The Paleontological Research Institution, in conjunction with the Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA) and State University of New York is offering a new and innovative course in ESS education professional development. Funded by NASA and NSF, ESSEA has a successful history of providing quality, inquiry-based Earth science education professional development for thousands of K-12 teachers across the U.S. This course gives informal educators access to the ESSEA program of professional development as well.

“Global Climate Change and Informal Earth System Science” is an online, 10 week graduate course designed to provide professional development for the informal Earth system science education community. The first module, “Global Climate Change”, defines the topic and discusses recent scientific study on global climate change. The second module, “Earth System Science in Your Backyard” provides the tools for informal educators to creating in-house, inquiry-based Earth science education products focusing on the participants’ local geology or existing collections/exhibits/programming.

The final project for the course will require the staff member to, at their respective organizations, design or update programming, an exhibit, etc. that reflects course content. Registration is mandatory for the course and is on a first come, first serve basis. There is a $50 registration fee paid to SUNY Oneonta. Enrollment is limited; due to demand, we reserve the right to review applicants for participation. Upon successful completion of the course, each participant will receive a $450 minigrant to contextualize the product of the course; to be used for fabrication, materials or salary, as well as reimbursement for the registration fee for the course.

Students in the course should expect to work 10 hours per week, have a computer with high-speed internet access, and have access to a digital camera (although if this is an issue, let me know). You should be computer literate, with at least a basic knowledge of internet navigation and email procedures, to take this course. Students will be working online in groups of informal ESS educators from around the U.S. and the world, as well as individually, and will be expected to contribute to online discussions several times per week. Grading will be based on individual participation, group participation, quality of research and input, and final project.

Employing institutions of graduates from the course will be invited to partner with PRI to offer the ESSEA K-12 teacher professional development courses to local teachers. The courses will be taught by staff of PRI, with graduates given the opportunities to act as “visiting scientist” in the course. This will give graduates the opportunity to see the process of course instruction for the ESSEA K-12 programs, enhance the relationship between informal and formal educators, and introduce local formal educators to the ESSEA courses.

Please contact Carlyn Buckler for registration information at: csb36@cornell.edu