolutionized Earth science, but this revolution has yet to extend to Earth science education. This article points out that urban schools can be at the forefront of reform because cities offer a wealth of opportunities and resources for study. The authors present examples of urban investigations and educational tools, such as remotely-sensed ... Full description.

This resource collection provides information on how to incorporate crystal structure databases and 3-D visualization software into undergraduate mineralogy courses. Features include background information for teachers on how to teach with data, models, and visualizations; commentary on the benefits of physical versus virtual models; and a set of links to online crystal structure databases. There ... Full description.

Ocean engineers and scientists are transforming the way we experience and understand the ocean through Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS). For the first time, there will be continuous, sustained, near-realtime, multi-dimensional data available from the oceans, collected both from within the oceans using sensors systems and above using remote sensing methodologies. These data make possible inquiry-driven ... Full description.