Teaching about Weather and Climate

No aspect of the Earth System affects everybody everyday more than does weather, and changes in global climate pose some of the greatest challenges to people and societies in this century. This workshop will offer opportunities to begin development of examples of new, NGSS-based approaches to teaching these topics in middle and high school courses. Workshop sessions will be based at the Lamont Campus of Columbia University in Palisades, NY. Special talks with LDEO scientists will give insights into cutting-edge research about key problems in these topics. Visit to the American Museum of Natural History will highlight the role of informal science education in learning. Participants receive a 1-year membership in NESTA (National Earth Science Teachers Association.) This institute is a component of the Earth2Class Workshops for Teachers.

OFFERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE
GRADUATE EDUCATION COURSE GED 7211 (2 or 3 credits)

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Participants will:

1. Review important NGSS and PS/ES disciplinary core concepts pertinent to teaching about minerals, rocks, and resources in middle and high school Earth Science courses
2. Examine selected cutting-edge research about these topics as examples for integrating science, technology, and engineering, and understanding cross-cutting relationships and the Nature of Science.
3. Assess selected examples of existing lesson plans and develop additional plans for their own classes.
4. Participate in field-based experiences to expand their own classroom resources through collecting rock and mineral samples, and understanding more about current and past mining practices.
5. Deepen their understanding of the role of informal science education experiences within formal curricula

ONLINE-ONLY COURSE FORMAT

Participants will complete the Course Assignments and send responses as email attachments to Dr. Passow for feedback and comments. They may use locally-available resources in place of field experiences included in the on-campus format. Assignments may be completed in any order. Participants need also to indicate the number of hours needed to complete the assignments to document they have met the STAC contact-hours requirement.

ON-CAMPUS SUMMER COURSE FORMAT

Instruction will incorporate seminar-, web-, and field-based formats, including visits to laboratories and other assets on the campus of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Sterling Hill Mining Museum, and American Museum of Natural History.

 MEET IN THE LDEO BOREHOLE BUILDING 9 am – 4:30 pm.