Engaging Teachers in Research: Expanding Knowledge and Building Sustainable Earth/Environmental Science Education in Southeastern NC

Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville NC

Investigators

Abstract

This 1-year Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences planning grant is bringing together faculty at Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina Pembroke and 20 in-service Earth/Environmental Science teachers from the surrounding school districts in a workshop that will focus on developing high quality teacher professional development activities. The basic strategy that is being developed during the planning phase is to establish a mechanism for providing research experiences for teachers in the laboratories of participating university faculty. It is expected that this will be a win-win approach that improves the geoscience content knowledge of the teachers and increases their confidence in the scientific process, while also strengthening the pedagogical capabilities of the host researchers.