Geological Society of America

T139 Geo-Workforce Preparation for 21st-Century Challenges

Monday, 10 October 2011
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Room 208AB

INTEGRATING GEOSCIENCE LEARNING IN UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

Paper number: T139-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Authors

Cathryn Manduca Presenting Author
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Carol Ormand
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
David Blockstein
National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington, DC
Timothy J. Bralower
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Diane Doser
El Paso, TX
Anne Egger
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
P. Geoffrey Feiss
GSA Foundation, Boulder, CO
David C. Gosselin
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Pamela Matson
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
David McConnell
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Abstract

In 2007, representatives from 25 geoscience departments met to discuss the implications for the undergraduate curriculum arising from new directions in geoscience research. Agreeing on the importance of a geoscience workforce prepared to participate in addressing major societal issues, the groups recommendation were that majors learn how to study the integrated Earth system using data, models and interdisciplinary teams; that they develop an understanding of the ways in which geoscience can contribute to solving grand challenges by working on multidisciplinary problems as undergraduates; and that they be prepared for a rapidly changing discipline with strong foundational geoscience skills, practice using these skills on a wide variety of problems, and strong learning strategies. (For full workshop results, visit http://serc.carleton.edu/departments/.)

Reflecting these recommendations, the EHR and GEO Directorates of NSF have recently funded InTeGRATE as part of its STEP Center Program. InTeGRATE will support the geoscience community in preparing students who can leverage the geosciences to address societal challenges. Inter-institutional, interdisciplinary curriculum development teams will create and test materials for use in geoscience courses, interdisciplinary courses, and courses in other majors that address aspects of these challenges (e.g., business, chemistry or economics ). A set of implementation programs will model departmental, institutional and multi-campus approaches to curriculum and program structures that enroll diverse students, address the preparation of the geoscience workforce, and integrate geoscience into general education and teacher preparation curricula, as well as STEM and social science majors (including Environmental Studies/Sciences programs). An assessment program will measure the impact of new course materials and programs on students’ geoscience literacy, ability to address interdisciplinary problems, understanding of the process of science. Workshops will develop an understanding of current practice as a basis for new programming and will disseminate the new materials and models developed by the program. To learn more about how to participate in InTeGRATE visit the project website (http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/).