Describes the Moonsnail Project, which engages middle school students in discovery learning and the process of science by making them collaborators with scientists in the investigation of genuine scientific hypotheses. Reports on the first workshop held in summer 2001 and a scientific conference held in summer 2002 that provided vehicles for the…

Presents the Nevada Science Teacher Enhancement Project (N-STEP) in which 50 high school teachers worked with research scientists, educational faculty, and high school students on authentic, field-based research projects in the geosciences, biological sciences, or social sciences. Indicates improved satisfaction of teachers and students with their…

Describes a K-12 teacher enhancement program in Washington state that provides teachers with the background knowledge, human and material resources, and time to develop community-based studies on environmental issues facing the citizens of Washington. (Author/KHR)

Describes the pilot of a field-based research experience in earth science teacher education designed to produce well-prepared, scientifically and technologically literate earth science teachers through a teaching- and research-oriented partnership between in-service teachers and a university scientist-educator. Indicates that the pilot program was…

Reports findings of the first year of a three-year summer geoscience program in which undergraduates and high school teachers work with a consortium of faculty. Examines the effects of the program on the participants' interests in research, career plans, and attitude toward science. Discusses implications for providing authentic research…

Reports on a one semester course, "Earth Systems Science for Educators" designed to use an active learning approach to improve student knowledge of basic Earth science concepts. Reports that, based on pre- and post-course assessments of 108 elementary and middle-level education majors who took the class from 1998 to 2000, there was an average…

Uses a scenario-based assessment tool in two environmental geoscience in-service programs for middle school and high school teachers serving both to guide instructional techniques and as a method to evaluate the success of the instructional approach. Includes a hypothetical watershed scenario in which participants had to choose monitoring sites…

Describes summer institutes for urban teachers in Milwaukee that centered on several Lake Michigan beaches within the bounds of their school district. Compares the sand from four different beaches for grain size, magnetite content, as well as fossil and modern Zebra Mussel Shells. Encourages good field trip teaching practices. Includes 19…

Students profit greatly from seeing geology in the field. Unfortunately, many factors make using the field as a training area difficult. Recommends that teachers participate in field excursions and transmit their learning into the classroom. Describes the GeoVenture concept and a trip to Great Britain. A slide set is available for nonparticipants.…