Publication Date
2008
Abstract
A collaborative of seven institutes of higher education and two non-profit organizations developed and implemented five earth science courses totaling eighteen credits that enabled secondary teachers to acquire an add-on earth science endorsement: Geology 1: Physical Geology (4), Geology II: Geology of Virginia (4), Oceanography (4), Astronomy (Space Science for Teachers) (3), and Meteorology (3). These courses were collaboratively developed and included rigorous academic content, research-based instructional strategies, and intense field experiences. The thirty-three sections offered statewide served 499 participants. Three courses were offered to strengthen the skills of earth science teachers: Teaching Eath Science Topics to Special Education Students (3), Integrating New Technologies in the Earth Sciences (3). and GeoVirginia: Creating Virtual Field Trips (non-college credit). In these six sections, seventy-four people participated. Outcomes included an increased pool of endorsed earth science teachers and teachers with coursework in the earth sciences, a website with virtual field trips, and a statewide network. Partners included the College of William & Mary and its Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, the MathScience Innovation Center (formerly the Mathematics & Science Center), Radford University. Science Museum of Virginia, University of Virginia Southwest Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, and eighty-three school divisions.
Volume
10
Issue
1
First Page
1
Last Page
27
Rights
© Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25891/T86G-T681
Recommended Citation
Cothron, J.
(2008)
"Virginia Earth Science Collaborative: Developing Highly Qualified Earth Science Teachers,"
Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations: Vol. 10:
No.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/jmsce_vamsc/vol10/iss1/4
Included in
Higher Education Commons, Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons